Without question Donald Trump is a cult like figure. His supporters certainly act like cultists seemingly following his every lead and defending him vociferously and blindly. It appears they have not only sipped the orange kool-aid but began mainlining it. However...
The truth is that it is not Trump who is leading his supporters around by the nose, but it is they who are leading him...sorta.
People all over this country have spent the better part of the last four years (or more) wringing their hands and wallowing in consternation regarding some of their family and friends' seemingly subjugated support and affection for Trump. These people have been searching for why the people they love and admire have attached themselves to a figure who is obviously bigoted, xenophobic, misogynistic, smarmy and shady. They are perplexed why people whom they always seen as intelligent and thoughtful give such full throated support to a man who is un-empathetic, rash and vulgar.
Well, the answer is simple but quite unpalatable. I say this because it (the answer) is as clear as the fact Trump is not a fine healthy physical specimen as he claims, but it is also clear people don't want to confront the answer.
The reality is Trump's supporters don't see his bigotry, crassness, lack of empathy and lack of decency as bugs but as the features.
What all of us anti-Trumpers have had to come to grips with is people we like, love and respect aren't as tolerable, open-minded or immune to irrational dislike (if not hatred) as we wanted to believe they were. And, the truth of the matter is most of us on some level knew that.
As an African-American in red state America I feel I can speak on this some. I have always heard people say things that I found to be wrong or insensitive or just blatantly offensive. People have said things to me that are unquestionably racist. But, of course, they said it in a manner that it didn't appear to be directed at me. So, I ashamedly often let it slide.
Also, I fell into the trap of believing that since certain people liked me or treated me well they can't be that racist or bigoted.
Other folks either felt the way I did or fell into another trap. They assumed things about their family members, friends and co-workers because of their attitude or personality. But, those assumptions were based on shallow conversations and perceptions. They had never really had deep conversations about race, gender and sexuality that likely would've revealed some things. And, sure, as I did, they knew people were Conservatives or right-wing but except for Uncle Delmar and the old curmudgeon at work they didn't realize some of them were aligned with Pat Buchanan and others see Buchanan as too leftwing.
So, when reality tv star and real estate "mogul" Donald J. Trump (the "j" stands for jive talking man baby) came along spewing his birtherism bullshit or came sliding down that Trump Tower escalator announcing his presidential candidacy many people in this country saw a mainstream figure saying all the things they felt.
It is easy to believe Trump cast some sort of spell over your mama or your Aunt June or your best friend or your co-worker whom you talked to every day, but the fact is Trump didn't brainwash them. They created him!
Now, let me be clear Fox News has cultivated this environment for over two decades. They were literally the pushers shoving heroin in front of the addicts. But, the addicts are the ones who began frequenting the trap house making it lucrative. Fox News just made sure the trap house was always well stocked in smack and needles. And, still does.
So, while Trump and his presidency have been predictably cruel, inept and buffoonish laying this subjugation at his feet is actually unfair and disingenuous. Donald Trump didn't make your dad or your boss or your cousin Stephanie racist, homophobic or misogynistic or at the very least supporting a person or a political party whom are these things tangentially implying these things aren't deal breakers. They were already this way!
Trump didn't create his base, which is just the Republican base. We should be crystal clear about that. Trump is not the catalyst for their bigotry, xenophobia and myopia. He is merely the conduit.
Some of us always knew these feelings were present within people. Again, if we think about it there were things said, social media posts and likes and responses to certain events that gave us insight. We largely just chose to overlook it.
Other people were genuinely surprised and still haven't reconciled it. I feel for those people. Few things can be more deflating than being an inclusive open-minded person and having the epiphany, "Oh my god! Mom is an effin bigot! Sean, whose been my best friend for 15 years, is really a virulent misogynist and xenophobe!"
But, if they didn't know, they should've known. The signs are always there.
And, for those loved ones who really aren't bigots or racists but continue to support Trump despite his nonsense and demagoguery it really is not that baffling. Likely their stances on social issues and conservative principles outweigh everything else. That just means they are craven. I am not sure that is better.
Look, we all have loved ones we look at as decent and moral; yet, we cannot understand how they support an amoral cretin like Trump. How does someone who claims to be Christian and Jesus loving so enthusiastically support a man who is as promiscuous and as vulgar as Trump? Easy. Just look at the Supreme Court. Peep out these new abortion laws in red states. See the transgender military ban. Trump can slip his little mushroom into a different porn chick every day and twice on Sundays. As long as he's stacking the judiciary with fundamentalist rightwing judges and allowing "Christian law" to infiltrate secular law (who cares about separation of church and state, right) they don't care! Tell me I'm wrong! I dare ya!
Oh, and let's not bullshit here. Some of the "decent" folk...many of them, in fact, are good with the racism and xenophobia too.
I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but the truth is the truth. It would be beyond easy to believe Trump has some hold over his base. It would be more comforting to believe that. However, that is not reality. Trump is literally a reflection of his supporters.
And, honestly, I don't have any words of wisdom about how to deal with it. Personally, I just try to avoid politics with loved ones who are Trump supporters. Of course, I'll forever be side-eying them and keeping in mind what time it always is.
Some people have either stopped talking to me or severely limited contact. Yes, it's hurtful but at the end of the day it's whatevs. It reveals a lot about them. The mask has been ripped off.
Regardless how you decide to deal with these people just acknowledge the reality. Stop blaming Trump and confront who and what these people are. Don't let them nor yourself off the hook by pretending Trump is Jim Jones and has cast a spell over your mama. Accept the fact your mama has serious flaws and figure out how you are going to handle it.
Stop coddling Trumpsters and being quasi-apologists for their bigotry or complicity with bigotry. You are not doing them, yourself or your country any favors.
The truth is that it is not Trump who is leading his supporters around by the nose, but it is they who are leading him...sorta.
People all over this country have spent the better part of the last four years (or more) wringing their hands and wallowing in consternation regarding some of their family and friends' seemingly subjugated support and affection for Trump. These people have been searching for why the people they love and admire have attached themselves to a figure who is obviously bigoted, xenophobic, misogynistic, smarmy and shady. They are perplexed why people whom they always seen as intelligent and thoughtful give such full throated support to a man who is un-empathetic, rash and vulgar.
Well, the answer is simple but quite unpalatable. I say this because it (the answer) is as clear as the fact Trump is not a fine healthy physical specimen as he claims, but it is also clear people don't want to confront the answer.
The reality is Trump's supporters don't see his bigotry, crassness, lack of empathy and lack of decency as bugs but as the features.
What all of us anti-Trumpers have had to come to grips with is people we like, love and respect aren't as tolerable, open-minded or immune to irrational dislike (if not hatred) as we wanted to believe they were. And, the truth of the matter is most of us on some level knew that.
As an African-American in red state America I feel I can speak on this some. I have always heard people say things that I found to be wrong or insensitive or just blatantly offensive. People have said things to me that are unquestionably racist. But, of course, they said it in a manner that it didn't appear to be directed at me. So, I ashamedly often let it slide.
Also, I fell into the trap of believing that since certain people liked me or treated me well they can't be that racist or bigoted.
Other folks either felt the way I did or fell into another trap. They assumed things about their family members, friends and co-workers because of their attitude or personality. But, those assumptions were based on shallow conversations and perceptions. They had never really had deep conversations about race, gender and sexuality that likely would've revealed some things. And, sure, as I did, they knew people were Conservatives or right-wing but except for Uncle Delmar and the old curmudgeon at work they didn't realize some of them were aligned with Pat Buchanan and others see Buchanan as too leftwing.
So, when reality tv star and real estate "mogul" Donald J. Trump (the "j" stands for jive talking man baby) came along spewing his birtherism bullshit or came sliding down that Trump Tower escalator announcing his presidential candidacy many people in this country saw a mainstream figure saying all the things they felt.
It is easy to believe Trump cast some sort of spell over your mama or your Aunt June or your best friend or your co-worker whom you talked to every day, but the fact is Trump didn't brainwash them. They created him!
Now, let me be clear Fox News has cultivated this environment for over two decades. They were literally the pushers shoving heroin in front of the addicts. But, the addicts are the ones who began frequenting the trap house making it lucrative. Fox News just made sure the trap house was always well stocked in smack and needles. And, still does.
So, while Trump and his presidency have been predictably cruel, inept and buffoonish laying this subjugation at his feet is actually unfair and disingenuous. Donald Trump didn't make your dad or your boss or your cousin Stephanie racist, homophobic or misogynistic or at the very least supporting a person or a political party whom are these things tangentially implying these things aren't deal breakers. They were already this way!
Trump didn't create his base, which is just the Republican base. We should be crystal clear about that. Trump is not the catalyst for their bigotry, xenophobia and myopia. He is merely the conduit.
Some of us always knew these feelings were present within people. Again, if we think about it there were things said, social media posts and likes and responses to certain events that gave us insight. We largely just chose to overlook it.
Other people were genuinely surprised and still haven't reconciled it. I feel for those people. Few things can be more deflating than being an inclusive open-minded person and having the epiphany, "Oh my god! Mom is an effin bigot! Sean, whose been my best friend for 15 years, is really a virulent misogynist and xenophobe!"
But, if they didn't know, they should've known. The signs are always there.
And, for those loved ones who really aren't bigots or racists but continue to support Trump despite his nonsense and demagoguery it really is not that baffling. Likely their stances on social issues and conservative principles outweigh everything else. That just means they are craven. I am not sure that is better.
Look, we all have loved ones we look at as decent and moral; yet, we cannot understand how they support an amoral cretin like Trump. How does someone who claims to be Christian and Jesus loving so enthusiastically support a man who is as promiscuous and as vulgar as Trump? Easy. Just look at the Supreme Court. Peep out these new abortion laws in red states. See the transgender military ban. Trump can slip his little mushroom into a different porn chick every day and twice on Sundays. As long as he's stacking the judiciary with fundamentalist rightwing judges and allowing "Christian law" to infiltrate secular law (who cares about separation of church and state, right) they don't care! Tell me I'm wrong! I dare ya!
Oh, and let's not bullshit here. Some of the "decent" folk...many of them, in fact, are good with the racism and xenophobia too.
I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but the truth is the truth. It would be beyond easy to believe Trump has some hold over his base. It would be more comforting to believe that. However, that is not reality. Trump is literally a reflection of his supporters.
And, honestly, I don't have any words of wisdom about how to deal with it. Personally, I just try to avoid politics with loved ones who are Trump supporters. Of course, I'll forever be side-eying them and keeping in mind what time it always is.
Some people have either stopped talking to me or severely limited contact. Yes, it's hurtful but at the end of the day it's whatevs. It reveals a lot about them. The mask has been ripped off.
Regardless how you decide to deal with these people just acknowledge the reality. Stop blaming Trump and confront who and what these people are. Don't let them nor yourself off the hook by pretending Trump is Jim Jones and has cast a spell over your mama. Accept the fact your mama has serious flaws and figure out how you are going to handle it.
Stop coddling Trumpsters and being quasi-apologists for their bigotry or complicity with bigotry. You are not doing them, yourself or your country any favors.
