[Ads-l] Trump Know-Nothing

[Joel Berson]

>From what I heard today, Trump shares the following characteristic with the Know-Nothings -- at least when in New Hampshire, part of Puritan New England.  There he said he was a Protestant, a Presbyterian.  As close as one can get today to the old-time established church without actually being a Congregationalist, I guess.  And more compatible for Trump -- the Presbyterians are hierarchical.  The Know-Nothings admitted to membership only Protestant males.

Joel

      From: Joel Berson <berson at ATT.NET>
 To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 
 Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:18 PM
 Subject: Re: [ADS-L] post-rational
   
The history of the Know-Nothings shows more complexity than a simple parallel with Trump's anti-immigrant stance.  In Massachusetts in 1855 it passed much liberal and reform legislation.  To quote Wikipedia, "Historian Stephen Taylor says that in addition to nativist legislation:'the party also distinguished itself by its opposition to slavery, support for an expansion of the rights of women, regulation of industry, and support of measures designed to improve the status of working people'."  Wikipedia cites additional liberal legislation.

The dark side, of course, was its anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant stance (and corresponding legislation).  In the 1850s and 1850s the two were almost synonymous.  (It was not basically anti-German, but anti-German Catholic, and had support from German Protestants.)  Trump shares its anti-immigrant position, but his other half seems racist rather than anti-Catholic.

Joel

      From: Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at GMAIL.COM>
 To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU 
 Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 12:31 PM
 Subject: Re: [ADS-L] post-rational
  
Aren't the Know-Nothings an interesting parallel to the Donald's success,
with the irony that the original Know-Nothings were anti-rich and
anti-German?

DanG

On Sun, Sep 6, 2015 at 8:48 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

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> Sender:      American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:      Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: post-rational
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Ho ho!  I detect the irony of one who knows history *and* politics.
>
> JL
>
> On Sun, Sep 6, 2015 at 7:43 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>
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> > Sender:      American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:      Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: post-rational
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > On Sun, Sep 6, 2015 at 7:22 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > "[P]erhaps the United States has crossed over into a post-rational
> > society
> > > that cares little about facts and reality or serious policy ideas and
> > > respectful debate, but rather is a nation moved by anger and ridicule,
> > fear
> > > and nationalism."
> > >
> >
> > That's a nightmarish thought!
> >
> >
> > --
> > -Wilson
> > -----
> > All say, "How hard it is that we have to die!"---a strange complaint to
> > come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
> > -Mark Twain
> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."


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