Donald Trump cancelling his visit to the UK, new advice on feeding your pets, and a historical account of opposition to Nazism in second world war Germany have provoked some of the most interesting discussion on site today.
To join in you can click on the links in the comments below to expand and add your thoughts. We’ll continue to highlight more comments worth reading as the day goes on.
Politics live - readers’ edition: Friday 12 January
On Fridays Andrew Sparrow hands over his politics live blog to the readers. Much of the discussion today has been around Donald Trump’s cancelled visit to the UK and Nigel Farage’s comments on Thursday about a second EU referendum.
‘I was looking to join with others and demonstrate the reaction to Trump of very ordinary citizens’
Although it’s a good thing Trump isn’t coming, I have to confess to a sense of disappointment also. I could not be described as “an activist” (whose reaction was apparently feared by the [UK] government and Trump), on the contrary was looking to join with others and demonstrate the reaction to Trump of very ordinary citizens in this country. That’s what they feared, never mind “activists”.
moraig
‘We pesky ‘remoaners’ and our soft power, huh’
So Farage blinked first on the second referendum. Trump’s wimped out of visiting the UK. We pesky progressives/“remoaners”/liberal metropolitans and our soft power, huh?
oommph
‘Maybe Farage has staged a come-back too often’
Nigel Farage does indeed know how to play the game, with the object being Nigel Farage as winner. In this way, he shows some similarity with Johnson. But both of them are continually getting caught out in lies and evasions, which doesn’t seem to bother them or dent their confidence in the slightest – but must surely have a cumulative effect. I think maybe Farage has staged a come-back too often now.
susanjoyce
‘Trump commentators in the US press just don’t get it’
If you look at some of the comments on US newspapers’ articles about Trump’s latest great idiocy, it’s terrifying how many contributors bemoan the perception that Trump’s actions are undermining the “exceptionalism” of the US – these commentators just don’t get it – strutting about believing you are ‘exceptional’ isn’t that far removed from calling countries full of dark-skinned people “shitholes”.
ergolargo
My Opposition: The Diary of Friedrich Kellner review – a German against the Nazis
Readers have been sharing their thoughts beneath Richard J Evans’s review of the Guardian’s book of the day.
‘It takes a strong man or woman to join a resistance movement’
The story of German resistance to the Nazis is one that needs telling again and again, not least because it’s more often than not a tale of utter futility but that futility makes it all the more glorious.
It takes a strong man or woman to join a resistance movement and attack invaders within your country however it requires something more than strength to resist in a place where all the powers of the state including the willing participation of your fellow citizens is turned against individuals in order to keep them line.
The stories of those brave few who actually stood up against the black evil that was Nazism are stories drenched in blood with almost no happy endings. Often all those who did resist ended their lives under torture then the guillotine or axe. They resisted when there was no hope and that, in my mind at least, takes more courage and bravery than I know I have within myself.
Tintenfische
Scientists criticise trend for raw meat pet food after analysis finds pathogens
Pet owners are among the readers reacting to this story saying bacteria and parasites often found in raw dog and cat food products can pose health dangers.
‘Infected meat is dangerous for humans who are exposed to it’
One of my dogs eats dried horse poop, I don’t know why she finds it appealing. I think some comments are missing the point that infected meat is dangerous for humans who are exposed to it, directly or not. I just wanted to make clear that the article mentions meat infected by E. Coli (which means it’s infected by feces), while food contaminated with the Listeria can be indicative of poor fridge hygiene and the Toxoplasma, in particular, can lead to deformities in fetuses – and death in some cases.
Notyourfriend
Comments have been edited for length. This article will be updated throughout the day with some of the most interesting ways readers have been participating across the site.
