I’d like to start off by saying I’m open to a conservative viewpoint. I’m open to frank dialogue on policy issues that Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents see differently on. I believe our country’s diversity is our country’s strength. Through debate, we can get to solutions that benefit everyone, not just the few.
However, the recent protests over President-elect Donald Trump are not only justified — they are needed.
Trump and his supporters were not shamed into silence by a biased media. They are not now the recipients of an irrational anger. Since Trump first announced his candidacy, he made his platform clear — kick out illegal immigrants, ban all Muslims from entering the country, build a wall along the border with Mexico, overturn Roe v. Wade and many policies that represent other alt-right viewpoints. In the debates, he expressed that he wanted a national stop-and-frisk policy (already ruled unconstitutional), and instead of offering anything of interest to the African-American community, he simply asked them, “What do you have to lose?”
What truly disturbs me about this election, is how quickly individuals are willing to look the other way. The KKK supported Trump — not a big deal. Numerous neo-Nazi organizations endorsed him — eh. He offers a known white nationalist and leader of the alt-right movement a prestigious cabinet position — hey, give the guy a chance. It’s this type of thinking, which has been prominent throughout this election, that scares me the most.
What we are seeing with the massive protest is not a group of people crying because they didn’t win. It’s people banding together to continue to denounce the racism, sexism, anti-immigrant and nationalism that President-elect Trump won this election with. To be frank, he won using Lee Atwater and the Republican Party’s southern strategy.
What I’m trying to say is the type of rhetoric Trump used during his campaign and certainly plans to implement as policy should be vigorously denounced and shamed.
It is not OK. It is wrong.
It should be protested and fought against any time it is made apparent. I write this as a heterosexual white male, one who has no reason at all to fear a Trump presidency, because I’m exactly the kind of voter he promised to fight for. However, I am scared for my immigrant, Muslim, African-American and LGBTQ friends and family. I would not be fulfilling my obligations to them, or to my country, to stand quiet while their liberties are under attack. I’ll leave you with the words of Malcolm X, because I couldn’t say it any clearer,
“You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” - Malcolm X.
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(11) comments
Jacob, my recommendation to you, to be fair and not succumb to racist "slurs", is to address "white" people appropriately as Euro-American.
Thank you,
Richard
"Needs to be protested" ... What are you talking about? Your advocating protesting democracy, are you retarded? You're not open minded, you are a narrow minded biggot that wants to silence anyone who disagrees with you. Democrats are the most biggoted people I've ever met. If you like authoritarianism, go to North Korea, put your money where your mouth is hypocrit.
This guy just looks like he's been crying. Sorry, this article was a load of crap considering he received votes from mexicans, blacks, asians, and muslims. I guess they promote racism too. Truth is that you've been fed cherry picked and chopped up bs from every news outlet. Your candidate is a criminal, a liar, a cheat, etc. Trump said some mean things. Sticks and stones. Now, you snowflakes are crying, rioting, destroying property, threatening people. I saw one video of a protester that looked right into the camera and said people will have to die in order for change. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! Tolerance my arse. You people are dangerous, and scientific research show liberals are psychopaths. I'd link the articke, but it's fairly easy to find. Just Google "science proves liberals are psychopaths. I knew I should have invested in kleenex, because oddly enough, Kimberly Clark stock went up from last week ;)
You left out the single most dangerous -ism there is in this country. Liberalism. It is a self destructive concept by definition. If you want to generalize all people who voted Trump to be racist or xenophobic or whatever then you're nothing better than what youre accusing others of. That agenda's beyond old and the election is proof of that.
American diversity is a vague term, do you mean cultural or ethnic diversity? They are different concepts when determining a strength.
You claim that diversity is America’s strength, a nice sound bite, but based on what premise? Data suggests that America is near the middle of both culturally and ethnically diverse indices. More of a norm than a strength, unless your conclusion means to keep US diversity in the middle.
Economically American white/nonwhite income gaps have been expanding since the Great Recession. Our ethnic diversity appears to benefit the white households at the expense of nonwhite households economically.
The constitution is the foundation for any of America’s subjective strengths. Diversity without protection of human rights wouldn’t be of much help, just look at Chad, Uganda, Nigeria, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ethnic fractionalization indices move opposite to democracy indices, so diversity as a strength would be at the expense of our belief in democracy.
Protesting supports awareness for sure, and is another right endorsed in the Constitution. The problem is if people are not happy with the way our country is going, they need to educate themselves on the process then organize. We can amend the Constitution if the current system is not supported by the people, a more effective use of energy than waving signs and insulting people.
Aristotle stated: “Tolerance is the last virtue of a dying society.”
It must be really hard to keep up with real facts. I'm sure you get your news from Buzzfeed and that's okay. Here are some real facts that you may wanted to know before you wrote this insanely inaccurate and moronic piece. You said Trump supporters are not the recepients of irrational anger, yet there are several videos of Trump supporters (or what people assume are Trump supporters) getting beaten half to death.You said the KKK supports Trump, yet many KKK leaders have endorsed Clinton as well and even tried to donate to her campaign.So what's the validity of that point if both candidates have been endorsed by the KKK? Neither candidate can control that, but you're sure to include that about Trump. You say your scared for your LGBTQ friends, yet Trump has done nothing to create fear or threaten this community. He has said multiple times he will not reverse gay marriage. He has said many things of support for them at his rallies. I am so happy that Trump won for my LGBTQ friends because now they won't have a president that is backed and funded by countries that treat LGBTQ inhumanely. (If you didn't know I was talking about Clinton...) You can keep spewing lies and the same rhetoric the mainstream media tries to shove down our throats, but it doesn't matter. People know the truth and we aren't going to accept your bs anymore.
Sweet Bentley hat. MAGA
Stop with the rhetoric. It's wrong and it is inaccurate. First and foremost we have to secure our borders. Countries are not respecting our laws and the illegals pouring in are bankrupting our social welfare system. Did you ever stop to think about where the money is coming from to support these families? It's being pulled from the social security that is supposed to be there for people like my elderly mother and others like her, as well as those that have worked their entire lives putting money into that system. the programs that exist are bankrupt and are being funded by SS and Medicare, programs that are supposed to be there for our legal citizens who are financially low income earners and need support to feed and house their families. There is nothing racist about protecting your citizens. As far as blocking Muslim's coming into the country... what was said was no one will be allowed into our country unless they can be vetted and until we have a system that can guarantee that anyone coming into our country is not a terrorist or has terrorist ties and until such time they won't be allowed entry. Wake up.... therrorist live amongst us. Everyday law enforcement is chasing down these threats. Or would you rather live like those in France?? Never knowing if simply going to a cafe will end in you and your family or friends being massacred? Keep your head in the sand and keep believing that San Bernadino and Orlando and the recruiting stations and Ft Hood are something other than tetrorist attacks if it makes you feel all warm and safe. I choose otherwise. And stop with the elitist attitude. Just because you are a liberal doesn't give you the superior moral high ground. We all have friends and family that are diverse as does the Conservative party. Perhaps you should do some research on the activist that are conservative and understand what they are in the Conservative party. And stop the hate. I find liberal posts the most foul, hate filled language with nonstop attacks - so much for being the self appointed party of inclusion. NOT. Stop judging the rest of us based on a few. Who are these KKK grpoups and show me where I support or have any affiliation. And last but not least ... Trump never would have been elected if all those states that have always voted democrat didn't vote for him. Oh wait... are all of those people now racist, homophobic, masagonistic along with all the other labeling?
11-16 million illegal immigrants (many of whom are working and contributing to the system under false paperwork) are not going to bankrupt our social welfare system. Decades of endless war and multiple Congressional raids on the SS Cookie Jar to pay for those decades of endless war are. Maybe we should cut subsidies to profitable corporations before trying to blame poverty stricken people fleeing from CIA incited violence? Maybe we should offer safe harbor before sending jackbooted thugs to imprison entire families in privately operated prisons?
The rest of your post is simply racist fear mongering so I'm just going to ignore it.
There was actually nothing racist in that comment. That's the really sad part about you people. There's absolutely no reading comprehension. Did you see KKK and get triggered, had to stop and cry it out. I mean, good lord you guys are pathetic. You hear what you want to hear, while you drown out the facts. You've developed a confirmation bias, and your media lights and adds fuel to the fire.
(Many of whom are working and contributing to the system). If you are an undocumented worker, how do you contribute to the system?
What I see more of in my profession, is over-use of the system. Particularly health care.
War? Please. Yes, we engage more often than we should. But I challenge you to do a war analysis and see if you can come up with a peaceful solution when there are people around the world who would like nothing better than for America to be made a waste land the inhabitants carried away into slavery.
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