In political prankster Sacha Baron Cohen's new show, he asks the question, which is also the title of the show, Who Is America? While his main intent might be to stimulate laughter and make powerful individuals make asses out of themselves, it begs the question, "Who really is America?," especially in the age of Trump?
For as much as I loathe Donald Trump, it'd be wrong of me to scapegoat him for all of this country's ills when it comes to our attitudes and treatment towards marginalized groups. However, there can be no denying he's added fuel to the fire in helping to legitimize anger, hatred, and prejudice toward said marginalized groups. For as unintentional as it might have been, Donald Trump seems to have exposed this country for who it is. When standing back and attempting to look at the larger picture, I see a good percentage of the country which has progressed alongside the ever-shifting scientific findings and social norms. However, there's still roughly a third of the population which has remained adamant in opposition to these societal changes. Unfortunately, they represent a large swath of the Republican Party, even in Congress, and we're left with a divided country, with one side still stuck in the Old Testament and the other moving forward with the New Testament. So where does that leave us?
Perhaps I'm being stupidly optimistic, but it's my belief, with the ever increasing diversification of the country and the typical political leanings of these individuals arriving here, not to mention the younger generations tending to be quite liberal, we'll one day be fairly united in our support of education, science, facts, and equality. However, it may also be a while until that day comes, so let's take a deeper look at the third of the country whom describe themselves as Republicans and seem to back Donald Trump's every move.
Donald Trump has said or done the following:
- Sexually harassed/assaulted 19+ women
- Bragged about sexually assaulting women
- Committed adultery on all three wives
- Allegedly raped a teenager
- Admitted to sneaking a peak during Miss Teen USA pageants when the girls were in the dressing room
- Was said to be a "sex pest" at parties which were mainly filled with teenage models
- Lies approximately 70% of the time he gets fact-checked
- Paid off porn stars and Playboy models to keep their silence about his extramarital affairs with them
- Basically had all his money handed to him
- Claims climate-change is a hoax
- Calls facts biased
- Has cozied up to foreign dictators
- Has treated allies like enemies
- Has referred to the media as our greatest enemy
- Likely worked with Russian leaders to rig the U.S. presidential election
- Incites anger, hatred, and violence
- Has attempted to quash the rights of anyone who doesn't go by the label of a rich straight white Christian male
Need I continue? Sadly, even with all that going against him, 88% of the Republican base approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as president, and this includes evangelicals. How can this be? Well, because Donald Trump represents the country of old, the country where whites reigned supreme over all others, where slavery existed, where people's prejudices couldn't be used against them in a work setting. It doesn't matter that Trump is dishonest, unfaithful, and perhaps even criminal. The far-right forgives him, because they'll say nobody's perfect and he helps ease their feelings of remorse and guilt for their ungodly thoughts and beliefs. That's really what it comes down to. They are prejudiced, have been brainwashed, and are fearful of change or difference. Whether Donald Trump actually believes the things he spouts or not, the guy knows how to play on his base's prejudices and fears. This group of people have been regularly told not to trust any media sources other than partisan conservative ones. Due to this, debunked conspiracies are often seen as true; facts are seen as false; and there's no room for growth - things just stay as they are. This makes it next to impossible to civilly discuss politics or reason with them at all. This leaves us with two-thirds of the country with which to reason and help move things forward.
So who really is America? America is a great country, but one with plenty of flaws. America is a land of opportunity and progression, but one currently being held back by a third of the population. America has always been about hope and change, but that won't become truly evident for another couple of decades. America was incredibly complacent in the 2016 election and will hopefully learn from its big mistake and help make hope, change, opportunity, and progression a reality for all in 2018, 2020, and beyond.
For as much as I loathe Donald Trump, it'd be wrong of me to scapegoat him for all of this country's ills when it comes to our attitudes and treatment towards marginalized groups. However, there can be no denying he's added fuel to the fire in helping to legitimize anger, hatred, and prejudice toward said marginalized groups. For as unintentional as it might have been, Donald Trump seems to have exposed this country for who it is. When standing back and attempting to look at the larger picture, I see a good percentage of the country which has progressed alongside the ever-shifting scientific findings and social norms. However, there's still roughly a third of the population which has remained adamant in opposition to these societal changes. Unfortunately, they represent a large swath of the Republican Party, even in Congress, and we're left with a divided country, with one side still stuck in the Old Testament and the other moving forward with the New Testament. So where does that leave us?
Perhaps I'm being stupidly optimistic, but it's my belief, with the ever increasing diversification of the country and the typical political leanings of these individuals arriving here, not to mention the younger generations tending to be quite liberal, we'll one day be fairly united in our support of education, science, facts, and equality. However, it may also be a while until that day comes, so let's take a deeper look at the third of the country whom describe themselves as Republicans and seem to back Donald Trump's every move.
Donald Trump has said or done the following:
- Sexually harassed/assaulted 19+ women
- Bragged about sexually assaulting women
- Committed adultery on all three wives
- Allegedly raped a teenager
- Admitted to sneaking a peak during Miss Teen USA pageants when the girls were in the dressing room
- Was said to be a "sex pest" at parties which were mainly filled with teenage models
- Lies approximately 70% of the time he gets fact-checked
- Paid off porn stars and Playboy models to keep their silence about his extramarital affairs with them
- Basically had all his money handed to him
- Claims climate-change is a hoax
- Calls facts biased
- Has cozied up to foreign dictators
- Has treated allies like enemies
- Has referred to the media as our greatest enemy
- Likely worked with Russian leaders to rig the U.S. presidential election
- Incites anger, hatred, and violence
- Has attempted to quash the rights of anyone who doesn't go by the label of a rich straight white Christian male
Need I continue? Sadly, even with all that going against him, 88% of the Republican base approve of the job Donald Trump is doing as president, and this includes evangelicals. How can this be? Well, because Donald Trump represents the country of old, the country where whites reigned supreme over all others, where slavery existed, where people's prejudices couldn't be used against them in a work setting. It doesn't matter that Trump is dishonest, unfaithful, and perhaps even criminal. The far-right forgives him, because they'll say nobody's perfect and he helps ease their feelings of remorse and guilt for their ungodly thoughts and beliefs. That's really what it comes down to. They are prejudiced, have been brainwashed, and are fearful of change or difference. Whether Donald Trump actually believes the things he spouts or not, the guy knows how to play on his base's prejudices and fears. This group of people have been regularly told not to trust any media sources other than partisan conservative ones. Due to this, debunked conspiracies are often seen as true; facts are seen as false; and there's no room for growth - things just stay as they are. This makes it next to impossible to civilly discuss politics or reason with them at all. This leaves us with two-thirds of the country with which to reason and help move things forward.
So who really is America? America is a great country, but one with plenty of flaws. America is a land of opportunity and progression, but one currently being held back by a third of the population. America has always been about hope and change, but that won't become truly evident for another couple of decades. America was incredibly complacent in the 2016 election and will hopefully learn from its big mistake and help make hope, change, opportunity, and progression a reality for all in 2018, 2020, and beyond.
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