Reader’s Guide to Arguing About Trump Over Thanksgiving Dinner

November 23, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

 

The political arguments around the table this Thanksgiving will be more meaningful and more passionate than ever. First off, those who voted for Trump must come in for some sharp struggle—whatever their reasons (whether misguided or reactionary) everyone has to be brought face to face with the reality of what the Trump presidency has already begun to mean, even before he has taken office. There is plenty of material on this website that goes into this, including the exposures of his appointees (see “Trump Installs His Fascist Team.”)

For those who didn’t vote for Trump, two big points: first, it’s important to confront just how bad this is. There are things to do, but only on the basis of coming to grips with the fact that Trump aims to impose nothing less than fascism on this society.

Second, for those who voted against Trump and are now heartsick, we should definitely struggle over the reality that the real source of the problem is the capitalist-imperialist system—the very system that gave rise to a Trump. But we should not let the conversations drift into recriminations or explanations for Trump’s rise that are within the confines of the current political system and cast the blame on anything else but on that system. What needs to be done right now, all throughout society, is for people to put our heads together to figure out how do stop this.

What must be done, in the immediate period, to actually prevent this fascist regime from consolidating, and move beyond that to oust it…. and what kind of society must replace this one and how is this to be brought about? In all this the statement made available at Revcom.us (“In the Name of Humanity, We REFUSE To Accept a Fascist America” will be critically important; and be sure that everyone at the table gets a copy of the new print issue of REVOLUTION.

No Thanks Genocide Day!

by Travis Morales

As U.S. capitalism-imperialism prepares
An orgy of gluttony and patriotism for Thanksgiving,
Police attack Native people and those standing up with them
To stop the poisonous and genocidal Dakota Access Pipeline. 

For what do we have to give thanks? 

Give thanks for 400 years of genocide against the Native peoples?
Give thanks for the poisoning of the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux?
Give thanks for the modern-day genocide against the Standing Rock Sioux?
Give thanks for the poisoning of the entire planet?
Give thanks for the rubber bullets shot point blank at water protectors?
Give thanks for the mace sprayed in people’s faces?
Give thanks for the concussion grenade that almost tore off Sophia Wilansky’s arm?
Give thanks for racist taunts of “prairie n***er” Native people have faced for generations?
Give thanks for decades of boarding schools for Native children where their hair was cut and they were beaten for speaking their native tongues? 

No. No. No. 

We will never give thanks to this nightmare of a country,
A country that rains down death and destruction
On people here and around the planet. 

We’re at a crucial juncture. 

The fighters at Standing Rock are defending the lives, water, and humanity of the Standing Rock tribe,
Standing up against centuries of genocide against all Native peoples in America
And against the further destruction of Earth’s environment. 

What takes place here can help fuel a more defiant and determined spirit of resistance
Against all this system’s crimes—
Including the election of Trump. 

Now, more than ever…
People must resist and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline!

 

Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline!

As was written in “Native Americans Fight Modern-Day Genocide: Critical Juncture in Battle at Standing Rock”:

This is a crucial juncture. Everyone needs to express clear, unequivocal, and public support for the fighters at Standing Rock, who are not only defending the lives, water, and humanity of the Standing Rock tribe, but standing up against centuries of genocide against all Native peoples in America, and against the further destruction of the Earth’s environment. What takes place at Standing Rock can contribute to fueling a more defiant and determined spirit of resistance against all this system’s crimes—including the election of Trump.

Now, more than ever, people must resist and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

 

On Thanksgiving Day, Confront the Actual History of This Country:
AMERICA WAS NEVER GREAT!

Bob Avakian recently wrote that one of three things that has “to happen in order for there to be real and lasting change for the better: People have to fully confront the actual history of this country and its role in the world up to today, and the terrible consequences of this.” (See “3 Things that have to happen in order for there to be real and lasting change for the better.”)

In that light, and in that spirit, “American Crime” is a regular feature of revcom.us. Each installment will focus on one of the 100 worst crimes committed by the U.S. rulers—out of countless bloody crimes they have carried out against people around the world, from the founding of the U.S. to the present day.

Here are three installments from this series so far that focus on Native Americans.

American Crime Case #72: Wounded Knee Massacre, 1890


Victims of the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee, where the U.S. Seventh Cavalry killed as many as 300 Lakota Indians, including children. Photo: Library of Congress

American Crime Case #77: Christopher Columbus Brought Genocide and Slavery to the "New World," and America Celebrates Him for It


Spaniards killing women and children and feeding their remains to dogs. Illustration based on eyewitness account by Bartolomé de las Casas, in his book published in the 16th century.


Native Americans Fight Modern-Day Genocide: Standing Up at Standing Rock

From Revcoms at Standing Rock


Standing Rock, November 20


Police attack Water Protectors with rubber bullets and mace at the Cannonball River. Photo: Special to revcom.us

 

       

 

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