So Many People Going Out of Their Heads! (#BOTB Results)

That is one of most vitriolic statements I've heard in a long time. You've just outed yourself for what you really are. You are an angry old white man. That can't stand either the liberal agenda, or anybody that can. You truly are not the man I thought you were, and I'm done with you.
--comment received on a recent post at TOSSING IT OUT.

Angry Penguin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     In recent months--certainly since shortly after Donald Trump announced his candidacy and I hinted my support for him as president-- a few followers have been trickling away from my blog while others have expressed a distaste for my support of Trump.  No problem there since disagreement, so long as it is respectful and healthy, is something I think we can and should all accept without getting whipped into a frenzy.

       However, after the election when Trump won and it was fairly known that I had voted for him, there has been some crazy reaction to me and to some of my blog posts, which I have tried to present with a sense of intentional calm and rationality.  It seems those on the opposition side to mine can say whatever they wish in any disrespectful way they wish while what I say or what others on my side of the fence might say is met with anger and vituperation.  It all seems a bit unhinged to me, but what's a blogger to do?

     Though I haven't unfollowed any blogs, there are a few that I no longer bother to read for one reason or another which probably works to my advantage from the standpoint of using my time wisely.  If a blogger does leave a comment on my site then I will visit their blog and usually leave a comment--that is, unless they've left a comment like the one that opened this post.  I don't want to rile anyone any more than they've already been riled.  If I do visit a blog and don't leave a comment then that would be highly unusual for me, but it would also mean that there was nothing for me to respond to--and this from a blogger who will typically even respond to a post about knitting or something that I don't do or know nothing about.

            And then there are those comments on my posts that seem genuine and intelligent to which I will leave thought out and often extensive replies which I don't know whether they have been seen or not because there is no further response from the blogger who left the original comment.   But more on that come Friday's post...



Battle of the Bands Results!

            My most recent Battle of the Bands contest featuring renditions of the classic Little Anthony and the Imperials song "Goin' Out of My Head" did not turn out quite like I expected.  I thought there was far more disco hate out there, but I guess when put up against an eccentric sounding La Lupe, disco rules. The Queen of Latin Soul in this match was no contest when put up against a queen of disco.

        It was kind of close deciding for me, but the disco string section wins me over more than percussive Latin horns, which I do have an affinity for though not enough to sway my vote in this match up.  And in agreement with most of you voting in this round, Gloria Gaynor's voice was more appealing than the--how do I put it?--the slightly kooky vocal styling of La Lupe.  I never really got on board with that "Disco Sucks" movement and I still enjoy hearing the danceable music that I don't normally dance to.  Sorry Lupe, you were kind of fun, but your version didn't have the appeal for me that Gloria did.

 Final Vote Tally

Gloria Gaynor     19

La Lupe               2

****************

Next Battle of the Bands on Wednesday March 1st

       My next Battle will be continuing on somewhat the same theme as this previous Battle with a bit of an international flair.   It's a well-known American artist's pop hit from the sixties that seemed to have caught the attention of the world with renditions coming from somewhat unexpected places.  It's another "crazy" tune that will tie in with my post that will appear on Monday February 27th.   Before that Monday post though, I'll try to push the envelope a bit more with an absurd post on Friday that might mostly bug some bloggers who might not see it.  But what the heck--I've started stirring the pot so I might as well finish the stew.

        Have any of my posts ticked you off a bit, but not enough to run you off yet?   Do you come back to a comment thread to see if a blogger has responded to a comment that you've left that has included questions?     I doubt whether you can do it, but would you like to venture a guess as to my next song choice for BOTB?

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Is Extreme Anti-Trumpism a Mental Illness?

Mental Illness: 
Any of various disorders characterized by impairment of an individual's thoughts,emotions, or social functioning
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary

Introduction:  Keep Your Cool If You Can

       More than a few reading this article will undoubtedly be offended by its premise.  In no way do I intend to make light of the serious issue of mental illness.  My post of next Monday February 20th will elaborate on my own background on the broader topic of mental illness, but for today I will start with that which will offend some while others will understand the gist of my argument.  I might as well add to the outrage some have felt over my previous posts in my President Trump Acclimation Series.

       Keep in mind that my intent is to present my side of a story with the hope of starting an intelligent discussion.  Some might call it stirring the pot or some such term, but I think of my aim here as merely Tossing It Out--presenting ideas for you to consider.  It's something I've done since the outset of my blogging, except in recent months my subject matter has had a tendency to rile more than a few readers and followers.   And I don't always expect that what I write here will make everyone feel good or agree with.

An Illness Takes Root

       By no means am I the first to suggest that liberalism and leftist thinking are mental disorders.  The idea has been around for many years, but the extremism displayed by the anti-Trump crowd seems to have taken the notion to levels of absurdity.

       Now, be assured that I am not assigning the "mental illness" label to those who merely don't like President Trump or disagree with him.  That's as normal as those who didn't like President Obama or any other politician, person, idea, or whatever.  What I'm talking about is the ceaseless ranting, sometimes to almost foaming at the mouth proportions, about the President, his administration, his supporters, and anything else related to Trump or his family.

       Prior to June of 2015 there were probably few people who thought much about Donald Trump.  Most of us knew the name, some of us might have seen him on television, but for the majority of us Donald Trump had little to no affect on our thinking.

       At first Donald Trump was dismissed as a joke, a passing fad perhaps.  But then a strange thing began to happen.  Trump's words began to be taken more seriously by those who understood what he was talking about.   His rallies drew crowds,  He began to amass a large number of followers.

        The media seemed perplexed, but recognized the value of a ratings generating story.  The political world began to feel annoyed and then intimidated.  With every seeming misstep taken by Trump that pundits predicted would cause him to collapse, the novice candidate would only grow more popular and gain more credible standing in the presidential race.

        Trump's presence in the race was maddening to the mainstream media and absolutely frustrating to most of the Republican party. In the meantime, Democrats smugly cast derision upon the Donald and prepared for the coronation of Queen Hillary.  Those on the left who weren't rioting or protesting Donald Trump, campaigned with full expectation of another win for the Democrats.

         When the outcome of the November election didn't turn out as planned, Democrats and other liberals were confused and shaken.  At first reduced to stunned disbelief and weeping, soon many began to express rage as they tried to figure out what had happened.  Thankfully, most who had been against Trump in the election are essentially still against him, but have dropped the issue to move on with their lives. Oh, sure, they'll express their displeasure when pressed, but for the most part they have moved on with their lives and dropped the issue.  A steadfast number, however, cling to their outrage and are unwilling to shut up about the whole thing, repeating the same tired complaints and arguments about President Trump and anyone who supports his administration.  They take their negativity to a level of irrationality.

Who's to Blame and When Will It End?

        Media in all its forms planted the seeds of insanity regarding the anti-Trump movement while television media takes it to a level of utter absurdity.  If one accepts the cliched definition of insanity being the repetition of certain actions then watch television to confirm it.

       Unable to watch CNN and MSNBC for any extended periods of time I tend to watch Fox News more than any other network. At times, I have suspected the casting agents at Fox of placing wild eyed wackos who spew nonsense and convey dubious logic as representatives of liberalism.  They are often like unrealistic caricatures of mentally disturbed agents of the left.  Then I switch over to the competing networks and there are the same types of spokespersons along with  fake news panels and show hosts who repeat the same nonsense ad nauseam that we've been hearing since Donald Trump began running and continuing after his unexpected win.

       And what about the demonstrators protesting Trump.  Or the rioters going bonkers with disruption, destruction, and as much chaos as they can create.  Is there any element of sanity to any of this behavior?  They carry "Love Trumps Hate" signs and decry violence while interfering with the normal people who just want to catch planes, get to work, or whatever it is that normal people are trying to do when their activities are screwed over by people who are angry because their side lost and now they no longer know how to behave in any sensible manner.

        I find it immensely ironic when certain representatives in Congress and other arms of government suggest that President Trump may be suffering from mental problems.  Excuse me--look at who are the ones delivering these messages:  Al Franken, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and so on.  These are like the poster faces of emotionally unstable individuals so who are they to be casting aspersions.  Please!  You people are driving me nuts when I see and listen to you.

A Contagion Infecting Many

      A lot has settled since the immediate aftermath of the election and yet there are a persistent minority who won't let any of their post-election grief and anger subside.  There are still those folks on Facebook and Twitter who have a compulsion to continue with their loony tune posts and more often than not there are vitriol and insults directed toward others on those social mediums, often family and friends--or should I say ex-friends.  I ignore these things for the most part, but I wonder what these whiners are trying to accomplish to make the world a better place.   Their posts become repetitive empty railings to the other inmates in their imaginary asylum of life while they alienate the rest of us.

      I'm sure there are also a number of bloggers doing much the same thing, but since I've mostly only been visiting the blogs of those who have commented on my posts I'm missing those anti-Trump rantings.  There is one blogger, who I will no longer name or link to, who is bearded and conveys this arrogant attitude as though he were the supreme expert on all things including morality, who I occasionally check on only because his posts seem to be in response to mine.  It's sad because I've known this blogger for quite some time and have always made some attempt to be congenial with him even though he often retorted with his better and smarter than thou responses to my comments.  At least I tried to be nice.  The few comments he receives are mostly from a small stable of like thinkers who somehow seem gratified that this blogger's words have provided some validation to their own irrational thinking.

       Like thinkers seem to congregate and when those like thinkers are extreme left, anti-Christian, anti-Trumpsters there seems to not only be no room for any opinion from the other side, but they will also be rudely castigated for their opinion, ignored, or even have their comments deleted.  So much for free exchange of ideas.

 So What About You, Mr. Loony Bird?

       Some of you might be thinking, "Well, you've keep posting your pro-Trump garbage!  Doesn't that make you mentally ill too?"

         Okay, fair enough.  The difference, as I've pointed out from the beginning of my series, is that I'm taking the arguments and insults against Trump and his supporters and attempting to rationally explain each one, disprove the fallacies, and correct what I see as outright lies.  I've also been trying to analyze what I see as serious issues from my point of view arguing my case regarding each issue.

          I have tried throughout to be respectful of opposing views and attempted to avoid calling names or casting a net of generalized insults.  And if you're thinking of my earlier comment about certain politicians who I think look unstable then I'll just say I'm dishing a bit of slop back to them and I didn't intend to insult any of you directly.

            Then there is one final thing I want to point out.  There have been some excellent discussions on the posts in my series.   Some of you have gotten upset and some of those readers may no longer be reading Tossing It Out, but in each of those cases I think that I have responded in a responsible manner--maybe a little ticked in a couple of cases--but I've always tried to smooth things over when I've felt there has been a misunderstanding of some sort.  If I've failed then let me know and I'll be willing to engage as respectfully as I know how.

           In closing let me say that I have the best commenters anywhere.  Even the ones who have gotten upset with me.  You are always welcomed at my site and your comments will always be read and acknowledged when I can.  That is, unless they become vile and profanity laden.  Then they are deleted.  Fortunately, this hasn't happened yet if I remember correctly.   But like I said, I have the best commenters of any blog.  Of course, I'm a bit prejudiced about those who leave comments on my site.  Why wouldn't I think you're the best?   Thank you all.

           A bit more on this topic next Monday.  Be here this Wednesday for my next Battle of the Bands which will be featuring two versions of a song that relates to today's post.

         Have you been having a difficult time watching any of the television shows that are overly fixated on the outcome of the election?   What annoys you the most on television?    Do you have any idea about my song pick for my next Battle of the Bands match? 

Does Trump's Muslim Ban Make Sense?

Please vote on my current Battle of the Bands if you have not yet done so.  Then continue with today's post if you dare...

Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, by Gustav Bauernfeind (19th century). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Warning:  This Post Gets Extreme!

       The post that follows is a continuation of Is Donald Trump Islamophobic?--visit that post for the full set-up for my current post.  However to briefly summarize, I would maintain that nothing that Donald Trump said during his campaign would deem him to be Islamophobic in any way and that furthermore the term "Islamophobia" is an absurd derogatory label that the left and others assign to those who disagree with Islam.

        Also I would like to emphatically state that in no way do I condone any mistreatment of Muslims or their property for what they believe.  They are free to believe as they wish.  By the same token, I and others are free to have and state our opinions about Islam.

        As promised in my previous post of my President Trump Acclimation Series I am going to explain why I believe that one of the most brilliant things that I think Donald Trump said during his campaign for president was “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” 

Why Brilliant?

        Most Americans know little to nothing about Islam.  In fact it seems apparent that most of the non-Islam world knows much about this religion and they seem more than willing to accept great numbers of Muslim "refugees" into their countries with the expectation that they will all assimilate just fine into their cultures.  Many in fact do and tend to live side by side without too many problems--on the surface of things that is.

         Most Muslims living in the United States present little threat, but they are also very much a minority.  In areas where their numbers are higher the problems sometimes become greater.   The Council on Arab-Islamic Relations has become a somewhat radicalized advocate for Muslims making demands on communities, employers, schools, and other places to provide more accommodations for them rather than assimilating.  Okay, I can understand this to some extent, but that is a beginning of something that could have more ominous future repercussions.  

         Much on this is well documented and can be found quickly through internet searches. Since I want to keep this post as short as I can I won't offer specific examples here, but perhaps in some future posts I can delve more deeply into the issues.  However I will make reference to the numerous problems that have arisen in Europe with the rising numbers of Muslim immigrants.   You've undoubtedly heard accounts in France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and many other countries.  The clash of cultures has become an issue of great concern throughout the world.  Why?

There is a History

         The root of the problem is within the belief system.   After the appearance of the Muhammadan belief in the seventh century, the movement spread quickly and often by violent conquest and forced conversions.  A stated objective of the followers of Islam early on included a conquest and conversion of Europe.  Through the Moorish invasion they were successful to some extent until Europeans regained control.  The Crusades were a campaign to wrest control of the Holy Lands from the Islamic conquerors.   There has been an ugly history between Christian and Muslim nations for centuries.

        Many Americans are not aware that the first international conflict that confronted the newly founded United States was with Islamic terrorists in the Barbary Wars from 1801 to 1815.   You may know this not as a war, but as attacks by the Barbary pirates.   These were not pirates like we typically think of, but they were Islamist aggressors who attacked our merchant vessels, enslaving sailors, forcing them into conversion to Islam, or killing them.  The line in the "Marine Hymn" that references "to the shores of Tripoli" is in regard to that particular conflict.

         Our country has had various confrontations with Islamic aggressors over the the centuries, but it has reached the most serious proportions in recent decades.  The United States has spent trillions of dollars fighting in Islamic countries and I think the issue that Donald Trump's question raises is why are we doing this?   Oil?  Our national security?  Building democracies?   What the hell is going on and why do we insist on interfering?

          Islamic extremists have become a threat to the United States and other countries, but haven't we brought a lot of this on ourselves by our interventions?   The biggest threat from Islamic terrorist groups is probably to Muslims.   There is so much disagreement and infighting among them that it's probably very unwise to get involved.   Perhaps they need to sort this out among themselves and then the rest of the world needs to decide where things go after that. 

          Even certain reformers within Islam such as Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have said that Islam has an internal problem.    The United States nor any other non-Muslim country has little business in deciding the affairs of the Islamic nations unless those nations are a direct threat to us.  Right now with Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so many other hotbeds of contention we see Sunnis and Shiites fighting for control.  We shouldn't be arming any of them or taking sides if we are not Muslim.   Syria's Assad is an Alawite whose government has protected Christians and yet our government wants to oust him from the presidency even though there had been a relatively stable government there for years.

         Let's face it, the Middle East is a mess and much of the world where Islam is in control is of a questionable nature in context with the rest of the world.   With all of the Muslim nations that are available, why should Muslim refugees want to go to the non-Muslim nations?  Once again this becomes part of the "what the hell is going on" question.

        When you get down to the heart of it all, Islam and Christianity and probably any other belief system are incompatible.   Islam and Christianity are in direct opposition to each other when you delve into the beliefs of the two.  To a Muslim, any one who isn't a believer of Islam is an infidel, lesser than they and deserving of death if they will not convert or subject to special taxes or other punitive measures.  This may not be something that is necessarily made much of when they are in the minority, but nevertheless it is at the very core of the belief.

          If one is a follower of Jesus Christ and adheres to the words that Jesus spoke then there is, in the end, no tolerance for Islam since Jesus is the only way to the Father.  The Christian should love the Muslim with hopes to reach them with the truth of the Gospel, but can a true Christian accept the Koran and its teaching?  

           The common solution is to live and let live.  Don't talk about it or if we do talk about it then accept each other's beliefs in some way--whichever way works.   But in reality, if one is a true believer, does any way but One Way work?   That is a problem that cultures living together must confront and ultimately can they?

           If a Holy War such as what the groups like ISIS are striving to achieve actually came to pass, then would it be wise to have large numbers of non-western-conformed Muslims among us?   Even Muslims who have been raised in our country: What happens when they become radicalized?   Islam is planting a seed that can sprout with a vengeance when nurtured with extremist teaching.  We've seen it happen.

A Call to Figure It All Out

          Hatred is not a good solution.  But realistic thinking has to come into play.  We must become better informed and discuss these issues among those with whom we agree as well as those on the other side.  The governments of Muslim nations need to understand what divides them and what unites them as well as what divides and unites all of us.   One world government and one world religion is an ominous solution that might be proposed by some and we must beware.  This will likely be coming soon and what do you think that would entail?

          Donald Trump's simplistic call to figure out "what the hell is going on" is in reality very complex when taken in view of the world and all of its systems of beliefs.  Of course we may be seeing that "Holy War" coming sooner than many of us have hoped for if Trump's plan to move the United States embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.   From a historical perspective I agree with this move. Bibically speaking I think it's an outstanding move since I am 100% pro-Israel.  And right there I'm in dire opposition with many Muslims.   If we do have a Holy War then we should not be harboring great numbers of Muslim refugees in the United States, Canada, Europe, Russia, or any other non-Muslim country.

          Perhaps my thinking is going to an apocalyptic extreme, but as a Christian I believe what I believe.  It's there in the Bible (and not in the Koran or to my knowledge any other Islamic text).  You can read it for yourself.  Or you can dispute it as nonsense, fantasy, myth, or whatever.   However I will leave you with this to think about:   The situation with Israel and Jerusalem was foretold three thousand years ago.  A prophecy that old should hold some credence even for those who don't believe it.   I guess we'll see and the way things are shaping up we may be seeing soon.

          Do you think the prophecies about the Jews, Israel, and Jerusalem are more than coincidence?   Why do you think Muhammad based his belief system on the same story as recounted by the Judeo-Christian tradition?   Do you think it would make more sense for the Muslim refugees to relocate in other Muslim countries if safe zone cannot be established in the countries from where they are coming?

Is Donald Trump Islamophobic?

       If someone doesn't agree with an agenda they might be tagged with the label of a "phobia" in order to discredit their mental health and portray them as a not very reliable loon.  This is a tactic typically used by the left and seems to easily take hold by a gullible society, a propagandist media, and the disingenuous agents of academia.  False labeling that sounds clinical on the surface is nothing more than a dishonest ruse to promote leftist thinking and destroy those who disagree.

Islamophobia and Xenophobia and Donald Trump

A number of terms with the suffix -phobia are used non-clinically...Such terms are not phobias. They are derogatory terms for negative attitudes towards certain categories of people or other things, used in an invalid analogy with the medical usage of the term. These terms were coined with the purpose of shedding a negative light on the people within these opposing groups, by suggesting that everyone within has an irrational fear towards the objects of the terms. Usually these kinds of "phobias" are described as fear, dislike, disapproval, prejudice, hatred, discrimination, or hostility towards the object of the "phobia".^{[47]    
Wikipedia}

      Now to continue with another installment of my  President Trump Acclimation Series.

      In this post we come to the final entries in what I've been referring to as "the litany of labels" that have continued to be assigned to Donald Trump and his supporters--xenophobic and Islamophobic.   The first of these is a legitimate term in psychology which has been misused by proponents of the Trump bashing movement.  In truth there is no actual phobia at play in anything that Trump has been saying.

       Building a wall and addressing the issues of illegal immigration are matters of law enforcement and have nothing to do with race or any fear of foreigners.  Even though some undocumented workers and others illegally in the U.S. might contribute to the tax coffers, there is no denying that the illegal immigrants and migrants of refugee status place a burden on the already overly encumbered American taxpayer. Beyond the financial aspects, which in some cases can be argued from a positive standpoint as much as a negative, there are still important issues of national security and stability of the nation.  I won't get into depth on this extensive subject other than to point out that this is not an issue of xenophobia.

        However the deceptive accusation of "Islamophobia" might be not well understood by many.  After all we have been repeatedly reminded that Islam is "the religion of peace" and terrorism has nothing to do with Islam.

        Now before I continue, as an aside and to reiterate the sentiments I expressed in my previous post, we should not harass or hurt those with whom we disagree.  What I am saying in my post does not in any way condone verbally or physically attacking Muslims or vandalizing their property. They are entitled to believe as they wish as long as it doesn't interfere with what you and I wish to believe.  Likewise I think that President-elect Trump would offer this same consideration.

        Most Muslims are just plain folks like you or I.  They want to work in their jobs, aspire for comfortable lives, and raise their families in peace without threat from their neighbors.  The typical Muslim has been raised in their faith and most are likely moderate believers just like a good many of people who think of themselves as Christians.  Probably the majority of Muslims in the United States have been westernized and do not isolate themselves from the rest of us with any religious garb or ostentatious prayer routines.  Of course this is my guess and I can not actually verify this statement, but I think I'm probably correct.  In all likelihood, if you had a Muslim neighbor you might never even know their religion unless they told you.

        I can't say that I've had many long ongoing close relationships with any Muslims.  A couple of them live in my neighborhood and though we are congenial when we encounter each other (which is rare), we don't have any close relations.  But that is true with all of my neighbors--I don't socialize with any of them and that's just the way my wife and I are.

      Once there was a beautiful young Muslim woman who was part of a study team I led at the University of Phoenix where I received my degree in 2007.  This team consisted of three men--a Mormon, a Roman Catholic, and an atheist--and this one Muslim lady. We all got along very well and worked together to produce an excellent presentation for our class project.   The lady was extremely nice, and though originally from Iran, she was very westernized and moderate in her practice of Islam.  We had some interesting uncontentious discussions about our different religions when we weren't focused on working on our project.

        I have nothing against Muslims on a one on one basis and would not desire to be in conflict with a Muslim any more than I want to be in conflict with anyone.  I've always tried to be a peacemaker as well as a peaceful person.  I like to listen to reason and take a rational approach to anything that I don't know much about in order to learn more.

         From the things Donald Trump said during the campaign I think he sounds like he takes a similar approach to other people.   More than once Trump stated that he had good relationships with many Muslims and admired many of their accomplishments.   His concern was always stated to be radical Islamic terrorism.  To me this is a totally rational statement and has nothing to do with so-called "Islamophobia".  

          Now, some will say that the phobia part comes from Trump's declaration of calling for a ban on Muslims coming to the U.S. from primarily Islamic countries.  The "Muslim Ban" is how this came to be called.    If you'll recall this ban was proposed immediately after the massacre in San Bernardino, California by two Muslims at a work-related Christmas party.  The ban was offered as a security measure to prevent potential terrorists from coming to this country.

        Not Islamophobia in my estimation, but wisdom.   One of the most brilliant things that I think Donald Trump said during his campaign for president was “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” 

         Why do I say "brilliant"?   I'll tell you in the next part of my  President Trump Acclimation Series.  This upcoming post just might be the most inflammatory of all of the posts in my series.  You can decide for yourselves. 

          That next part will come next week--Wednesday maybe, since Friday is Inauguration Day, and I'm aiming for another post on that day.   Of course this Sunday January 15th will be my special Battle of the Bands Inauguration Day post so I might be stepping on that post by having another so soon after, but I'll put a BOTB reminder on any subsequent posts I might do that week.

          Please do stop by on Sunday or shortly thereafter to vote on the BOTB post.   I've got one heck of a classic song in store and I don't want anyone to miss that train before it leaves the station.

          Does using "phobia" as a derogatory reference annoy you?   Do you think it's appropriate to use clinical terminology to describe things you might not like or agree with?   Have you ever disliked someone for what they were rather than who they were?

An Agenda to Gaily Slander Those Who Disagree

      If you aren't willing to stand up for what you believe in, you might lose your right to believe it.  A vocal opposition will drown out the voice crying in the wilderness if you allow that to happen.


      And so continues my series of posts that I've called the President Trump Acclimation Series where I clarify and try to correct some of the issues that have arisen in the minds of some who have questioned why I voted for Trump.    My reason for doing this series is that I'm annoyed with the continuous reciting of the litany of labels that come from the anti-Trump crowd--racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, and so on. 

A variant of the rainbow flag, symbolizing the gay rights movement in the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Is Donald Trump a Homophobe?

      At no time during the campaign did I hear any anti-gay comments from Donald Trump.  The continual outcries declaring that he displayed "homophobic" sentiments are false.   Some make the claim that Trump's selection of Mike Pence demonstrated an anti-LBGTQ attitude.   Throughout the campaign I heard Trump assure voters that he would stand against any persecution of the gay community and support the laws as they stand.  

       Say what you will, there was little discussion of LBGTQ issues in Trump's campaign in any one way or another.  It was not an issue so far as I am aware so the "homophobic" label is just another lie that was spewed by leftist media and the Trump opposition and the label continues to be falsely thrown at Donald Trump.

Now To Step Into Dangerous Territory...

       Let me begin by saying that I do not think that anyone should be bullied, persecuted, or ostracized for what they want to believe.  What I am about to say in this post actually puts me in this very position, but that's fine with me.  I've already set myself up for condemnation by declaring my support for Donald Trump so what else can happen?   Plenty I suppose, including having this blog deleted or at the very least losing more followers.   We live in a highly intolerant society and this intolerance seems to be more aimed at Christians and Conservatives more than any other group.  Say what you will about this, but I believe this to be true.

       The clear fact is that there are some, Christians as well as others, who believe that homosexuality and the other sexual inclinations are wrong.  This is true especially among those who strongly adhere to what they believe that the Bible clearly states.  In our time there are some more free thinking types who might consider themselves Christians who have reinterpreted what they read in the Bible or merely dismiss what the Bible says about homosexuality and other sexual sin.  In the context of our society we are all free (so far) to choose how we believe.  However in the end God will decide what to do about all of this.   As a Bible believing follower of Jesus Christ I accept the literal teaching of the Bible and do not accept interpretations that conform to what society desires or what individuals decide for themselves.

        I realize that this is not a popular perspective with many people and abhorrent to the left.  I will stand by my belief and defend anyone else who believes as I do.  But at the same time I will not discriminate toward those who believe otherwise.  Having spent many years in the entertainment industry, I was associated with many gays as co-workers and clientele.  Most of them were nice folks who were highly talented.  Since many of my cast members in the shows I managed were homosexual, I had lengthy associations and developed friendships with many of them.  We got along well together and accepted each other for who we were.  However, I never approved of their lifestyles and that aspect of their lives was something I avoided.

        Our society seems to insist that the gay or whatever lifestyle should not only be accepted by all of us, but it should also be promoted and celebrated.  Some of us feel that we have the right to disagree and often must suffer negative consequences for our beliefs.  Businesses that don't wish to participate in a gay agenda are often boycotted or worse.  Individuals who speak out against what they see as sinful behavior might be taunted for what they believe and in some cases ruined.

         The "phobia" label is often used to sully the reputations of good people who see things in a different way than what popular culture is trying to promote.  Is that right?   I don't believe it is anymore right than the persecution of anyone for how they see things.  And yet that seems to be the direction that much of our society is taking.   Hatred for anyone is wrong, but it is not the exclusive attitude of any one side.  Sure, we might abhor a behavior or despise a belief system, but if we start hating others then no lessons are learned and no true peace is gained.

          This is as far as I'll go with this topic for now as I've strayed from the issue of Trump and likely set myself up as a bad guy in some eyes.   I have no control over what some of you might think of me beyond my just keeping quiet about what I believe.   If you don't like what I've said here then you just dump me or you can feel free to state your case in the comments.  Remember though that I've been civil in this post and if you assault me with abuse then you are solidifying the case I've made here.

           Did you ever hear Donald Trump say anything that you would consider "homophobic"?    Should people be allowed to maintain unpopular beliefs without facing abusively negative reactions from others?    Do you feel the Bible is always right, is it a malleable document that can be interpreted to fit what we want, or is it of little relevance in our time?

         

       

Fear and Lotharioism in Trump Land

     Better for the news networks to just report the facts and the stories rather than repeatedly give us their opinions and tell us how we should think.  In my opinion this is the biggest cause of the divide we see in our nation now...

Ken & Barbie Dolls by Mattel Toy Company

     
       Sorry for taking so long to get to this particular post--holidays and other distractions as I've indicated in previous posts.  Also, blogging has taken a neglected seat far in the back of the bus of late as far as my life goes.  I offer no apologies for that because it's just the fact of my life these days.

        Considering that time span of neglect in regard to my President Trump Acclimation Series, if you missed my first part of today's post--Let's Talk About Sexism--you might want to return to it in order to understand the parameters of my current post.  That post rankled at least a few readers, but anything I write on this topic is sure to bother those same readers and I'll probably continue to lose more followers as my series progresses.  And as I've stated earlier, the worst and perhaps most upsetting to some points are yet to come in later installments of my series.  So hang on if you're bold and open-minded enough.

        To summarize said previous post in this series. my primary argument regarding the claims of sexism. objectification, or misogyny (oh, how I abhor the use of this ridiculous word--often by people who don't understand its exact meaning in my estimation)--is that Donald Trump, like a good many of us, is merely a product of his culture.

        We don't have to venture much further than our television sets, magazines we read, or any other medium of popular culture to know that sex drives our society.  Our culture heavily promotes objectification and we are in many ways still stuck in sexist thinking about the world around us.  I'm not going to make any judgement about how much of this is good or bad, but I will merely point out that this is the way things are just in case there are any of you who might think otherwise.

        Our children grow up in a Barbie doll culture where a bad boy image of many pop stars and celebrities is not only accepted, but often encouraged.  Like some of you, I am of the same generation of Donald Trump having grown up in a culture of beauty pageants dictating standards of attractiveness for women and advertising reminding us of how we all should look.   If there are any women who feel angered by that then I'd better never catch you reading one of those steamy romances with hot half-naked men on the cover.   Sex sells--no doubt about it.  Most of us aspire to look as attractive as we can.  Superficial to some perhaps, but it is a standard by which many of us cast judgement.

        In any case, since this post will be plenty long as it is, let me bring up some of the major accusations pointed at Trump regarding sexism and other similar charges


The leaked NBC tape--Since this was one of the incidents that snowballed into the biggest threat to Trump's candidacy, I'll start with this story since it is also one of the stupidest with the most incredulous outcome.  The timing of the release of this older tape by NBC was strategically schemed to hurt Trump by a network that was in collusion with the corrupt Clinton campaign.  Sure, it was stupid and sophomoric behavior on Trump's behalf, but it was also egged on by the host Billy Bush.  Having been secretly recorded and saved, this tape was akin to a blackmail tactic comparable to tapping a phone or hacking an email for information.  So all is fair in politics on either side I guess. 

      The truth to this dumb Trump move from actions in 2005 when he was playing the role of TV celebrity and man of the world is that Trump was playing a role.  Just listening to the content of the tape, anyone with common sense can hear that this is absurd macho riffing--"locker-room banter as Trump accurately called it--crude exchanges for the sake of humor or braggadocio that men (and women) will sometimes engage in when together in lax private situations.

       The thing that I found most incredulous was the feigned shock that so many expressed upon hearing the tape.  People exclaimed that they'd never heard anyone talk like this before.  Many men were on the record of stating that they or those they knew had never said anything like this.  Liars!  Liars all!  Or most--okay, so maybe a few were raised in monasteries or very sheltered surroundings, but I've heard such talk and worse from people I know, overheard from people I don't know, read in books, and heard in movies.  This is the way a lot of people speak.  Not that I condone this, but it's out there.  Trump should have had more class than to engage in such banter, but he was heading to a soap opera set on an Access Hollywood bus.  Think about it.  Is this really a setting where you expect to hear lofty talk?

The women accusers--Immediately after the release of the NBC tape, coincidentally a parade of women came out in mainstream media with accusations that Trump had assaulted them.   Well, number one, let's say that the accusations as I heard described were true, then I and probably most other men who have pursued women in their lives would be also guilty of assault.   None of the barely credible sounding accusations seemed anywhere near as serious as anything that Bill Clinton was ever accused of and for that matter all of the accusations sounded rather absurd.  At the end of the day all of the accusers quickly seemed to disappear as they were proved to be liars or unreliable sources with media ties.    I believe Trump's denials of these accusations more than what any accuser claimed.  Most likely these women were either opportunists seeking some kind of personal gain or they were connected to the media or the Clinton campaign (if there was any difference between these).  The timing of their appearances on the scene was very suspicious and I doubt we'll ever hear of any of these women again--not even as trivia questions since no one remembers their names.

Carly Fiorina--Here's one that came early in Trump's campaign.  When Trump was spending a day with a Rolling Stone reporter who was doing a story on him, at one point Carly Fiorina appeared on television and Trump made the comment, "Look at that face.  Would anyone vote for that?"  When I heard this story on the radio I knew exactly what Trump was saying because I've said similar things about other political candidates.   John Kerry and Lindsey Graham are two who come to my mind.  When I see certain people like these talking on television I see their pinched austere expressions and think to myself that they maybe should take an Ex-Lax and spend an hour on the toilet.  I find their expressions to be annoying in their austerity and smugness and they kind of bug me.

        That's what I heard from Donald Trump when he made the comment about Carly Fiorina and the interpretation that I understood was that she often looked pinched and severe when she spoke.  I happen to think that Fiorina is an attractive woman, but sometimes she comes across in a kind of hard way. A good thing for a leader to have I suppose, but still, I wouldn't necessarily want to deal with her facial expressions just as I wouldn't want to deal with having to see John Kerry give speeches--or Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for that matter.   Later, Donald Trump explained that when he had made the comment about Fiorina he was talking about her demeanor.    Demeanor is exactly the word that came to my mind when I first heard the story.   No sexist attack there in my opinion.

"Miss Piggy" and the Beauty pageants--To start with, Donald Trump did not invent beauty pageants.  Like them or not, the beauty pageant concept has been around for decades.  I grew up watching beauty pageants on television along with my parents and sister.  The beauty pageant has long been a big part of American culture.  As someone interested in the entertainment industry and who appreciates an attractive female, Donald Trump gravitated toward beauty contests and invested in several of them as a money making opportunity.  There is big money to be made in the beauty pageant industry.  In fact, in the late sixties, my own father even invested in a beauty pageant franchise that was short-lived, but it was something in which he anticipated the possibility of making some big bucks.  The beauty pageant industry is a legitimate and potentially lucrative entertainment vehicle which was a natural direction for someone like Donald Trump to pursue.

          As far as the most notable charge of shaming Alicia Machado because of her weight gain, this is a silly charge dug up by the Clinton campaign.  Winning beauty contestants are always under contract to maintain a certain image that reflects the standard of beauty and physical perfection that led to their winning the contest.  The situation with the Machado case was publicity oriented for the benefit of the pageant and Machado herself.  This is a big nothing publicity stunt by the Clinton people that essentially had little effect to diminish Trump and probably did little to help Machado.  

          The other past beauty contestants that came out to denigrate Trump were far outnumbered by those who praised Trump and were appreciative for opportunities they gained from their association with them.  Considering those charges that he would walk through dressing rooms where contestants were naked or changing clothes, this is the nature of the business. Having long been involved in the entertainment business I know how this goes.  Changing clothes and being scantily clad in the presence of the opposite sex is common and typically no big deal.  Those who have never been a part of this kind of culture need to accept what it is and just get over it in relation to Donald Trump.

Rosie O'Donnell--What is there to say really?   In my opinion the woman is a disgusting pig who is offensive, annoying, and with a talent I would deem negligible.  Anything Trump said about her is probably in line with what many think.   She could have been a man for that matter and if Trump had said the same things nobody would have cared.   Who actually admires Rosie O'Donnell and enjoys her dubious talents?   Case closed unless someone wants to reopen it.

Megyn Kelly--I'll admit to being a fairly regular Fox News viewer so I am well familiar with Megyn Kelly's show.   At first I liked her, but then her head gesturing, mugging, eye rolls, and other gesticulating that was like a wordless commentary on the news began to annoy me.  I began to realize that she is more of a news entertainer than the legitimate journalist that she claims to be.  Megyn Kelly is better suited to a show like The Today Show or The View than actual serious journalism. That's my opinion. 

        Trump's feud with Megyn seemed ridiculous to me, but I wouldn't call it sexist or misogynistic or anything of that nature.  He used charged words that some construed as being sexist, but personally I think Trump just knows what will get a rise out of certain journalists and wannabes as well as certain segments of the consumers of public affairs news.  And he certainly milked the publicity for all that it was worth.  So did Mugging Megyn.   I'm sure the feud helped her sell her recently released book (which I would never consider buying).  

        The dumbest Megyn related controversy was after the debate co-hosted by Kelly.  Later Donald Trump said in relation to one part of the debate exchange that, "She (Megyn) had blood coming out of her eyes...out of her wherever..."  and this was immediately conflated by the media morons as being a sexually charged insult referring to menstrual flow.  As usual their minds were in the gutter assuming that everything has to do with sex.

         To me what Trump said had nothing to do with what the pundits claimed.  What I heard was Trump using an old idiom to express rage or anger.   "He/she had blood coming out of her ears" used to be a somewhat common thing to say prior to the seventies or so.  I remember my father using that expression sometimes.  Since Donald Trump and I are products of the same generation, he undoubtedly frequently heard this expression used in his life.  Like me he probably has rarely or never used this expression, but maybe it came to his mind when he was saying "blood coming out of her eyes" and upon realizing that the expression wasn't quite right and to keep his flow of patter quick he added "her wherever" with no intent to mean anything more than that.

        Listening carefully to the nuance of his phrasing, that was my first impression upon hearing his words and it's the only thing that makes sense.  Donald Trump can certainly sometimes be crude in his speech, but in this case I'm sure that he had no intent to be so.  He misstated an idiom and instead of floundering to remember the correct one he improvised to move on.   I pass more judgement on those who interpreted his words otherwise.

Multiple marriages--He's been married three times.  Not something to be proud of, but in no way does that mean Trump is sexist or hates women or anything like that.  Plenty of men have been married more than once including me.  It's not something that I ever planned on, but it just happened that way.  Partly it's the society we live in.  Divorce is easy and it is something that happens to plenty of us.

Outrageous statements on the Howard Stern Show and elsewhere--Plenty of celebrities appear on the Howard Stern Show and say very outrageous things.  Stern encourages it as well because that's mostly what his show is.  He's a shock jock.   I used to listen to the Stern show all the time until it became too much for me.  Nevertheless Stern remains popular and so do a lot of other shows where crudeness, sex talk, and political incorrectness is the norm.  All sorts of people appear on these shows to say things many of us would never consider saying and many listeners continue to tune into these shows on a regular basis.  Once again this is all a reflection on the society and Trump has been a part of that culture.   He probably kind of regrets those appearances now, but what are you going to do to change the past.  Nothing.

**************

       That's all I've got for now, but I'm sure there are some of you who can come up with other examples.  Feel free to name whatever you think of in the comment section or give your thoughts on the examples I've mentioned.  But when you do, please remember the generation of Trump (which is also the generation in which I grew up).   This is the era that gave us free love in the sixties, crazed sex of the Disco Era, nudity and sex in mainstream movies, and willing acceptance of rampant use of foul language.  Things that Trump has said are mild compared to what we hear in much popular music or see in top ranking films on a regular basis.

       We're listening so go ahead and spout off.

        Next I'll get into some really offensive issues (to some) that are guaranteed to lose some followers and readers of this blog.

 There's still time to vote in my current Battle of the Bands post.   Please come over to visit if you haven't voted yet.  I'll be posting results on Monday January 9th.

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The Racist Lie and the Liars Who Say It

       Should a disagreement equate a condemnation of another?  If you are condemning another person for what they believe--or what you think they believe--then you have essentially shut down a conversation that could lead to a better deeper understanding of that person and the beliefs they hold.

Anti-Racist Action banner from Art Against Racism (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       The negative anti-Trumpist chatter continues on social media and not a day, nor perhaps an hour, passes without some news media pundit rattling off terms like racist in regard to President-elect Trump or his supporters.  My good old blogging friend Andrew Leon couldn't resist another post about the racism of people like me even though he was essentially repeating what he had said in his earlier rant post on the same topic.   Apparently Mr. Leon has no interest in conversations which lead to deeper understanding, greater tolerance, and perhaps a reversal on beliefs based on arrogance and misunderstanding--in fact he has stated that sentiment.  But then, since Mr. Leon apparently knows all and cites those who have PhD's, he doesn't need to understand those lesser than he or, in reality, those who see things from a different perspective.

       So blame whom you wish, my  President Trump Acclimation Series continues on until I am satisfied that more people understand the truth as I see it or until I am sated on my own words.

What Did Trump Say That Was Racist?

      From the beginning of his campaign we've been told that Donald Trump is a racist.  Suggested policies extracted from his speeches were proof of his racism said media, political opponents, and anyone else who wanted to spew that opinion.  While many who had known Mr. Trump for many years denied that any shred of racism existed within the man.  I think one had to listen closely to what Mr. Trump was saying to come up with any evidence of racism and on my part I found none.

       The comment section is where you can offer up any specific evidence that you might have noted that would be absolute proof of Donald Trump's racism.  But before I unleash those thoughts of yours, I want to eliminate some of the points that most of you would likely use with some my added clarification as I see it.  What Trump was saying always came across as pretty obvious to me, but that was hearing his words in context and not just picking out pieces presented literally to the extent that the meanings got distorted.  I'll try to explain...

Proofs of Donald Trump's Racism (and why they are not)

•      All Mexicans are rapists, drug dealers, etc--Maybe it didn't come across clearly when the snippet was repeatedly played or recited, but he also said that most of them are good people and acknowledged they were looking for economic betterment of their lives.
• Going to build a wall and "send back" those in the country illegally--Nothing to do with race, but merely a call for enforcing current immigration laws.  What's the problem with enforcing laws and having some sort of structure in taking immigrants into the country?
• Judge Gonzalo Curiel--Because of the controversy about the wall Donald Trump merely pointed out that having a judge with a Mexican heritage could involve some bias in his Trump University class action suit.  This was not racism, but a legitimate concern about the possibility of not getting a fair ruling in the case.   
• The Muslim Ban--I'll address more on this issue when I discuss the topic of "Islamophobic" and the Gold Star Khan family.  However I'll point out that Islam is an ideological system of belief that encompasses members of all races so any ban on Muslims is not racism.
• Trump's description of the current state of Black communities--He was referring to problems in the inner cities as recognized by many Black leaders and others.  The intent was not to denigrate a race, but an offer to improve crime-ridden areas that are predominately Black.  Trump was suggesting solutions, outreach, and assistance to these areas and not to attack any race.
• Housing discrimination lawsuit--This is a complex issue that occurred over forty years ago when Donald Trump was in the early stage of his career as a developer working with his father.  Racial discrimination was the issue behind the suit, but I would maintain that this was not necessarily a function of racism on behalf of  Donald Trump.  And even if it a factor of racism is involved here one can argue that this was more of an issue of time, place, and attitudes of those times.  People can change.

Not Always What Is Said, But Context

        Some of the other "evidence" of racism that detractors have pointed to are things like calling the Miss Universe winner of 1996 "Miss Housekeeping", calling a black supporter "my African American", and other similar things that don't come to my mind at the present time, but I'm sure some readers might want to bring up.  

         Firstly, keep in mind that Donald Trump has been an entertainer or has had the mind of the entertainer throughout his entire adult life.  Like many pop music stars, comedians, and other celebrities, he has had a tendency to say what comes across as outrageous things to certain people. These people are overlooking whatever the intended effect was meant to be or if perhaps it was a  misguided attempt to draw attention.   The scrutiny of those in the public eye can cause an outcry when they say something with relatively innocent intent merely to raise an eyebrow or evoke a guffaw.  

         Some might argue that saying anything that might be construed as racially insensitive provides a look into the true racist nature of a person.  And this can get incredibly nitpicky.   Our ultra-sensitive  PC culture is turning us into robotic uptight neurotics.  Yet most of us accept music, movies, books, comedians--you name the source--that do and say things that would get us in trouble in our own lives.  Maybe you say that those examples are different.  Remember, president or not, Donald Trump is different.  It's time for a change so let's give change a chance.

         Feel free to leave your comments--my readers have been great so far leaving respectful comments that continue the conversation.  Add whatever you think I didn't touch upon or address what I've said above.  Be as specific as you can if citing an example as I'm trying to avoid a repetitive accusation of being racist from someone who doesn't really know me well.

       Also be careful not to cite what Mr. Trump supposedly said if your source is coming from a media spokesperson or anyone who is not the President-elect himself.   Something that most of the time was misunderstood by the commentators is that they often took things literally while missing humor and a bigger picture painted by the entire speech.  When Donald Trump spoke on the campaign trail, the words I heard were often incorrectly conveyed to the television audience which is why so many people disliked Trump if they were consumers of those sole media sources.  The future President was not speaking to the benefit of the political pundits and professional communicators, but he was speaking to the regular people.  A lot of us understood.

       Is there an example of racism in Donald Trump that you feel I've overlooked?   If there were organizations generally thought of as racist who supported Trump for President, do you hold the President-elect responsible for that?   Do you think that under certain circumstances or if pressed to some extreme that everyone has a potential to be racist?

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