Donna Dufresne
Silence is complicity when it comes to hateful rhetoric. Donald Trump IS responsible for the crazy fools who act out his hateful, white supremacist, and racist speeches. And it is downright DEPLORABLE that his so-called base can’t take a break from their hatefulness, to mourn the deaths of people of faith who were worshiping at the Tree of Life Synagogue.
Instead of pausing from his scheduled rallies, this “president” chose to continue on the path of division and hate, encouraging his ignorant supporters to continue their empty chants in a meaningless frenzy, “Lock her up!”, as if that has anything to do with relevant political issues. Like the worst of Roman plebeians at the Coliseum, these people, whom I can’t even recognize as Americans, cheer and jeer at Trump’s rallies. It’s a pathetic circus, empty of substance, and a shameful face to show the world. One would think we should have evolved since the days of Roman hedonism, but apparently not.
Earlier this week, Trump complained that “this bomb stuff” was some democrat conspiracy to distract us away from political conversations. Meanwhile, his loyal sycophants were doing the dirty work of sending bombs to his critics, shooting African Americans in a supermarket, and executing people in a Jewish congregation who have stood up for refugees and immigrants, and who believe in the scriptures which unite us all – “welcome the stranger”.
Typically, Trump’s supporters, and the fringe elements who tag along, refuse to acknowledge that the tone and content of his rhetoric has anything to do with the rise of anti-Semitism, racism and white supremist terrorism. We have met the enemy, an he is US.
- The “enemy” is not a caravan of mostly women and children from Central America, seeking asylum from drug and gang infested violence, and ineffective governments.
- The “enemy” is not the refugee fleeing the despot dictatorship in Syria.
- The “enemy” is not the Muslim Immigrant from Turkey, Iran, or Afghanistan.
- The “enemy” is not the African American NFL player who chooses to use his platform to protest racial injustice by kneeling.
- The “enemy” is not THE OTHER.
- The “enemy” is white supremist terrorism which has received a conciliatory nod from a President who is incredibly ignorant about white nationalism, and the nationalistic movements which led to the rise of Hitler in the 1930’s.
- The “enemy” is the NRA, the primo terrorist organization, rooted in greed and promoting untethered violence.
If you REALLY care about this country, you will study the past with open eyes. In Hitler’s Germany, many people found his “hate speech” uncomfortable, but they were pleased with the economic progress, and so they looked the other way. Charles Lindberg raved about how “efficient” the German government was in 1938. The streets were clean, and the people were employed. The economy was great! Yet, a sinister movement of genocide was perpetrated by those who believed Hitler’s rhetoric that Jews were the “other”, and therefore, deserved to die.
Our forefathers, the creators of the Constitution, knew that human beings are flawed. They didn’t trust that a democracy could work without checks and balances to keep us from the folly of dictatorship. They didn’t believe that an uneducated mass of people would be capable of upholding true democratic values. They knew that they themselves were deeply flawed and burdened with the legacy of slavery. Therefore, they developed an ideal, an idea of what we might become if only we could adhere to a few basic principles.
They knew they did not want a tyrannical government.
In context, the second amendment about the right to bear arms, was designed to protect a fledgling democracy in an 18th century world ruled by monarchs and Autocracies. It was never intended as a “God-Given-Right” to kill, which may as well be the NRA decree.
More importantly, the Constitutional rights which were really meant to protect democracy, are being eroded by the president daily. Only the worst of dictators and despots dare to call the press the enemy of the people, when in fact, a free press is meant to promote the truth and protect the people from a propaganda State News (dare I call out Fox News).
Finally, among our inalienable rights, is the right to speak out against the government when it is clearly going down the wrong path. It is an inalienable right to gather in protest, to speak out against the government, whether it be women speaking out against misogyny and sexual harassment when our elected and appointed officials clearly can’t adhere, or the right to kneel or sing in protest, or the simple act of chanting BLACK LIVES MATTER.
What does it mean to be American? If you have uttered the words “shut up and sing” or “shut up and play football”, or “lock her up”, then perhaps you don’t deserve to live in this country. Perhaps you should move to Syria, or some other deplorable dystopia where hatred and “otherhood” thrives. Perhaps you should walk in the shoes of the “other”. Only then could you appreciate the jewel of democracy, a work in progress, imperfect as it is, which is America.