Trump’s Hate Speech and a Preface to U.S. Congressman Cumming’s (MD) letter
For many sane people watching Trump in office it has been like watching a tragedy play out in slow motion. On September 28, 2016, I, like many people, realized Trump’s Hate Speech would result in violence and death, and predicted that in a Facebook post. Hate speech will galvanize – and has galvanized - racists and white supremacists into action directly due to TRUMP’s Hate speech. Recently there has been a whole spate of hate acts and violence.
Yesterday, on Friday 11-2-18, an article reported that “The 40-year-old man who police said shot and killed two women at a Florida yoga studio on Friday spewed racist and misogynistic vitriol in YouTube videos posted in 2014…” (8) Today, 11-3-18, CNN reported: “A white supremacist group that targeted Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum with racist robocalls is now targeting Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.” (9) The Washington Post article today stated, “Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in President Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico.” (10) I would seem somewhat self-evident that the only reason for taking a gun to the border by vigilantes in these circumstances would be to shoot Hispanics.
The worst of it was the Pittsburgh atrocity which was a terrible and horrific act. The NBC Headlines for the Pittsburgh massacre read, “11 dead in shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue, suspect in custody” then went on to quote Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich, who stated unequivocally, "It’s a very horrific crime scene. It’s one of the worst that I've seen," (11)
I would remind people that Christ states unequivocally in Matthew 22: 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” It would seem somewhat evident with all the Hate Speech by the President of the United States that he and Republicans have utterly abandoned Christ and Christianity in their headlong rush and consuming desire for power. And recently Trump proclaimed on public TV that “I have done more for Christianity than any other person!” – not even making an exception for Jesus Christ. Trump’s arrogance is only exceeded by his Ignorance and his vile Hate Speech.
Looking backward we see that in November 2016, the Huffington Post printed an article that laid out the racial slurs and ethnic insults verbalized by Trump in his ceaseless and unending hate speech. Trump called Latino Immigrants “Criminals” And “Rapists,” and further Trump goes on to say they are “killers too.” Trump even insists the Mexican government is purposely shipping all its criminals into the U.S. Trump even slandered Jeb Bush with his sickeningly snide remark that Jeb Buch must really like Mexican immigrants since his wife comes from Mexico. (4)
As most people realized Trump’s ignorant hate speech bore fruit in the violence at Charlottesville on 8/12/2017. In a confrontation with people protesting White Supremacist marching over the issue of a confederate statue in Charlottesville, a sick White Supremacist used his vehicle as an instrument of death and murder. As a Washington post article reported: “It was “absolutely intentional,” Matthew
Korbon said as he watched victims being loaded into ambulances. He had been standing on the sidewalk when rallygoer James Alex Fields Jr. allegedly roared his Dodge Challenger at a crowd of pedestrians. Heather Heyer, 32, of Charlottesville was killed, and 19 others were injured. Korbon said he saw the driver plow into one group and reverse into another.” (3) With the death and violence in Chrlottesville, most everybody I’m sure, realized somewhere in themselves that Trump’s vicious hatefulness and ignorance bore the evil fruits of death and violence. An innocent woman, Heather Heyer had been murdered - and was killed as surely as if Trump had killed her himself.
Hate speech will, of course, bear evil fruit, and the Bible does say a man should indeed be judged by the fruits he produces. In 2017, hate crimes in the major cities increased by 20%. (1) And anti-Jewish violence has risen by a whopping 86% in 2017. (2) Of course Trump, who is tapping into group-related instincts such as the powerful patriotism instincts in Americans, has vilified black NFL players who take a knee in protest of discrimination against blacks. Most major newspapers have carried articles about the somewhat widespread practice of profiling blacks. The New York times has a very good article about profiling. (7) What is ironic is that after abasing himself to Russian president Putin most people realize Trump actually is NOT patriotic in the least and he is just playing patriots like one plays with puppets.
I should add that Les Wexner, the wealthiest Republican supporter in the state of Ohio recently resigned from the Republican Party. He said "I'm an independent. I won't support this nonsense in the Republican Party," “The billionaire CEO reportedly said in a speech last year that he was “ashamed” by Trump’s response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., that erupted in violence and led to the death of a 32-year-old woman.” (8) Trump’s despicable racism is having a very divisive effect on the nation but many people seem to have realized that Trump is just tapping into the strong group related instincts - which are known to create the well documented and proven Ingroup-Outgroup ‘syndrome as well as the very powerful emotions involved in patriotism - and in doing so imply to manipulate Americans into believing he is some kind of ‘super-patriot.’
Letter from Congressman Cummings:
Dear Charles,
Today is the 53rd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. While it should be a cause for celebration, regrettably, this email is a call to action.
When President Lyndon Johnson was urging Congress to pass the Voting Rights act in the Spring of 1965, one week after then civil rights activist and the people of Selma, Alabama were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the President declared: “…all Americans just must have the right to vote. And we are going to give them that right.”
Now, more than half a century later, our progress at the ballot box is in peril as Republicans across the country continue their assault on our right to vote.
Will you stand with me in urging Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell to schedule a vote on the Voting Rights Advancement Act?
This bill will fix the Supreme Court’s disastrous 2013 decision in Shelby v. Holder, which rolled back many of the protections that have guaranteed access to the ballot box for all Americans.
Just weeks after the Holder decision, Republicans in North Carolina passed a voter suppression bill that severely restricted the right to vote. The Supreme Court declared that it “targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision.”
At a rally this week, Donald Trump made it clear that he will continue pushing these unconstitutional, voter suppression measures nationwide.
Stand with me against Donald Trump and tell Republicans in Congress to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Too many people fought for too long to secure our right to vote. It’s on all of us to stand up and protect this fundamental right, not only for ourselves but for generations yet unborn.
Thank you,
Elijah Cummings
My personal comment: My sense of it is that the Supreme Court is rolling back rulings which support and protect not only minorities but labor as well. I'm a firm believer in "balance" and my view is that America has lost its balance. I used to be Republican, but unlike Governor Hogan who is a moderate many Republicans have become extremists - and I am middle of the road.
Footnotes:
(1) https://www.voanews.com/a/hate-crimes-rising-in-us/4034719.html
(2) https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/24/us/antisemitic-incidents-reports-trnd/index.html
(3) https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/local/charlottesville-timeline/?utm_term=.a90127db863b
(5) https://www.aclu.org/report/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-our-nations-highways
(6) https://www.aclu.org/report/driving-while-black-racial-profiling-our-nations-highways
(7) https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/us/racial-disparity-traffic-stops-driving-black.html(8) https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/406822-wealthiest-republican-supporter-in-ohio-qui...
(11) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/active-shooter-reported-near-pittsburgh-synagogue-n925211