Donald Trump, Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential race, has turned heads. No, he is not good looking, stop kidding me. It is in fact his unfiltered speeches, reflecting his far-right policies, lacking political correctness and fanning flames of hatred against Muslims. ‘No apology for banning Muslims from entering America.’ (Jan 2016) OK, we create a situation, but damn it, do not own it. ‘Syrian refugee crisis partly our fault; but do not take any.’ (Oct 2015) Brushing all immigrants as criminals? ‘Illegal immigrants populate many criminal gangs.’ (Sep 2015)
Boy, he is not friendly towards the Mexicans. ‘Ship millions back to Mexico, like Eisenhower did.’ (Nov 2015) ‘I can get Mexico to pay for border wall; politicians can’t.’ (Oct 2015) ‘We need wall on Mexican border, but OK to have a door in it.’ (Aug 2015) ‘Mexican government is sending criminals across the border.’ (Aug 2015) ‘Mexico and Latin America send us drugs, crime, and rapists.’ (Jun 2015)
His take on jobs is brilliant. ‘Take jobs back from foreign countries to lower unemployment. ‘(Aug 2015) ‘Foreign companies are taking jobs from US.’ (Dec 1999) His take on guns control must be his idea of joking. No, he can’t be serious. ‘Mass shootings are due to a huge mental health problem.’ (Jan 2016) ‘No limits on guns; they save lives.’ (Jan 2016) Then he makes a completely contradictory statement, ‘Keep enemies of the state away from guns.’ (Nov 2015) How does this translate into law? Oh hello, you can’t have a gun, you anti-state rat, proved but roaming free on road and hey we are only denying you a freaking gun but I have a gun. I’m not anti-state, I’m a patriot. Someone said so. Another contradiction: ‘
Laws are ineffective in preventing gun violence.’ (Oct 2015) ‘I am against gun control.’ (Feb 2011) Oh, hello Trump, what are you trying to say?
Trump on free trade: ‘China and Japan are beating us; I can beat China.’ (Jun 2015) ‘President should be nation’s trade representative.’ (Dec 1999) What? Vying for multi-portfolios, Trump? Let’s take a trip down the memory lane. Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy four times; 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009. These bankruptcies were corporate bankruptcies as opposed to personal ones but speak volumes of his running corporations. He’s proud of having used bankruptcy laws to turn sick companies around. ‘Trump has never apologised for using Chapter 11 as a business tool — indeed, when he spoke to my Forbescolleague Keren Blankfeld recently, he noted that many “great entrepreneurs” have used bankruptcy to restructure debt, free up capital and improve their businesses.’(Forbes, April 29, 2011)
Why then does it seem he’s gaining popular ground? It may have a lot to do with ideas, more often than not having no heads, legs or midriff, delivered in the right way. It may have to do with offering simple though often contradictory solutions to complex problems. These are not solutions but have created a perception that they are. As we all know, perceptions can often be more real than reality itself. Look at some of his pearls of wisdom shared above to elaborate this point.
His immigration policies have caught the attention of the segment of American citizens who have been left behind in the economic race, those who do not boast of degrees beyond high school. Those who like to blame others for their lagging behind. Competing for same jobs, Trump’s ranting has found place in the hearts of those Americans without degrees, without qualifications to compete for higher jobs. His simple solutions, in most cases non-enforceable and pushed across board with aggression, are accepted as something they are not. ‘It’s not just that Trump is willing to be provocative, he’s exciting to many people because he says the things they feel they can’t say.’(Jeff Guo for The Washington Post)
In Chicago, his rally had to be called off owing to chaos and scuffles that broke out between his supporters and opponents. Protestors outside venue (a university) gave voice to their anger against Trump’s stance on race, immigration and on issues discussed above.
Habib-ul-Haq, who migrated to USA a few years ago, writes thus to me, “At close range America to me looks quite like Pakistan on many counts. Same political and financial corruption, same bigotry, same abuse of democracy, similar incompetence, hold of big business, control of the establishment…et al.” Trump represents the anger and rebellion against the status quo. Thus, he resonates with the masses that are as ignorant, paranoid, and gullible as can be. Besides, Trump also reflects the revival of white race which is still in majority but has been feeling disenfranchised with the influx of refugees, immigrants and illegal infiltrators mainly from Latin America.
Supporters may support him for a number of reasons. Some because he is setting a new culture away from political correctness and more geared towards the middle-class Americans. Some support him because they feel cheated by illegal immigrants. Some support him because they see in him a hope that challenges status quo. There may be a million reasons, none of them grounded in reality that are the promises Trump is made up of.
“There is a growing catalogue of violence at Trump events. In the past week alone an attack on a non-violent protester led to criminal charges against a Trump supporter, and Michelle Fields, a reporter for conservative website Breitbart, was allegedly assaulted by Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager.” (The Guardian, March 12, 2016)
“America is not the ideal nation to lead the world, but it has assumed that role by default. Having said that, there are still certain American values that keep it ahead of the rest, viz freedom of expression/speech, enforcement of laws, human rights, equal opportunity, religious freedoms, etc, which are better here in relative terms. However, yes, with the attendant degeneration and the slippery slope America is on, it may be leading the humanity to a kind of doom.
“The world is suffering from extreme paranoia. Trump will be nothing but a one-term, or max two-term POTUS. If he performs OK, he will get the second term, or else go build a library in his name and revive his businesses that would have failed anyway. The constitution has such checks and balances he won’t be able to deliver on his phony, bogus rhetoric and impractical promises. He will hide behind Congress and constitution etc for non-performance. After four years, he will be gone and forgotten. America will go on as usual. In addition, all this only if he manages the nomination and beats Hillary. All drama and entertainment, much less real work,’ writes Habib-ul-Haq.
One is reminded of the Joker in The Dark Knight. The character of Joker, a creation by Jerry Robinson, is a catharsis about the dark side of the ‘normal’ man’s personality that people reject being there, a side of him that wants to refuse the trappings of society’s correctness. Is he that dark side of us we wish to become?
The question is what if he does beat Hillary?
A frightening thought.
Not because I love Hillary but the thought of USA led by Trump is ten times worse than USA’s fear of Pakistan’s nukes being insecure. With Trump, USA will be seen to be asserting towards white race supremacy, bringing back whispers of the Ku Klux Klan. Trump wants to make America great again. I have no doubt about his sincerity. However, I sincerely doubt his interpretation of America’s greatness and route to get there. USA might be choosing a leader hyped over false promises, without any idea to deliver at a point in history when Russia is headed by one of her smartest Prezzy, Putin.
Choosing or rejecting Trump is a choice Americans will make. I hope they make the right one. For America and the rest of the world.
The writer is a lawyer, academic and political analyst. She has authored a book titled ‘A Comparative Analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan.’ She can be contacted at: yasmeenali62@gmail.com and tweets at @yasmeen_9.
by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)
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