When Hitler assured to exterminate the Jews, he actually meant it.
When Chamas said we’re going to annihilate all Jews, they really meant it.
When Trump promises to lock up anyone who opposes us, he means it.
Trump has four reasons to talk like a fascist:
To get free publicity
To desensitize the public to fascism, make it sound moderate
To mobilize people who will be his willful executioners
Because he can’t help himself; loose lips build myths.
A second Trump turn would not only mean a disaster for keeping Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other dictatorships at bay but also end US democracy. You don’t want to see that. Of course, the US military would fight back and win but not before killing the 50,000 lay Trump troops. So, the US Army must step up to remove right-wing zealots from its midst.
Rachel Maddow has a great approach. To promote democracy, she said, have a commitment to and love for democracy and use its tools:
To treat your opponents as equals, not inferiors, you want around
To oppose scapegoating and toxic conspiracy theories
To have activism and journalism tell the truth about Trump
To talk about how bad authoritarianism is, and
To try not to be intimidated by violence.
This all, without giving free publicity to Trump’s words and ideas.
Something like: ‘The former president again, under the protection of free speech laws, insulted veterans (he never served), the rule of law and the courts (he wants to stay out of jail and be American’s strongman), and anyone who opposes him politically (he threatens with execution). Instead of saying read papers and vote (you have political power), he promises to be an absolute ruler they can trust (dictators can’t ever be trusted). Most Republican politicians dislike him but are too scared to oppose him.’
I distrust people saying all the time they don’t lie. Therefore, I have a big problem with Chris Christie. He is open about disliking Trump, but this smooth-talking millionaire hides he still wants to make the rich richer—what right-wing USers call small government: the ‘freedom’ to abuse the system for your own benefit at the expense of everyone else. The left-wing eagerly broadcast his anti-Trump words and (in exchange?) don’t bother him about taxing the rich or his mixed LGBTQ record.
In a current TV ad, Trump warns voters that they don’t vote for him, this might be the last election. That, if he’s not chosen, the other side will abolish elections, and everyone will be stuck with a dictator. Not only is that a baseless, ridiculous claim; it is exactly what he is trying to do.
Haters, angry strongmen, bigots, anti-equality, ruthless men who adore tyrants, just like Chamas and Hitler, will try to use democracy to undo it.
Trump will consult with his closest buddies, the dictators of Russia, China, and North Korea, on how to put away dissidents, China how to follow all people electronically, also in the street by facial recognition, and Iran, how to use religion as a pretext to amass wealth and clamp down on freedoms.
And just like everything else that Trump ever touched, his father’s fortune, his wives, and his most loyal workers and lawyers, he will also break down the country and the GOP and not care. When accused, he won’t feel guilty. He’ll be incensed about such a lack of gratefulness. Take my word for it.
Still, I’m not optimistic. If you can’t sack Santos, how to dump Trump?
The party of Make America Hypocrite Again has just come full circle. First, Atheist con artist Trump lured the Evangelicals. Then, the GOP pretended to believe the election fraud myth. And now, it elected an Evangelical bigot Johnson as Majority House Speaker while they certainly aren’t Evangelical.
About the Author
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2000 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe too, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1