Damn.

She should leave Gilead and join us up here in Canada. Staple the news article to her immigration paperwork. It’s a badge of honour. How can you all have pride in a country that does this shit? Stay safe down there!

Maybe search a little more broadly then in the United States. I can’t convince you, but America is not some unique civilization that transcends human nature.

Likewise, the purpose of protesting isn’t to simply change the minds of the electorate and make them more invested. It is far more nuanced and powerful then that. I’m tempted tomlist some ways it helps, but I recognize that one can always justify their inaction.

The first step is to take a leap of faith; get connected with the growing number of Americans who are bravely and nonvoilently standing against this tyranny. Protesting is just one part of the puzzle. Maybe there is another you feel empowered to do.

Good luck.

The protests matter.

History shows us how and why. It also shows us that thinking they don’t matter is pretty common. If even 10% of Americans showed up to protest you would see instant, dramatic changes the next day. And it tends to snowball. Americans are not as powerless between elections as they have convinced themselves they are.

I think that deep down they know all this, but it’s easier to claim it won’t matter.

To better protect myself from cognitive biases I try to put my faith in the consensus of the experts. Otherwise we all just waste time cycling through old, ego-fueled debates that have been fully explored before we were even born.

In the case of protesting: the overwhelming consensus is that protests matter. If you don’t have the time/inclanation to defend a disertation as to why they don’t: you should listen to those that have. Unfortunately the experts don’t have the resources to play whack-a-mole with every objection any person can claim on any platform. If you want that you need to go to school. Until then trust and protest. The longer you wait the harder it will be.

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’m not the only Canadian teaching my young children how feckless and cowardly Americans are, culturally. “There is nothing I can do” is a punchline.

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Spoken like a true American.

It sounds like you’ve completely exhausted all options. Anyone can see you have taken your civic duty to defend American FREEDOM seriously. No one has done any more than you have. History will record your deeds and future generations will say, “He voted, protested, and talked to his family. We owe him the FREEDOM we have today.” Statues will be erected. Schools will be renamed. You are remarkable. I’m honoured to be in the presence of such a great person.

Although…

Reading these “History Books” it seems that some of your ancestors did find a few more things they could do. I understand if you haven’t read “History Books” as they’ve probably been burned in your country. Sad.

… post historys are public, I think. You can read all the constructive stuff I’ve written. Nice to know I have a follower! :)

Now say please… good girl. Now thank Daddy… that’s right.

Unfortunately Americans are convinced they can’t do anything about it, so they don’t.

I’m confused. Are we still talking about the USA threatening Canada, Panama, and Greenland? And your response is “other countries might do that someday”?

Ah yes, American Freedom, amiright? Freedom that exists as long as they don’t have to excercise it. Or excercise anything, really.

Do American schools still have History classes? Or is it all just Pledges of Allegiance to their Dear Leader now? If they did then you would know of “The Boston Tea Party”. It was what your ancestors did when the government of their time kept taxing them without giving them a fair, democratic vote. See also: “Electoral College”.

I have an idea, why not stop arguing with an internet stranger and go get involved in your political process? Think of it like “compound interest” - the sooner you get involved the bigger your impact! Alternatively, keep telling me how you are impotent to do anything while celebrating your July 4th freedom celebrations unironically.

I haven’t made any moral claim. I haven’t said anything about right or wrong. Is this a case of you getting your platitudes mixed up? So many for Americans to choose from, hard to keep them straight I imagine. Words are hard.

The original post was some FREEDOM loving American asking where their saviour was. I responded by saying (essentially) look in a mirror. The Americans then all jumped on me to assuage the guilt they feel because my point is an obvious one. Then they all did that thing where they point to someone else to blame rather than doing the relatively simple step of getting involved themselves.

So,it’s billionaires now is it? Wow. The level of delusion is remarkable. for liberals it’s billionaires, foreign governments, and rogue news stations. For conservatives it’s immigrants, liberals, and the Clintons. Its remarkable to see the manufacturing of consent demonstrated so clearly. See Noam Chomosky’s book of that title for context - though I don;t expect anyone reading this will. low effort posts are easier.

Ahhh, yes. An honest mistake to make I suppose. Keep in mind, as this is print media tone is often lost. To help you out: I’ve been told I have the patience and persistence of a Norm MacDonald, the charming sarcastic undercut of a Seth Rogen, and the positive, contagious smile and beauty of a Rachel McAdams. I blushed at the comparisons, honestly. Surprisingly they are all Canadian as well.

Otherwise by mindful that someone can be both a douchebag, while also being right. I’d draw a Venn diagram for you, but as I expect you were “educated” in America I think it would just add to the confusion.

Clueless? Arevyou denying that the American president is threatening Canada? And let’s be honest, it’s more likely he is a Russian agent than I am.

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When European leaders start threatening my country I will do that. Until then this sounds like fictional whataboutism.

But I’m open to suggestions. Are their “missions” to save Amer8cans from themselves? Maybe some sad commercials showing masses of dumbfuck Americans all pointing blamesticks at each other like a spiderman meme, asking for donations?

No thanks. I’m done sugar-coating it for Americans. They are all too good at doing that for themselves.

This is a really flimsy talking point I’m so sick of.

We refer to you as Americans because that’s what you told us to call you. We are judging the actions and system of government you set up, and are paying for… Are you somehow now suggesting that unless there is 100% internal consensus you are unresponsible for the actions of the government your money pays? Your internal politics are your god-damn problem. I could not care about how you internally identify.

Reality check: The man you all tolds us is in charge of your country now is threatening me and my family now on the international stage.

So own it. You are literally paying your money to keep it going. It is yours. You built it, you are funding it… For decades we’ve listened to you go on and on (and fucking on) about your freedoms. Good. Now is the time to prove you are both brave and free. Stop posting on Lemmy and go get in contact with people doing the actual, real work of defending your country. Stop coming here and defending yourself from me ffs. I’m just your pissed off neighbour. It doesn’t matter what I think. Go do something useful ffs.

As it stands, it seems that Trump represents you feckless cowards perfectly.

It’s funny to think that any of these comments are relevant. Are you new to the internet maybe?. The best I can do is hope to influence. The best an American can do is contact people already working to correct this and ask them what needs doing. This leads me to wonder how all the Americans are posting in this thread, being that they are all so exhausted. Why not go to sleep? Then wake up later and get in touch and involved.

It’s almost like Americans are here trying to convince themselves there is nothing they can do.

How brave of you. What a testament to your freedoms. What a fine demonstration of what it truly means to be American: A blame shifting, feckless inheritor of a once great country. All hype. No substance, apart from the folds of blubber around their mid sections. What a legacy. All your talk of freedom backed by nothing. FREEDOM!