ms spock said:

SCIENCE said:

Bogsnorkler said:

We Loathe 🐃 WaterGate Tailor, Calamity Jane, ☢️Ted and NewsCorpse😊 ·
Gillian O’meagher

An unintentionally hilarious outcome of this dark moment in American history has been the social media comments from Americans that display a level of unconscious privilege and US-centric thinking that is, to be honest, amusing in a horrifying and appalling sense. (Excuse the long, slightly stunned rant.)

The other day, an American online was telling off people who said Americans should do something about Trump’s administration. She said, the pay is so low here and people need health insurance, we can’t afford to take action or revolt against our government. (This theme reappears constantly in online American commentary.)

…I spat my drink out when I read it. Ah, in what circumstances does she think revolts or revolutions take place?! When everybody is financially comfortable and able to take a few days off to relax and demand governmental change??

Then the comments became more and more common, as Americans became increasingly annoyed with global citizens expecting action, any action from them.

Likewise, Americans keep commenting that Trump has nothing to do with them, and they can’t be held responsible for him. The nation is a democracy! Is there any other democratic population on earth who would assume they are completely excused from the actions of their own government and their military, and absolved of any and all responsibility—even if world war, global economic collapse or nuclear obliteration is the result??

Other Americans point out they can’t do anything or protest because protesters can get shot in the US. Again, do they not remember all the protesters they urged to get out on the streets over the last decade in countries where regimes regularly imprison and shoot dissenters?? And does the fact civilians are being bombed in their homes, not even on the streets, by America not really register or inspire some sense of civic responsibility, let alone compel some form of action to halt US-based brutality??

The other most common comment: “What do you expect us to do?” As if no other nation in the history of the world has ever had a deranged leader and corrupt government. As if there is no blueprint for any possible action. At all. That throwing one’s hands in the air, equal parts despair and exasperation, is the sum of the options on the table. (Even letter writing is something!)

And my personal fave: “We had a protest and it did nothing.”

A protest that lasted one day, that around 2% of the population attended. Not a general strike, not camping out at the offices of Congress people, not blockading docks or holding a lasting protest vigil surrounding the White House.

Again, this is all in such sharp contrast to the many, MANY times Americans online who relish telling people overseas to overthrow their government, or strike, or demand a leader be arrested, or facilitate regime change. Apparently, that level of discomfort doesn’t apply to them. In fact, as shown on social media, it is really rude of the world to expect anything from America, a population of 342 million. As if all they can do is wait to see if Trump’s insanity destroys them—although, at the same time, they hold a confounding conviction that no repercussions will ever happen on American soil, because again, all the death raining down elsewhere has nothing to do with Americans.

I hope Australia and Australians never reach this kind of apathetic self-involvement and bizarre disassociation from government. I truly believe our government will always be our responsibility. When they start mass murdering and pillaging, committing war crimes and threatening nuclear attacks, we have to bear some responsibility and step forward because they are our elected representatives.

Tellingly, Trump doesn’t expect the American people to ever bother opposing his illegal acts, even if his actions could lead to their potential destruction. He assumes a culture of apathy will prevail. Sadly, he appears to be right.
An interesting side note: I did see an academic post that theorised Americans cannot save themselves because their popular culture is saturated with superhero entertainment that trains them to expect salvation from others who are empowered, and to wait for intervention from others who are empowered. The average citizen—even the community—is not centred proactively in their leading media narratives. The self, even collectively, is viewed as disempowered and therefore not expected to act. That offers some interesting food for thought.

what could mould should would the germans have done

The lone hero is an interesting form of propaganda, and so effective as well.