As the impeachment "trial" wound down, I found myself perusing the comments section of various main stream news entities. By any standard, there is irrefutable, insurmountable evidence that, by withholding defense funds earmarked for the Ukraine, Trump put this nation at risk, for personal gain.
However, his supporters were unmoved.There in the comments section (rarely are they so vocal in real life), they cheered all the "progress" that has been made under Trump. Eagerly anticipate four more years of his occupying the White House. Rebuffed any factual offerings. And, accused Democrats of destroying America.
It felt as though I was in an alternate universe.What of our sacred Constitution - the founding principles of this nation, the living, breathing document that is to be protected above all else? Did they not see it eroding before their very eyes?
Then, it dawned on me. Trump, and his supporters are right! Democrats are indeed destroying this country.
After all, in spite of all the talk of the glorious Constitution, America was not built on the Constitution. The Constitution merely guides the manner in which our government was/is organized and operates.
I would need to write an entire old school encyclopedia to support the premise of my next paragraph. For the sake of brevity, and, because those who disagree with the premise aren't likely to objectively analyze facts anyway, I will refrain from attempting to offer any such proof. Some things speak for themselves - res ipsa loquitur (or as the hip amongst us say in New York, Facts, B).
America was built on racism, nationalism, xenophobia, sexism, bigotry, classism, (insert negative noun here). And so, it follows, that anyone trying to move America away from these bedrock principles, is in fact, destroying this country.
How could it take me so long to understand this? For five years I have wondered why Trump and his supporters did not realize what they were doing to this country. This country that my immigrant mother moved to, to provide a better life for her children. This country which, for many, had long been considered the land of opportunity. Land of the free, home of the brave. Give me your tired, your poor…
I realize now though, that optimistic ideals as to what makes America great, are simply that - optimistic ideals, which have long masked the truth. Optimistic ideals which only the altruistic amongst us hold true. For every one else, what made/makes America great, is precisely the ignorant, degenerate and callous behavior that is now on display in the highest office in the land.
I was disappointed when the election results were announced in 2016. Still, I thought Trump being in office would be a net good for America. I thought that all the "good people," who for so long had claimed ignorance as it relates to laws and policies which adversely affect minorities (but were crafted to appear neutral) would finally see the light. After all, the White House was now occupied by a man who had all but openly announced his intent to pursue policies solely because they were to the detriment of minorities.
I was horribly wrong. There are no bounds to the mental gymnastics that these "good people" will exercise, to excuse injustice against others. In fact, these "good people" hardly even seem to care when newly instituted policies adversely affect their own lives (think tax cut for the rich). For them, destroying America means attempting to dismantle racism, nationalism, xenophobia, sexism, bigotry, classism, (insert negative noun here).
They have been right all along.
Now what?
About the Author: Alexi Laine* is a Jamaican immigrant who is stranded on a very different island, Long Island, New York. She makes the best of it by raising three future revolutionaries, working as an attorney, and, some times, finding time to write.
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