tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post3525793245011514830..comments2023-10-01T03:10:10.767-07:00Comments on Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: 47 Calls for Submissions in January 2017 - Paying MarketsErica Verrillohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-12718695288690718162017-01-03T06:48:17.595-08:002017-01-03T06:48:17.595-08:00Thanks for the encouragement. Getting published is...Thanks for the encouragement. Getting published is a hard road to travel, and I am committed to helping writers on their way.Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-44188583650448364372017-01-03T06:36:37.279-08:002017-01-03T06:36:37.279-08:00Erica, awesome response! Thank you for being so s...Erica, awesome response! Thank you for being so succinct and articulate. Texan-just write already!RoniMommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06934924282913366100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-6557531726058678702017-01-02T19:16:57.375-08:002017-01-02T19:16:57.375-08:00Erica Verrillo, I see where you are coming from, b...Erica Verrillo, I see where you are coming from, but again there are so many differences. For me, first and foremost, is the Constitution. We still have its protections. The Weimar Republic was a shambles, the laws were flimsy and dependent upon who was in charge. This nation has weathered all sorts of people in the Presidency, including Franklin D. Roosevelt who tried to change the number of judges on the Supreme Court. At any rate, what you and I see in Trump is very dependent upon where we are standing: you on the more liberal side, me on the more conservative side. When I looked at Hillary Clinton, I was very afraid, while no doubt you were hopeful. Anyway, I wish you well. And you do have a great website which no doubt has helped many writers. FriendlyTxnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389043410157534152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-30364024261412667582017-01-02T12:50:33.675-08:002017-01-02T12:50:33.675-08:00"Other similarities are simply not there"..."Other similarities are simply not there" is not accurate. Scapegoating is not mere "brash" style, and it is very different from other presidential candidates. We would do well to take marginalization of social groups very seriously, as it implies the erosion of civil rights - for all of us. As for other similarities, I would point out that protectionism was a central feature of fascist governments. Economic fascism is, in part, defined by a merger of big business and government, which we are seeing in Trump's choice of Cabinet members. Trump has also championed Constitutional changes - the reversal of Roe v Wade, for example - which would limit the rights of women. (Fascist societies, interestingly enough, promoted the idea that a woman's place was in the home, making babies.) Racial superiority, one of the most prominent features of Nazi Germany is being promoted by Bannon, Trump's right hand man. And, not to put too fine a point on it, it is really worrisome that Trump wants to increase nuclear capacity at a time when disarmament should be a goal. Trump may not have the conquest of the world at heart, but he doesn't seem to mind toying with the idea of blowing it up. (Remember his question, "Why can't we use nuclear weapons?") All autocrats share similar features, whether they be Hitler, Mussolini, or Trump. Rather than reject the notion out of hand, consider the possibility that this is the first time we have had an outright autocrat take office, and what that means for the future of democracy.Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-33479844921516225262017-01-02T11:55:51.483-08:002017-01-02T11:55:51.483-08:00Mark Fitzsimmons, insult much? Why must anti-Trump...Mark Fitzsimmons, insult much? Why must anti-Trump folks stoop to name-calling so quickly and easily? "Insane" would be to try to reason with you. We disagree about Trump and his goals. I'm not calling you "insane" or "evil," just disagreeing with your side. I do see how people can confuse the brash style of Trump with other brash leaders, in this case Hitler. But other similarities are simply not there. This nation is far from the disaster of post-war Germany. There are many holes in your comparisons between the situation of 1920s and 1930s Europe and today's America. Self-aggrandizing rhetoric is a part of the political landscape of almost any campaign. It goes with the territory, although Trump is better than most at it. I don't like being called a "Deplorable," a "misogynist," a "homophobe," "Islamophobe," etc, etc. by Hillary Clinton. Why must you and others on your side keep name-calling? "Donald Dump," for instance? What's that about? It cheapens your argument rather than sharpens it. People like me can see for ourselves the nature of the political opposition and we can make up our own minds. And we did. FriendlyTxnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389043410157534152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-81653952003648065752017-01-02T11:02:22.575-08:002017-01-02T11:02:22.575-08:00My darling Texan, are you insane? "What you s...My darling Texan, are you insane? "What you see is what you get"?! Donald Dump has spent the past two weeks on a victory rally tour bragging loudly about how he said a bunch of shit during his campaign that he didn't mean at all.He explicitly tells his supporters this, and they applaud him as if they've been in on the joke all along. "He's not going to sneak around and try to remake the Constitution"?! Are you sure? Because I've lost track of the number of times he announced the ways he would limit free speech and free press. Can you really not see the discursive parallel between Hitler unifying a defeated post-WWI white Germany against a vulnerable minority group and Trump unifying an ignorant, fearful, economically disenfranchised white USA against a vulnerable minority group? Or, as Erica mentions, the centrality of self-aggrandizing narcissistic rhetoric to the campaign of both? It's baffling to see someone who can articulate a thought in writing but can't identify obvious discursive similarities between Hitler and Trump - it's really not hyperbole at all. We just haven't gotten to see Donald Dump put his big-boy fascist pants on yet.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00489586159479694231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-269070123168823122017-01-02T10:56:23.057-08:002017-01-02T10:56:23.057-08:00Fair enough. Although "get over yourself and ...Fair enough. Although "get over yourself and just write" isn't precisely what I would call a measured response. Also, to say my "entire article" is "tarnished" by "such irrelevance", is a little beside the point, as the article, indeed this whole blog, is dedicated to helping writers, which I do regardless of who they voted for. As for myself, I will be spending much of my time, as a writer, to opposing Trump for as long as he is in office. My commitment to defending democratic institutions and to the Constitutional rights of all of our citizens - regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual preference - comprise an integral part of who I am, both as a writer and as a proud member of our society.Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-45284224085237510722017-01-02T10:05:27.715-08:002017-01-02T10:05:27.715-08:00I'm expressing an opinion on a public forum, j...I'm expressing an opinion on a public forum, just as you are, just as was the blogger. Absolutely ZERO to do with "demanding the content confirm (SIC)" to my views. Debate and argument is the lifeblood of a free society. At any rate, this website is about writing, about getting published, and I congratulate the blogger for her excellent site. I disagree with her stated political opinions, and that's that. Nothing more, nothing less. We question one another's judgment. Hardly "antithetical to free speech." If I tried to do something to get her blog shut down? THAT would be antithetical to free speech. I'd never do that. I love free speech. It is, as I said, the lifeblood of a free society. The libel suits threatened by D. Trump? There are millionaires out there willing to pay any amount of money to push for a court hearing against Trump. I doubt it will ever happen because the accusations are too weak. That's my opinion. <br />FriendlyTxnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389043410157534152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-85548763370036765312017-01-02T09:30:48.746-08:002017-01-02T09:30:48.746-08:00Hi Texan. I'm pleased that you are an amateur ...Hi Texan. I'm pleased that you are an amateur student of history. I am a real one. I have a degree in History (from Tufts) and I have read a great deal on Hitler's rise to power. There are many similarities between Trump and Hitler, not the least of which is an appeal to the irrational fears of a populace. Neo-fascism, as it presents itself now, in a new historical context, plays on racist fears, xenophobia, and protectionism. It undermines trust in democratic principles and institutions, and seeks to limit freedom of the press. Like Hitler, Trump is intent on breaking unions, and repressing protest. Also, like Hitler, Trump is autocratic, narcissistic, and shows signs of mental deterioration, as evidenced by his speech. (I have an advanced degree in Linguistics.) I firmly believe that the people who voted for Trump either share his white supremacist leanings, or were duped into believing that he would serve the interests of this country. So far, he has only shown that he serves his own interests. (Also, keep in mind that many more millions of people voted against Trump than voted for him. Those are the people who had good judgment.)Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-30480422130792065682017-01-02T07:31:05.036-08:002017-01-02T07:31:05.036-08:00Perhaps because Mr. Trump has demonstrated he'...Perhaps because Mr. Trump has demonstrated he's no friend to the first amendment, and will use the threat of a libel suit to silence his critics. Never mind whether it's founded or not, when he can better afford the lawyers and court costs. The author IS writing; if you don't like what she's writing, fine, but demanding the content confirm to your views or none at all is antithetical to free speech.Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-39200128873766794622017-01-02T06:18:54.568-08:002017-01-02T06:18:54.568-08:00In what real way does Donald Trump resemble Hitler...In what real way does Donald Trump resemble Hitler? Hitler took power in the beginning -- through his appointment by the Chancellor -- through dishonesty, lying about his true beliefs, claiming he wanted peace and justice for Germany. Now we know he was actually harboring ambitions of world domination. Donald Trump is loudly open and honest about what he thinks, how he wants to move forward toward a less regulated, more free economy. Plus he's not an ideologue, not a "die-hard conservative" by any means. I've been an amateur student of the rise of Hitler for many years, and I recommend that people should study some of the hundreds of books on the market. Donald Trump is about as non-Hitlerian as any American poliician could be. What you see is what you get, he's not going to sneak around and try to remake the Constitution or enact regulations that hamper our freedoms. We are not a monarchy and no President has enough power to threaten our rights under the Constitution, not without the help of Congress and the Supreme Court, etc. Milllions and milllions of Americans saw Donald Trump as the much better option (than the Democrat alternative) and voted for him. Please quit insulting us, if you can. If you can't, I seriously question your judgment. FriendlyTxnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389043410157534152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-50598834880416984652017-01-02T06:09:20.956-08:002017-01-02T06:09:20.956-08:00Hello (not-so-friendly) Texan. Anyone who voted fo...Hello (not-so-friendly) Texan. Anyone who voted for Trump should have their judgment questioned. Standing up for democracy at this time in history is important. I like to think that had I been born in Germany at the start of the last century, I would have stood up against Hitler.Erica Verrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203906377475992984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6375581058221227290.post-82657639440071087812017-01-02T05:55:42.941-08:002017-01-02T05:55:42.941-08:00I will check out this list of publishing possibili...I will check out this list of publishing possibilities, but why in the world does the author think she needs to state that she did not vote for Trump? Her entire article now is tarnished by such Irrelevance. Makes me question her judgment. Get over yourself and just write. FriendlyTxnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16389043410157534152noreply@blogger.com