I have been on my seemingly endless journey to understand the mind of the MAGA cult and I have come to the conclusion that they are by no means a homogeneous group. I have decided that it is useless to try to win them over with compassion, logic, or any other means. That is what this post is about.
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To try to dehumanize someone or some group of people is the epitome of ugliness as far as I am concerned. Unfortunately, it has been used many times throughout human history. Hitler managed to successfully dehumanize the Jews in the 1930s. He then went on to kill millions of them while otherwise respectful Germans turned their back to what was happening!
Given the harsh turn of tribalism in recent times, dehumanizing others has come back to the forefront. Some now try to convince us that those coming across our southern border are all murderers, rapists, gang members, and inhuman. When in reality the vast majority are simply families with very small children trying to escape the brutality of the country they were unfortunate enough to be born in.
One of the worst examples here in the US was when Andy Jackson managed to dehumanize Native Americans. He called them savages and inhuman and bragged about killing them. When he became preisdent he went on to round them all up for a forced march that killed thousands in order to take over the land they had inhabited for centuries. What astounds me is that he is, even today, treated as a hero with the Democratic party’s Jefferson/Jackson day dinners where they celebrate Jackson as the founder of their party!
Racist dehumanization was rampant for a hundred years after the Civil War. Millions of so-called Christians joined the KKK and then went about lynching thousands of African Americans.
Historically, dehumanizing people has made us capable of atrocious acts. “They are not human so human standards don’t apply to them.” It is tragic to see so many that have fallen prey to that logic. So, I guess we should not be surprised when this happens today? But, shouldn’t we firmly stand up against those who do it? Why isn’t that happening, especially amongst those of us calling ourselves followers of Jesus?
How we can allow it to continue is a TOTAL mystery to me.
Being a follower of the teachings of Jesus, it befuddles me how the brand of Christianity who call themselves Evangelicals can be so intrinsically linked to the current Oval Office occupant (#CO3). Simply stated his actions and words are the antitheses of those teachings. Here are some words about that from my friends over at Red Letter Christians.
Source: Why Nationalism is Dangerous and Incompatible with Christianity – Red Letter Christians
Of course, this is not the first time nationalists have tried to kidnap Christianity and the words of Jesus. The KKK claims to be a Christian organization but their total abandonment of Jesus’ teaching show that is a blatant lie! But still, in the 1930s the KKK dominated many States in conservative America. They controlled governments throughout the South and even in my State of Indiana during those years.
Why the current Oval Office occupant is so enamored to dictators/despots (Russia, China, North Korea, etc) while being disrespectful of leaders in democracies is very puzzling to me. The only explanation I can come up with is that in his own mind, be believes if given total control, he could make the world perfect! We followers of the teachings of Jesus need to adamantly stand up to this brand of nationalism and see it for what it is.
After more than a year of this stuff I am utterly tired of the statement in the title of this post! I am tired of people around the president trying to calm the effects of the latest bomb Mr. Trump seems to launch almost daily.
Yes, I recognize that without the white supremacists vote he would likely not be president. I recognize that it is an important part of his base that he doesn’t want to offend since there is a slight chance that he may need them again. But even with his massive ego he needs to realize that his base made up of a WILDLY hodgepodge groups of voters has no chance of staying intact for another go around.
I’m sure the Evangelicals, who are likely the major source of his base, utterly refuse to believe that they are cohorts with neo-Nazis, the KKK and other white supremacists. Or maybe I just pray that they don’t openly endorse an alliance with other folks who helped put their choice in office.
I see the Sunday talk shows were full of White House folks who were trying to explain what Mr. Trump really meant. That veil is wearing extremely thin especially since he never acknowledges their efforts as being truthful. Why can’t he come out and say that those who live in hatred every minute of their lives are NOT worthy of any endorsement? Why is he so afraid of losing their support?
The only encouraging thing that came out of this behavior is that the senators and congressmen in his own party are finally growing a backbone and beginning to call him out on all the outrages he spews in 140 characters or less. The only hope for us short of imminent impeachment is that the GOP finally holds him accountable for his words and actions.
“What he really meant” just doesn’t hack it anymore if it ever did…
