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I grew up in a conservative, Mormon family in Bakersfield, California, the city who brought you the likes of Earl Warren, Bill Thomas, and Kevin McCarthy. As a pretty vocal liberal, I know a thing or two about being a political outcast among your friends, family, and coworkers, and until this election cycle have always been an advocate of not allowing political differences to influence which I had in my life. I believe that democracy simply can’t exist without logical, reasonable, dissenting opinions forcing a middle compromise.
When we quote the Bill of Rights as the doctrine of the Founding Fathers, we often forget that when Madison wrote them. The Amendments were compromises introduced to unite the opposing viewpoints of the Federalists and those arguing for State’s individual rights almost half a decade later, and he didn’t just write ten, he wrote another seven that dissenting voices opposed and rejected. This is truly the American way, and it’s what has kept us afloat since our inception.
What we have now is a cold civil war for the very existence of the American concept.
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But this election, what we have isn’t a difference of opinion, raised by reasonable parties arguing about what’s best for the forward direction of a nation. What we have now is a cold civil war for the very existence of the American concept.
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‘‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men…’’ (Now, there is relevant comment to be made that the author of those powerful words, dismissed the value of women as equal and dismissed the humanity of the stolen, enslaved people upon who’s back he built his wealth and position of authority. That is a valid response, but I choose to view these documents as living, and be inspired by the spirit in which the words mean to me in a modern context as defined by the 13th and 19th amendments, and not their historical context.)
Jefferson says here that the conceptualization of equality is so inherently ingrained in the American ideal that it is self-evident. That it requires no further explanation is necessary other than to acknowledge its existence. The concept of equality has been so deeply entrenched in our culture that the right is inalienable, unable to be taken or given away.
Donald Trump’s candidacy threatens to undermine everything that I hold dear about that concept. And it isn’t just Donald Trump, who isn’t the problem. With no knowledge of how government works, no understanding of foreign policy, no understanding of macroeconomics, Trump, if elected would be too inefficient to cause much harm himself. The danger in Donald Trump isn’t the man, but the symbol.
He, while claiming not to be a politician, expertly panders to the fears and hatred bubbling just under the public surface of America. When he says Syrian Refugee, what he means is Muslim Americans living next door will kill you, even with the logical fallacy that Muslims represent almost a quarter of the world’s population. When he says immigrants are taking your jobs, what he means is Mexicans are taking your jobs, and rape our women. When he says Inner City crime, he means Black Americans will kill rob you and kill you.
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He doesn’t even bother to code his disdain for American women. He openly calls them fat, ugly and devalues them so much that he can barely muster a defense suggesting he has sexually assaulted many women using his status as a celebrity as cover, even as they victims come forward in number.
He suggests that the media wouldn’t be allowed to cover him if elected, cutting off the Fourth Estate’s moral mandate to inform the electorate.
He threatens to assault or even jail those who disagree with him to get a cheap thrill bump from his supporters.
By playing on these fears, Trump allows the most dangerous elements of our political discourse to be socially normalized.
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By playing on these fears, Trump allows the most dangerous elements of our political discourse to be socially normalized. Breitbart, which was until this election cycle a blog that was only read by conspiracy theory toting racists, is now the public voice of the conservative party. David Duke, who had been banished to the outer fringe, is a household name again. Supporters openly shout racial slurs in the safety of his rallies, while egging each other on to beat those who protest. His advisors are people like Roger Ailes, Stephen Bannon, who objectively worked for years to undermine democracy and push a propagandist conservative nationalism agenda.
All of this is to say that this election isn’t just dealing with the differences between conservatism and liberalism, or the electing of an inexperienced politician who has never been part of the Washington establishment or an over-experienced politician who undoubtedly represents political dynasty. This is no longer about email servers or Benghazi. This is no longer about the economy or Foreign Policy; this is now about who most closely represents your values as a human being.
And now am forced to argue that perhaps, if you support this agenda, the things that united us as friends, or family, or collogues are perhaps not strong enough to overcome the massive difference in the way I view everything else. That maybe, just maybe, this discussion has placed a spotlight on the essence of our inherent biases.
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To steal from a much better writer, I urge my fellow men to remember that ‘‘the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’’
How do you want to be measured?
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How do you want to be measured? How do you want your children’s children to remember you when they read about this moment in their history books?
If you can’t look yourself in the mirror and say that you chose at this historic moment to stand for what’s right for all American people, regardless of religion, gender expression, race or creed, I’m just not sure you and me ever really were friends, to begin with.
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Photo:Getty Images
Well said McKay! I believe this whole heartedly. The action of this man is extremely symbolic and not totally actionable!
One of the most divisive political issues is abortion rights. So what does it say about a person who believes that legal murder should be sanctioned for convenience?
[ And it isn’t just Donald Trump, who isn’t the problem. With no knowledge of how government works, no understanding of foreign policy, no understanding of macroeconomics, Trump, if elected would be too inefficient to cause much harm himself.] The requirement to become president of the USA is to be elected by voting. Anything else does not count. Trump is not a typical politically correct type, but at least he says openly what he is thinking. With the Clinton family clan this is not the case, I could never trust them. USA politicians said the same about the president of… Read more »
Tell me directly. Where is trump racist? . Where is he xenophobic? You make sweeping comments yet very little items that are either not cliches or they are a general theme. I want specifics.
The problems I’m seeing, both here in the comments section and in general in the larger conversation, is that people are confusing a moral stance with a political position. This article, and in fact this election, are not about politics, policies or left or right wing positions. It’s about a moral stand against someone who promotes hatred, isolationism and xenophobia. This person is throwing gasoline on the basic moral fiber of our country and laughing while it burns. He infuses his supporters with fear and promotes the notion that different means less than. The exact opposite of the principles this… Read more »
Thanks, Beth! I think your interpretation was spot on.
Thank you for writing this piece. I keep getting told that we shouldn’t allow an election to come between friends and family, but the longer this goes on the less sense that makes to me. Trump has successfully exposed his supporters for exactly what they are and I don’t think the rest of us are doing society any favors by ignoring it. I CAN’T ignore it. The behavior of some of my former friends and ignorant family members throughout this is not the kind of example I want set for my adult children, or my grandson.
Bull sheet. You drank the Kool aid.
Btw. I’m appalled that on the leftist side, they absolutely refuse to look at the corruption on the Clinton side. They actually embrace it it as the less of two evils. No. The evil is in the loss of who we are. The loss of the Republic that Franklin warned about. But the left is he’ll bent on going there with no debate.
I’m not opposed at all to a Democrat. But absolutely not this one. Unless of course I want to rub it back in your faces after its done. As you’d do to conservatives after the. We are so screwed
Well. That probably works out best for everyone. Because I certainly couldn’t be in a relationship with someone who condones massive corruption, deceit and ethical manipulation, not withstanding theft of public property and a disregard for rules that are there for reasons of national security. I think your article is just another way to guilt people to not have any other views than the ones you hold. And it’s the lefts arrogance in all of this that created trump. Guess what? Another conservative will come along but s/he’ll be a much better speaker and the election will be a landslide.… Read more »
People are fed up with conservative policies considering the fact that they have been a dismal failure for a long time.
That’s a lie. Bald faced. A lie. I know your posts. Bald faced.
Your posts are bald face lies and I know your post as well.
The whole political section here utterly misses the entire reason for the Trump phenomenon. I’ve tried to explain it to people but it falls on deaf ears. There is some serious lack of understanding going on. Hopefully this guy can reach you: http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/ The identity politics of the far left helped CAUSE the rise of Trump. hearing you sneer is just ugly. The guy is a clown but he’s the only candidate who bothered to speak to the masses of people in the middle of the country. I’ve seen so much disdain for these people around here and throughout the… Read more »
SEEE, tanks for the link, I just shared it with MANY
No, it was the politics of the far right that cause the rise of Trump.
How many rural white voters do you know? I’ll trust them to tell me what they believe rather than listen to your modern day version of “2 legs baaaaaaad”
Thanks for this. Throughout this election I’ve heard so much about how we can’t let our political differences divide us, but I’ve always had a hard time believing you can separate a person from their political beliefs. If you believe in policies or hold positions that I believe to be not just politically misguided but morally wrong, how can I respect you as a friend? It’s hard enough to stay in contact with my racist, Trumpian family. Theyre filling my only “reprehensible racist” friend slots, sorry.
That’s the difference between you and me, I have friends and family who have differing views then what I have. I know that each and every one of them would give their life for me. You mention “racist.” I’m a Trump supporter so that automatically makes me racist? My best friend at my wedding is black, my wife is Mexican, my daughter in law is Muslim, one of my closest friends is black . they agree with Trump, so I guess they’re racist? Conversely, I have friends that are Hillary supporters, oh well. We still socialize, have fun together, Work… Read more »
Tom, in response to the second paragraph of your comment: Racism is NOT individual prejudice. Racism is the systematized and systemic denial of access to the same rights, benefits, educational, economic and legal opportunities–based on skin color–for our fellow humans that we live with in this country. You do not have to have individual prejudices to be complicit in the systems of racism. (Although they often go hand in hand, despite your “black friends”.) We have a candidate for the position of President of the United States. He has very few actual policies that he can explain clearly as to… Read more »
I tired a reply but the site refreshed and I lost t all .. I guess that was an omen.
I wish someone had stopped this guy.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/la-grange/chi-indian-head-park-murder-to-jury-20140915-story.html
She as not only the daughter of a friend of our but my son-in-law was first responders to the scene
Hmmm, I will get tech people to look into that. I thought we had fixed that—that the site no longer refreshes automatically. I will have to see why that is.
Also, I got asked to turn my comment into a post on GMP, which I am going to do. I won’t mention your name as the OP of the comment. But I think it is an important topic, worth talking in more detail. And this is an additional comment I wrote when I was discussing this with someone on FB I am not saying Hillary is without flaws. I am not saying she doesn’t have a prejudicial bone in her body, or she hasn’t made statements that are less than perfect. But what I am saying is that if you… Read more »
I’d still like to have you explain what policies trump has that promotes racism. I think you’re twisting the comments to fit your own narrative, Lisa.
Automatically refreshing of this website during writing a reply is truly an annoyance, happened also to me that all what I wrote was lost.
Now I copy/paste my text every 3 minutes or so to a word-file to have a backup.
Refreshing comes suddenly, without any warning and everything which was written is lost with no chance of recovery.
I also have problems to search for previous articles, to find them again is not easy.
I was writing a reply, and successfully sent it, but it disappeared, as it is ‘under moderation’, and I wonder why.
1) Building a wall to keep “bad hombres” out. 2) Tax cuts only for the wealthy (the majority of whom are white). 3) Supporting Stop and Frisk 4) Threatening to sue and take away the rights of “liberal media”. 5) Allowing groups like the Ku Klux Klan to gain credibility. 6) Directly attacking Muslims. 7) Inciting violence and fear at his rallies, while speaking in coded language— such as talking about “The” blacks— Sorry, but I fail to see how these examples are about supporting a racist system. 1) To do something against illegal immigration and keep borders safe, how… Read more »
Yeah, let’s just keep dividing this country up. Who’s plan is this anyway?
tell me about it…
http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/
The lack of empathy for people is disgusting. The rise of identity politics is killing this country.
Nice work McKay. My sister is a liberal who married a conservative about 25 years ago. Even then, their differences were too much of a strain on the relationship and they divorced. Today, the lunatic fringe is being normalized, as you point out. I can’t imagine a liberal and a conservative couple being able to get along.
Due to the toxic polarization of politics in the last few years, you have many American families literally being totally torn apart by it where family members are not talking to each other anymore.