CounterCurrents: Translating Trump’s Inaugural Speech From the Original German, Defending Civil Resistance Under International Law

Dear Friend,

Donald Trump’s inaugural speech, like the candidate himself, was a chain of falsehoods, saber-rattling and scary Neofascist uber-nationalism. But it could be difficult to follow because so much of it seemed stolen from the mass politics of the 1930s in central and southern Europe. Juan Cole offers a very important plain English translation. 

We here in India have been going through this falsehood, hatred and violence for the past two and half years. It is very surprising that two of the largest democracies on earth is going through similar trajectories. Shamsul Islam  wrties "Modi Cult Building Is Part Of Hindu Rashtra Building"

The Motto of Countercurrents is "Educate ! Organise! Agitate!". This motto is becoming all the more relevant with the current turn of events. Derrick Jensen, one of the greatest ecologist of our times, writes "So what I want you to do in response to the election of Donald Trump is to get off your butt and start working for the sort of world you want. Don’t mourn the election of Trump, organize to resist his reign, and organize to destroy the stranglehold that the Capitalist Party has over political processes, the stranglehold that capitalists and racists and woman-haters have over the planet and over all of our lives."

And also more stories from around the world. 

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www.countercurrents.org




Translating Trump’s Inaugural Speech From the Original German
by Juan Cole

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/22/translating-trumps-inaugural-speech-from-the-original-german/

Donald Trump’s inaugural speech, like the candidate himself, was a chain of falsehoods, saber-rattling and scary Neofascist uber-nationalism. But it could be difficult to follow because so much of it seemed stolen from the mass politics of the 1930s in central and southern Europe. So here is a plain English translation of some key passages.




Modi Cult Building Is Part Of Hindu Rashtra Building
by Shamsul Islam  

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/22/modi-cult-building-is-part-of-hindu-rashtra-building/

There has been a universal belief among the modern historians and political scientists that history does not repeat ever. But recent happenings in the ‘largest’ democracy, India and the ‘greatest’ democracy, USA seem to have presented a challenge to the above dictum.




One Does Not Hate When One Can Despise
by Derrick Jensen 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/22/one-does-not-hate-when-one-can-despise/

So what I want you to do in response to the election of Donald Trump is to get off your butt and start working for the sort of world you want. Don’t mourn the election of Trump, organize to resist his reign, and organize to destroy the stranglehold that the Capitalist Party has over political processes, the stranglehold that capitalists and racists and woman-haters have over the planet and over all of our lives.





The Birth Of Trumpland: Notes On An Inauguration
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/21/the-birth-of-trumpland-notes-on-an-inauguration/

This inauguration has been a painful birth.  The mother continues to writhe in disgust and amazement, pondering whether the child needs strangling, if not smothering.    But in the end, it has remained yet another inauguration, another birth, the dawn of another era.  Dullness will find some way of entering the Oval Office, lumbering away to make matters plain and perhaps less terrifying.





Is President Trump Going To Be Hoodwinked By Netanyahu Like Barack Obama?
by Dr Ludwig Watzal 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/21/is-president-trump-going-to-be-hoodwinked-by-netanyahu-like-barack-obama/

If President Trump doesn’t watch out, he is going to be Netanyahu’s chump, says Thomas L. Friedman from the New York Times.[1] Trump’s statements about the abstention of the latest UNSC-vote by the US and his appointments for the ambassadorship to David Friedman or his son-in-law Kushner in the White House are causing serious fears. He seems ideologically so close to Netanyahu as only the right-wing Israel settlers can be, and they are very critical of Netanyahu





Democrats’ Lack Of Protest Under Obama More Likely An Expression Of Ignorance Than Hypocrisy
by Robert J Barsocchini 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/21/democrats-lack-of-protest-under-obama-more-likely-an-expression-of-ignorance-than-hypocrisy/

As Democrats express disgust at and prepare massive protests against Trump on his inauguration day (as was also done regarding Bush Jr.), respected analysts detail how the public has been kept ignorant of Obama’s actual policies and instead exposed to sycophantic praise, distortion, and omission regarding his actions.





A Reply To The Times of India
by Delhi Union Of Journalists 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/22/a-reply-to-the-times-of-india/

On the eve of the budget session and state elections the newspaper industry has made out a case for financial sops, including exemptions from the forthcoming Goods and Services tax, and higher government advertisement rates. The pretext is the losses it claims it faces as a result of paying journalists and other employees fair wages. This is a case of killing two birds with one stone: make a killing by getting more money from the government and by denying employees the dues ordered by the Majithia Wage Board.





Trolling Of Zaira Wasim: Why The Selective Generalisation?
by Imran Khan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/21/trolling-of-zaira-wasim-why-the-selective-generalisation/

They way Zaira was trolled to make one believe that Kashmiries seem to reject their young individual achievers. However such a trolling needs wholistic understanding. It can be considered as catharsis of few Kashmiri youth who faced very abnormal circumstances during 2016 uprising. Most of the youth are basically dissatisfied with mainstream politicians who tend to speak one language at the time of elections and other when they come to power. So the trolling is nothing but a well understood emotional reaction to an attempt by mainstream politicians to use the individual achievements by Kashmiries for their political gains.


Defending Civil Resistance Under International Law

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/22/defending-civil-resistance-under-international-law/

Dr. Francis Boyle’s landmark book tells you how to run your own legal defense of civil resistance actions. This book is a must for any person who has taken part in a civil resistance action, or who has contemplated doing so. See how this defense can not only give you your best chance to avoid jail, but can also advance the cause for which you risked arrest.