Thanks to Donald Trump, I blocked my uncle on Facebook today
I blocked my uncle on Facebook today. This is a guy who could pass for a gentle, skinny Santa Claus, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
And this is just weeks after my brother-in-law threatened to block ME, after I posted several stories about Donald Trump (and a few on Hillary Clinton). Factual stories. Stories from trustworthy, mainstream media outlets reporting on the women alleging he sexually molested them. The 150 Republican officials who don’t support him, by the New York Times. The way he treated his alcoholic brother, also by the Times. The 199 most provocative things Trump has said, by Politico. The many appearances he’s made in Playboy, by The Hill.
This did not go over well with some of my Facebook friends.
If you’re one of those people who’s still confused about who Trump supporters are, let me help: They are my high school classmates — people who seemed liberal to me back then. They are my cousins – you might call a few of them rednecks. They are my mother, my father, and probably three of my four siblings. And yes, they mostly hail from rural, Red states. And I love them all. They are salt of the earth, hard-working, mostly Christian people who would do anything for me, and probably you.
But my decision to post news stories about Trump unleashed a fury I have not seen in them before. My uncle began incessantly posting wrinkly-faced, Hillary-bashing memes and “stories” on my timeline. When he started attacking my bleeding-heart liberal daughter, I pulled the plug on our Facebook friendship.
What struck me about his timeline attack were his sources: Places like Patriots Reborn, ClashDaily.com, The American Patriot, Conservative News Today, John Q. Logic, ViralLiberty.com and LibertyWriters.
And then there’s my mom. She began rebutting my posts with her own, with sources like Minuteman Militia, FreedomDaily.com and the Conservative Tribune. Now I don’t think she’s a regular reader of these “publications,” but they fulfilled her need for return fire.
I pay attention to sources, because I’ve been a journalist covering all kinds of government for about 25 years. I know the source of information is crucial. If your source cannot be trusted, your story can’t be trusted.
And I think this, right here, is a big part of what has gotten Trump where he is. As the media landscape eroded with the arrival of the Internet, all kinds of questionable websites and “news outlets” have cropped up. FOX News paved the way with its “fair and balanced” (wink, wink) reporting – which my dad listens to non-stop and recites.
No longer do people just watch the evening news and read the daily newspaper to get their news; they can pick and choose whatever kind of news matches their opinion.
In fact, for several years I worked for one of those new news outlets. Sold as investigative journalism, Watchdog.org sought to fill the increasingly wide gap in coverage of U.S. statehouses with what it sometimes called point-of-view journalism. Over time, I learned this nonprofit was funded by right-leaning libertarians who liked things like fossil fuels and charter schools.
I saw how these news outlets work to further the causes of those that give them money, but ironically, many people no longer trust the “lamestream media” which tries to keep a wall between advertising and the newsroom.
Most of my Facebook friends seem to put more faith in FOX and whatever cockamamie news site they stumble upon while scrolling through their timelines. One of them said ABC, CBS and NBC are brainwashing America. Not FOX. Not MSNBC.
Here’s an example: My sister, a nurse, told me she’d never vote for Clinton “because of what she said about nurses.” What did she say about nurses? I asked. She called them glorified babysitters, my sister said. It took me about 10 seconds to Google that claim, and find that Snopes.com (which attempts to separate fact from fiction in urban myths and Internet rumors) found no evidence she ever said such a thing.
When I reported that back to my sister, she said, “Of course.”
In other words, of course the mainstream media says it’s not true. Of course her biased news source has it right. Of course her brainwashed journalist sister has it wrong.
Of course.
Now, I know all journalists have their biases. Some are downright bad at hiding theirs. I’ve been guilty of that. But most of the journalists I’ve worked with do their level best to be fair and balanced – and not the FOX kind of fair.
But this election has made it crystal clear that many people no longer trust the mainstream media to give them the facts. They are more likely to believe one of Trump’s wild allegations – something he “heard” – than the New York Times.
When I was recently asked to be a stringer for the New York Times, I didn’t call my parents to tell them. In fact, I didn’t tell a single family member. Maybe I knew they wouldn’t necessarily be proud. I think two decades ago, early in my career, they would’ve. But things have changed. The New York Times is now the enemy. Trump has made that clear.
The day I heard Trump brag about how he wants to make it easier to sue journalists and bring down the Times was a sad day for me, as I listened to his crowd cheer. As it says on the Nebraska capitol, ““The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness of the Citizen.” But if we don’t trust the journalists who are watching most closely, if the truth no longer matters — only our truth, as we see it — then where are we headed?
My parents are die-hard Christians – and so am I – but they’ve been thoroughly FOX-ified. Having covered politics for so long, I’ve seen good and bad people on both sides of the aisle. My family seems to think God is a Republican.
And so we argue about how Christians can support Trump, or Hillary. (I support neither.)
Which is why I don’t want to go home for Thanksgiving this year – for the first time in my life. We are not a family that dreads Thanksgiving. We are not a family who fights. We’re a family who loves each other truly, madly, deeply.
But I know my father won’t be able to restrain himself from talking politics, no matter who wins the election, and a battle will ensue. This election has exposed a huge divide between us: They don’t trust journalists like me anymore. And I don’t think we can turn back the clock to a time when they did. Not in my family, and not in America.
Winterized 
Apparently, America has outlived its shelf life.
Why do so many people say “America” when they actually mean the United States?
Because there’s a United States of Mexico, among others depending on what you’re referring to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_(disambiguation)
The full name of this country is ” The Unites States of America.” “America” is an abbreviation. Now. Can you tell me why so many people ask that question?
They ask the question because “America” includes Central and South America, not just the U.S.
For the same reason so many people say “Britain” or “Great Britain” when they mean “The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” or they say “Germany” when they mean “The Federal Republic of Germany,” or “Egypt” when they mean “The Arab Republic of Egypt.”
Semantics…it’s widely accepted that there is an inference of these United States of America when we are speaking with people who are fellow countrymen. Therefore America is an abbreviation of the longer title. We often do this when we speak about other topics as well. No need to be upset, it’s not Canada or Mexico shaming. 😊
THIS IS SOOOOOO SAD. WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO DISAGREE AND STILL LOVE AND RESPECT EACH OTHER…..IM ALSO SADDENED AS I HAVE HAD SIMILAR THINGS HAPPEN IN MY FAMILY, INCIDENTLY I THINK BOTH OF OUR TOP CANDIDATES OUR CRIMINALS AND BELONG IN PRISON NOT RUNNING OUR COUNTRY.
ITS VERY SAD, THAT A COUNTRY AS GREAT AS US, CAN’T FIND AND CHOOSE TOO HONEST, ETHICAL CANDIDATES FOR AN OFFICE SO GREAT AS THE US PRESIDENT….WE HAVE TERRIBLE CHOICES AND THE 2 PARTY SYSTEM IS A TOTAL FAILURE IN MY OPINION AND THE SYSTEM BEHIND IT THAT ALLOW 2 YEARS OF THIS DISRUPTION IN OUR GOVERNMENT DUTIES AND NEWS!
Clinton is not a criminal, no more than you, but Trump is. He has court cases filed against him. He has court dates. Hillary has not been charged with anything nor have any court appearances coming up. You have been brainwashed just her family. I bet you have committed more crimes than she have. You people are insufferable, always judging other people when you don’t know anything about what you are talking about.
the only reason hilary clinton is not a criminal is she is owned by the same people that own the depatment of justice.
That’s pretty hypocritical – Trump hasn’t been charged with anything either, yet you’re confidently calling him a criminal while saying Hillary isn’t. So let’s look at facts – Hillary is, either directly or indirectly, the subject of two criminal investigations, while the court cases you cite Trump for are civil cases (that is, they’re not criminal). Hillary is closer to being a criminal than Trump is, for whatever that’s worth.
Trump was charged criminally for….brace yourselves, not having proer licencing while running his, “Trump University”. These were criminal charges, he was found guilty, and forced to pay fines and get properly licenced. There are also 2 tousand or so open civil suits wiht his name on them, many of which he initiated, but this is not all that unusual in the USA. Most are frivolous and get dismissed ,but they are a big reason why the courts are so clogged up.
shellyann I agree with you, well put!
Well, I’ve seen nothing on Mr. Trump being a criminal. Not real sure hillary is a criminal ….yet. However, all the criminal activities that is surrounding her now, sure doesn’t look good. I remember back when Bill and hillary both were being looked into for the Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate,and the hillary Rodham Cattle Futures. Though they were never proven of wrong doings, it was as is now, she forgot, she didn’t know and when they left the White House, hillary took many furnishings that the Government had go retrieve. I guess what I’m saying is that the clinton’s have always had things of bad taste going on around them at their discretion. Now it seems, it is worse. hillary could never run this country. She doesn’t have the experience, period, needed to run this country. Now some of you think Trump is worse. However, Mr. Trump is not being looked upon as a traitor to the country. He worked hard for what he has, he made his American Dream. I see more jealousy from people who try and belittle the man. Trump as many of say, HAS NO EXPERIENCE. Well, neither did obama, and neither does hillary. So….I’m going with Mr. Trump….He’s good for our country and we can finally rid the government of the low class, and lower thinking democrats. Oppression of others will be over. Dumbing down our children in public schools, will be over. Future welfare Recipients crossing our borders, will be over. Jobs leaving America, then selling the same product made in other countries for penny’s on the dollar, back to America, will be over. Fresh air at last………………
Stephen.
Of course.
Right!??!
Steven Hughes Sr… on the one hand I do appreciate your honesty putting it out there… but your post is so fraught with a litany of misconceptions it would take “forever” to fully rebut. Sadly, it is quite evident you are NOT objective and have an ingrained built in “group blacklist” bias against democrats in general… and apparently buy into the GOP/conservative pablum which presents much of the pro-Trump distorted narrative out there…so I will address some of the most glaring.
Hillary is 100x more QUALIFIED: she is in every sense both politically and international diplomacy battle-hardened, calculating and savvy. Trump appeals to those that are enamored with the idea of a swashbuckling take-no-prisoners shoot-from-the-hip bully super-patriot (remember: the Germans thought so of Hitler as did the Italians with Mussolini… and we know how disastrously that worked out, don’t we?). Emotionally he is a spoiled arrogant elitist ill-tempered “my way or the highway” bad boy in a man’s clothes and has shown ZERO ABILITY to respond with a measured, balanced (or even articulate) approach in any kind of conflict situation… short-tempered bullying of any kind is a recipe for disaster. Please!!.
The Hillary traitor narrative is lame and just partisan spin… no FACTS to back it up. More of the typical hack-job mud slinging to see what can stick in the media for how long as a black mark distraction before it evanesces as unfounded unvettable spin. Indeed, if anybody can be accused of being a traitor it is Trump for cozying up to Putin, and inciting Russian black-hat hackers to do his bidding… and he has overtly disrespected a wide swath of Veterans… reality: he is an opportunistic draft-dodging pseudo-Patriot…hello?
Another big myth you buy into is “Trump worked hard to make his American Dream”. Oh please, He was given a golden nest egg of Millions to start with and has played the callous financial bully-and-litigate game to a fair-thee-well. Almost any tom/dick/harry could do better and more ethically than what he has done. Amongst truly hard working successful businessmen he is a bad joke and is avoided as too risky and unaccountable to do any kind of business with. He keeps getting bailed out financially by OVERSEAS MONEY as US Banks want no part of him. Hello? That is not a jealousy-based narrative; it is a reality that his apologists are most adept at denying.
“Oppression of others will be over”??? UTTER NONSENSE. Perhaps you refer to not letting the disingenuous overtly-religious Christian right wing narrative ignore the key tenet of separation of church and state (hello?) and do all it can to legislate to suppress basic rights based on religion, sexual orientation etc? (examples: Abortion rights is settled Federal law, as is LGBT rights; gender reassignment is real, honest, and has ZERO to do with predatory behavior). That whole self-righteous holier-than-thou fear mongering mindset from the religious fanatics is real oppression – not the other way around.
Fresh air? hardly… a harkening back to dark times, yes. I’m just sayin’.
Not expecting to change your vote but have a nice day regardless.
We might even note that Ken Starr spent millions of dollars and years trying to find something to stick on the Clinton’s — with no luck. And now he appears to be supporting them. If the guy who spent years of his life looking at everything from watergate to the Lewinsky scandal has nothing but good to say, what is wrong with everybody who thinks she belongs in jail?
Because the government is corrupt through and through!
Not true TD, I am almost positive that the rape of a 12 year old girl set to be heard in December, against The Donald, is criminal.
13 year old.
Amen
We have one, so vote for her!
I agree whole heartedly.
I’ll admit to having voted for “the lesser of two evils” before.
This time, they are both abominable, although in different ways.
I am deeply saddened by the lack of integrity this election has shown. I do not believe for one minute that either candidate has our best interest at heart.
I guess this shows you that we are not that great as we think!!! In fact, we are far from be the best country in the world!! We are not even inside of the 10 first developed countries. Our election this year is worse than some countries in Africa!
I agree with you both belong in jail if you or i someone whom doesn’t have a lot of money would of committed these crimes we would of gone to jail for life But these people were able to pay there way out 😦 I am no long Proud of our country 😦
I once thought you Deena were fair and balanced!
Obviously your career as a journalist and working for The NY Times is more important than reporting the fair and balanced truth!
I in no way endorce Fox News or any other source of mainstream media!
The recent releases on Wikileaks’s show the collusion between main stream media and the establishment to get Hillary elected.
The media bias against Trump is obvious!
You would do well to listen to your father and family as their pay check and career don’t depend on carring out the agenda of their mainstream establishment employer!
The DNC and establishment have chosen Hillary,the GOP and American people have chosen Trump!
What agenda is that?
Really?You after all this time have no idea what the establishment agenda is by now?
You truly are what people like the Clintons,George Soros and the Bush crime family love!
If the news does not come from The NY Times or some other main stream media source it can’t possibly be true right?
WRONG!
My God Jerry listen to yourself. Take a hard look at what you just wrote. You and millions of other Americans have become professional conspiracy theorists.
Why is everyone so convinced Wikileaks is not fabricated? No one seems to question if it is legitimate, when the person who is behind it is a child predator that is hiding from the law and not even allowing a court to judge him! How backwards is that? He’s a coward and a creep until he man’s up! With computers nowadays, it’s easy to recreate documents to “look” real.
Wikileaks has a 10’yr record of never being wrong,when the first batch of HRC/DNC emails were released by Wikileaks came out the top brass in the DNC had to step down because it was true that they were conspiring to take the DNC nomination from Berni!How’s that for proof that Wikileaks is telling the truth and the DNC and Hillary are corrupt?
Hillary has been getting the Questions ahead of time in the debates and on and on!
I have been asking this repeatedly and no one can explain to me why any “leaked” information should be unquestionably above repute.
If I can get spam in my email that says it was sent from my own address, what can professionals with agendas do?
Jerry, you need a few more !!! in your posts, so that we can all be reallyreally positive you are the only one who knows the truth.
Heather – Wikileaks can only release what it received and has no real stake on the truth other than exposing everything. That being said it is in their best interest to make sure the documents are not forged and any good computer forensics person can do that.
Also Assange is not a child molester like Trump is.. few cases coming up for that! Assange can not go back to Sweden because they want to charge him with “surprise sex” or removing a condom during sex.
Jerry – Trump is a idiot and anyone who grew up in NYC or surrounding areas that saw the recklessness of Trump.. he’s declared bankruptcy 4 times and at least one of those times was planned out by shifting property he could not deprecate to his casino business so it could take the hit. He is a criminal no better than Killary perhaps which is why I won’t vote for either one of them but he’s mostly a fool and any who vote for the fool will reap the fools reward.
It is also possible to prove those emails are false and nobody has. Even the Clinton campaign has not repudiated the emails. Just think, when julian assange released info in 2010 regarding the Bush administration and the war in Iraq, liberals cheered him on did they not? Today he releases information that potentially underscores the level of corruption and media bias in our political process and the liberals and progressives make him the enemy. His releases may be about Clinton, but what people need to understand is it is an indictment of our entire political process and media for all sides.
So make up your mind. Either he is the enemy or friend when convenient for you or it just doesn’t matter at all.
As for me, I know that some of what Wikileaks has released is real.
I’ve seen emails on Wikileaks about issues/events in which I was involved. I know folks who work in the Secret Squirrel community who were and are still up in arms about these releases.
I can’t speak for all of the leaks or all of the documents. I know that some of the leaks are from authentic sources.
I actually used Wikileaks to fact check for my book. The leaked emails that I used were from folks whom I knew were on ground at the time and the emails contained information which I knew to be true and confirmed my own notes and my own experiences as well as my own reporting.
Trump is an ass and if the media reports that, it hardly makes them biased.
Ignorance is so unattractive!
Jerry, don’t be so hard on yourself. Lots of otherwise nice folks have been duped by Trump.
Disagree@
So you are attacking her just as her family is with Wikileaks as your source. I wonder why you don’t crave transparency from Trump who defiantly refuses to prove anything he speaks about. To each their own is a saying more people should follow without attacking them for their disagreements and putting their profession down.
Jerry, you basically just proved Deena’s point.
Endorse? Hey I can’t spell put at lest I’m not a two digit IQ SDR! I can be mean.
You trust Wikileaks??? LOL
Wikileaks are the only thing you can trust
The media doesn’t have to attack Trump. He can be seen on video advocating torture, saying he will kill the families of terrorists, and citing obviously false statistics about numerous things.
Trump on video is his own worse enemy.
And, there’s a video made in 2008, at the end of Bill Clinton’s term, where Trump gives glowing praise to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Then a later video where Trump says Hillary Clinton has been a good Secretary of State.
Trump’s also on two videos saying he supported the War In Iraq. I’ve seen it. One is the September 11, 2002 Howard Stern show. He also opposed Qaddafi, but later said he didn’t.
One doesn’t need the media to see that Trump is a serial liar, one only has to watch Trump’s himself on youtube.
The media has been rmarkably easy on Trump, not unfair.
If Wikileaks had not been biased in deciding to single out one campaign over the other, they might have more credibility. And you aren’t seeing anything they haven’t cherry picked. I would LOVE to read Trump campaign emails- wouldn’t you? Trump’s wild eyed contentions get smacked down right and left. After his bizarre 3d debate pronouncements about how we gave up a surprise attack on Mosul, actual soldiers and commanders denounced this as naive thinking, pointing out, among other things, that the terrain around the city doesn’t lend itself to “surprises.” I listened again today on an NPR news show to nuclear arms control specialists on both sides of the aisle decry Trump’s fundamental misunderstanding of things nuclear. Over 300 economists have denounced his economic policies, and he constantly and consistently (twitter, anyone) has displayed the emotional composure of a 12 year old. He refuses to back down from his Russia/Putin infatuation. After all these months, but particularly after seeing him side by side with Clinton during the debates, I have to wonder who hates this country enough to put this unqualified man in the seat formerly occupied by Jefferson, Lincoln, and the Roosevelts. It isn’t just a dumb vote, folks- it’s an unAmerican one. We aren’t voting for 7th grade class president. This is the leader of the free world.
Hear Hear !!!! hope our American cousins get this right .. we share a border with you and do not want to experience the “fall out” that electing Trump is sure to bring .
Way to miss the point Jer. Good on you.
With all due respect the American people have not chosen Trump only some of them.
Thank you Deena! You covered a lot in your article! Wish you well.
In other words don’t blame your poor ethics-collusion with the corrupt establishment media on Trump!
You, on the other hand, are clearly colluding with paranoid schizophrenics.
Well said, Deena. Journalism has taken such a hit from self-proclaimed journalists and the consolidation of media empires. Continue to work hard and apply your high ethical standards. Sadly, your family is not unlike most others (mine included) and misery really doesn’t love company. Hoping the partisan divide will subside by the holidays and families will focus on their love for each other, which is after all, the most important thing. Best wishes to you and yours.
Based on your description I would contest your claim that these people are the “salt of the earth.” They sound pretty goddammed evil to me.
Amen.
It can be hard…very hard…I know people who I would consider “salt of the Earth” Christians, yet mock the First Family as Halloween costumes complete with horrid blackface makeup..They literally wish harm to them (not very Christian like) because they believe the Obamas (and Clintons) are in with Satan somehow. I get bombarded on FB with some real nasty stuff straight from “super factual” Briebart.com….A family member who was always a “good Catholic boy” growing up sent out pictures of people preparing their guns if Clinton gets elected (I am not sure if they are going after the Clintons, government workers, or non Trump supporting relatives and friends)….
So sad to see such hatred. I now understand how Hitler got “average” people to follow him. Scares the dickens out of me! I mourn for our country and what it has become.
Nice job Larry! So people who agree with you are inherently good. People who don’t are obviously evil. This article speeks to the obvious problem and you choose to call them evil! The frustration and distrust with the ” main stream media” pushes people to alternate sources. Proven collusion between DNC, CNN and Hillery make me question a once respected vocation.. The blending of news, entertainment and commentary Has helped to fuel this problem! Not knowing the difference between fact and Opinion! The intolerance of other points of view is an issue liberals once faught against. Now they champion intolerance! If I disagree, I’m evil ? If I have a problem with illegal migration, I must hate Mexicans! If I think taxes are out of control, I hate poor people! If I misspell a word, my opinion is marginalize. If I think paying restitution for slavery is wrong, I’m a racist! If I want better vetting of Syrian refugees , i’m Islam a phobic .. I use to see liberal points of view as a part of our higher collective Conscience ..Now it’s just partisan intolerance! The Clintons and the Bush families have distroyed a once great county. Liberals blame Bush, Conservitives blame Clinton! The argument keeps them in power!!
VERY well said.
If I shared this on my page, people would think I wrote it (except that I do support Hillary.) I hope the scars from this election will not take long to heal, but I’m not too optimistic.
I did find it interesting that you didn’t mention MSNBC, and their LEFT agenda…only FOX???
I find myself in the middle on most topics and am able to joke about both sides. That’s the only way I can get through until after the election. God Bless the USA…I hope we survive the next 4 years.
I can answer that for you…The fact is most MSNBC viewers know that the majority of show hosts are indeed “commentators”. We know they are giving us an OPINION (a left bent one). I enjoy watching Rachel Maddow because I think she is witty and interesting. Her “commentaries” make me think (and laugh). I know she’s not a newswoman telling us the evening news. Vast majority of “liberal” viewers actually get their news from a variety of sources. I like the BBC and CBC, it’s interesting watching the happenings of American from the “outside”. Those who watch Fox News on the other hand, see it as their Bible, literally. Every word to them is hard “true facts”, even when it’s obviously commentary, not news. They refuse to look at other sources as to them it’s all some big liberal media conspiracy (I know first hand as majority of the in-laws are dedicated Fox News viewers).
Actually, she did.
To me, the political is such a fundamental, personal, deeply ingrained part of me that I can no longer have friendships with Republicans. To me, if you are Republican, you are a person whose values I do not share and in fact, your values are repugnant to all I hold dear. I cannot trust or respect a Republican. No exceptions.
Family relationships are different. I am widowed, have no kids, or siblings, and my father is deceased. My immediate family consists of my mom, who’s 81, and doesn’t entirely loathe Trump. But she’s in the other room listening to FOX right now, and when she repeats their lies and bullshit to me, I just see red. I did convince her to vote for HRC, thank God.
I have a cousin in Texas, who’s a wonderful man. His wife would like to spit on Obama’s face and I suspect they’re on the Trump Train. I have shielded them from the worst of my loathing for Trump. They are literally our only other relatives and they stay because of that and they’re several states away.
We can’t choose our family. We know them from infancy and in good and bad times. But when people show you who they are, pay attention.
For the most part, I can handle Republican family members, friends and co-workers, generally by talking about other things and/or only objecting to the most egregious of statements. And besides, I like debate. 🙂 What I find myself unable to do is vote for a Republican candidate. I’ve been pretty middle of the road my entire life and I’ve been proud that I’m a purple voter from a purple state, supporting Republicans and Democrats. But they’ve moved the road, which is annoying in itself, and with rampant obstructionism, Republicans have made it impossible for me to vote for otherwise qualified and reasonable people, especially on the national level.
How many times has congress voted to repeal ACA? Its a classic example of the “definition of insanity.” Get over yourself and work to make it better. Scalia died nearly eight months ago, but it was “too close” to the election for the Senate to their job. Now they’re thinking that if Clinton wins, “hearing from the voters” wasn’t as important as they thought it was after all, and maybe they still won’t do anything. And when you throw in gerrymandering, which throws elections to one side, despite the plurality of votes going the other way, achhh! If you can’t compromise and you can’t do your job, go home and let someone willing to do the work have at it. And stop trying to make me feel guilty because I’d like our country to be functional.
Nasty Redheaded1 Well said! You just became my heroine…
Thank you for sharing. I too hope our country can heal after this. We need to always be vigilant on where we get our information from. Check and DOUBLE check and be wary of sites that only express one opinion.
I say to each their own although it has been quite a ride this election cycle. I wish only that the closeness that families feel for one another wouldn’t be destroyed because of it. Nov 8 we elect a new President and the world will go on, but becoming estranged from family and friends will make it a lonely world to live in.
Deena your article was honest and heartfelt. The non transparency of Donald Trump speaks volumes of the people supporting him. They don’t want facts like his tax returns or medical records, they rather have slogans and roars of a racist crowd. Keep doing what you’re doing and always seek the truth, no matter where you find it. But it definitely will not be in Fox “News”. You are not alone and trust your gut!
My family has blocked me. I would never block them. I think mature people can simply scroll on by if they see a post they don’t like. This is what I do. I support HCR.
I mean HRC…lol. Looooong election.
I have learned to be very careful of the sites from which I try to learn both sides of every story. It is tough to use critical thinking skills to wade through all the muck when friends and family are content to throw up anything that supports their party line. I too have unfriended people whose deeply held beliefs are at odds with a democracy that acts first and foremost to protect the rights of all people. I’m sad to remember that I once moved far away from home because my parents couldn’t explain me in light of their views of the world. 30 years later and beginning to feel as though it will be easier to move away than trust my neighbors love and respect me enough to let me live in peace.
I’ve run into supporters of Trump who were crude and others who were not. Today I watched a series on past Republican Candidates, one being Nelson Rockefeller , he was popular until he divorced his wife and then married right off to a second one, how times have changed.
I am sorry this has happened in your family and so many families. In my old age I have learned there is no political party that is 100% right which makes the other party 100% wrong. There is no religion that is 100% right which makes all others 100% wrong. There is no person who is 100% right which makes all other 100 % wrong. We must change the way we think about this and many other situations if we are to have a full life. Eve Nettemeyer
Some of have learned that even family members have been brainwashed to believe that their liberal family members and all people of color should be executed. The brainwashing has been beyond successful.
Why would anyone waste their time and effort hanging around people who are racist, sexist, homophobic and deplorable? Life is too short. If a friend or relative refuses to allow you to express your right to free speech and just attacks you – cut them out of your life. These people have been brainwashed – just like the Germans were with Hitler. Speaking of which – the Nazi Party AND the KKK have both endorsed Donald Trump. Do the Trump supporters not know what these organisations represent??? They do NOT represent American values. They represent everything that is wrong with the country. Deena – come Thanksgiving – just make your excuses and give your family the finger. That’s what they have done to you.
Sad 😔 that you think snopes.com is a trustworthy site. They are so biased. They actually tell lies. Do your own research. People like you are why our country is sinking into the abyss. Trump was not my first choice but dear God Hillary is an evil, criminally corrupt mafia style thug.
If you research from the 1980s forward you would know the truth.
Not hard to find the truth if you really want to. The whole democratic party is corrupt.
Look at who Chelsea married and what that family involves. She’s married to that rich thug, Soros nephew,whose father is a Felon and criminal. Hillary wants to bring on thousands and thousands of Islamic Muslims here and more Latino illegals so that hard working Americans can pay for them. Maybe you should adopt some or pitch some tents in your backyard. I’m sick of paying my taxes for all these freeloaders. She funnels terrorist funds through her foundation. Clueless nuts.
Very well said thank god there are people like you to point the ignorant flaming liberals in the right direction!
Although I doubt that if they are not smart enough to see what’s happing right in front of their face by now there’s not much hope for them!
Snopes.com is the gold standard of fact-check sites. The people who accuse them of bias are those who dislike having their own ugly fantasies debunked.
Off you go. List the lies that Snopes tells, with cites to compelling fact-based evidence.
This is exactly what the author is expressing. Every single one of your “factual” accusations is a fabrication from the many sources that help you justify your hatred and your fears. You embody the reason this nation is going to hell.
Walk-a-doodle! Here’s a fact. HRC has put Americans so much danger with her admired mistake with top security memos.has more then likely aided in the deaths of Americans to boot.
Great article.
Although, the truth of what this election is doing to families and friends is very sad! 😦
The meanness and ignorance is unbelievable.
I am amazed at how little the truth matters to Trump supporters. 😦
I love Bernie and miss his character and style.
If the DNC had not conspired with Hillary to steal the DNC nomination from Berni he prob would have won!
So now you have the corrupt Hillary as your candidate and you
Support that type of person? Shame on you and the rest of the ignorant that support her!
Well…Bernie supports her. That’s good enough for me! You can’t have it both ways…no matter how hard you try.
Have you not registered that, Hillary’s shortcomings aside, Trump is an absolute pig?
I grew up in a poor neighborhood that was part of a rich school district. Was considered below average IQ. ETC.
One thing we did have was diversity. Not race. Mostly white.
Religion was a mixture Jewish and Christian. Politics was more Democrat. Had informed Replicans. This was the 60s.
We had disagreements. It was part of our education. Present facts not feelings. Don’t put the other person down for disagreeing.
Civil discussion has gotten lost. Even in my own marriage. I can’t express what I believe. If I do then I need to present a position similar to the style used in a philosophy paper.
I have chronic pain. Home bound. Lower back.
Facebook is my connection to my friends. Most on my page are from high school and a few are friends of friends. Had to drop one. Have no family on my page. Spouse has views that will get him death threats. He sleeps with a gun in another room. I don’t feel safer.
What is happening? I’m lost in the city.
If after ALL the recent revelations with Wikileaks and FBI investigations you still believe Hillary and her corrupt team belong in control of the most powerful country in the world I truly feel sorry for your parents as they surely are very disappointed!
Jerry, I would much rather have a lifetime politician who has made a few missteps (as has every male politician currently in office, but you don’t see them being raked over the coals daily for doing the same things that she has done, the double standard is breathtaking.) than a raping, racist, narcissist, that cannot speak for more than 5 minutes without at least 5 lies coming out of his mouth. People say he’s a business man, what they are neglecting to say is he is a shitty one, if his father hadn’t left him with $40 million dollars inheritance he would not be relevant today. Hillary has had years of experience and she actually knows how this country works. She is the better choice for so many reasons, and if she were a man this whole conversation would be moot. Trump would be nowhere near her in the polls. As it is she is still going to win and we are all going to have to learn to get along with our friends and family who are one either side of this thing. So Jerry take a deep breath get off your high horse and say this, Madame President! Get used to it!
Deena, I have always thought you made an excellent effort to remain objective, and I know you made some politicians uncomfortable because of that. But when you use terms like “Foxified”, I’m afraid you don’t appreciate the extent to which so many people are sick and tired of the left wing bias of the “mainstream” media. Liberals complain about Fox, but fail to appreciate that the ratings tell the story that people are tired of being force fed the agenda of the political left. You are right that there are marginal outlets on the right, but there are just as many on the left. And when you have “journalists” at CNN caught providing debate questions in advance to Hillary, or editing audio or video in ways that change the entire meaning of the reported comments to benefit their favored candidate, it’s pretty understandable that people don’t trust traditional media outlets to “give them facts”. Maybe one or more will do sufficient self examination to purge their ranks of biased reporters/editors, and will emerge as a reasonable alternative to Fox. This is a problem the journalism profession must face and resolve if it hopes to regain the status it once held as the source of objective reporting of facts. Until then, you will have people divided by their news sources reinforcing their own biases.
Mark, there is no such ting as “left wing bias” in the media. How do I know? It’s simple. It’s math. The “news” is center Right. They have more Republicans on then Democrats. It’s also common sense. Mainstream media = Corporate media. The media is owned by 6 corporations, soon to be 5. Why would they be liberal? The fact of the matter is, the right-wing has been pushing the country to the Right for the last 30-40 years through various media outlets like Fox and Talk Radio (Rush Limbaugh, Alex Jones, etc.). It has created a poisonous division in our country not seen since the Civil War. Please reconsider. Thank you.
“Liberals complain about Fox, but fail to appreciate that the ratings tell the story that people are tired of being force fed the agenda of the political left.”
No, actually, ratings tell us no such thing. FOX is offered as part of the first-tier package in most cable systems, while the other cable news networks are part of more expensive packages, which makes FOX far more widely available than any other news network. And keep in mind that while 8% of American adults say that they get the majority of their news from FOX news, that means that 92% of American adults do not. Basically, being the #1 ranked cable news channel doesn’t exactly mean that a whole lot of people are watching you.
But more importantly, there is absolutely no correlation between ratings and quality. You can easily find more people that have read “50 Shades of Grey” than have read Dickens once they got past Freshman Lit, but that sure as hell doesn’t make “50 Shades” great literature.
Lol you’re still pretty bad at hiding your biased. And Snopes.com – HILARIOUS! Your poor family. Thanks for the laughs!
Deena, I’m a liberal atheist with a deep south, rightwing family. We love each other, but we have kncok-down drag-out fights on Facebook. I have a few liberal supporters. None of them still live in Mississippi.
So, naturally, I start every family reunion with “Has Obama sent the muslim brotherhood to confiscate your guns yet? No? Next week, then.”
My family doesn’t seem to know what I do. I’m a business and corporate blogger, but they don’t read my posts, or share them, or comment, like I do with their successes. I can only assume they believe titles like “Why Do Mobile Conversion Rates Still Stink?” are code for “Trump Drools and Hillary Rules. With her Vagina.”
I don’t tell them when I land a new publisher or a high-paying corporate gig. I’m an elite, and might even be considered a journalist by people who don’t know better. And I probably write about politics, so it’s safer to just not click and chance reading an opposing view.
If I were to land an Op-Ed on the Times, hundreds of people would congratulate me and share the news. Almost none of them would be related to me.
I know your story. I have lived it all my life. I had to block my dad.
Hi Deena- You make some great points about how divisive this election cycle has been. I was actually called a RINO by some of my fellow Republicans (if you can imagine) because I was not on the Trump Train. I don’t disagree with everything Trump has said. I think he has raised some interesting issues, but not enough for me to vote for him. Hillary, from my perspective, has brought nothing to the table that is constructive whatsoever. She is bogged down in the usual liberal pandering. My answer: I’m voting for Gary Johnson. At least he’s been elected governor as a Republican twice, as has Bill Weld. I agree with perhaps 40 percent of his positions, and disagree with the rest, but the 40 percent far outweighs his items I vigorously disagree with. IMO Trump is not really a Republican at all. He’s had the equivalent of a political death bed conversion. So far, I have not unfriended anyone (I don’t know if I’ve been treated the same) however in spite of all of Trump’s self inflicted wounds, I would have been forced to vote for him over Hillary had Johnson not saved me from such terrible trauma. All the best to you!
Delusional. Your Uncle and the rest of the Kool Aid drinkers are simply delusional. Facts DO matter, and as a former newpaper journalist (in the analog days), I am astounded by what people view as “reliable information.”
I was a journalist in the early 90s when Rush Limbaugh, a thrice divorced college dropout, began just simply lobbing unsubstantiated rumors he found on the wanna-be muckraker website called the Drudge Report. Hermann Goebels, Hitler’s chief propaganda minister, famously said that if you repeat a lie often enough, it will soon become accepted as truth. Limbaugh certainly proved that theory. I still encounter folks who actually believe that Hillary Clinton had Vince Foster killed, and countless other fables that the AltRight has used to “prove” that Secretary Clinton is Satan incarnate.
The newest crop of carnival barkers like Sean Hannity, Alan West, Ann Coulter and the litany of weird-ass websites you mention in your blog post circulate bullshit faster than an organic farmer.
The rule at our newspaper was that you checked your facts once, twice, and then you had an editor check it a third time BEFORE it left the copy desk. Our retractions were printed on page one – not that we needed too very often. TRUST was essential to our worth as a daily newspaper, and our readers could decide what to do with the FACTS that we presented them. Limbaugh and his ilk have turned reportage on its head. Now, commentary is a substitute for good, solid, investigative journalism. I get it. Journalism is hard – especially for dropouts and underachievers like Limbaugh and his crowd. It’s much easier to just flap your jaws and boost your ratings.
This erosion of journalistic standards paved the way for someone like lie-a-minute Trump to balderdash his way to the presidency. So, you are not alone in your despair of what has become of one of America’s most sacred institutions – a free, and competent, Press.
Even worse, this era of wanton misinformation has divided the country into ideological foxholes. I, too, dread conversations to the mind-numbed robots on both sides of the issues, for I see the same irresponsibility with “news” organizations like MSNBC, Huffington Post and others on the left.
However, I still have hope that we will can get through this election. One of them will win, and the rest of us will have to deal with the consequences no matter what. I, for one, am trying to find whatever piece of common ground I have with those who I think have indulged in what I like to think is a momentary lapse of reason.
I have a blog, too. Maybe you would enjoy reading it. I think we have a lot in common. You can find it at http://www.philipleiter.com
Phil
The formation of a political posture, I think, occurs very early in a child’s life…when we encounter our elders expressing their political attitudes with the secret family language of seduction, coercion and affection. Each position gets romanticized and ritualized by repetition until we, as children, begin to associate that subject matter with how our parent or other elder family member resonates with us. It’s a very deep-reaching tactic and process and probably lies at the heart of advertising strategy.
There is bias in main stream media though,.just more subtle.
I fail to see how turning family members against makes America great again. Thanks, Donald, you Cheeto-skinned begetter of morons!
Come on over. There’s room at our table. 🙂
Thank you for sharing! At least the election will be over…..by Thanksgiving. Keep writing your truth! Hugs!
Jerry – you’re a troll – leave your house – there’s a real world out there.
Wow. What a great piece of writing! I do not know if you ever ran across an article called “Why Bad Beliefs Don’t Die” by Gregory Lester. But it explains why your relatives are behaving the way they do. Here is the link. http://www.csicop.org/si/show/why_bad_beliefs_dont_die
Both of these candidates are so bad that I am embarrassed. I have zero respect for any news outlet because at this point I feel like I have to investigate every story I read to see if it is accurate. I usually do this by searching and finding three stories, one from a mainstream outlet, one from a non mainstream outlet and one from a foreign news source. Or I try and find actual video that isn’t just a 3 second clip. Something that shows me the context of what actually happened. I have no idea what has happened to our leaders or the media but it seems like they have all freaking lost their minds.
Thanks to Donald trump? He doesn’t even know you,, the reason you have come to the conclusion to blame him for your and others comments, (I think) is maybe why you don’t seem to “get” your relatives who don’t agree with your point of view,,, he is just a guy running for office, just like anybody else running, such as Hillary, why didn’t you say, ” thanks to Hillary, I had to delete folks from my Facebook?
“Stories from trustworthy, mainstream media outlets”
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Great article Deena. But the really big question, if we can get beyond the petty squabbling for a moment, is now that we’ve well and truly opened Pandora’s box – and it’s very clear that it is wide open at this point – how do we shut it. Or can we even shut it? Would we want to?
It is rather painfully ironic that in a world with near perfect access to information we seem to gravitate to stylized misinformation as our go-to source of “truth”
Truth is of no matter here!
Thank you for the courage to be so subjective…vulnerable in your personal disclosures and I relate to it on a personal level having recently made a similar decision to not subject myself to the racist rhetoric that has brought out the ugly but real side of America in that racism is alive and well…should Donald Trump be elected you will indeed have stepped back many decades and the damage that he has done will continue to incite more violence…Republicans should be ashamed that they have opposed likely one of the best presidents your country has ever and will ever see again….thanks again for a wonderful insightful article…
Maybe you should be smart enough not to include political commentary on FB. social media is for 1st day of school pictures and cat videos/ NO ONE cares to read about Hillary’s emails, Trump’s legal problems or Huma’s Weiner. NO ONE.
PS. Absolutely NO ONE is changing their mind about either candidate based on anything anyone posts to Facebook. NO ONE.
Your story echoes my own experience. So you went beyond “unfriend” to actually “block”? Interesting. That’s like the social equivalent to going from “you are no longer welcome here” to filing a restraining order. Good for you!
If you are not already a fan, I heartily recommend the CBS political-comedy-drama “Braindead,” which unfortunately has just been cancelled after just 1 season. I very much hope Netflix or Amazon picks it up. The show does a great job illustrating the (literally) mindless futility of bringing this country back together.
We are doomed. On that note, have a great day and keep blogging!
Mainstream media isnt reliable
I like everything about your article except the title. It is not Trump’s fault that family members are no longer speaking. We are responsible for our own behavior…what we do, what we say, and what we put on social media. I feel the same way you do about my friends and family’s ridiculous posts about both candidates. I will not post anything political on social media because my friendships and relationships are more important. No matter how mundane or even truthful I think it might be, it could very well offend someone that I care about.
Funny how she fails to address the fact the main stream media has been caught red handed supporting Hillary and her candidacy, as a matter of fact she does not even mention Wikileaks and its wealth of revelations about what she refers to as legitimate news media and its illegitimacy…..she also fails to site to a single source that discredits the information put out by small conservative publications. I’m not sure if she is stupid or is just another dishonest “journalist”. I love how she is pretending to take the high road when she is in fact wanting the reader to believe her relatives are a bunch of inbred backward hicks! I’m sure they will enjoy giving thanks for President Trump at Thanksgiving, without her arrogant presence.
Excellent article, Deena. You might be interested in reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s essay on stupidity. It addresses some of the irrational intransigence you have encountered and write about. The essay is available on the net. Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor who opposed Hitler. The Nazis killed him in a concentration camp.
This is so sad, and so true!
Great article. Don’t worry about tools who would criticize your message.
Well if you are a “journalist” then you would know full well that Snopes.com isn’t any authority to be using as your litmus paper for political facts. They’re just a very liberal couple that shows ridiculous bias in political facts. So right from there I immediately can tell how accurate your “Facts” are. If I said “Hillary’s lied her whole career”, Snopes.com would go FALSE because she told the truth once back in 1981. Wake up girl, Hillary is corrupt, pay for play, supported Arab spring, helped am ISIS in Syriah, created the mess in Lybia, believe in open borders, national healthcare, unlimited refugees, and free trade. All of them bad for the country.
Snopes is not reliable and the mainstream media has created this distrust in reporting.
I don’t understand why you had to take the extreme action of blocking someone. If their Facebook posts bother you, you can simply unfollow them. I’ve done that with several people. Why engage in verbal combat when the other side isn’t listening? I’m amazed at the number of progressives in America who feel they have a duty to prove to all Trump supporters how stupid they are. I think those progressives are stupid for thinking their Trump diatribes are going to make any difference. Actually, their stridency is actually generating more votes for Trump than it is subtracting. Try the Serenity Prayer.
To Paula, Republicans used to quote Snopes all the time until it blew the whistle one too many times on the false “truths”. Then suddenly it became “unreliable.”
Deena, I think you would find the film, THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD comforting, reaffirming and illuminating.
People that don’t like normal American men need to get a grip. Your “safe spaces” are about to expire. As far as the women accusing Trump, it’s a fairly common thing for opportunists to jump on the bandwagon when there’s an accusation in the wind that can’t be proved. We’ve all known Trump for how many decades & now he’s all sorts of things that Leftists want you to believe. Oh please… On the other hand, Hillary is an unindicted felon & that’s a fact. She’s broken the law, that’s a fact. She has a documented history of unethical political & financial behavior, that’s a fact. Go ahead, Libs. Support your Clinton Crime Family. Enable the pervert Bill Clinton to return to the White House & get your earplugs ready for that screeching harpy.
IMHO, trust is the crux of the issue. Politically, in journalism, and otherwise.
That said, when litigation (more simplified: disagreement) is removed from journalism, bias is permitted albeit unintentionally.
No rational person wants to sue journalists for fun and games. Americans in the 90’s believed that was generally the situation that was occuring and libel laws became more restrictive.
Laws and the threat of litigation are designed to keep honest people honest and have been transitioning to an atmosphere of honest people becoming increasingly more paranoid.
There are honest minorities that have a rational fear of government. There are honest majorities that share a different but equally rational fear of government.
The theme is evident: Less government = A happier populace. Also, that people on both sides of the isle want what the same thing, prosperity.
Sorry for butting in to a well written article, though I think the idea’s point was well-done, it’s missing what I believe to be a key factor that should be reflected on even if it was not known at the time of the writing.
Thanks!
– Jon Herms
Not picking either HRC or Trump is a cop-out, and a complete abdication of your responsibility as both an adult and a voter. If this comes up at Thanksgiving, I’m going to tell my family that I consider lack of critical thinking skills (i.e., verifying the objectivity of a news source) as a serious disability, and I would no more attack them for that as I would someone in a wheelchair or who cannot hear. Your life pretty much sucks without critical thinking skills, as you’re likely to make the same mistakes over and over and learn nothing from them. They deserve your pity, and nothing more.
My husband and I find that if we really want to know what is going on in the world we watch NHK, DW and BBC. Our country doesn’t seem to realize how much of our news is sanitized for our consumption.
I’m sorry you’ve basically lost your family over this election, but I can’t believe the American people didn’t see the problems with both candidates clear back before they were nominated by their parties. But were there anything better at that point, I don’t remember any. Oh well I will go to the polls and vote for the least objectionable. And hope in 4 years, better candidates are offered.
I symathise with you Deena. I am Australian & this year/time the States remind me of the group of itinerant old ladies who sat near the Guillotine knitting & watching the aristocrats beheadings. I am not overly fond of politicians because they mostly feed on the latest situation. I have found they are all dishonest in one way or another. There are a few who actually try to ‘do the right thing’ but once they make it they are told to pull their heads in and follow the party line. I am the eldest of 6 and One of my sisters is into Unions. Not my cup of tea. I keep seeing snippets of the Trump/Hilary circus & I keep thinking – God hep us all because what happens in you country eventually impacts on us.
This is a very sad thing but as a mom and grandma I am very proud of you! I have found some ugliness in many over this election as well. I see that many Trump supporters seem yo be very angry and mean and frankly childish. I don’t feel this man brings out any good in anyone. Stay strong and always follow your heart and listen to your gut.
I think this is a good example of what is happening all across the country. Very sad state of affairs. Thank you Donald Trump, you inglorious bastard.
Hi.
Just a question. To my defence I’m Canadian.
Lets say D.Trump wins, or should I say his party. Now he makes America great again and in the process bankrupts the USA. Sorry my spelling is not that great.
Will your Family appoloize to you if they are wrong?
If not cut your loses. If they don’t believe blood is thicker then water, in this case politics.
What a lost. Always remember your family is who chose to be surrounded bye, the family that you grow up with sounds like their not family at all. Haven’t they ever heard the right to disagree. Somehow we all need to pray that God above gets his people to listen to his still voice. If Mr.Trumps party wins making him President of the USA. Then it’s a part of the master plan. I don’t usually share my views of another’s countries elections, but we in western Canada have had to live through it aswell. All I can say is November 8th couldn’t come soon enough.
You are brave and it’s good to take a stand against fascism or plutocracy whether it divides families or not. Trump is that dangerous. It’s sad but sometimes you just have to draw a line in the sand. I can’t respect family or friends who would vote for someone who the KKK think is a great candidate.
Applause! Well said.
Applause! Well said. Reporting on facts, from reputable news sources is the goal. Sometimes folks only “hear” what they want to hear- – and you can’t tell them otherwise.
What A pompous woman! My way or the highway. Whatever you say is totally wrong, Whatever I say, I will defend with dismissing, ignoring, ridiculing and lying. Whatever you say just proves that you are an ignoramus not worthy of any discussion. Never forget, it’s my way or the highway! So get out of my face before I de-friend you and send you to a re-education camp, you loser.
Sincerely, your pompous “journalist” friend.
I really never thought I’d see this day. Journalistic excellence has always been extremely important. Way, way back in the day, the newspaper, The Christian Science Monitor did a great job of reporting fair, balanced and in-depth news. It was very important (and remains somewhat so) as a bell weather for all news outlets. I really think Fox News has done a horrible disservice to our country. The whole ‘the election is rigged’ concept was first born on this ‘news’ station. Everything is so convoluted… it’s just a mess. I hear you about your family. On the way to a Clinton rally, I ended up talking with my Libertarian son on the phone… (he might be a Trump supporter, but isn’t letting me know). One thing I did realize while speaking with him is that he has absolutely no inclination to know me as a person. Seriously. ‘Maybe that’s common… but it makes me sad to realize that there is not one iota of interest in me, his mother. ‘So much of this is because my story is not in the slightest similar to his. Anyway, ‘sad your family is like this. I’m just sad all the way around, except – hey, check out the new song, ‘Seriously’ by Sara Bareilles. It ‘imagines’ the thoughts of President Obama as he watches this wild show taking shape around him. The lyrics are hauntingly moving. Man, things are not good.
Exactly my experience. Thank you for sharing it.
One wonders if this woman has ever heard of Operation Mockingbird.
I have to laugh about this.
I firmly believe that Hillary is a criminal and so corrupt that she is planning on war in order to profit. Similar to what she’s done over the past few years with the Clinton Global Initiative.
I also firmly believe that Trump is wholly incompetent and not Presidential material. He should not be considered for Village Idiot much less POTUS.
That said, this woman claims that mainstream media is the only valid sourcing. She claims that mainstream media can be trusted.
I know for a fact that mainstream media cannot be trusted. I have been in the midst of some of the biggest storylines of the past 30 years. I’ve been in war zones, in China while they were censoring Facebook because of the uprisings, in Thailand for two coups, on the DMZ in Korea and all over the world. I’ve been involved in events which were covered NON-FACTUALLY by the mainstream media.
I’ve called the “trusted” mainstream media on their stories and their sources only to be ignored or cursed.
I know for a fact that the mainstream media creates “facts” out of fantasy and does not fact check.
I know bloggers who will not post a column unless it has been meticulously verified.
I know that some of the most famous mainstream personalities are infamous for making up facts and publishing misleading “news” articles purposely.
She lost me as soon as she started mentioned mainstream media and implied that they could be trusted.
Snopes has been caught shilling for Hillary. Yet, she uses them as an example of “fact checking.”
Mainstream News such as ABC, NBC and CBS are owned by Corporations which put the bottom line ahead of actual news reporting. Yet, she states:
“I saw how these news outlets work to further the causes of those that give them money, but ironically, many people no longer trust the “lamestream media” which tries to keep a wall between advertising and the newsroom.”
That is just a little contradictory.
Here is a nice article for you to read, Deena.
http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6
Facebook relationships are optional. Life is too short to let politics or strangers destroy family relationships. Drop them from Facebook if you must, just remember the people around your dinner table are the real family, friends and uncles.
I am a journalist also, and believe that journalism has a duty to inform the public as accurately as possible about issues that affect readers. However, it is chilling to see journalism buffeted by ideologically-motivated “news” outlets, which strip the journalism of its credibility by suggesting that anything that is said can be true.
It is sad that you have allowed political disagreements come between you and your family. However you Knock the source of their arguments for Trump as unreliable and bad sources. Maybe if the reliable sources you mention would delve into Hillary as hard as they have ripped into Trump and publish unbiased stories maybe the Trump supporters would have more reliable sources to turn to!! Instead they paint Hillary as some kind of saint and destroy Trump.
This whole Trump problem is crazy. I can’t stand watching or listening to him. I don’t know who lies more or think he can do anything because he has money. It ‘s disgusting . I understand people want change in the government but having him asPresident would be the worst nightmare. I’m trying not to think about it. Because it makes me sick? He only wants to make himself great. If anyone believes he will help America they have a screw loose in their heads. God help us.
It’s fascinating to me to read these replies, and see the same guy keep popping up- Jerry- spouting things that must make tin-foil suppliers smile from ear to ear, and then attacking folks with things like “ignorance is so unattractive” in response to the assertion that the media reporting something that someone might reasonably come to the conclusion of, say, Trump is an ass.. Amazing. You must truly put in effort to be this way. Go get a hobby.
This is what Obama wants !! Devide the people by race ,religion, family , friends, rich,& poor !!!!
Im not a journalist, I’m not an American, Im an immigrant from Ireland, but i do consider America to be my home since i have lived here for 28 years. Its obvious to me that Trumps rhetoric has divided this country right down the middle.As detailed in Deenna’s initial post it has even divided families who claim to be religious God fearing people, (as they are called in America!!) Why they fear God is puzzling to me, being a Catholic from a very religious country I was never taught to fear God. Not that my religion is that important in a country as diverse as America claims to be. This election has brought forth the racism and bigotry that it seems has festered under the guise of racial equality for generations. America is obviously a very racist country and Donald Trumps divisive and hate filled speeches (which even his own handlers advise him to stay away from) have opened a Pandoras box of hatred that has been festering below the surface for a long time and has given voice to a large portion of American people who feel that their rights have been stolen by immigrants and religions other than their own. The gag has been ripped from the consciousness of Americans who feel they are not being represented by their own government. We can all find someone to blame our good or bad personal status on whether it be government or religions but what made America great as the Donald likes to refer to, has been eroded by his own hatred filled musings. He lies like a rug and people don’t care because it is what they want to hear, well at least some of them. his own personal life is a patchwork quilt of mistreatment of those less fortunate than he is,i won’t list them because i think we have all heard them before.But when it gets to the point that a candidate for the highest office in the land is calling for people to take up arms against an opponent if he loses, and to disrupt the workings of our government itself to satisfy his own ego i think he has gone too far. He sounds more like the spoiled child that he probably was growing up (that detestable child we have all seen screaming for candy or treats at the store when their Mom or dad won’t give in to their demands for whatever it is that they want. If you don’t see it his way he attacks like a rabid dog. Media is rigged, elections are rigged, everyone in the republican primary had some fault (according to the Trumpster) that made them unacceptable for the office of President, He has not 1 good word to say about anyone, he demeans and berates people who oppose his point of view. He has no plans he just spews hatred regardless of the context.He says that our generals are military morons, this from the person who dodged serving in the military due to his privilege. He says he can teach them a lesson or two. Disrespects a prisoner of war who suffered indescribable torture at the hands of his captors right down to belittling good working class people for their stupidity for not taking advantage of tax laws that rip off the very people he is now looking to lead as president. This man is not a good person he has all of the traits of a dictator, maybe thats why he keeps a copy of Hitlers speeches beside his bed so he can refer to it and get his unbelievably hate filled ideas from. Maybe thats why he refuses to condemn the leader of a nation that has been a vocal opponent to everything American. Regardless of the outcome of this election Donald Trump has undermined everything that made America great even if it was a veiled greatness he has ripped off the band aid that was holding it all together. I vent here because i i am worried about what will happen if this man becomes President. I have a 19 year old daughter that serves in our great military and i posed a question to her that if it comes to it, how would she feel about having to point her gun at Americans? Because what this man is preaching will being hatred forth that will make the racial unrest of the 60s look like a day at Chucky Cheeses for a kids birthday party. Ok I’ve ranted enough but not enough people are ranting against this man, don’t let your distrust or dislike of our government lead us to a place where we elect a dictator that would be colossally worse than what we are living with now.He refers to Muslims the same way Hitler referred to Jews before he came to power in Germany not too long ago. And we all know where that ended up.Thank God they did not have nuclear power back then, if they did i don’t think we would have to worry about this. If you read this far you obviously dislike Trump at least a little so do what you can to disenfranchise this hate filled individual.
Deena Winter: I have been monitoring this american election and politics in gereral from Canada for 18 months now (several hours daily) and have reached the same conclusions as you, and have had similar family tensions as a result. Yours is an excellent article, If I wasn’t so old and tired I would have written it myself almost exactly as you did. It worries me greatly because in N.A. we may not be smart enough (i.e. educated enough, anti-ignorant enough) to maintain a stable democrcy. We are in big trouble when there are no limits on, and no repercussions for lies, purposeful distortions, innuendo and just plain ignorance. Anybody in the world has a nearly free soapbox that can cover the entire ‘wired’ world, to publish any nonsense whenever they feel the urge, with no attempt to learn the truth. It is a HUGE problem with no solution in sight. There is a solution, but it is over the horizon, so to speak out of sight; it is more and better education, but it takes time, at least a generation, and I doubt there is the political will to make it happen. We better ‘pray’ that Hillary gets in with enough house and senate support to implement some of Bernie’s policies. This next election on Tuesday is the most important election anywhere where in the world, in my lifetime (75 years).
Thank you for giving voice to exactly what has saddened, troubled and mystified this Gen X journalism graduate. We were taught to strive for balance, even when our own beliefs conflicted with the story. We were the ones the public looked to when information was scarce and carefully guarded, when the truth was easier to hide. The constant stream of pseudonews vomit from unvetted and unedited sites has whittled down the number of people I actually follow on social media. I don’t unfriend them, because I wouldn’t have been friends in the first place if we didn’t have some common ground to begin. But I also can’t have a rational discussion about the current political climate with them. So for my own sanity, I unfollow. And congrats on the stringer assignment! Keep fighting for the truth. One of these days we’re going to need it again.
THX Deena for bravely sharing your feelings……from what I’m reading, its not agreeable with ALL! Iv been following the election, watching all of the campaigning
I can stand. This election is far to important to ignore…..I will say this, I am NOT voting “Trump!” He truly scares me…..That said….Iv always told myself, “if iv given “it” 100%, (and more) then Iv done all i can do……You have and I have so much respect for your honesty…..Most have selective “hearing” and can no longer be swayed….almost cult-like, again scary. Prayers young lady……U’ll be fine….:)
A fair take but I do think any fair assessment does show mainstream media bias for Clinton. Trump is very obviously a major jackwad but Hillary’s sins are more camouflaged by a more professional appearance and behavior, that of a typical politician. Still, from a policy standpoint, I wonder how any true liberal can support a woman that has endorsed every military intervention for the lat 24 years. Well, at least now she’ll be able to raise taxes to pay for them!
I’m with you, Deena. It has been so hard for me this time around. I am not a journalist, but I do believe in fair journalism and am shocked that family and friends who are highly educated and which I think would not be so gullible are reading sources with no validity and when I come back with snopes or urban legends they come back with , oh that’s because they are liberal and paid by Clinton. They don’t even notice that spelling and grammar on these sites are horrible, which to me would be the first sign of a not so trustworthy news site. I have unfollowed many just so that our friendship does not end. The devisiveness that Trump has caused in this country is amazing and as a devout Christian I can almost see that Trump could be considered the Anti-Christ. It is not that I believe this, but I see People who I thought were Deeply Christian follow him as if he is their “God”. I pray each day that they realize he is just dividing families and friendships. They are blind to it.
Awesome, I truly enjoyed your article, if I clip a line or two I won’t be cited for stealing, if you want cite me please do so, but charge me with stealing with the intent to repost the truth!!!
Thank you so much for writing this. As someone who worked in newspapers for 25 years, 20 at the LA Times, I share your pain and frustration. Unfortunately, the people who need to read it most, won’t. I am so done with posting up #NeverTrump pieces by the brilliant George Will/WaPo, Ross Douthat/NYT etc only to get countered and attacked with articles from Breitbart and Conservative Treehouse and all the other faux-news crap sites people are using to reinforce their cognitive dissonance and delusions.
The internet is ruining civil dialog, politics, and America. Critical thinking is on life support. I wish I had much optimism, but it may get worse before it gets better. I’ve shared this piece widely with other journalists and smart people and the praise is coming in. Well-done.
In speaking your truth I hear most clearly the pain you are experiencing in these divisive times. You reflect back to so many of us what we too are feeling, witnessing, experiencing. Thank you for sharing, which is always an act of courage and strength. May you and your family find peace and balance and allow Love to prevail.
I’m so sorry you had to block your family. They’re just trying to save you and your daughter from the Hell that is a Clinton administration. Just what ARE her policies? Other than open borders and more Obama care I can’t find any. All she does is bash Trump. That’s her shtick. Not sure why you would even consider her as president. I understand you support neither, but voting for a 3rd party is simply stealing the vote from the potential president. I also get that it’s a choice between one devil or another….So it is what it is. Whatever. The TRUE tragedy here is the fact you are at odds with family. It shouldn’t be so. I am sorry for your loss and your troubles. I hope after this election we can begin to build the bridge again.
Thank you, Deena, for your eloquence and insight. I’ve also experienced this alternative reality. I’m an educator who teaches history, and I’ve also seen the power of the echo chamber in my classroom. We look for news to validate and vindicate our worldview, not to inform us. History, like journalism, cannot help but be political, and it’s scary to see attempts to rewrite our nation’s story in order to cover up our missteps and save face. I’ve been accused of “hating America” because I teach about women, Native Americans, African-Americans, Chinese immigrants, as well as White America, and the vitriol is palpable. Stay strong, you’re not alone!
Ok I get what she’s saying but people are allowed there but don’t attack my kids directly. opinions and as far as snopes.com goes. They had been investigated and found to be a husband and wife team that doesn’t always tell the truth. ESP when it comes to Clinton
I feel her pain. I have a similar situation with my husband, my daughter/son-in-law, several cousins, a whole host of co-workers and a few close friends. I’m not a journalist but I wonder about the intelligence and sanity of my loved ones and others who think Trump is a better choice. I am not a fan or supporter of Clinton either. But I can discern the difference. I can’t talk politics with those I love the most. It is the WORST year for presidential elections that I’ve experienced in my life. And I thought George W. Bush is the worst it could get….until Ted Cruz….and then finally Donald Trump.
It is so sad that you now have this divide. We have managed to stay a family through this. Some families can’t manage it. My son seems to think Snoops favors Hillary also. Come have thanksgiving with us.
Your article made me cry! I identify with your article and agree with everything you have to say. It is so crazy out there. I dread Election Day!
Great writing, thank you ❤️
Very well written. I see from a lot of the comments most have missed the point. I am 72 and have never seen such hate driven passion from both sides. It is splitting friends and families apart. This is America and we will recover.
Has anyone tried turning the USA off and then back on again?
God bless you for writing this thoughtful perspective. News is dead; easy enough now to make up a lie and find the “facts” to support it.
And you are spot on about the sources on some of the nonsense posted. They are so easily debunked if only people took accountability for what they posted. Sadly, people are more concerned with bolstering their points of view than using knowledge to create informed opinions.
As much as I blame the candidates, I blame Americans on both sides of the aisle who perpetuate misinformation and the dumbing down of America.
Say goodnight Gracie. It’s over America🇺🇸
Really youbare going to blame any presidential candidate for how he behaves about who he is voting for rediculous it’s your uncle to blame. I’m voting Trump but i wouldnt be a douche to my niece because she is voting hillary that’s not how America is supposed to work
Sadly, you’ve been won over to the dark side. . . the very fact that you’ve sourced opinions based on “research” from such sites as Politico et al is most revealing that your journalism skills are more than a little wanting.
It’s too bad that you’ve shut out the wise counsel of a number of your family members, yet, on the other hand, it is to their credit that in spite of your critical thinking skills, they still love you and will welcome you back into the fold once you regain your senses.
Like a lot of what you say but you discredit yourself when a) you claim to only site highly reputable sites and then you site snopes.com as your be-all source (I like it and also use it to debunk my mother’s superstitions with my siblings… but it isn’t the NYT…) and b) you condemn people because they like charter schools. I’d ask you to dig in more on charter schools like KIPP, Green Dot, Alliance, Harlem Children’s Zone, etc. You need to focus on high performing, non-profit, public charter schools – of which there are many.
Apparently she did not read the FACTS THAT most the mainstream media is in Clinton’s Pocket and have been spewing lies since the beginning. So Deena, your story is bullshit
Sadly, this is true in many families. Regardless of who wins the election they need our prayers that God will use them to accomplish His plans for us.
God Bless you Deena, somewhere, somehow it has become US Vs Them. We are Americans and a house divided can not stand. My Prayer is that we come together and lovingly agree to disagree on issues but to stand firmly together as people.
Thank you for articulating this so well. Something similar has happened in my family. I knew we were poles apart in politics and religion when I moved 1300 miles to be near them, but I did so because I love them. But this campaign split us, irrevocably, I fear. It”s not because we disagree. It is because they have treated me so disrespectfully. I have felt as bullied by them as I see Trump bullying so many groups of people, including the media. But my relatives believe they speak for God and anyone I believe in speaks for the devil. I asked them if my beliefs make me evil and that”s when they stopped speaking to me, six months ago. Even so, I believe what’s happening to our country is a good thing because Trump and Clinton did not create this dark side to our psyche. They’re only serving as mirrors.
Thank you for this. I am going through a similar hell. I have always loved my family and childhood friends deeply. I am the lead singer of a hard rock band and have toured our great country… the south and midwest have a lot of hard rock fans who are also now my friends on FB. Anytime I post anything pro-HRC or anti-Trump all hell breaks loose on my page. I post from mainstream media and debunk with FactCheck and Snopes but am constantly told that my sources can’t be trusted. But instead we should trust an international criminal non-American hacker Julian Assange, b/c what? he has America’s best interest at heart? Or Alex Jones, a 30-year + conspiracy theorist who believes that the Sandy Hook massacre never happened and 9/11 was our U.S government ?? My “unblocking” and “unfriending” buttons have been working overtime for the past 3 months!
I am so sorry to hear that families and friends are being ripped apart. Even here in Canada, I was just saying “media manipulation made me decide not to take sides” and I got attacked for that – people arguing one is worse than other citing questionable sources. I won’t give up precious time in my busy life to investigate every bloody article etc about both then decide. Why the f.. do I have to? Sheesh.
You wrote this like you had no opinion of either candidates but clearly that is not what I read!! Clearly you have your own opinion, maybe your uncle should’ve blocked You before you blocked him!
Aaaaand… the comment section proves the crux of your article. there is almost no such thing as logical discussion any more, only confirmation bias.
Both my brothers have deleted me from friends on thier FB accounts. During our debate on FB, my brother called me and some friends in the discussion, “baby killers” and “murderes”.
My response was to call him a twisted soul.
His response, “now you’ve gone to far and hit below the belt”. Both brothers have deleted me.
Most people would say that his calling me a murderer and baby killer was hitting below the belt but in true Trump fashion, “They just don’t get it”.
I wish what you had written was flawed, partisan, imagined paranoid ramblings – instead of the profound, well-written, compassionately articulated truth that it is. I wish it weren’t. I feel your pain.
I am aware that this election has fractured may families, friends and spouses. I am so sorry it has eaten yours. I pray all of you can find you way back to each other. I know only truth can do that.
As a friend told me recently, because of FB and all the political rhertoric she has no Christmas gifts to buy this year. Politics and religion can tear the fabric of our families apart.
Judith Miller, Thomas Friedman, Bill Keller, the NYT, and the entire US media, gleefully lied us all into Iraq. They all lied to start that war, and that avalanche of catastrophe is still unfolding.
Nobody will ever be punished for that. The system does not punish lies of consensus. They all jumped in together.
There’s a reason the public does not trust journalists. You are liars.
Actually, I believe the Bush Administration lied about that…and Colin Powell took the Bush Admin message to the United Nations….A message that was a lie but, nevertheless, led us into a war. The journalists reported on what was given to them by the White House and politicians in the know. A journalist is not given a seat at the table of the the discussions about whether to go into that war. I suppose I may get insulted by disagreeing and sharing another perspective, which is why discussion and dialogue has broken down. If no one will consider a position different than their own, we lose the opportunity to learn and grow.
Being a stenographer for Bush isn’t journalism.
Everyone knew it was bullshit. I defy any of them to say they didn’t know the whole Iraq war business was a lie from the start. Whether or not there were actually WMDs in Iraq is a canard; this was essentially unknowable at the time. It was the rest of it that was obviously idiotic, yet the folks at the Times, swallowed it with a smile.
There was the idea that Saddam Hussein, a secular dictator whose chief domestic enemies were Islamic fundamentalists, was somehow a natural potential ally for bin Laden. There was the supposition, credulously reported for months, that if Saddam “disarmed,” we would back off (we were going in anyway, everyone could see that; all of the “inspections” coverage, that whole drama, was a pathetic fraud). There was the idea that Bush and Co. were sincerely moved to grave concern by “intelligence” about Saddam’s weapons (on the contrary, there was a veritable mountain of evidence that the Bush administration was turning over every couch pillow in Washington in search of even the flimsiest fig-leaf to stick on its WMD claims; the source of the WMD panic was clearly the White House, not Langley or any other place). There was the idea that a preemptive invasion was not a revolutionary idea, not illegal, not an outrage. And so on.
They all lied together. They jumped in the water. And they knew what they were doing.
I have a suggestion
Write a shorter version so the ( Trump non readers ) might stop and learn something.
You’re preaching to the educated choir
I’m so sorry. That must be heartbreak for you. I’ve been concerned about Fox “News” for years – how they can use in their name “News” but not follow the principles that journalists are taught. It’s like we should rename the Daily Show, the “Daily News” – it’s that absurd. Don’t get me wrong – I love the Daily Show, but I realize it is satire…I realize it’s not meant to be my true news source. NPR is my go to source for relatively unbiased reporting and, even then, I’ve seen them slip a little on that slope as they try to be a part of the current environment of newscasting. 😦
You’re welcomed to my home for Thanksgiving.
Wow people really support his racist but that means only one thing they are racist to and do u think thats going to fly with our black slash as the racist calls us monkey looking butts YES THEYCALL US MONKEYS !!!! And as far as tje crimes hes done there are plenty of molesters out there who have not been charged i live i one of the poorest citys in indiana i work hard everyday i still have to deal with racist but ok as long as i so me and respect and love everybody im good look how Bill cosbey was found out and cause hes black he had to pay the price for his actions but trump has money and speaks what people want to here its ok for him to do the things he do umm NO everyone has an opion so it is what it is we go see who wins it may not be the best man the people going to get what they asked for not this is my opion i dont care who dont like it
What we are seeing in the media and on the internet is the radicalization of a divided people. Mainstream news sources tell people not to trust other news sources while places like Facebook have a software algorithm that pushes content that the user prefers. This includes biased political propaganda. It serves the algorithm to argue, block and unfriend each other.
Wow. Just reading the comments proves the whole point of the article, doesn’t it?
This election has polarized people like no other. Some friendships won’t survive. It’s even harder with families. I say, if Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be anxiety producing with family, stay home and invite someone less fortunate to your table or serve at a kitchen giving food to the poor.
Maybe everyone will have calmed by Easter.
Welcome to the club.
I have been defriended and/or blocked by my Trump supporting brothers and cousins. I won’t discuss politics with my dad..
This will be over soon. But how I view my mostly male relatives will persist.
Your article resonated 100 percent, but if you are not voting for Hillary – the only thing standing between Trump, a white supremacist, and the Presidency – then you may as well go home for Thanksgiving and smile pretty for your Daddy because your vote supported Trump.
“Thanks to Donald Trump I Blocked My Uncle”? What a joke.
If you couldn’t stand what your uncle was saying, you could have put him on silent. Not able to post things on your wall or status. But no. You are Choosing to blame someone else for you blocking a family member.
Could your uncle have been a nice guy and stopped posting political stuff on your wall and under your statuses? Yes he could have. But you could have also been the better person and just ignored it all or put him on silent. Instead he was rude and you are choosing to blame someone you don’t know for blocking someone you do know.
How very mature. Not.
After reading these comments all I know is that we no longer live by “United we stand, divided we fall.” it is now “Divided we stand, united we fall”. It was not until the terrible tragedy of 911 that we all stood together as Americans on this soil. It took terrorism in action to bring us together as one…hence United we fall. And divided we stand with this ridiculous election. I am guessing, with the way people are talking, that whoever wins, blood will likely be shed. Neither candidate is evil. It is only the people and the way each person supports his/her candidate that is evil. It is a lose/lose situation. Someone will not be happy and we will, no doubt, become more divided. It’d just what the other world powers want to see. Good job Americans!
Deena, I really feel for you! But Trump supporters cannot be considered “regular skinny Santas”. They are bigots, racists, narcissists, misogynists and they think that they can do everything using God’s name! They are literally brainwashed!
Sorry Deena! I meant “they can do ANYTHING” and not everything….” Oooppss Long Day!
There is nothing worse than a Hillary supporter… since they have no argument they resort to name calling…. thanks for showing us why we can’t have Clinton in the white house… look at the way she has turned her supporters into such hateful people. That mentality that says, agree with me or I’ll call you a list of names… Looks to me like you’re the one who’s brainwashed.
Fuck ’em.
Well suffice it to say that SNOPES.com was outed this past spring for being biased and not being ‘truthful’ in reporting it’s findings I don’t trust a word they say. So for a seasoned journalists, you might need to find another source to verify your ‘facts’. In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving….
Thanks for writing this – it explains a lot about how the US has gotten to this point which from a non-US citizen’s point of view is just bizarre
Sounds to me like your having more issues with journalism rather than family or politics. Your assumption that main stream journalism is reliable while lesser sources not so much shows a lack of attention on your part. Virtually all journalism is bias in today’s environment. If a journalist relies on adverbs and adjectives in the story it shows bias. Most if not all stories have such. And usually in the title. When that happens facts become cloudy no matter the source.
The shame is that we tend to bind our sense of self to these candidates and elections. In the end, we are truly, simply, hiring someone for a job. That’s all.
Instead, we pour our hopes and dreams into them and visually bend the candidate to reflect ourselves, seeing what we chose to see. The net result is that if you simply say to someone, “This person we’re interviewing for the job doesn’t seem qualified to me.” they become angry and feel attacked. I realize this is a pretty big job, but do people in the Costco HR behave like this every time someone applies for a job?
Winterized author: come to our house for Thanksgiving. We would all love to have you! It’s always fun. Good food, lots of laughter and everyone pitches in. Honestly we would love to have you and would welcome you with open and loving arms. Change it up!
all you clowns take social media way too seriously……blocking people for expressing their opinions, that’s one of the things it’s useful for…… “trusted” media sources, really, by whom? when was the last time any millenial twit actually researched anything for themselves????Millenials are a bunch of rudderless twits and twats who can’t last a day without a “smart” phone or a city….take one ten miles out into the country and they don’t know where they are……..
she chose to block her uncle, it’s not trumps fault… what a dumb argument … she sells out to the liberal media, then blames someone else for her decisions… wow
Sadly the mainstream media as a whole have proven not to be worthy of public trust. They have allowed themselves to be used as willing tools for lies and propaganda. I used to have a lot of respect for Christiane Amanpour, but not anymore.
Your family will always love you. You need to learn to respect and live with each other’s differences in choice and perspective. Intolerance is not Christ-like. Try to mend the bridge with your family.
ELECTIONS come and go but relationships shouldn’t be tarnished because of it. I can relate cause a similar incident happened last year. Last year when Nigeria had her own ELECTIONS I was blocking people on a daily basis. I am sure Facebook somehow had to increase the cloud space for Nigerians. People I thought were respectable human beings posting and saying all sorts about the NOW president and when you challenged them to prove their stories went on a verbal abusive rant. They called a drunkard a “Christian” his wife like Trump incited violence and said all sorts of vile things today Patience Jonathan has been accused for stealing billions from the treasury. Did I also mention my mum didn’t speak to me for months because I voted a “Muslim dictator into power”? America and other super powers sent troops because the way the government in power so desperately wanted to hold on was shockingly clear that if nothing was done a war will ensue. Well nothing happened and we kicked the thieves out. Yes social media has its perks but people should learn to decipher facts from lies. Also the mainstream media needs to sit back after this election to re-evaluate its importance to us viewers readers etc.
1 thing. Hillary Clinton on live television during the last debate disclosed top secret classified and sensitive nuclear launch code protocols to the whole world putting every single damn American at risk. I didn’t support either candidate but this is grounds for treason and even espionage and whistle blower status. Edward Snowden told the people they where being spied on and now the united states wants to prosecute him, but she commits this crime on national television and nobody even blinked an eye? Shame on all of you that even considered her for candidacy.
Deena, You are welcome to come to my house for Thanksgiving! My family will welcome you with open arms!!
It’s not trumps fault you dumbass it’s yours you and everyone else can’t stand the fact he’s you president just Bc you women cant get an abortion at 8 months y’all wanna be stupid little bitches and blame trump shut up sit down and deal with it he’s our president now deal with it if you don’t like it move
I don’t understand how one person’s bad behavior is the fault of someone else. Grow up people!
BTW- Mainstream media is not a trustworthy source. They are so liberally biased, they twist everything to look good for the liberal and bad for the conservatives
narrow minded & ignorant party line voters have no one to blame but themselves for this fiasco
First of all factual stories to you maybe because you choose to believe the media nonsense. But not factual in the real world. This country definitely didn’t need Evil Hilary continuing the race wars and courtship with Iran that Obama started these are facts. Now if people would just grow up we could get back to fixing the country that Obama has divided.
That’s no ones fault but your own. What a shame.
It’s sad to see this!!!
I am angered at your decision not to go home to see your Mom and Dad for “Thanksgiving” or any reason! But that’s YOUR CHOICE!!!!
Let’s change it around…..
Give me your time this Thanksgiving with your Parents who you say are WONDERFUL, and you go to the cold and dreary GRAVEYARD and visit mine!!!!!! I PRAY that your Parents do NOT read this!!!!!
By the way, I think it sounds MORE IMPORTANT to you that the people read your stories and YOUR career!!!
Just saying!
Sounds like your just abunch of children and need to grow up. Its not Trumps fault you blocked your uncle. Its not Hillarys fault you blocked your uncle. Its your fault. If you and your family cannot grow up and act like adults then maybe you shouldn’t be allowed on fb or the net. Blaming someone else for what you and your family did to eachother is ignoignorance. So Not thanks to Donald Trump. Thanks to you and your family for being childish. Thats Americans problem, everyone wants to blame someone else for what they did. Grow up. Take the blame for your own actions.
FMily should not be blocking each other no matter fucking what family is all you go gun take that into consideration
Seriously it’s trumps fault that you can’t turn the other cheek and just bypass it. I bet you blame your parents for you life too
If you r such a “good christen”woman how could you have voted for Hillary?? She stands for abortion,lying,death. When she let the soldiers die in Bengali and says what does it matter now!!! She did it to them do you think for one second she wouldn’t do it again?? Next time it could be your family member,would that matter? She and Oboma did nothing for our country that was good. They have done everything to pull us apart. Trump may not be the best choice but he loves this country now.is the time to bring us back together. One God fearing nation together protecting our own FIRST . If you or anyone else doesn’t like that see if Hillary or Obama can get you to the middle east where they have all their contacts, see if they will take care of you.
You go on ad nauseum about verifying news sources and then you check snopes? If you took literally ONE minute to research snopes, you’d find it’s no better than wikipedia in terms of legitimacy. So please, do not bash others for their news source preferences when you’re looking at snopes.
But seriously…
Opinions differ, they are dynamic and run deeper than anyone can understand or needs to…agree to disagree with your family and move on. Life is too short to let your pride and your opinions stand in the way of family. Both Clinton and Trump sure do not care and have moved on. I’m sure your uncle has been through about 10+ more elections in his lifetime than you have and has lived to tell of them, Not everyone he has voted for has won and I’m sure he understands what it’s like to feel defeated. But his generation got it right – they moved on and grew from the adversity – and maybe even learned a thing or two in the process.
How about changing the subject and say, “I love you, and I respect our differences, looking forward to seeing you over the holidays.” He’s still your uncle, he’s still the same person – as are you. Seriously – if you woke up tomorrow morning, and God forbid something happened to him, how would you feel knowing that you did what you did? If you want to bring Christianity into this – well, then that’s what a good Christian would do. Christians are accepting of imperfection, despite how difficult it may be.
Remember – half of the eligible population did not vote – AT ALL. The other half of the population were divided by less than 1% – that’s extremely narrow – that leaves a lot of opinions, all of which are entitled to be respected as they are no better or worse than your own. This too shall pass. Unblock your uncle.
THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD “MAKE” YOU BLOCK YOUR UNCLE IS YOU AND ONLY YOU.
Another thing is: There is NO SUCH THING AS: Factual stories. Stories from trustworthy, mainstream media. THE YOU POST: I pay attention to sources, because I’ve been a journalist covering all kinds of government for about 25 years. I know the source of information is crucial. If your source cannot be trusted, your story can’t be trusted. OH SO A CAREER IN JOURNALISM MAKES YOU AN EXPERT – I DON’T THINK SO. THE GOVERNMENT ONLY GIVES YOU WHAT IT WANTS YOU TO KNOW – HOPEFULLY WITH TRUMP THIS MAY CHANGE. I believe that the people who did not support Trump just cannot understand that the US is tired of supporting people who don’t want to take care of themselves – I for one am sick of all the cry baby tactics and irrational behavior of the idiots who go out and destroy property and kill cops and people with different opinions to advance their agendas. Sick, spoiled brat kids who want eveything served to them on a silver platter. Grow up and instead of complaining and destruction do something to better the country and not bring it down.