Because I need to get this out of my system...

[aragarna]

I don't really feel totally legitimate to comment on the US elections. I am not an American citizen, therefore, I do not vote. And if there is one thing I've learned, living in the US, is that we, Americans and French, are two very different people. We built our countries on a different history, a different heritage. And in the end, we are

Comments

[sherylyn]

I pretty much think most anyone anywhere is allowed to be appalled at what's been done here. I'm not saying this is an "the US is superior" mode at *all*, but the fact is, the US plays an almost ridiculously large role in so bloody much that happens in the world that I think it's perfectly reasonable for others (whether living here or not) are more than allowed to be horrified at what's happened (have you seen JKR on Twitter lately? She's been having a field day!!). And like I've said in multiple other places, this isn't a typical "gee, I'm disappointed my person/party lost" reaction; this is a "oh HELL NO, how did THAT get elected?!???!!" reaction. This isn't about partisanship. This is about human rights, and the utter lack of respect and understanding that is now sitting in one of the most influential and powerful positions in the world, and geezapeet, it's horrifying!! :-P~~

[reve_silencieux]

Ok, so I had to go read JKR's tweets... and wow, she's gutsy and speaking her mind! But I had to laugh and grin at this person's response:

Dear Americans from a French person: remember that any legislation that threatens your safety or freedom can be fought with massive strikes

Too bad we're too freaking big for a strike to be effective.

[sherylyn]

True... but I suppose it also depends on what it is, and what we choose to do in relation to a strike or boycott or whatever. It'd take a bit of doing, obviously, but at least certain aspects are *possible*!

[aragarna]

oh it's not a matter of size, it's a matter of strategy. Obviously, blocking the public transportation in the US wouldn't be as powerful a tool as in France... But, I don't know, road blocks, or blocking oil refineries. Hacking Trump's Twitter account... Whatever derails the system.

And no matter what, try something. A strike is never guaranteed to be effective, but if you don't go on strike, if you don't show your opposition, then you're guaranteed the law will pass, and the next, and the next.
You can still fight. He's just the President, not a dictator. Protest, make sure to vote at the next elections in 2018, etc...

[leesa_perrie]

Saw the following on FB. Pretty much sums up the feelings of many people right now.

[aragarna]

Yep. Saw it too. Sums it all pretty well. Everyone here is appalled. Seriously, it's like a collective post-electoral depression.

[sapphire2309]

Dude. I'm in college in India, not a US citizen, not directly affected, and I'm still freaking the f*** out. Along with plenty of people in my college. It is okay. I mean, the man's going to have his hands on the nuclear red button. We're allowed to be utterly terrified.

This article offers a whole lot of very sound-seeming reasoning on why the people who voted for Trump may have voted for him.

[aragarna]

Oh I'm not saying I'm not terrified. My gut reaction was "HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?! THIS IS SO IRRESPONSIBLE AND STUPID AND TERRIFYING AND WRONG.". That's what is going on in my head. But I'm just trying not to be judgemental. This was not my election. This was not a choice for me to make. And this is democracy. We have to respect the choice of the majority

[sapphire2309]

That's just one subset of voters, I think, but yeah. Overall, bad/selfish decision making on the part of the voters of America, from my distant perspective.

The thing that terrifies me the most is the international ramifications. America sets the international standard (which, tbh, it shouldn't, who picked them?) and them going backwards means that a lot of other countries will feel justified in doing the same.

*hugs* because i think everyone needs them right now.

[maryrose_it]

I'm not American , but I can understand your feelings and to be worry about the future because we had in the past a President of the Parlament called Berlusconi ...He became President in the same way Trump did using the fear,the anger and the disapointment against the Goverment but he used his power for his own interests he cancelled some laws that could incriminate him... and enacted others just good for his " Empire" ( TV , Newspapers, magazines, a football team and many others "Interests" ...he "loved" to meet many women even minor and he had no " education about diplomacy and as Italians we collected a lot of bad embarassing moment during international meetings..... cause of that "president" when I was abroad I was so ashamed to say ..I'm Italian ...that I prefered to say ..It happened that I was born in Italy!!
So fight ! Legally and peacefully but fight

[maryrose_it]

I forgot to say that before Berlusconi we had a worse one ...Mussolini and Mr Trump in many facial expression remember a lot of Mussolini's .. do you know that Trump keeps Hitler's speeches book on his nightstand and watched many times Mussolini's videos ( source ...his Biographer!)