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.
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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?
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?
