It is time for all Americans of conscience to speak up. Donald J. Trump is a pathological master manipulator. I am disheartened that he has succeeded in convincing not only millions of Americans to support him, but some of my friends to potentially vote for him.
Thanks to his divisive rhetoric, I am questioning the foundation of a few of my once revered friendships. I would never tell another American how to cast their vote, but a vote for Trump is undeniably a vote for racism. I am not only uncomfortable knowingly embracing a racist in my orbit…I am appalled.
In one way I want to thank Trump. He is separating the wheat from the chaff. Because of his blatant racist and misogynistic attitudes, ugliness is being unearthed from the apparent deeply held belief systems of a particular segment of our population. It’s not pretty.
At first it didn’t matter who my friends were supporting. We have skirted the issue, mainly because I know how they feel towards Hillary and I don’t want to argue with them. But now I want to know, I need to know. Because bottom line, I want to know if there is a racist in my midst.
Donald J. Trump has insulted Mexicans, African Americans, women and Muslims. He has mocked the disabled. He said that John McCain is not a war hero; a judge cannot be fair because “He is a Mexican. I’m building a wall”. He stated that he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and would still have supporters. Are you one of them…still? What else does he have to do to cross the line, as if he hasn’t crossed it already?
I am writing this with a heavy heart. Besides having to realize that a few of my friends may have racists tendencies, and that their ‘Christian values’ are becoming more and more questionable in my opinion; I have to acknowledge that Donald J. Trump has succeeded in creating a divide between me and my once trusted and beloved friends.
Some may say that I don’t have to let their support of him divide us. Oh, yes I do. You can judge me and my support for Hillary Clinton. She is not a racist and that matters to me. One friend laughs when Trump says some ridiculously outrageous thing about…pick one of the above. This is no joke. There’s nothing funny about him…except his hair.
Being American means inclusiveness based on core values that we are all created equal under God. We are a nation of laws that protect each of us regardless of our nationality or religious (or lack thereof) belief system. I implore my fellow Americans (and especially my friends) to take a step back and unearth the better angels within you.
Stephen Hawking recently said that the popularity of Donald Trump is beyond even his understanding. “He is a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator”. I don’t believe my friends lie in that category; however I hope they and the majority of Trump supporters realize that they are being manipulated by a master marketer. Please wake up before it’s too late. (Ask Republicans who now wish they would have taken him more seriously during the primary season). Step up folks…we are better than this! #AmericanFirst
