Commentary

John Oliver: This is Not ‘Normal’—And No One Should Ever Accept It As That (Video)


NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–November 14, 2016.  WARNING:  Video Contains Strong Language

By Doctor RJ

“It is going to be too easy for things to start feeling normal—especially if you are someone who is not directly impacted by his actions—so keep reminding yourself: This is not normal … Write it on a Post-It note and stick it on your refrigerator, hire a skywriter once a month, tattoo it on your ass, because a Klan-backed misogynist internet troll is going to be delivering the next State of the Union address, and that is not normal. It is FUCKED UP.”

If one had any faith left in the Washington press corps, it probably evaporated in the wake of their behavior since last Tuesday. The reason? When push comes to shove, they care more about their fucking seating arrangements in the press room, being invited to dinner parties, their invitations to inaugural balls, and giggling it up at the next correspondent’s dinner than actually doing their damn job. That’s why a senior adviser to the next leader of this country with a history of racist behavior and ties to white nationalists can be announced, and most of the major newspapers don’t think it’s worth mentioning on their front pages.

Coupled with the incessant message of “just give Trump a chance” and “respect the office” the media has latched on to, it’s as if we’re supposed to act like because Trump has the title “president-elect” attached to his name, he’s not the same prick he’s been for the past year.

During times like these, it’s easy to believe the House of Cards depiction of the media, with reporters willing to whore themselves and their dignity out to secure sources and stories.

The problem with just smiling and going along with formality is that it accepts these positions as the new normal. It pushes the lines over to where kids can think walking around their school with a Trump sign, yelling “white power!” is okay—when it should never be accepted as anything in the vicinity of normal. So far, that’s the worst damage of this election. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there have been over 300 incidents of harassment and intimidation since last Tuesday. Moreover, the standards and norms of what’s acceptable for someone running for president, and now becoming president, have been pushed so far that any future candidate will just point to Trump to justify horrendous conduct.

In last night’s season finale of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver lamented how horrible 2016 has been, while taking aim at the new president, media pundits, and all others who have culpability in this mess of trying to destroy the threads of common decency that hold this country together.

From Marlow Stern at The Daily Beast:

John Oliver, like most liberal comedians, did his damnedest to prevent Donald Trump and Mike Pence from reaching the White House. He tore apart the former reality-show host for bragging about sexually assaulting women, explained how his scandals were far worse than Hillary Clinton’s, and even offered up his Emmy to Trump if he’d deliver a concession speech and ensure a peaceful transfer of power upon losing.

Well, Trump managed the unthinkable: He won. He is now the president-elect. And Oliver, like more than half of Americans who cast their ballot, is shocked and terrified … And while some are arguing that Trump might not have meant all those things, that leaves us with two devastating options: Either we just elected a president who didn’t mean a single word he said, or we elected one who did.

“We’re gonna need to stay here and fight, and not just politically in four years when he’s up for reelection, but constantly—monitoring legislation as it moves through Congress and fucking voting when your legislators come up for reelection in two years,” said Oliver. “But that is still the barest minimum of what is going to be needed, because for the last eight years, we’ve had a president we can assume would generally stand up for the rights of all Americans, but that is going to change now. So we’re going to have to actively stand up for one another. And it can’t be just sounding off on the internet, or sharing think pieces or videos like this one that echo around your bubble. I’m talking about actual sacrifice to support people who are now under threat.”

Source: http://dailykos.com


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