Unsilent Sunday

Don’t talk about politics people say, it’s not polite they say, it makes people uncomfortable they say. Well too bad. Life is uncomfortable. People have different opinions and that isn’t going to go away just because you stick your fingers in your ears and scream “la, la, la” at anyone who doesn’t agree with you.

I don’t want to start a whole presidential debate but I do want to formally state my concerns regarding a particular candidate in this year’s election. The more coverage I watch, the more personal accounts I read, the more apprehensive I become that people are willing to support donald trump. I’ve never cared one way or the other about that man, having no need to think about him much. As his campaign has progressed, however, I find myself having to pay attention. His ability to rally and rile crowds to the cause of hatred is a dangerous thing. While the media tries to tie him to Clinton I’m comparing him to Hitler. Even if this is all some elaborate plan to get another candidate elected the result is that far too many Americans are showing their proclivity towards savagery. How insecure they must feel to rally behind trump.

I thought that my circle of friends and family were smart enough and kind enough to see right through trump but I found out that several of them aren’t. I don’t even know how to handle this. I’ve never considered cutting ties with anyone over political preferences before but I honestly feel that someone who is defending trump to me is equivalent to looking me (or any Jew) in the eyes and saying “Hitler has some good points, I believe in Hitler to fix all our problems” and expecting me to be ok with that. I’m so not ok with that. They can support any other candidate but trump is a harbinger of anti-goodwill and standing behind him is supporting the idea of a divided and destructive America. What is the allure of the darkside? Why would anyone want to be a part of that?

I know America is broken and I know the government is broken but trump isn’t the answer. If people are tired of how shitty things are they need to roll up their sleeves and get involved. Bond with your community, join the local government, actually watch a little CSPAN and find out what the jerks in Washington are doing with their time. Plant some gardens, reinvest in new technology (Graphene is AWESOME!), read a book, support local artists and businesses and in general get out and interact with people so you can make new connections and maybe even friends. If we all tried a little harder we could fix things. If we put our faith in arrogant, greedy, rich white men the world will continue to crumble. Trump isn’t the answer, division isn’t the answer, hate isn’t the answer. I can’t ignore trump any longer and I can’t stay silent because if the course he and his supporters are on isn’t blocked soon I might wake up in a concentration camp someday.