Over Christmas, I was stopped in my tracks by the news that the United States government removed commemorations to Black American war dead in the Netherlands.
The history of WW II in the Netherlands is important to remember. Canadians basically liberated the Netherlands and Belgium solo, with a little bit of help from the Americans and others. That said, the Dutch people revere the memories of those who fought to drive the fascist horde from their lands, regardless of colour of nationality. That said, I understand blaming Trump for every evil the USA is visiting on the world. Personally, I am sick and tired of Trump getting all the credit for the MAGA actions. Why do podcasters and other antifa, the sane people, keep saying Trump did this, and that. Trump is really the figurehead, much like our King Charles III; but ulline our King, he is malevolent and easily controlled and manipulated. Even if he has been a Russian asset all these years, he is now an asset of MAGA, not Republicans because they no longer truly exist. When the pundits of all views start blaming the real way this whole thing is being controlled the better off we will be. By saying, Trump took the panels down, Trump invaded Venezuela, Trump did this and Trump did that, simply leads to people saying, "Just Trump being Trump". I see it differently. The powers that be are deeply hidden, less so now than during the election in 2024. Those that are the real MAGA, manipulate the mentally incompetent Trump, because he is easily manipulated and has the position to order all these things he has from the troops in the streets, ICE , and now Venezuela, HE gives the orders. I suspect behind the scenes it goes something like this:
Someone, like Miller, Rubio or even Karolying Leavit whispers in his ear that he can gain popularity and headlines if he just does (fill in the blank) and Trumps mind being solely geared to self gratification simply goes ahead and does something. Venezuela, at the Trump level gets his name in the news, there is no Trumpian plan. Nobody knows what the plan is because the plan is not Trump's. It is in the Don-roe Doctrine. Anyone who believes Trump came up with that, I am sure the Brooklyn Bridge is up for sale. None of this makes sense basing it on Trumps doing. He is controlled by MAGA, he is not MAGA, just the figurehead easily manipulated egocentric asshole who wil do and say anything to get publicity. What better way to work a plan from the underground before you come into the daylight? Just a rambling thought, because I really do not believe Trump is smart enough to do these things on his own.
I think the Dutch should erect a memorial to Black American troops elsewhere along with a note about why they're replacing the original, reminding us of why we must remain vigilant.
This is a beautiful gift of thanks to our black service men who fought to help free Europe from the Nazi tyranny . I apologize that the U S has some horrible people currently running our government. I assure you all that the majority of the American people do not harbor such racist sentiment. Thank you for your kindness to our dead
Perhaps when Trump and his minions die we could throw their bodies in a dump truck and take them to a landfill and dump the bodies. No signs or tombstones. Or one , Caution toxic waste buried here. Stay away.
Charlie, in 1939 - 1945, the truly free men of the world rose up to defeat fascism. This shows how deeply petty and vicious these MAGA fascists are. Fascism didn't die. It just went into hiding...until now.
I read a Substack posting the other day, quoting Pope Leo XIV.
"To be called 'woke' in a world that sleeps through suffering is not an insult, it is the Gospel. Woke means awakened by compassion. Guided by truth. Humbled by grace. Committed to justice - not just for some - but for all."
One needs to remember that the freedoms African American soldiers were fighting for in Europe, for Europeans, were denied them at home and then for another 20 years more. In the UK local populations where black soldiers were stationed would physically fight white American soldiers and MP’s for the rights of the black soldiers to eat and drink and commune where ever they wanted. It was shameful then and these actions are beyond shameful today.
As a Canadian, I understand how the Dutch feel about the troops who helped them survive, and how they remember and teach their children. I think of the Dutch and the tulips they sent to Ottawa every year.
Those men weren't Canadian, but I would be honoured to contribute to restoring the commemorations, or a monument to those who gave their lives for freedom. Colour or nation has nothing to do with it, sacrifice does.
As for those who decided to remove the commemorations, I hope they find heaven to be a great deal hotter than they expect.
If there was ever any doubt what the Trump administration’s objectives are, you only have to look at the removal of Black administrators from high ranking positions, the purging of Black history at all levels, the deportation of people of colour, and now even the removal of honorary plaques commemorating Blacks, in foreign countries!!!
Men who died in the fight to end fascism now victims a second time of neo-fascism. It is time for the pearl clutchers who shudder at use of the "F" word to label the Trump regime to recognize that this time the greatest threat to democracy and freedom is coming not from Rome, Berlin, and Tokyo as in the early 1940s but from Washington now.
Good Evening Charlie......this is such disgusting information......You know what this is about....he wants WW3....and that's the bottom line.....the US will be destroyed.
Hi Charlie; you would think that in this day and age Americans would really consider the part that the black people played in the second world war. During the time a lot of higher ranked officers just considered the black soldiers as throw away but the young enlisted black men during the war showed their metal. I live in a seniors complex and I met an older black lady whos cousin was one of the Black Tuskegee air men who were pivotal along with other black men who enlisted and went to Europe to fight against the fascist ideal and his brother joined in the engineering core and rose through the ranks to become a decorated officer. I just can't believe that the American people would put up with this kind off garbage from a coward of a president who got bailed out of the draft by his daddy who was just as much of a fascist as Hitler, the Americans should be ashamed of themselves. With what is going on in the States I'm wondering when Trump and his cronies are going to try to push slavery back on the black population. I have one more thing to say today, with what just happened in Venezuela when is the rest of the world going to wake up and put sanctions on not only Russia but also on Israel and the United States. The world judiciary should be charging Trump for war crimes, and while they're at it George W. Bush should be added on the list, what gives the U.S. the right to take what ever they want and seem to think that they make all the rules. It is time for the European union the U.N. , NATO and the people of America who still believe in the rule of law to take the power away from the fascists in Washington D.C. It is time for WE THE PEOPLE around the world stand up against these criminals, and I hate when world leaders say that the U.S. and Russia have the power cause the have nukes, cause if we don't do something now if Ukraine falls next comes Poland and on and on, and now that the U.S. has invaded Venezuela what's going to stop them from making their way through South America Greenland and Canada. People of the world, it is time to wake up and defend what our forefathers and all those black soldiers in W.W. 2 gave their lives for, FREEDOM from the fascists. So I'm finished my rant and I wish you all a wonderful day and hopefully a better week. Thank you Charlie for all that you do.
David, your thoughts mirror my own, and appreciate the effort to write this. One small request for my 75 year old eyes. Another time could you break it into paragraphs.
Thank you Charlie. Beautifully said.
The history of WW II in the Netherlands is important to remember. Canadians basically liberated the Netherlands and Belgium solo, with a little bit of help from the Americans and others. That said, the Dutch people revere the memories of those who fought to drive the fascist horde from their lands, regardless of colour of nationality. That said, I understand blaming Trump for every evil the USA is visiting on the world. Personally, I am sick and tired of Trump getting all the credit for the MAGA actions. Why do podcasters and other antifa, the sane people, keep saying Trump did this, and that. Trump is really the figurehead, much like our King Charles III; but ulline our King, he is malevolent and easily controlled and manipulated. Even if he has been a Russian asset all these years, he is now an asset of MAGA, not Republicans because they no longer truly exist. When the pundits of all views start blaming the real way this whole thing is being controlled the better off we will be. By saying, Trump took the panels down, Trump invaded Venezuela, Trump did this and Trump did that, simply leads to people saying, "Just Trump being Trump". I see it differently. The powers that be are deeply hidden, less so now than during the election in 2024. Those that are the real MAGA, manipulate the mentally incompetent Trump, because he is easily manipulated and has the position to order all these things he has from the troops in the streets, ICE , and now Venezuela, HE gives the orders. I suspect behind the scenes it goes something like this:
Someone, like Miller, Rubio or even Karolying Leavit whispers in his ear that he can gain popularity and headlines if he just does (fill in the blank) and Trumps mind being solely geared to self gratification simply goes ahead and does something. Venezuela, at the Trump level gets his name in the news, there is no Trumpian plan. Nobody knows what the plan is because the plan is not Trump's. It is in the Don-roe Doctrine. Anyone who believes Trump came up with that, I am sure the Brooklyn Bridge is up for sale. None of this makes sense basing it on Trumps doing. He is controlled by MAGA, he is not MAGA, just the figurehead easily manipulated egocentric asshole who wil do and say anything to get publicity. What better way to work a plan from the underground before you come into the daylight? Just a rambling thought, because I really do not believe Trump is smart enough to do these things on his own.
I think the Dutch should erect a memorial to Black American troops elsewhere along with a note about why they're replacing the original, reminding us of why we must remain vigilant.
This is a beautiful gift of thanks to our black service men who fought to help free Europe from the Nazi tyranny . I apologize that the U S has some horrible people currently running our government. I assure you all that the majority of the American people do not harbor such racist sentiment. Thank you for your kindness to our dead
Perhaps when Trump and his minions die we could throw their bodies in a dump truck and take them to a landfill and dump the bodies. No signs or tombstones. Or one , Caution toxic waste buried here. Stay away.
It is odd — or maybe not so odd — that this bullshit is pushed forward by people like Stephen Miller, who never had the guts to put on a uniform.
Charlie, in 1939 - 1945, the truly free men of the world rose up to defeat fascism. This shows how deeply petty and vicious these MAGA fascists are. Fascism didn't die. It just went into hiding...until now.
I read a Substack posting the other day, quoting Pope Leo XIV.
"To be called 'woke' in a world that sleeps through suffering is not an insult, it is the Gospel. Woke means awakened by compassion. Guided by truth. Humbled by grace. Committed to justice - not just for some - but for all."
I will keep this quote close to heart.
One needs to remember that the freedoms African American soldiers were fighting for in Europe, for Europeans, were denied them at home and then for another 20 years more. In the UK local populations where black soldiers were stationed would physically fight white American soldiers and MP’s for the rights of the black soldiers to eat and drink and commune where ever they wanted. It was shameful then and these actions are beyond shameful today.
Incredibly disrespectful - but I'm not even surprised.
It's disgusting.
As a Canadian, I understand how the Dutch feel about the troops who helped them survive, and how they remember and teach their children. I think of the Dutch and the tulips they sent to Ottawa every year.
Those men weren't Canadian, but I would be honoured to contribute to restoring the commemorations, or a monument to those who gave their lives for freedom. Colour or nation has nothing to do with it, sacrifice does.
As for those who decided to remove the commemorations, I hope they find heaven to be a great deal hotter than they expect.
I have no words other than the racism shown by this administration is absolutely disgusting. Karma is coming.
If there was ever any doubt what the Trump administration’s objectives are, you only have to look at the removal of Black administrators from high ranking positions, the purging of Black history at all levels, the deportation of people of colour, and now even the removal of honorary plaques commemorating Blacks, in foreign countries!!!
God Bless The Dutch and God D--- Trump and his gang of supporters.
Men who died in the fight to end fascism now victims a second time of neo-fascism. It is time for the pearl clutchers who shudder at use of the "F" word to label the Trump regime to recognize that this time the greatest threat to democracy and freedom is coming not from Rome, Berlin, and Tokyo as in the early 1940s but from Washington now.
Good Evening Charlie......this is such disgusting information......You know what this is about....he wants WW3....and that's the bottom line.....the US will be destroyed.
Hi Charlie; you would think that in this day and age Americans would really consider the part that the black people played in the second world war. During the time a lot of higher ranked officers just considered the black soldiers as throw away but the young enlisted black men during the war showed their metal. I live in a seniors complex and I met an older black lady whos cousin was one of the Black Tuskegee air men who were pivotal along with other black men who enlisted and went to Europe to fight against the fascist ideal and his brother joined in the engineering core and rose through the ranks to become a decorated officer. I just can't believe that the American people would put up with this kind off garbage from a coward of a president who got bailed out of the draft by his daddy who was just as much of a fascist as Hitler, the Americans should be ashamed of themselves. With what is going on in the States I'm wondering when Trump and his cronies are going to try to push slavery back on the black population. I have one more thing to say today, with what just happened in Venezuela when is the rest of the world going to wake up and put sanctions on not only Russia but also on Israel and the United States. The world judiciary should be charging Trump for war crimes, and while they're at it George W. Bush should be added on the list, what gives the U.S. the right to take what ever they want and seem to think that they make all the rules. It is time for the European union the U.N. , NATO and the people of America who still believe in the rule of law to take the power away from the fascists in Washington D.C. It is time for WE THE PEOPLE around the world stand up against these criminals, and I hate when world leaders say that the U.S. and Russia have the power cause the have nukes, cause if we don't do something now if Ukraine falls next comes Poland and on and on, and now that the U.S. has invaded Venezuela what's going to stop them from making their way through South America Greenland and Canada. People of the world, it is time to wake up and defend what our forefathers and all those black soldiers in W.W. 2 gave their lives for, FREEDOM from the fascists. So I'm finished my rant and I wish you all a wonderful day and hopefully a better week. Thank you Charlie for all that you do.
David, your thoughts mirror my own, and appreciate the effort to write this. One small request for my 75 year old eyes. Another time could you break it into paragraphs.