With an open mind, I had read the ADL’s similar argument, and now this one. But I just cannot agree. Musk’s gesture was *not* a spontaneous gesture that escaped him in the throes of his exuberance. It was not only deliberate, but repeated. And I can’t see it any way other than a statement by this ad hoc President that all bets are off and, on that presidential platform, a gesture that granted official sanction — moreover, encouragement! — to the January 6-ers and all of their ilk to express their most evil ignorant intolerance and hatred. Added to the message delivered by the President via his unconditional pardon of the January 6-ers, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the White nationalist militias are confidently feeling their empowerment. It matters not that we knew they were out there, and that we know of their intolerant hate. What matters is that they were empowered by a clear signal expressed on the newly elected President’s stage.
My dear mother, of blessed memory, who fled Hitler’s Germany, always admonished us not to think that “it can’t happen here.” Growing up in America, that sentiment was always hard to internalize. Until Trump came along, that is, and drove that point home almost every day by his rhetoric and the ardent sycophantic following it ignited. Yes, it *does* matter that Elon Musk gave the fascist “Roman salute” in on a presidential platform in the eyes of the world.
Thank you so much for this piece— echoing my sentiments re: musk, exactly. And I always appreciate your thoughtful, nuanced and informative sharing re: Israel.
Excellent analysis of He Who Shall Not Be Named. I have made similar arguments too.
With an open mind, I had read the ADL’s similar argument, and now this one. But I just cannot agree. Musk’s gesture was *not* a spontaneous gesture that escaped him in the throes of his exuberance. It was not only deliberate, but repeated. And I can’t see it any way other than a statement by this ad hoc President that all bets are off and, on that presidential platform, a gesture that granted official sanction — moreover, encouragement! — to the January 6-ers and all of their ilk to express their most evil ignorant intolerance and hatred. Added to the message delivered by the President via his unconditional pardon of the January 6-ers, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the White nationalist militias are confidently feeling their empowerment. It matters not that we knew they were out there, and that we know of their intolerant hate. What matters is that they were empowered by a clear signal expressed on the newly elected President’s stage.
My dear mother, of blessed memory, who fled Hitler’s Germany, always admonished us not to think that “it can’t happen here.” Growing up in America, that sentiment was always hard to internalize. Until Trump came along, that is, and drove that point home almost every day by his rhetoric and the ardent sycophantic following it ignited. Yes, it *does* matter that Elon Musk gave the fascist “Roman salute” in on a presidential platform in the eyes of the world.
Agreed wholeheartedly !
Thank you! And i really appreciated the new podcast episode as well
Thank you so much for this piece— echoing my sentiments re: musk, exactly. And I always appreciate your thoughtful, nuanced and informative sharing re: Israel.