In an overtly emotional yet pointed address at the Human Rights Campaign, a nationwide LGBTQ organization, award-winning actress Meryl Streep once again slammed President Donald Trump. Streep, who was called, "A Hillary flunky who lost big," (ABC News, 1-9-17) by Donald Trump, compared the team of Trump's bullies who have been berating her to "Brownshirts," which is the name that was given to the Nazis who followed Hitler in the 1930's and 40's and at the height of World War II in the European theater.
Streep ridicules Trump's name-calling
Streep then added a bit of humor to her address, mocking Trump's description of her as "the most over-rated actress" of her generation by re-phrasing it to, "the most over berated actress of my generation," (ABC News, 1-12-17).
Although Streep stated that she would rather stay home and "load the dishwasher," she made it abundantly clear that she feels that she is obligated to "take a podium to speak out," (ABC News, 1-12-17).
Streep stated that "the weight" of the all the awards and honors that she has received obligates her "speak out" and take the podium and challenge the "Brownshirts," and the Trump followers, who, in her opinion, exemplify the same kinds of hatred, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia and "religious bigotry" that was prevalent under Adolf Hitler and his Nazis during the height of World War II. Streep said that the only solution to this perplexing problem is to fight. As Streep sees it, "You have to" fight, "You have to," (ABC News, 2/12/17).
Trump's 'nuclear winter'
Streep then described the prospects of the future under the "leadership" of Donald Trump as being none other than a "nuclear winter," which is the period of cold and total darkness that follows a nuclear attack. Streep then emphatically stated that America will awaken to the realization of "how fragile freedom really is," (ABC News, 1-12-17).
Americans are mad
Streep then quoted the Declaration of Independence and its emphatic promise to all Americans that they have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," (ABC News, 1-12-17). Streep denoted the well-known anger that is felt by Second Amendment advocates when the government tries to take Americans guns away from them: "If you think people were made when they thought the government was coming after their guns, wait until you see when they try to take away our happiness," (ABC News, 1-12-17).
Meghan McCain berates Trump
Meanwhile, Meghan McCain, the daughter of one-time presidential candidate and current Arizona GOP Senator John McCain, had some harsh words for Trump as well. McCain denoted the fact that her father cannot lift his arm above his head because of his ordeal as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. McCain then compared Trump's lack of military service to her father's emphatic military service by simply stating, "He served," (ABC News, 2/11/17).
