ra’s Twitter Archive—№ 44,375

a lot of white people really just wanted a king, and they got someone willing to behave like a king, and they're not going to let go without a fight
On twitter.com ♻️ 3 Retweets ❤️ 34 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood +1 🙂

…in reply to @ra
I don't say this pejoratively. I've heard a similar argument from people in different parts of the muslim world, Lebanon, Iran, Uzbekistan, that democracy is chaotic and unpredictable, and that they would rather have someone strong in power for 60 years to set things right.
Permalink On twitter.com ❤️ 4 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood 0

…in reply to @ra
even growing up in Beirut I would hear people remark "what we need is an Attaturk" referring to the Turkish dictator who ruled this country for life after the first world war and transitioned the shambles of the ottoman empire into a modern republic.
Permalink On twitter.com ❤️ 5 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood -1 🙁

…in reply to @ra
this isnt a position I hold, but it's not one made out of ignorance or lack of understanding. it's a valid political position to take, just one that is antithetical to this country's self-identity and strongly contradicts the stated justification for many of its recent war crimes
Permalink On twitter.com ❤️ 7 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood -9 🙁

…in reply to @ra
"a strong man who looks like me and does things that I like and rules until nature takes him from us" is preferable to some, many 45 supporters, to "we've all done the hard work to choose representatives that reflect all of our needs, and we will repeat this process in 4 years"
Permalink On twitter.com ♻️ 1 Retweets ❤️ 7 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood +6 🙂

…in reply to @ra
this is what I understand "American democracy is crumbling" to mean. democracy is not just institutions and procedures, it's a culture and a will.
Permalink On twitter.com ❤️ 19 Favorites 2020 Feb 12 Mood 0