Gail Shore

owner of Shore to Shore Communications, Inc., a PR firm; and international cultural photographer for Cultural Jambalaya, @culturaljam, a nonprofit.

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

A British writer penned the best description of Donald Trump I’ve ever read:

“Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?”

A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface. Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul. And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that. He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead. There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:

• Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.

• You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum. God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created?' If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.”

-Nate White

[Peter Baker @peterbakernyt]

This year's White House Christmas ornament is honoring Jimmy Carter, the 39th president, with themes from his time in the Navy.

[Jenny Buccos @jennybuccos]

@reneeisto We've got the National STEM Festival. #free #JustSaying
https://t.co/2vXepg9M2d April 13th. Washington, D.C.

[Ricky Davila @TheRickyDavila]

President Jimmy Carter has officially been in hospice care for a year and is said to be alert, eating and understands what’s going on. The strength of this amazing human being is awe inspiring. Sending him and his family love and prayers. 🙏

[Kelly O'Donnell @KellyO]

One year ago, former President Carter chose to enter hospice care foregoing future hospitalizations to remain at home in Plains. While on assignment there, I was told by many that his life force is strong and his spirit content. Surely true a full year later.

[Jenny Buccos @jennybuccos]

Thanks for sharing! We can't wait to see what amazing inventions, innovations, and ideas come from #Minnesota!

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

(3/3) We are so proud of our work. Telling stories about how people in America keep their ancestry alive while preserving their heritage and culture for future generations.

Thank you to all who have supported us we are excited for the future! #CulturalJam

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

(2/3) The 2nd nomination highlights Chinese artist Yudong Shen, who advances his culture through traditional watercolor paintings and calligraphy.
https://t.co/w2FAC7zZ1r @TelevisionAcad @Emmys #Award #CulturalJam #Education

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

(1/3) We are excited to share that 2 of our #CulturalJam videos have been nominated for an #Emmy! https://t.co/UMl07Wldrc The 1st nomination features
@beardfoundation nominee, Chef Yia Vang, who uses food to tell stories about Hmong culture and history @TelevisionAcad #Education

[Jenny Buccos @jennybuccos]

Thrilled to be speaking about @ExplrMedia & the #nationalSTEMchallenge (@national_stem) at three sessions during the 9th annual ED Games Expo hosted by @IESResearch.

Sept. 19-22 at the Kennedy Center REACH

[The National STEM Festival @national_stem]

Young innovators 👨‍🚀 🚀, inventors 🤖, change makers 👩‍🔬, & solution seekers 🥽: this one's for you.

Read more about the National STEM Challenge 🧬 and watch this space for more details and deadlines coming soon: https://t.co/uX29SaFzwl🔬 Thank you @fastcompany for the exclusive!

[Jenny Buccos @jennybuccos]

Get ready for the launch of the @national_stem website on Sept. 12th with all challenge details and deadlines!

To help spark student creativity, @ExplrMedia is rolling out, short inspo videos on our social channels!

#NationalSTEMChallenge #projectInspo

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

Congratulations to St. Cloud’s Jugaad Leadership Program, the recipient of #CulturalJambalaya’s 2023 #Diversity #Award! https://t.co/IZshzSaOem The recognition honors those who have made a difference by advancing multiculturalism and ethnic diversity in their communities

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

The Ashanti in Ghana are famous for their craftsmanship and brightly colored kente cloth, an intricate weaving of cloth, each color holding a different meaning, such as blue = peace, yellow = wealth, red = strength, etc. https://t.co/op9LJeZPyo!
#Traditions #Travel Visit Africa

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

African #customs & #rituals include practices that distinguish one person from another. Herero women wear a headdress shaped like a cow horn, to symbolize their reverence for cattle, which are the heart of the lives to these herders. https://t.co/op9LJeZPyo! #Travel @VisitAfrica2

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

Traditional dance is learned by being passed down through the generations. The dances can be spiritual, healing, part of martial arts…or just plain fun. Check out our videos produced for Social Studies: https://t.co/op9LJeZhIQ!
#Customs #Rituals #Travel @visitafricatoday

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

In northern #Africa, nomads wear various turbans and garments as protection from the harsh desert climate. Some Tuareg men sport a brilliant indigo veil, thus given the name Blue Men of the #Sahara.
Videos produced for Social Studies: https://t.co/op9LJeZhIQ! @VisitAfrica2

[Jenny Buccos @jennybuccos]

Congrats @lucymarleey

[Cultural Jambalaya @culturaljam]

In #Namibia when #Himba, many teens have their bottom teeth removed and their top ones filed into points. Historically, the #ritual was thought to have been a way to dissuade slave traders. Today it’s a #Tradition to enhance a person’s looks and speech
https://t.co/op9LJeZPyo!

[Bev Weintraub @BevWeintraub]

So proud of the amazing @beth_hawkins!