I had an epiphany. I feel sorry for Donald Trump. Hold on Liberal Buddies; hear me out. I ain’t lost it, not yet. Apart from concern over how best to manage folks entering or trying to enter our country without permission, I disagree with President Trump’s politics and policies across the board. That’s not what I’m talking about.
W.C. Fields said, “I feel sorry for a man who doesn’t drink. It must be depressing to wake up every morning and know that’s the best you’ll feel all day.” While fear and its offspring anger are integral to the human condition, I feel sorry for anyone who seems captive to unexamined emotions. To start each morning Tweeting antipathy and recrimination, knowing that’s the best you’ll feel all day, has to be painful.
In The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump a woman is quoted, “I want my country back.” Seeing a mostly-white populace take on color, “traditional” Americans are alarmed. President Trump articulates some white-skinned citizens’ fear of loosing control.
I feel sorry for the backdrop of folks in red baseball caps laughing and applauding as their Man hurls baseless accusations, attacks, and insults at all who do not march in lock-step behind his beliefs and policies. As he vilifies both adversary and ally, publicly mocks a handicapped critic, labels a United States Senator “Pocahontas” for claiming Native American roots and more, much more. Are the red-baseball-cap fans amused or ashamed on hearing their Hero boast of groping women, called a young lady “Miss Piggy,” or Haiti and Africa s—- hole countries?
(Trump’s motto, “Make America Great Again!” My question, “When wasn’t it?”)
I feel sorry for the folks who feel dispossessed and marginalized, who suffer the cancers of misogyny, homophobia, Xenophobia, and racism. President Trump’s irresponsible rhetoric stirs up and, most alarming, legitimizes their fear, anger, and hate! Two years back the KKK, White Nationalists, and Neo-Nazis were less conspicuous. Today they riot in our streets, maim and kill innocent people with an automobile, massacre synagogue worshippers. Apart from mouthing boilerplate condolence, President Trump seems unwilling or, more troubling incapable, of feeling and expressing heart-felt sympathy and compassion for their victims. Like all of us, these citizens are free to express their beliefs and protests through civil discourse and political process. Mayhem and murder are never acceptable.
I feel sorry of human suffering. That’s what I’m talking about.
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I have been reading multiple commentaries recently about Trump’s lacking the ability to feel empathy. So much of the crap he does seems to boil down to that one defect. I find your piece also makes that observation. What a strange country we have become.
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