Janet Daley, op-ed writer for The Telegraph in London, takes a blow torch to Donald Trump. The title to her piece "Would Donald Trump’s supporters like to travel in an airliner flown by an amateur?" provides more than a clue where the writer is coming from. Do read the op-ed piece. It is rather sobering if nothing else.
More than worthwhile is reflecting on the concluding paragraphs of Daley's piece....
"Wherever this ends, it has given us a warning about the fragility of civilised democratic life and the tireless appeal of demagoguery. Maybe that’s a warning that needs to be repeated regularly because high-minded intellectuals are constantly being caught out. In Italy, in the 1930s, they were saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Dante and Michelangelo.” In Germany, they were saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Goethe and Beethoven.” I’m sure in America now, there are reasonable people saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Jefferson and Lincoln.” Well forget that. It can happen anywhere. All it needs is for somebody to jump up on a chair."
More than worthwhile is reflecting on the concluding paragraphs of Daley's piece....
"Wherever this ends, it has given us a warning about the fragility of civilised democratic life and the tireless appeal of demagoguery. Maybe that’s a warning that needs to be repeated regularly because high-minded intellectuals are constantly being caught out. In Italy, in the 1930s, they were saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Dante and Michelangelo.” In Germany, they were saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Goethe and Beethoven.” I’m sure in America now, there are reasonable people saying: “This can’t be happening here. This is the country of Jefferson and Lincoln.” Well forget that. It can happen anywhere. All it needs is for somebody to jump up on a chair."
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