Dear Editor,
It is like it has not happened in Watertown.
Whose Job is it to Unmask the Threat to Democracy?
When federal agents conceal their identities behind masks, they don’t just cover their faces — they block accountability, liability and proper identification as a federal agent. In recent months, ICE has deployed masked officers in plainclothes across American cities, detaining immigrants and citizens alike without identification and a charge. This is not just unconstitutional — it’s dangerous.
In a certain case the military has been deployed in a city as though Martial Law has to be invoked because of a general uprising to overthrow the government as was carried out on January 6, 2021.
The Department of Justice has failed to disclose how many masked agents are operating, who they are, and whether any have ties to extremist groups like the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys or for that matter paid mercenaries. The leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers were convicted of seditious conspiracy and later pardoned. Without transparency, how can we be sure these operations aren’t being infiltrated by those who reject the rule of law?
This is not overstating the imminent danger this poses. The rise of the secret police in Nazi Germany began with masked raids, unmarked uniforms, and the targeting of a marginalized community under the guise of national security. Must we repeat their history?
In protecting the public, elected local and state officials must demand that Congress and the courts “Do Their Job” and demand full disclosure. Who are these agents? Are they affiliated with any extremist group? And why has the DOJ refused to account for their identities?
America cannot afford a secret police. Our Liberty demands sunlight.
Clyde L. Younger
Watertown Resident
Where is your outrage at BLM and Antifa masked protesters burning cities? Or masked supporters of Hamas at various universities? Or masked youth looting stores in LA, Philadelphia, etc.?
I guess you would like ICE agents to have photo IDs, and their home address published so that the leftists could terrorize them and their families? Isn’t that what you and others similarly situated are after, like you did to Justices Alito and Kavanaugh?
ICE is not “secret police”. And they carry badges; your assertion of lack of proper identification is not true. ICE is not after a “marginalized community”. They are after illegal aliens and cleaning up the mess caused by the Biden administration allowing open borders for years.
Your attempt to mix ICE with the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and (sic)“paid mercenaries” is absurd. Incidentally, has anyone ever heard of a gratis mercenary? An oxymoron, I guess.
No just have their faces showna and a badge with a number just like a cop, who sometimes has to wear a body camera.
As for the “what about” game, what about the protestors outside of Mayor Wu house or the breaking and beating at Nancy Pelosi’s house? Or the numerous daily threatsa that President Obama got throughout his two terms?
Apparently, you have never seen an ICE agent. They don’t display a badge and will hide in an unmaked vehicle, nothing like a police officer. And they are profiling people by the way they look. Citizens and residents with documentation have been picked up but very few of them tend to be white or part or the non-marginalized community.
The goverment is paying bounty hunters, so yes there is some mercenary work going on. Defending the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys and ignoring the vast majority of horrific crimes of which white males who are citizzens commit the majority is not a good look. Again this is not ok, normal or good in any way.
ICE agents perform the most dangerous job this side of the clearing land mines. They arrest criminals, many violent, often while surrounded by hostile, even violent, crowds. They have been doxxed, they and their families threatened. Biden’s reckless border control let in a ruthless underworld of murderers, rapists, drug and human traffickers, and other elements dangerous to society. They are welcome to self-deport, but otherwise they must be dealt with. And many local governments refuse to defend their communities from these menaces. If some ICE agents wear masks, it is because, as they “Do Their Job”, they know no one has their backs.
Not every mask-wearer is a Nazi, though Antifa anarchists come pretty close. I am repeatedly astonished to read here of villains described as heroes and heroes as villains. ICE agents are cleaning up years of treasonous neglect. If you can’t be bothered to thank them, at least have the decency not to libel them.
Firefighters perform far more dangerous jobs than ICE. I dare you to say the opposite to a firefighter’s face or those who went ran into the buildings on 9/11.
They are not the heroes especially when the priests and nuns have been directed to protect migrants, residents and citizens who fit the profile. Why do they run when they see a priest in court? Other religious orders like the Quakers are also protecting people from these terorizers. Add lawyers, doctors, buiness owners and yes even some police. Why are they going into courts, houses of worship and hospitals? My god, not even vampires go into sanctuaries or on sacred ground. Oh right, there’s no such thing as vampires, just people doing horrific things.
This is not ok. This is not normal. The pot is boiling and you ignore at your own peril.
You got me on firefighters, Rita, although no one’s actively trying to do them physical harm them while they do their job. Or calling them Nazis. Or threatening their families—or even me, if I that’s what you mean by my “own peril”. Let’s say land mine clearers, fire fighters, and ICE agents a close third.
On vampires, Quakers, boiling pots, and people who “run when they see a priest in court” (huh?), I am speechless. You must get out more than I do.
By the way, did you know that the Teamsters’ rank and file voted for President Trump over Vice President Harris by a margin of nearly 2-1 in a straw poll before the election? It’s true. I invite you to say the opposite to any Local 25 picketers to see on your rounds. Like firefighters, they’re gentlemen.
Not quite. Two firefighters were ambushed and shot dead a short time ago.
As to “vampires, Quakers”, etc. it sounds like homage to Timothy Leary, but not quite groovy.
By a Trump supporting family’s son. His parents even vistied DC that to protest te election but did not breech the Capitol.
Out of respect for Charlie’s wishes for new voices and opinions, I’ll pass.
Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
Wow, that seems to describe MAGA to a Tee.
Thank you for the insight.
May I inquire discreetly whether you could proofread your comments before posting? Spelling matters, so does punctuation.
Prove the “bounty hunters” claim. I do not believe it.
No. It actually describes socialists more aptly.
Thanks for nothing.
No sir, it is truly MAGA who turn good and evil, darkness and light upside down.
I am in shock at the self styled Christians who would have ICA remove Mary and Joseph from the stable by force and rip the baby Jesus from the manger. They’d have ICE arrest the Three Kings and deport them to South Sudan.
No sir, it is MAGA who would separate and brutalize the Holy Family. It is MAGA who turn Judeo-Christian morality on its head.
“ICE agents perform the most dangerous job this side of the clearing land mines.”
The histrionics and misrepresentations in this post are beyond belief–literally. As in, if you believe this, you might believe also believe that Trump won the 2020 election. Or that vaccines are harmful.
Oh wait. . .
The concept of truth has really gone down the spout.
You mean, “if you believe this”? From ICE.gov:
“Nearly a dozen violent assailants equipped with tactical gear and weapons attacked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Prairieland Detention Facility in Alvarado, Texas, on July 4, shooting a local law enforcement officer in the process.
…
“ICE officials currently face a 700% increase in assaults as activists masquerading as immigrant advocates continue to impede operations. On July 2, a man repeatedly rammed an ICE vehicle with his car in Linda Vista, California, before three activists attacked agents.”
I don’t know, is 700% a lot?
No, Trump didn’t win in 2000. The election itself was a fraud. 81 million “voters”? Where’d they come from? Where’d they go?
Sorry, but I don’t believe the statistic that you quote. Seems implausible and this administration has a long history of lying. So I don’t believe self justifying PR from Trumpville.
The election was a fraud? Please. . .Try another fantasy.
What about vaccines? More to worry about with vaccines than polio and measles.
I’ll bet that you think that all of Trump’s cabinet and competent and qualified.
Oy!
Just do the math. 10 in 2024, 79 in 2025.
On Tuesday, Bill Melugin of Fox News reported on X that DHS told him assaults against ICE and federal immigration enforcement are now up 690 percent from last year. While ICE has previously stuck to publishing percentages, Melugin was given raw data, reporting 79 assaults against immigration enforcement agents between January 21 and June 30, up from 10 that took place in the same time last year.
And I couldn’t care less if 2020 was a fraud or not. 2024 was a victory, and that’s all it matters now. The Cabinet is doing just fine, unlike the rudderless Democratic Party.
You were right to be skeptical, Joe. Attacks on ICE agents are now measured at an increase of 850%, up from last week’s mere 700%. You are free to ignore this number as well, but silence is violence, I’ve heard tell.
Make that 701%:
“An ICE protestor could be seen firing a gun directly towards federal agents on Thursday morning as a volatile standoff escalated at a California cannabis farm.”
That was just about the time you were writing, Joe. What are the odds? Still, get between a Californian and his weed, and what do you expect?
Again agree 100%!
If police officers, sheriffs, the national guard and witnesses in court have to show their faces, then these cowards have to abide by the same standard. Even CIA and FBI operativwes have to do so. If they are to remain masked, then they are de facto secret police, and in the public sphere no different from the Klu Klux Klan.
BLM protestors did not mask up nor did neo Nazi tiki torch marchers. Antifa has masked up but so have the Proud Boys (now there’s an oxymoron) and Oath Keepers. Some insercurectioninsts did and some did not. However, the one thing they have in common is they are civilians. They are the public and not agents working for the goverment.
We the people say no to masked govement agents, it is a gross violation. Maybe someone should invent an app that takes their face and digitally unmasks them. And where are all the free speechers who loved to dox anyone with whom they disagreed? Like why not dox now? Or are you too busy yelling at those now doing the doxing? Sucks when shoe is on the other foot.
How about doing some research before posting inaccuracies?
JEERING MOB Masked BLM protesters hurl racist insults at black cop and call him a ‘n***** b**ch’ at Breonna Taylor demo
Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore
Published: 16:11 ET, Sep 24 2020Updated: 16:29 ET, Sep 24 2020
US-DEMONSTRATION-TRIAL-RACISM
Two women wearing “Black Lives Matter” masks participate in the “Justice for George Floyd” march to the Minnesota State Capitol on March 19, 2021 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Kerem Yucel / AFP) (Photo by KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
News – George Floyd Protest Juneteenth – New York City
MANHATTAN, NY – JUNE 19: A Caucasian protester wearing a mask holds a handmade sign made out of a bag that says, “Black Lives Matter” in Washington Square Park
And there many, many more examples of this. Since I am not your quality control designee, I would suggest that you go and check it yourself and take your comment back.
“insercurectioninsts”? “Operatives”. What on earth is that? We are going to need a bigger keyboard.
Out of how many? How many times were protestors masked? How many protests had masked and unmaksed? Most of the time when I see proud boys they are masked but I cannot say that they are always masked. I saw a line of them goosestepping around with the Gadsen flag in Harvard Sq during a rally. Some masked, some unmasked. I too can find incidents of unmasked and masked BLM as well as Proud Boys. Like why would black people mask up? It’s not like people are trying to kill them (Read as Sarcasm) Why would Proud Boys? Are they not proud? I for one don’t mask up. As soon as I got vaccinated, finito. We got to learn to use stats.
I understand that radio news, cable news and network news are not there to inform so they are unreliable. I mean if they were really there to inform there would actually do more fire stories, and less stranger danger stories because there are more of the former than the later. Inducing fear is the objective. Thank god I held on to my Nvida stock when they all said it was over for Nvida! But one or ten incidents doesn’t a crimewave make as much as some people want it to.
When I go out canvassing almost every house in Watertown has a Ring or ADT sticker, and yet I know some of those houses don’t have good fire alarms or CO2 dectors because I smell smoke before I hear an alarm. One person had the dector hanging from its wires but she had her Ring Camera, ADT Sign and Beware of Dog sign. Fire will get her 10x over before a robber does. But that’s living in a bubble or trying to re-enfoce a narative that the stats don’t bear out.
Things are not always counterintutive. People really dont get stats. You are going to die, 100%! Of what? Probably smoke inhalation, heart disease, patricide…a drug kingpin racking up or a Mexican serial killer, probably not. To reiterate, the real crimewave is made up mostly of white male ciitzens. That’s a fact. Accidents are also a leading cause of death but instead of safety inspectors and DUI arrests, we get ICE. Good money being thrown down the toilets. It sucks to be us right now. Sadly, we are probably going to get dmber because someone has to always be making a buck.
When ICE agents mask themselves and don’t wear badges, you have no idea who they are, what agency they work for, and what authority they operate under, so it’s impossible to hold them accountable for their actions. California has proposed a law called the “MELT” Act. It would require “all law enforcement — not just ICE — to wear clear identification with names and badge numbers.” Law enforcement would be allowed to mask up in special circumstances like narcotics operations or SWAT raids. The spectacle of armed federal agents — faces hidden behind neck gaiters and balaclavas — jumping out of unmarked vans to snatch people off the streets is a clear threat to public safety. Their tactic of masking especially when wearing plain clothes and no visible marker of identity spreads fear and endangers citizens as well as immigrants without legal status.
If somebody comes up to you with a mask and a T-shirt and no badge, why would you think they are exercising a legitimate authority, as opposed to being a violent criminal trying to harm you? Regular police officers operate every day with their faces uncovered and their badge numbers visible, and it’s not considered unsafe for their identities to be available to the public. Clearly ICE agents are trying to create an atmosphere of intimidation. By masking themselves, they’re signaling that they’re not accountable to any sort of public.
Some members of Congress are pushing No Masks for ICE Act, a federal bill that would prohibit ICE Agents from using face coverings during operations except for specific safety reasons, and it would require agents to wear visible identification that clearly displayed their name and agency affiliation. Not surprisingly, not a single Republican has gotten on board, even though many alarmed Americans — Democrats, Republicans, and independents — think there ought to be clear federal guidelines on badges, uniforms, and masking.
“When ICE agents mask themselves and don’t wear badges, you have no idea who they are, what agency they work for, and what authority they operate under…”
Hint: check out their jackets or vests: ICE, FBI, HSI, DEA, CBP—the whole gamut of alphabet agencies, as well as “Police”, “Federal Agent”, and “Federal Officer”. In big ol’ white or yellow letters. You know exactly who they are. And you know the absolutely vital job they do. One dumbass Temple College student (but I repeat myself) tried holding a fake raid—but his arrest was real enough, as was his suspension from school.
They arrest the most dangerous criminals, and they’re the bad guys?!! Don’t tempt the asteroid, people.
It’s almost not worth responding to the those who defend masked law enforcement officers. The only reason they defend them is that they are–for now–coming after brown and black “offenders.” If these “brave” law enforcement officers (I put brave in quotes because the danger to these heavily armed warriors, with bullet proof vests, and many colleagues, against usually one scared immigrant rarely rises to the level of a policeman or a firefighter) were coming after white folks the white folks who defend them would likely be singing a different tune.
What is really going on is the legitimization of prejudice against minorities. Can I prove that? No. But keep your eyes open–it’s going to get worse.
If it’s not worth responding, it is not worth reading. And if you cannot prove it, why would you write it?
Bye now.
Nice to be told what I actually think. For free, no less! But as an amateur shrink, you might want to read up on “projection”. It would explain a lot.
Funny thing about engaging in debate on this site. Those who don’t stick their fingers in their ears and deny the facts we present instead resort to the worst of slurs. Or issue threats. Some debate: one would be hard pressed to find an actual argument among the invective spewed.
My modest proposal is that all illegal aliens, however many tens of millions they are, be returned to their countries of origin, wherever they may be, and we start over. You say they’re “brown and black”, but that’s an awfully harsh judgement of people of color. Psychiatrist, heal thyself.
Agree! And there is a pecking order, always has been. Anyone who knows about the history of immigration laws can inform you. Chinese were purposefully excluded even though some arrived soon after the founding of Plymouth Rock. Jesiwh people were pretty much always excluded even during programs and the Holocaust, and some of their forebeards were here in the SW as early as the late 1500s. And then there were Catholics. Irish were brought over as indentured servants which made it easier to take over Ireland. Other Catholics can thank JFK for opening up the quotas. However, Mexicans were permitted untill the depression simply because they were our neighbors and we did business with them. Then that changed.
The only legimate claimants to this land are the Native Americans ( I hestiate to use indigenous because there is some DNA evidence of them being here sooner or of another population here before. They are finding framents of bones that are much older than expcected.) and African Americans. One had been here for thousands of years and the others were slaves forced to live here and birth their families here.
Immigrantion laws are so arbritary. Goddamn Nazis were let in after the war to fight the Cold War. Yes we took in actual Nazis! So French if you are a LePen supporter? Russian if you got billions? South Africans if you are white? Jewish if you are Republican? This is not a futre scenario. It is happening now. The grand irony is that people always think there is no pecking order or that they are much higher on the list. What happens when the president is a Hispanic? Does she or he respect everyone or go after us gringos? Maybe just the blondes and gingers? Maybe the only the ones who don’t speak Spanish?
Anyone defending what is going on with ICE, really needs their heads examined, a lot of therapy or to check and see if they have a soul. I seriouslly cannot understnad how soulless you have to be. Or how much of a sellout. This is not the United States of America. It is not normal, It is not ok. This is what happens elsewhere, and most Americans will not stand for it regardless of party affiliation or religious background or skin color. It is morally wrong, and the kind of activity that would cause Thomas Jefferson to scream for blood.
I defend ICE; I don’t need to be insulted for it. And after reading yet another one of your diatribes, I must conclude that I am not the one who needs his head “examined” or “a lot of therapy”.
You have asked “Jewish if you are Republican”? Small chance of that: “About seven-in-ten Jewish voters (69%) associate with the Democratic Party, while 29% affiliate with the Republican Party”
I don’t have the latest numbers, Erik, but I’ve read that a lot—a whole heckuva lot—of Jews have left the Democratic Party over the past year. They can no longer ignore the foul language emanating from certain congresspersons, mayoral candidates, and others holding or running for office under the Democrat brand. And the universities that left Jewish students vulnerable to the baying mob of antisemites will also not see another ounce of support from Jewish alumni. Or from anyone else with a conscience.
It’s not hard to walk away from such pervasive hatred. The first step will get one going.
And what about the ones who have re-affirmed their commitment to the Democratic Party? Again, not all Jewish people think alike. They range like any group of human beings. Besides, a shift happens with most immigrant populations. Once they start to amass power, they roll up the ladder and say I got mine. And if hate is part of the equation, then they are clearly ignoring the fact that most anti-semites, anti-catholics, and Islamophic are aligned with right wing parties. I guess they think power will prevent them from getting stabbed in the back. Usually, doesn’t work out that way. Elon would know.
From the liberal Jerusalem Post in December 2024:
“ Jewish voters supported Kamala Harris by somewhere between 63% and 71%, but Donald Trump won a higher percentage of Jews than he did in 2020.”
I hope the trend you mention is true, but I am afraid many still go back to old roots, as far as Lev Davidovich Bronstein, aka Trotsky. Getting them to center – forget right – will be a task.
Yes, Jewish people tend to lean left. Fact noted. However, Trump has said we should round up the liberal Jews because they all hate Israel. Fact also. Based on this, I am supposing he’d keep Republican Jewish people as few as they are.
As for insulted, you have a right to feel that way. So many of us are grossly insulted by the behavior of ICE because this is being done in our name. I don’t want any of that on my consciouness. So many of can’t believe that this where the United States has come to – the brutalization and kidnapping of human beings without due process for originating out of a land deemed not acceptable by the current president. If he can do it based on national origin, he will do it to others and base it on something so dumb like you are not out of a crosswalk in 10 seconds.
Once upon a time, we had great leaders who made policy based on reason, morlaity and for the good of the people. Now we have an ideoleague who makes policy based on his whims, and a third of the population says YES SIR may I have another. It really makes you wonder why. Seriously, why?
No one is making policy based on whims. The President is just enforcing the law pursuant to The Immigration and Nationality Act.
Incidentally, national origin of illegal aliens is an integral part of their unlawful status.
It a clear lie to all who are not emotionally immature or indoctrinated with the lies about their eating the dogs and cats etc to see that the vast majority of the people being kidnapped by ICE are not dangerous criminals. Most are simply trying to work to survive and to follow the law as best they can. In my youth I had moments of bad judgement that caused me to have to pay fines for braking the law. Fortunately, being of a respectable pedigree and skin color, I was not rounded up and deported for my lack of good judgement. I would hope those of you that still support the felon president would look at the absurdity of your supporting a felon for president who is arguably doing far worse for this country than most of these hard working migrants who are being rounded up without even the chance of the due process you would want for yourself, and that the felon president received. It is especially shocking when I hear it from Jewish people. Do you not see that this is very much like what was done to the Jews in the 30’s?
And don’t talk down to me or others about spelling or aerogramme. It just shows your arrogance.
Not to mention the use of – or lack thereof – paragraphs. Uh, what about the aerogramme thing? Context?
“Judgement” is British English. We Americans find it a bit elitist and prefer to use judgment; less arrogant, some would say.
I consider your response to my post as abuse.
I know this will be hard for you but try.
Focus on the content of a persons communication and not the appearance of their wording. Condescending about errors in letters, punctuation or computer quirks only shows you are only interested abuse rather than communication on the issues.
I expect this isn’t the first time someone has pointed out abuse in your communication.
No, it is not. There is nothing improper or unfair about my response.
No. You don’t know what is or isn’t hard for me to try.
What I do try to do is to show respect to readers by constructing my comments with a modicum of proper usage and proofreading. I do “focus on the content” but some writers make it rather difficult by ignoring basic grammar rules.
So, was “aerogramme” a computer quirk? I still don’t know what you meant.
I think I got it. You meant grammar. Didn’t you?
I work in Law Enforcement locally and do support my fellow Federal Agents in their sweep of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS off of our streets. Some people who quote states passing laws to “unmask” the ICE agents should know that State Laws do not and cannot supersede Federal Policies. This means that even if states require, by their new laws, that ICE agents can’t wear masks, as Federal Agents they don’t need to abide by that law.
Thank you for your service and support. Illegal ALIENS must leave our Country. They even have a choice; either self-deport or ICE-deport.
Who will do the work that they do? What of the businesses that will go under because their work force has been arrested?
Don’t let your anger get the better of your sense. It ain’t that simple. And these people are human beings, even if they are a different color.
I am not angry. I am a sensible, law-abiding citizen, hence I don’t care what color or ethnicity illegal aliens are. Such is not the issue. Their unlawful presence here is.
As to the law:
“ Title 8 U.S.C §1324 a(a)(1)(A) makes it unlawful for any person or entity to hire, recruit, or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States an undocumented worker.
Subsection 1324a(2) makes it unlawful for any person or entity, after hiring an undocumented worker for employment, to continue to employ that worker knowing the worker is/or has become unauthorized with respect to such employment.”
There is no ambiguity there. No one is arguing they are not human beings. They just do not belong here if they are here illegally. It is that simple.
Business will not go under because they can no longer exploit illegal aliens to work for meager wages. They’ll just make less money by following the law and paying decent wages to those who will [legitimately] do the work.
Then that is grossly unjust because there is no justication for them to mask up. Zero. Offiders going after all kinds of criminals do not get to mask us. Some must even don cameras. Fact, there are citizens as well as indiviuuals with documentation being taken in these sweeps. Additionally these sweeps do not comport with due process. Immigration law falls under civil courts, not criminal. Yes it would have to happen at the federal level and every members of congress should make this law.
It would better serve the community and be the directed use of our state tax monies, if officers concentrated on the crime committed by Americans. Helping ICE go after persons who are committing civil offensses rather than Americans committing criminal offenses is multipudes of wrong. It’is missappropriation of our funds, you work for us, and I would prefer a child killer in lockup. When these folks are rounded up, only 3% fall into the criminal category. So you are assistanting with a smaller problem when there are much bigger problems??? Are using Massachusetts tax money to assist federal agents??? That appears to be stealing to solve a problem that isn’t as impactful as picking citizens with 6 DUIs or the citizen taking money from payroll budget. The logic here is non-exitestence. Any assistance is clearly for politicallly reasons. And then civil servants wonder why the population doesn’t trust them. I know it’s not all, but it makes me think there are more bad apples. It’s unscruptously to say the least, and makes me want to demand a refund. Let Noem get her own money. God knows she has put a lot of it into facial injections.
There is no MA tax money paying for federal agents. There is MA tax money allocating $5M to provide legal defense to illegal aliens – after spending over $1B to house them.
Ask your Governor for a refund. She just got back from France.
When MA resources are used or volunteer to help in this federal activity that is the federal governmnet appropriting state funds. We pay the resources to work for MA not help the Feds. It’s literally taxation without representation. I would not hire Noem and her squad to do anything. Her face alone tells me she clearly lacks judgement.
Let’s try again. There is NO MA tax money paying for federal agents.
And the Big Beautiful Bill gives ICE $45 billion to expand its sprawling detention system over the next four years, letting officials use the money to hold both single adults and families with children facing deportation.
These are your FEDERAL Tax dollars at work. I don’t think Noem is too concerned about what you think or say about her. Ad hominem anyone?
Thanks to all the commenters. The debate seems to have gotten into tangents. New thoughts or perspectives are welcome.
So noted. Thanks.
This post was clearly written by chatgpt which is just sad.
What I find disturbing is all the Hamas supporters wearing masks who terrorize innocent people. ICE only goes after criminals. I wish ICE had authority to go after Hamas supporters who wear masks and break laws.
Clearly not written by ChatGPT. I have worked with engineers who piloted this kind of technology. We are still closer to NPL than to sentient AI, plus wrong syntax and tone. One has to edit much out out of a ChatGPT response to pass it off. It really doesn’t understand how people converse or express themselves.
Again, civilians, protestors or men acting like tools, can mask or not. They are not federal agents paid by we the people. If ICE went after protestors or the tiki torch paraders, that Elise Stefanik defended – so ashamed she’s half Italian, that would be a clear violation of the 1st Amendment The Amendment applies to speech you like and don’t. I want to throw a tomato every time I hear white supremacy BS, but use words instead.
Categorizing all Jewish people as innocent and thinking alike robs them of their humanity. They don’t all think alike, dress alike, and talk alike. Some protestors are Jewish, and do not see Neytanyahu as innocent. Some protestors have lived in Israel. Some are in living there now and protesting. So you want to create a situation where Jewish people who do not support Israel are round up??? Maybe if more peolpe protested in Germany, there would be no Israel. Even ChatGPT understands this as cherry picked logic, and will tell you that and ask to provide you with resources.
I want to ask ChatGPT, why so many white people who passionately support Israel are antisemitic. It would tell me that I cannot make that assumption. Even though it probably could be made with enough data. I have been in situations where a white woman or man will go on about being pro Israel and then turn around snd say something antisemitic. Sadly there is no point in correcting them because they will say nothing is wrong with what they said and it is true. Clearly, we have deeper issues to address, and ICE is the solution to none of them.
Sorry but if the elderly lady volunteering at the voter booth is getting death threats and is not wearing a mask but has identified herself as a voter official, why shouldn’t ICE also do the same? Let’s pose the question: why are these demonstrations happening and ICE people getting harassed? This is not the norm, folks need to be pushed pretty far outside their normal zone to be doing this. Follow the $$ folks, it is all about the $$ machine which is prisons/detention centers, they ran out of criminals so they are going for brown skin folks and then next those who disagree. ICE sitting in hospitals, grabbing immigrants trying to do the right thing and go through the court process(which btw 100% sucks(h1b, getting a green card..the process is really ridiculous!) as Reagan/Bush SR both argued for better work visa programs back in the 80’s, see utube debate, this will really show you how bad US has gotten away from civility.
A few questions if I may:
Who is the elderly lady receiving death threats? I can’t find one mentioned in the post or comments. I may have missed it.
As ICE predates President Trump, and as Presidents Clinton and Obama removed millions more illegal aliens than Trump ever did or will do, isn’t the money trail you hint at far more likely to come from leftist agitators and their sponsors, now that a Republican president is carrying out settled law?
Why are these illegal aliens in our hospitals in the first place? Aren’t our elderly and veterans deserving of every healthcare cent available?
Why do people refer to all people who violate our immigration laws as “brown”? It seems derogatory to identify all border criminals as people of color. Can you prove that only “brown” people are illegal aliens? Otherwise, it’s a slur.
Are we supposed to make it easy for illegal aliens to get here and stay? Given how dangerous the journey can be, fraught with criminal organizations profiting off every transaction, is it not moral to discourage the act? Human trafficking, sexual exploitation, missing children in the hundred of thousands—wouldn’t a civil society demand this stop?
When are those who are pro ICE going to fear a real problem? These human beings do not commit violent acts at the rate that you claim. Certainly not as high as white male citizens. 97% have not, and a good majority pay taxes. So if they are not criminals and some of them pay taxes, then what’s the problem? We certainly have plenty of Russian criminals who don’t have documentation, are involved in sex trafficking and don’t pay taxes. When will they be round up? The brothel ring had many women of Asian origin coming and going. Where was ICE then? Northern New England have French Candaians who have crossed over, other northern states have many Candians who don’t have documentation, Massachusetts has Irish and Northern Europeans who have overstayed a work or student visa, and the list goes on. Do you really think every foreign white student has documentation? The nannies and au pairs? The waiters? I am surprised ICE isn’t on the Cape or out in the burbs. I guess ICE must have some sort of scale, very white – ignore, white – ignore, in between – question and hold, brown and above – grab. Again, stats bear this out. Mexico has the highest number of people who have overstayed but Canada is right behind. Maybe that has changed since now Canada hate us with good reason.
Instead of fearing something that does not exist, it would better to actual do immigration reform as many past presidents have suggest, last being GW Bush with his guest program, which neither side took up. That was over 20 years ago. Maybe the people who fear other human beings for not having documentation based on abritrary immigration laws (and every day the kind of documentation that is accepted is changing) should read up on the guest program and solution from there. There rest of us are stilling wondering if the house will catch on fire, will the banks default with the next ecomoic contraction, will cancer ever became non lethal and will I get shot by some white guy who was talked down while I sit in a restaurant, theater or parking lot. This is molehill being turned into a mountain for political reasons. And most Americans see it for what it is and see what those who pro ICE are doing and why. Not even the 5 years old are fooled.
There are no elderly ladies being threatened; just leftist theatre and obfuscation.
Playing the race card is another leftist tactic, that’s why all illegal aliens are labeled brown by those activists. You are right, it is a slur.
Human traffic, sexual exploitation, $1B for shelter in MA. They don’t care. They just want the population increase in the next census to enlarge and maintain their political power. They will do anything, anything for it.
The abidance to law by insisting on due process is fundamental regardless of who is apprehended or why. We are living Animal Farm’s 2 legs good, 4 legs bad. Every day what qualifies as documentation changes. The whitelist for country of origin shrinks and the blacklist grows based on the whims of the current leader or his dealings with a nation. For example, more student visas will now be given to Chinese students not because they are talented or smart but because a deal was cut. It shifts and shifts till one day you are completely desensitized and/or disenfranchised.
Those who actively chose to standby and normalize this are pushing an agenda to gain benefit, jockeying for top position in the narrative contest in order to maintain status or ready to say “I was just following orders or the law” as many defendants did during the Nuremburg trials. They are the outliers when it comes to norms.
Everything they say about what the United State was, is or will be is refuted by fact and by their own phrases which are the definition of doublespeak.
Below are the books that I am reading now or will be during the summer. They dissect what is going on in this nation and the world right now. The authors are on different points of the political spectrum but what they have in common is that they endeavor, in good faith, to get at truth, not a selective narrative that empowers the few at the expense of the many.
One Mighty and Irresistible Tide: The Epic Struggle Over American Immigration by Gia Lin Yang
How to Know a Person by David Brooks
Hayek’s Basterds by Slobiodan Quinn
Outclassed by Joan C Williams
Excluded by Richard D Kahlenberg
The End of Respectability by Anthony Walton
Against Civility by Alex Zamalin
Mean Girl by Lisa Duggan
The Age of Acrimony by Grispin and Heller
Bully pulpit by Doris Kearn Goodwin
The Upswing by Robert Putnam
Calling In by Lorretta J Ross
Autocracy Inc by Anne Applebaum
The Tyranny of Merit by Michale Sandel
The 4th Turning is Here by Neil Howe
Re-reading the two most American novels, in my opinion: Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man
Thanks Rita.
Some great reading suggestions.
It’s so important that we educate ourselves, while we still have access to sources not yet banned as this administration. It is disturbing the the felon president and his unfit tools have decided to burn down our education system. There is a clear all out Nazification of America going on for anybody paying attention.
Befehl ist Befehl has nothing to do with the deportation of illegal aliens, but more with the leftist view that anything being done to that effect is fascist, Nazi, nasty.
It does not matter. ICE will continue to enforce our laws.
Erik, defenders of the elected President of the United States of America have been called Nazis so often, we just have to replay in our minds the Family Guy episode where Peter Griffin’s great uncle, Peter Hitler, pesters Adolf:
Peter, can’t you see I’m busy? Yeah? What are you doing? Stuff?
Yes.
Nazi stuff?
Yes, Peter. Nazi stuff.
When removing criminal aliens, rooting out corruption, and slashing wasteful spending is “Nazi stuff”, we have to laugh. When Mel Brooks, Jack Benny, Charlie Chaplin, and Spike Jones can ridicule “Nazi stuff”, so can we. We’re not the ones cheapening the horrors of the Holocaust by abusing language.
Josh, I believe the correct title is the [FELON] elected President of the United States of America. I know you don’t want to admit it but he is a many time convicted criminal. Facts are just facts my fellow American. I am truly sorry that it’s true we couldn’t elect somebody more honorable but here we are.
Also, Please don’t take it that anyone is calling you a Nazi just because the felon president, Pete Hegseth, Steven Miller and many others say many things that are supportive of Nazi’s. I don’t know what you support but if you support the same beliefs as these people then one does have to wonder.
As if I could forget! That mugshot was the campaign poster that launched him to the White House. BACK to the White House. Those are honorable footsteps he followed from the hoosegow to the height of power, trodden earlier by the likes of Havel, Walesa, Suu Kyi, Sharansky, the sainted Mandela most of all. Even our founding fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the cause of liberty.
“Felon elected President of the United States of America” suits him fine. Don’t forget twice-impeached and one-shot. Y’all just made a hero out of him. Don’t let me stop you.
You do know what I support because you’ve answered me several times. But let me put your mind at rest: I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Nazi. Neither will I ever be a Nazi. Now you know what I support and what I oppose. Will you join me? Will anyone else?
To compare Donald Trump to Havel is patently ridiculous. Havel was an extremely moral and principled man. Trump is not. Plain and simple.
Comparing Trump and Mandela? What an absurd joke! I only wish Mandela and Havel were still here to set you straight. Both those men would abhor Trump.
You are making Orwellian statements.
I’d like to be there to see you stand on a plinth in Wenceslaus Square in Prague and compare Trump to Havel who is beloved by Czechs (and me). Suffice it to say that it won’t go well.
Similarly, why don’t you go down to the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and stand on stage comparing Trump to Mandela! I’d buy a ticket to watch that.
Orwellian is right: the corrupt and complicit state condemned all those national heroes to prison. They all overcame Big Brother to lead their nations to freedom (however temporary). Trump, too, without even doing time. I’m not sure we’ll be able to say the same about his corrupt and complicit detractors. But maybe Trump will pardon them in thanks for helping to reelect him. He’s loyal to a fault, and he couldn’t have done it without their persecution.
A totalitarian mind might think all Czechs and Harlem residents think alike. I’ve been to both, and know otherwise. Leftist tyranny makes conservatives of us all.
Have you read any of Havel’s writings? You will find that he was just as suspicious of consumer capitalism as communism. I reread “The Power of the Powerless” every few years. Great insights into humanity.
To compare Trump to freedom fighters is a pernicious lie.
“Truth and love will overcome lies and hatred.”
–Vaclav Havel
“Either this man is dead or my watch has stopped.”
— Groucho Marx
Wow I think that I am being accused of totalitarianism by someone who supports genocide and the brutal treatment of migrants and then scolds others to eschew violence. That’s rich.
I concur, Josh.
Let’s remember the work of the brilliant American Jewish lyricist and performer (and Harvard graduate and MIT professor) Tom Lehrer, namely its 1965 Wernher Von Braun song, in part:
“ Gather ’round while I sing you of Wernher von Braun
A man whose allegiance
Is ruled by expedience
Call him a Nazi, he won’t even frown
“Ha, Nazi, Schmazi” says Wernher von Braun”
So, to the language abusers: it’s getting tiresome, it’s misguided, and only the three or four of you cares about it. Note that no one in this forum has used the term pinko commie, as it would be derogatory and abusive. Think about that next time you call us Nazis.
I’m done with this.
One small detail though: Tom Lehrer would not be on your side. I can only imagine what he would write about Trump. But it would be wicked funny. One way of defanging an authoritarian is to make of them a laughing stock.
Also, I didn’t know that Tom Lehrer’s pronouns were it/its!
Might as well share them lyrics. (Poor grammar intended, so spare me).
“ Whatever became of Hubert?
Has anyone heard a thing?
Once he shone on his own
Now he sits home alone
And waits for the phone to ring
Once a fiery liberal spirit
Ah, but now when he speaks, he must clear it
Second fiddle’s a hard part, I know
When they don’t even give you a bow
“We must protest this treatment, Hubert!”
Says each newspaper reader
As someone once remarked to Schubert
“Take us to your Lieder . . .”
(Sorry about that!)
Whatever became of you, Hubert?
We miss you, so tell us, please:
Are you sad? Are you cross?
Are you gathering moss
While you wait for the boss to sneeze?
Does Lyndon, recalling when he was VP
Say: “I’ll do unto you like they did unto me!” ?
Do you dream about staging a coup?
Hubert what happened to you?”
Oh, the time when liberals used to be funny about anybody.
It should have read his. Unlike some, I have no problem acknowledging my mistakes.
“defanging an authoritarian is to make of them” ? Is either authoritarians or make of him or her.
Come on. Give it a try.
I have no idea what Tom would write about Trump, and neither do you.
But he did write about Hubert Humphrey. Change the name to Biden, and it would fit just fine.