5 ms·

My now-wife essentially chased me to east Africa, after I got a one year research grant about two months into dating. The complications and many difficulties of

My now-wife essentially chased me to east Africa, after I got a one year research grant about two months into dating. The complications and many difficulties of figuring out day to day life in radically different circumstances was great for our relationship. The day to day stuff we deal with now is cake by comparison. Throwing yourself into radically different circumstances, far outside of your comfort zone, is also a great way to learn about problems which aren't evident from the warm confines of career or academia. I highly recommend it. On the other hand, Trump and his associated band of fascists requires active resistance. Running away is counter productive politically. I'm reading the New Jim Crow right now, which talks directly about how the most racist, regressive policies in the US have historically been passed after the collapse of progressive resistance. There's going to be a lot of work to be done in the next four years... (Sorry for piling on, but wanted to add a pro travel argument beyond 'it worked for me!')

cpursley 10y ago
> Trump and his associated band of fascists [citation needed] Trump has already backtracked to more centrist positions (which was expected by those paying attention). And you can't ignore that the minority vote for Trump was higher than the previous Republican candidates.[1] Additionally, women played several key[2] roles in his campaign and an openly gay man got a standing ovation at the Republican Convention. Anyways, you could say the very same thing about Hillary, but with actual evidence. Saudi Arabia, an undisputed theocratic regime that is not exactly known for treating minorities well (especially gays[3] & women[4]) and is funding ISIS[5], donated a large sum of money to the Clinton Foundation[6]. This is very out of line with democratic norms. Oh, and the DNC shenanigans with Bernie Sanders and Hillary's cozy relationship with the mainstream media (i.e, getting debate questions in advance). And let's not forget the anti-democratic Democrat protesters. Then there's the folks calling out for Trumps assassination and disturbing racist diatribes towards whites on Twitter. Not exactly democratic... So tell me again who's aligned with fascists? [1] http://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/16/you-are-still-crying-wolf/ http://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/16/you-are-still-crying-wo... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellyanne_Conway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellyanne_Conway [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arab... [5] http://www.salon.com/2016/01/06/saudi_arabia_funds_and_exports_islamic_extremism_the_truth_behind_the_toxic_u_s_relationship_with_the_theocratic_nation/ http://www.salon.com/2016/01/06/saudi_arabia_funds_and_expor... [6] http://projects.nytimes.com/clinton-donors/ http://projects.nytimes.com/clinton-donors/ (Disclosure ~ I didn't vote for Trump. I'm not a crazy person.)
- JoeAltmaier 10y ago
  The foundation operates health and educationprograms for single parents and children. Complaining about that is just dumb.
  - cpursley 10y ago
    Argeed. It probably had nothing to do with the $165 Billion Arms deal to Clinton Foundation donors: https://theintercept.com/2016/02/22/saudi-christmas-present/ https://theintercept.com/2016/02/22/saudi-christmas-present/ http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-foundation-state-arms-deals http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-...
- deleted 10y ago
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- deleted 10y ago
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- smnplk 10y ago
  After all you wrote, your disclosure does not compute with me. I think it's quite the opposite, only a crazy person would vote for greater evil. And there is not really any proof that Trump is evil.
  - cpursley 10y ago
    Trump and Hillary were not the only candidates on the ballot.
FilterSweep 10y ago
> Running away is counter productive politically I agree with the gist of your post, but Sometimes the winning move is not to play. And if your safety is on the line, your life in jeopardy, or if proposed changes to government will soon put your life in jeopardy, "running away" is clearly the best move. Survival is far more important than achieving a political goal. I'm of the mind that in 2016 we should be well beyond "regressing" to the 1800s as a society (but where I see "regress", some fascists see "progress" I guess....). If people have become disillusioned toward the fact that they will never change the hearts of fascists and bigots, I wouldn't blame them for leaving.
- mzw_mzw 10y ago
  > I agree with the gist of your post, but Sometimes the winning move is not to play. And if your safety is on the line, your life in jeopardy, or if proposed changes to government will soon put your life in jeopardy, "running away" is clearly the best move. Fortunately, that's completely irrelevant to current events in the United States.

cpursley 10y ago

> Trump and his associated band of fascists [citation needed] Trump has already backtracked to more centrist positions (which was expected by those paying attention). And you can't ignore that the minority vote for Trump was higher than the previous Republican candidates.[1] Additionally, women played several key[2] roles in his campaign and an openly gay man got a standing ovation at the Republican Convention. Anyways, you could say the very same thing about Hillary, but with actual evidence. Saudi Arabia, an undisputed theocratic regime that is not exactly known for treating minorities well (especially gays[3] & women[4]) and is funding ISIS[5], donated a large sum of money to the Clinton Foundation[6]. This is very out of line with democratic norms. Oh, and the DNC shenanigans with Bernie Sanders and Hillary's cozy relationship with the mainstream media (i.e, getting debate questions in advance). And let's not forget the anti-democratic Democrat protesters. Then there's the folks calling out for Trumps assassination and disturbing racist diatribes towards whites on Twitter. Not exactly democratic... So tell me again who's aligned with fascists? [1] http://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/16/you-are-still-crying-wolf/ http://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/16/you-are-still-crying-wo... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellyanne_Conway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellyanne_Conway [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_in_Saudi_Arab... [5] http://www.salon.com/2016/01/06/saudi_arabia_funds_and_exports_islamic_extremism_the_truth_behind_the_toxic_u_s_relationship_with_the_theocratic_nation/ http://www.salon.com/2016/01/06/saudi_arabia_funds_and_expor... [6] http://projects.nytimes.com/clinton-donors/ http://projects.nytimes.com/clinton-donors/ (Disclosure ~ I didn't vote for Trump. I'm not a crazy person.)

JoeAltmaier 10y ago
The foundation operates health and educationprograms for single parents and children. Complaining about that is just dumb.
- cpursley 10y ago
  Argeed. It probably had nothing to do with the $165 Billion Arms deal to Clinton Foundation donors: https://theintercept.com/2016/02/22/saudi-christmas-present/ https://theintercept.com/2016/02/22/saudi-christmas-present/ http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-foundation-state-arms-deals http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/hillary-clinton-...
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smnplk 10y ago
After all you wrote, your disclosure does not compute with me. I think it's quite the opposite, only a crazy person would vote for greater evil. And there is not really any proof that Trump is evil.
- cpursley 10y ago
  Trump and Hillary were not the only candidates on the ballot.

FilterSweep 10y ago

> Running away is counter productive politically I agree with the gist of your post, but Sometimes the winning move is not to play. And if your safety is on the line, your life in jeopardy, or if proposed changes to government will soon put your life in jeopardy, "running away" is clearly the best move. Survival is far more important than achieving a political goal. I'm of the mind that in 2016 we should be well beyond "regressing" to the 1800s as a society (but where I see "regress", some fascists see "progress" I guess....). If people have become disillusioned toward the fact that they will never change the hearts of fascists and bigots, I wouldn't blame them for leaving.

mzw_mzw 10y ago
> I agree with the gist of your post, but Sometimes the winning move is not to play. And if your safety is on the line, your life in jeopardy, or if proposed changes to government will soon put your life in jeopardy, "running away" is clearly the best move. Fortunately, that's completely irrelevant to current events in the United States.