{"id":75,"date":"2017-03-06T17:44:42","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T17:44:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dahlman.online\/?page_id=75"},"modified":"2026-04-19T13:17:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T17:17:04","slug":"introduction-to-trump-world","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dahlman.online\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction to Our America"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m Marty Dahlman.\u00a0 I taught high school government and history for thirty-six years, and coached track and cross country for forty.\u00a0 But my first jobs were in political campaigns, where I worked to elect candidates from local judges to staffing a Presidential run.\u00a0 And even though I \u201cswitched\u201d to teaching, I still kept my hand in politics over the years.<\/p>\n

In our current age of \u201cidentification\u201d, you can \u201cpeg me\u201d as a Liberal (I hate the new-speak \u201cProgressive\u201d).\u00a0 I am a proud \u201ccard-carrying\u201d member of the Democratic Party and the American Civil Liberties Union.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019ve got me labeled, it might be time to \u201cturn me off\u201d.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t that what we do in our current political world, turn off any ideas that might pierce our ideological bubble?<\/p>\n

With the first election of Donald Trump as President, I searched for a way to contribute to the Resistance.\u00a0 My niece, who grew up in our frequent and occasionally loud political conversations around the dinner table, suggested that I write about what\u2019s going on in today\u2019s politics.\u00a0 So I started in February of 2017.\u00a0 Now, nine years later, there are over \u00a02050 essays and 12,000 \u00a0subscribers that make up \u201cOur America\u201d.<\/p>\n

For a brief four years we got some respite from Trump and MAGA-ism.\u00a0 The Biden years were incredibly successful in many ways.\u00a0 We overcame the results of Covid.\u00a0 We re-established the American economy.\u00a0 And Joe Biden tried to bring us back to \u201cnormalcy\u201d, a President that didn\u2019t have to have all the attention, all of the time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And that was his greatest failing.\u00a0 He wanted \u201cnormal\u201d, but the Nation was still divided.\u00a0 After the Insurrection of January 2021, (now \u201cwhitewashed\u201d into a peaceful protest), Biden failed to hold the leaders accountable.\u00a0 That, and the actions of Mitch McConnell and John Roberts, allowed Trump to re-emerge as a political leader.\u00a0 And here we are.<\/p>\n

Harris did everything right, but the political \u201cwinds\u201d were too strong against her.\u00a0 Trump claims a mandate of the \u201cpeople\u201d, but less than half of the Nation voted for him, and his margin of victory was slim.\u00a0 He got exactly what he wanted, a country disunited into Blue and Red more than ever.\u00a0 Division is what Trump thrives on.<\/p>\n

We are descended into another four years of Trump.\u00a0 What was unthinkable, is happening every day.\u00a0 The very existence of our Democracy is at stake.\u00a0 It would be easy to turn off the computer, delete\u00a0 the webpages, and lock the doors.\u00a0 But I fear that Democracy\u2019s failure will batter them down.<\/p>\n

Martin Niemoller put it this way:<\/p>\n

First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew.<\/em><\/p>\n

Then they came for me,
And there was no one left to speak out for me<\/em>.<\/p>\n

So I am speaking out, here in Our America.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shortcuts:<\/h3>\n
Just want to read some stories – not politics!!! – try these: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0THE SUNDAY STORY SERIES<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n

Looking for Information about my parents – Babs and Don Dahlman – click here!!<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Want information about Pole Vaulting – Here’s that link!!! Ohio pole Vault Safety<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n

Our America \u2013 Top Essays<\/h3>\n

based on \u201chits\u201d (does not include subscribers)<\/em><\/p>\n

All Time Top Fifteen<\/strong><\/h5>\n
    \n
  1. \n
    Small Town Problems<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n
    Mom’s War<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n
    Out My Window \u2013 Part 4<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  4. \n
    Dean Ramsey<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  5. \n
    The McGowan<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  6. \n
    A Watkins Legend<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  7. \n
    A Pole Vault Story<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  8. Our Time<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. \n
    Don Dahlman<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  10. Losing Freedom<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. \n
    An Era Ends<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  12. Lester Kahrig<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
  13. I Just Don’t Get It<\/a><\/li>\n
  14. Shanksville<\/a><\/li>\n
  15. Memories of Notre Dame<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Top Fifteen Political<\/h5>\n
      \n
    1. Our Time<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. I Just Don’t Get It<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. Losing Freedom<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Flags and Shoes<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n
    5. OK Boomer<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. No Kings<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. More Perfect<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n
    8. Elon and the Kids<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. Professional Agitator<\/a><\/li>\n
    10. An American Apprenticeship<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n
    11. A Letter to My Senator<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n
    12. Guns and Sadness<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n
    13. I am a Liberal<\/a><\/li>\n
    14. Speaking Truth<\/a><\/li>\n
    15. Off My Chest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
      \"\"
      Where it all begins!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"Back
      The Author in 1977<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"
      Today – new hat – less hair!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      I\u2019m Marty Dahlman.\u00a0 I taught high school government and history for thirty-six years, and coached track and cross country for forty.\u00a0 But my first jobs were in political campaigns, where I worked to elect candidates from local judges to staffing a Presidential run.\u00a0 And even though I \u201cswitched\u201d to teaching, I still kept my hand … Continue reading “Introduction to Our America”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2720,"parent":0,"menu_order":-14,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-75","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nIntroduction to Our America : Our America - Essays on Politics and American Life<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our America, the strange new political world we've entered. 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