“Hey,” you ask, “didn’t you guys just pick on comedian Michael Ian Black in a post last week?” Why yes, we did, and congratulations on having such a keen memory.
Black was among many who seemed truly unnerved by President Trump’s speech in Poland in which he referred to Western values. At the time, he seemed a bit stuck on the definition of Western Civilization as Trump was employing it, but by Monday he seemed to have gotten his thoughts together.
For what it’s worth, Black did say that funny thing that one time, and so we thought we’d gather his revised analysis into one, comment-free thread. Our readers, by all means, are encouraged to comment away, but we really seem to have here an honest appraisal of the GOP from the perspective of the left.
Do we agree with any of it? In substance, no, not at all — although the GOP does have a mighty PR fight on its hands.
The Trump team's definition of "Western values" is diametrically opposed to what we normally think of when we think of that term. https://t.co/cyoGqura5R
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
We mean: freedom of the press./They mean: press intimidation.
We mean: religious freedom/They mean: orthodox and Evangelical Christianity— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
We mean: diversity/They mean: homogenous (white) cultural identity
We mean: interconnected planet/They mean: nationalism— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
We mean: scientific method, for fuck's sake./They mean: belief over evidence.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
We mean: Education as the great equalizer./They mean: Education as a threat
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
This is why that Warsaw speech has people freaked out. Because they're turning traditional meaning of Western values on its head.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
Why? Because Team Trump wants a fundamental realignment with Moscow as the model with America as an oligarchic, evangelical regime.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
Why? Because the GOP and its interests can't survive the coming demographic changes coming down the road. Rather than expand their party…
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
To accommodate more people, they're battening down the hatches to preserve their power. To do that, they need to model themselves…
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
On regimes in which power is held by a select few. Models: Russia, apartheid-era South Africa, Saudi Arabia. Fringe lunacy on my part?
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
Probably, but at the same time, every one of their decisions supports this theory. Nothing else makes sense. But whatevs.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
Maybe he’s right … not even the McDonald’s menu makes sense to us anymore.
In these dark days, I would like to offer myself up as a hero. Why? I just got the lobster roll at McDonalds. pic.twitter.com/8dMycGZBRA
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) July 10, 2017
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Related:
Vox, Newsweek sound alarm bells over President Trump’s praise of — gasp — Western Civilization https://t.co/9JXLK7ZQ85
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 6, 2017
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