We had dinner last night with a very dear friend. At one point the discussion turned political, and the question was asked, “Is every Trump supporter a terrible person?” Let’s give that question a moment to breathe.
Those of us who did not vote for Trump know someone who did. A friend. A family member. People who we may have had differences with before but always seemed to find some common ground. People we got along with and loved. And still do. For who we think they are. For the history we have shared.
I am sure there were a lot of people who voted for Trump for reasons they believe to be important. Most Republicans vote financially, and many voters were able to overlook Trump’s seedy side for their own monetary gain.
The question now becomes, “Is anyone who intends to vote for Trump again a terrible person”. I think the answer there is, without hesitation or doubt…yes.
Knowing everything you know now, 21 months into this fiasco, (since election night) if, as a human being, you opt to pull a lever for this person again, then, sorry, but you are a terrible human being. You might be a terrible human being with some decent qualities. But if you have the ability to think and act rationally, and still vote for this person, then there is no discussion.
Ask anyone you know who voted for Trump to give you three reasons why they voted for him in November of 2016, and then, three reasons why they would vote to re-elect him. They’ll probably spout things like the economy, immigration and something about America being a super power and the rest of the world can go F itself.
They probably won’t mention sexism. They definitely won’t mention racism. They’re only concern is their own little portion of the world, as seen through their ivory colored glasses.
At this point, Trump-bashing is simply too easy. Most five year-olds are already experienced at it. There’s not a day goes by when he doesn’t utter something disgraceful, embarrassing, and well, stupid. And the people who support him blindly lap it up. And then they avoid mirrors for a good 24 hours.
We make things easy for Trump supporters. We gather at functions and someone cowardly announces,”We don’t discuss Religion or Politics here”. Most of the people who are steadfast in their beliefs have no issue discussing either of those two topics. It’s those who have not a leg to stand on, who, if pressed, would have to mount an embarrassing defense, that would rather not speak. Get them to speak.
Ask them how they can support a person who does not denounce racism at its purest level. Ask them how they can vote for someone who would support a measure that separated families in this “war” on immigration. I could list another 30 things. What’s the point?
The sad truth is, if Trump runs again, whoever votes for him is indeed, a terrible person. These people will continue to be in our lives, for better or worse. But we know, as we have discovered in the past 21 months, that things will never be the same. It’s like a marriage that has survived infidelity. You pick up the pieces, you want to move on, but you truly never look at things the same way again. The pedestal is gone. Or it’s now made of composite wood.
It has become a daily struggle, not to just to live in this world where Donald Trump is the president, but to live directly among the people who helped place him there. For as horrible pf a human being that he is, he didn’t get there on his own. A lot of really terrible people helped put him there. People, who have a chance to redeem themselves, this November, and again, in two years.
Trapped in a Happy Life 