This president is no stranger to tweeting absurd and false statements. He lives for it! But today he may have reached an all-time low, even for him.
While I hate to direct traffic to his Twitter page, in this instance I feel I must do it. You need to see the unashamedly racist and bigoted video he posted on immigration.
The video, which was produced by Jamestown Associates for the Trump campaign, is strikingly similar to the infamous “Willie Horton” campaign ad from the 1988 presidential election.
The Horton ad, created by supporters for George H. Bush, played into the underlying fears, racism, and xenophobia of many Americans. Without saying it directly, the Horton video’s sinister message was, “Vote for the Republican because he will keep you safe from dangerous black men.”
Sadly, that tactic worked in 1988, and it’s being used again in this president’s video. This time the message is not as subtle, nor is it coming from a supporter of the president, but from the president directly.
It is a bold call to action telling his followers to BE Afraid, and BE Angry! Be afraid of these lawless, cop killing immigrants who are trying to invade our country like a zombie apocalypse. And be angry at the Democrats because they are allowing these miscreants to enter our country to destroy it.
I have often wondered how despots are able to rise to power and wreak havoc on humanity. Where were the people to stand up to them? Why didn’t the people fight back?
Now, with each new tweet and outrageous action by this president, I find myself feeling like I’m at that moment where I must turn those questions onto myself. There is a despot rising in power. Where am I? Am I standing up for justice by fighting against tyranny? Or am I being complacent, waiting for someone else to do it?
Part of answering these questions drew me back to this blog. I must speak what I see. I must call out evil!
What this president is attempting to do is evil. His rhetoric seeks to divide humanity by demonizing races, and causing Americans to be afraid of others. He has not loved his neighbor as himself. That is not only a violation of one of the two great commandments, but it is also evil!
Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). Trump’s latest video is in direct contradiction to this command. It does not communicate love. It spews hate and fear. That is evil.
So, while his spiritual advisor Paula White claims that the notion of him being racist is a false idea that comes from the “pit of hell,” for those of us with eyes to see, we know better. It is not the idea of him being racist that is evil, it is him actually being a racist that is evil. And when we see evil, we cannot ignore it; we must call it out!
–Until Next Time–
Palooke
