Where on earth is this hatred coming from?
On Monday, October 22, a pipe bomb was discovered at the home of Democratic donor George Soros. The next day, one was found at the home of Bill and Hillary Clinton. The next, at the Obamas’ home…. By the time police arrested the man they think sent the packages to prominent Democrats, a total of 15 pipe bombs had been found.
On Thursday, a man tried to force his way into a black church in Lexington, Kentucky. Failing to break through the door, police say, he went to a Kroger’s grocery store, where he shot and killed a black man and a black woman.
On Saturday, a man entered a Jewish synagogue in Pittsburgh and started firing, killing 11 people and injuring six more, including four police officers. He wanted all Jews to die, he told police afterward.
What has bred this horror? And then, for many of us, another question: Doesn’t President Trump bear a lot of responsibility for unleashing it?
Donald Trump didn’t invent violence. He wasn’t president in 2012 when a gunman went on a rampage in an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater. His rhetoric didn’t promote the slaughter of children in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. And it was a Bernie Sanders supporter, not a Trump supporter, who shot at Republicans in a Virginia ballfield last year.
Hatred and violence are human traits. In his Washington Post column on Tuesday, Michael Gerson quoted novelist CP Snow: “Civilization is hideously fragile. There’s not much between us and the horrors underneath. Just about a coat of varnish.”
Each of us is responsible for resisting the pull of our baser nature, certainly. But people in public positions have a special responsibility. They can play to the horrors underneath, or they can try to help us resist them. Donald Trump’s rhetoric, as candidate and as president, has been full of the former.
“Science reveals Homo sapiens as creatures programmed to serve our family and tribe,” Gerson wrote, “predisposed to dehumanize out-groups and prone to follow the crowd even when we know it is wrong. The knowledge that men and women can be led to commit, enable and ignore great evil should underlie any realistic approach to governing.”
“Do political figures recognize the fragility of decency and humanity and guard them from fracture?” Gerson asked. “Or do they shatter them for their own purposes by demonizing some group or faith?”
And there is this from former commercial pilot “Sully” Sullenberger, also in the Post: “In every situation, but especially challenging ones, a leader sets the tone and must create an environment in which all can do their best. You get what you project. Whether it is calm and confidence — or fear, anger and hatred — people will respond in kind. “
President Trump continues to encourage hatred and egg on violence. And yet his apologists insist there is no connection to what unfolded last week.
“If no politician’s words, written or spoken, have any effect on anyone,” responded Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, “how does one explain hundreds of years of successful propaganda?”
And I’ll add: Did Winston Churchill’s words have no effect during World War II? Did Franklin Roosevelt’s words have no effect on Americans? Have Abraham Lincoln’s words had no effect?
Donald Trump may not care about the impact of his words, but surely somebody in the Republican Party does. And the silence from the Republican Party’s leadership right now is damning.
This article appears in Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2018.
Hillary Clinton calls for incivility, stating that if her party “…is fortunate enough to take back the House and/or Senate , that’s when civility can start again”.
Eric Holder – “When they go low, we kick “em. That’s what this new democratic party is about.”
Antifa – Leftist thugs beating on people and throwing rocks to intimidate legitimate invited speakers on college campuses and other events under the guise of anti-fascism. Did I mention one of their number was given a forum in City Newspaper one year ago?
Ah yes, Cupid drags out the “Whataboutism” deflection defense for Herr Trump.
What about Hillary, what about Holder, what about Antifa? Anything to desperately change the conversation to avoid having to deal with the fact that a sociopath and pathological liar now infests the White House.
As an FYI, the Clinton interview which Cupid misinterprets and quotes out-of-context was as follows: “You cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about,…That’s why I believe, if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and or the Senate, that’s when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength. So when you’re dealing with an ideological party that is driven by the lust for power, that is funded by corporate interests who want a government that does its bidding, it’s — you can be civil, but you can’t overcome what they intend to do unless you win elections.” Clearly Hillary is not advocating incivility, but rather stating the obvious fact that civility is a two way street and that it can not be achieved while Trump Republicans are in control.
But I did find Cupid’s attempt to equate the statements of Holder to the statements of the President of the United States to be worthy of a belly laugh. Maybe next time he/she (tough to determine the gender of an anonymous troller) can justify Trump’s actions by finding a six year old in NYC who’s being equally obnoxious.
Richard Corey- I am well aware of the quote in its entirety. First she states, “you CANNOT be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for…” Then, after her usual rant about republican funding by corporate interests (as if she is immune to corporate welfare – the WSJ tabulated her campaign corporate donations to be 6 times that of Trump as of the end of July 2016) in typical twisted Clintonian fashion she reverses herself, “…you CAN be civil, but you can’t overcome what they intend unless you win elections.” Which begs the usual question, “Which is it Hillary?” Even more laughable is Richard’s insinuation that “Clearly Hillary is not advocating incivility…” Clearly? Methinks not. Clarity is not exactly this woman’s strong suit; she excels at ambiguity. Here’s a clue Richard: She just did.
Don’t know why Richard is desperately attempting to rescue an ideological sibling who’s scandal resume dwarfs the most corrupt individuals in U.S. history, is lengthy enough to fill numerous volumes, and has.
As for Trump encouraging hatred, most of that actually seems to be coming from “progressives”. Republican senators, congresspeople, and administration officials being chased out of restaurants by leftist mobs is becoming the norm thanks to the likes of Maxine Waters and others of her ilk. That would be democrats, your party. Funny, I don’t remember the editor even mentioning that in the above column. Interesting how her horror seems to extend strictly to President Trump. Nice try though Richard.
So Hillarys (alleged), “scandal resume dwarfs the most corrupt individuals in U.S. history”? Poor Cupid. Overtrolled and blew his hyperbole circuits with that one.
Richard and Cupid , this is turning into a personal conversation. Please get in touch with one another and continue your discussion offline.
“Did Winston Churchill’s words have no effect during World War Il?”
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Of course Churchill’s words made a difference. But in the 1940s, people listened intently to the radio. Now, we have TV, and computer messaging. We are swamped by constant info-mania.
So, Trump took advantage of the media-mania, with his tricks.
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He has his daily Tweets. He has his daily threats and his fantastic voter baits.
(Trump uses the tricks of the trade of advertising to dominate.)
At the same time, Trump critics on the Left tend to ramble on and on.
The rambling is easily forgotten and it suggests helplessness for Democrats.
I think what will trump Trump is the use of the same repetitive buzz words, etc.
Democrats are starting to wise up . Perhaps by election day, the tide will turn.
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http://www.SavingSchools.org
Mary Ann Towler….None of the comments in question were obscene, sexist, or derogatory to any religious, cultural, racial or gender grouping. They were merely political in nature and, regardless of what one may think of their intellectual content, or lack thereof, they were entertaining and thought-provoking. Which I happen to feel is supposed to be one of the purposes served by newspapers.. Given the usual paucity of comments to your paper’s articles, you should be encouraging such comments, not censoring them.
Let me add, that Trump is a paradox. He offers both good and bad results.
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One one hand, yes, he is bent on destroying the very fabric of democracy, in the US and elsewhere. He is a great threat to our sense of decency and sanity.
On the other hand, he has brought political concern back to life. Politics is becoming energized, daily, because of Trump’s craziness. Also, he is making us aware of our own hypocrisy.
(Here in Rochester, for example, we have serious problems with poverty, crime and education. And we sit on our hands, and wait, comfortably, for some magical solutions to suddenly appear, etc)
Now, I think we may be reaching a turning point with Trump, with the mid-term election. If the Democrats take the House, next week, it may be time to reject Trump and move on, without him, to make needed changes in the system…