Ahh... 2016. We are truly living in the future I imagined when I was a little girl. Hoverboards, smart watches, Nutella, those fancy automatic soda machines they have in fast food restaurants now: The future is everything I pictured with one large exception — I did not anticipate that a fascist, racist, misogynistic orange fluffy potato would probably be one of the two major political party’s candidates.
Of course, the Democratic and Republican parties have always been racist and sexist, to varying extents over time and in different regions. But I never imagined that the KKK would endorse a candidate and that the candidate would not condemn them on national television when given the chance; that a candidate with no practical, feasible policy recommendations would openly call for shooting Muslims with pig-blood soaked bullets. Our contemporary politicians have always been subtler with their racism and imperialism than Donald Trump (I would argue Cruz’s policies are more harmful, though his rhetoric is much less intense). But I have been most surprised at the disappointing reaction to Trump by my white peers (my surprise at his candidacy and the reaction to it surely a product of my naiveté).
Trump is not funny, has never been funny and should not be entertaining. I don’t care how good for comedy Trump has been, how many times John Oliver or Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert (of whom I am a fan) “eviscerate” or “destroy” Trump. Black people have been beaten up and kicked out of Trump rallies, and I would not be shocked if there is an increase in the rate of hate crimes in the near future as the racist rhetoric in the U.S. festers. Luckily the number of Facebook posts I have seen by “progressive,” “liberal” people expressing their glee at Trump’s candidacy due to its entertainment value have dropped off as his poll numbers rise, but why did we ever feel that way in the first place? Even when his poll numbers were small, why did we ever prioritize our consumption of political theater over the lives of black, Latino and Muslim people who live with the consequences of his extremist rhetoric?
Another trend that has luckily ended recently, but existed nonetheless, was “progressive,” “liberal” people claiming that they would vote for Trump as a joke in the primaries or in the national election if they don’t like the Democratic candidate. Even when meant as a joke, a vote or endorsement is symbolic: Is symbolic support of a racist Oompa Loompa really worth a chuckle? This early onset ironic support of Trump should have been replaced with early onset condemnation.
Currently, as per usual, there are the usual threats or jokes that white “progressives” make that if Trump wins, they are leaving the country, probably going to Canada. These remarks bother me, even with their innocent intentions. Most people in the U.S. do not have the resources to move out of the country, especially the marginalized groups that are most affected by racist rhetoric and policies. Those who have the privilege and resources to be shielded from racist violence have a duty to fight oppression. Also, white people are collectively responsible for the rise of Trump, even those who do not directly support him. Trump as a political figure is a logical modern-day extension of the genocide and slavery that the U.S. was founded on. This tradition of an anti-black and anti-native political system exists today; going away to Canada will not help those without the resources to leave.
I must confess I have been a little disillusioned by white progressive liberals and their response to Trump. Their reaction has pushed me further to the left, probably to the despair of both Mr. Trump and my parents. I hope the fight against Trump intensifies in the near future, especially since it appears he will win the Republican nomination. My childhood image of the future did not include a Cheeto-dusted white, fascist blob as the president of the U.S. and I would like to keep it that way.
Emeline Armitage is a sophomore International Studies major from Cleveland.
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