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Frightened & feeling marginalized…
Sep. 17th, 2016 09:51 amMy late grandfather (may he rest in peace) felt strongly that, "the Jew who is not paranoid, is a fool". It was a sentiment he tried to instill in all of his progeny. I must've been seven or perhaps eight the first time I heard him say it. Even then, his words bothered me.
As I watch the shenanigans on the Republican presidential campaign trail, particularly the candidate's rather blatant "isms" (Racism, sexism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, anti-Muslim rhetoric, etc.), as well as his reluctance to distance himself from what Mrs. Clinton termed as "deplorables", & firmly reject their support (David Duke & his ilk), I'm disquieted to say the least.
I've said repeatedly, that Mr. Trump is appealing to the worst in all of us. What disturbs me even more is how large a voracious audience he apparently has. While I have never been impressed by Mr. Trump's intelligence, the man is not stupid. He says the things that he says because he knows that he has a segment of the populace who will hear his message & support it.
When you look at me, most people see an older white guy. I have pale skin, and a shock of red hair. I pass as a non-minority person. However, looks can be deceiving. As a married gay man, as a Jew, as a child of an immigrant family, as a bilingual person, I'm clear on my own minority status. I'm clear that most of the 'deplorables' Mr Trump attracts have no more use for me than for the undocumented immigrants he wants deported, or the Muslims he wants registered.
It's sobering for me to be sitting here, the same age now that my grandfather was when I was 7 or 8, recognizing the Republican candidate for president may prove Zayde right.
As I watch the shenanigans on the Republican presidential campaign trail, particularly the candidate's rather blatant "isms" (Racism, sexism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, anti-Muslim rhetoric, etc.), as well as his reluctance to distance himself from what Mrs. Clinton termed as "deplorables", & firmly reject their support (David Duke & his ilk), I'm disquieted to say the least.
I've said repeatedly, that Mr. Trump is appealing to the worst in all of us. What disturbs me even more is how large a voracious audience he apparently has. While I have never been impressed by Mr. Trump's intelligence, the man is not stupid. He says the things that he says because he knows that he has a segment of the populace who will hear his message & support it.
When you look at me, most people see an older white guy. I have pale skin, and a shock of red hair. I pass as a non-minority person. However, looks can be deceiving. As a married gay man, as a Jew, as a child of an immigrant family, as a bilingual person, I'm clear on my own minority status. I'm clear that most of the 'deplorables' Mr Trump attracts have no more use for me than for the undocumented immigrants he wants deported, or the Muslims he wants registered.
It's sobering for me to be sitting here, the same age now that my grandfather was when I was 7 or 8, recognizing the Republican candidate for president may prove Zayde right.
