Source: http://be3n2.tumblr.com/post/127240492773/donald-trump-is-my-favorite-meme
If Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee for president, the sad and scary part will not be that Donald Trump is the Republican nominee for president. The sad and scary part is that a swath of American voters were willing to make such a thing happen. As xenophobic and racist as Donald Trump may appear to be, believing that he is the ultimate problem is misplaced and wrong. Of course if elected, Trump would have very real and negative effects on U.S. political life and engagement, both domestically and abroad; I do not want to underestimate that. But like any bully, the only power and capability that a President Trump would have is that which we as a society would have handed over to him.
Donald Trump is really just an avatar for a something very wrong in our society. Until we figure out what that is–and doing so will require listening and taking seriously each other’s hopes and fears without assuming the worst motivations, whether conservative, liberal, or any other political persuasion–the American situation is only going to devolve into an even greater “Jerry Springer” episode. Again, while Trump as a candidate is frightening and distasteful to many, he is not our ultimate problem, even if he does become a big problem. And keeping him from the nomination or the White House in and of itself will not make our deep issues go away. As the 20th century comic strip, “Pogo,” famously stated, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
Hillary and Soros are far more scary than Trump!
I wonder if your opinion has changed— you spoke a lot of things that you really didn’t know…I guess based on the opinions of others….like racism…he wasn’t in anyway a racist just because he was worried about who was coming over the border…as we see now, that is a grave concern. His life is a perfect example against being a racist— apparently you did no research on that. The promises that he made that got him elected— he at least tried to fulfill —how many other candidates can you say did that? You make out that some of the people who supported Trump must be stupid based on your pre- judgments— that are pretty bogus actually.He also had us energy efficient and independent. His policies in the world were a great success. He got very little praise for the things that he accomplished because the media didn’t tell them. The Russia hoax where is indeed a hoax. Hillary is indeed a crook. You seem very biased on some things and yet fair and well researched on others … I don’t get the conundrum. I think you should stay away from a topic that you aren’t interested to do a complete research on. I could say a lot more and provide more details but I get to feeling you’re pretty narrow minded on the subject. The presidentncy isn’t based on personality as surely you knew
I just don’t get what you base your xenophobic comments on …is it from the time when Mexico was sending all kind of criminals over the border? he wasn’t talking about good Mexicans —he was talking about all the bad ones —and they exist —that’s not xenophobia. he may not have worded it as he should’ve but those of us with a brain perfectly understood. Also his life demonstrates no racism where do you come up with this stuff tabloids? Now don’t get me wrong I’m not a Trump apologist… he says some stupid things but he’s neither of the things you label him with
The perspective you’ve shared in your post is a compelling call for introspection among American voters and society at large. Highlighting Donald Trump as a symptom rather than the root cause of deeper societal issues challenges us to consider what underlying forces are propelling his candidacy and, potentially, his presidency.
This understanding—that the rise of such a figure is enabled by the collective will of a segment of the electorate—points to broader cultural and political dynamics that deserve serious examination. It’s crucial to recognize the societal divisions, fears, and frustrations that might lead to supporting a candidate like Trump, whose campaign has been marked by controversy and polarizing rhetoric.
The mention of Pogo’s quote, “We have met the enemy and he is us,” serves as a poignant reminder that democratic outcomes are reflections of the collective psyche and values of the electorate at a given time. Thus, addressing the root causes requires a committed, ongoing dialogue that spans across political and ideological lines to foster understanding and address the grievances and fears felt by various segments of the population.
In tackling these deep-seated issues, it becomes apparent that simply defeating a candidate does not resolve the underlying tensions and divisions that brought them to prominence. A holistic approach that includes education, community engagement, and policies aimed at bridging divides is essential for any long-term, substantive change. This is a call to action for all stakeholders in society—individual voters, community leaders, educators, and policymakers—to engage in this necessary and perhaps overdue dialogue.