This week many of you have seen a plethora of reactions to the Syrian crisis. Undoubtedly, some of those reactions have come from people you went to high school with who couldn't locate Syria on a map if asked.
My social media feeds were divided into two main camps. Granted, by this point I have culled my friends lists down drastically in the wake of the November election, so I am perhaps not seeing every perspective on this issue.
One group of friends praised Trump for taking action against Assad. They said things like, "Finally he has done something presidential!" The other group, being the one I find myself in, did not look at this issue in the same light.
Trump's bombing of the air base in Syria was not an action that validated his presidency. Instead, it was in keeping with every other amateur, damning decision that he has made since deciding to run for office.
I firmly support striking out against countries who harm their own people. I do not, however, support the ongoing hypocrisy of the Trump administration.
The Twitter community was quick to pick up on this inconsistency. At this point, when Trump says anything, you can find tweets, interviews, and speeches where he declared exactly the opposite. More disturbing than these hypocritical tweets, however, is Trump's stance on refugees. In an interview, Trump preached that he would tell a Syrian child to their face that they could not gain refuge in the United States.
His supporters, largely evangelical Christians, have praised him on his travel ban. Let's not forget that this ban effectively denies innocent men, women, and children the right to live in an environment free of famine, chemical weapons, and frequent bombings. Let's also keep in mind that Syrian civilians have been bombed and gassed for years without many of us even batting an eye.
Trump won the presidency because his voter base was just as hypocritical as he is. He and his right-wing Christian supporters somehow justify this travel ban while at the same time preaching the necessity of "loving thy neighbor." Tell me, does loving thy neighbor mean denying safety to vulnerable families?
Trump conveyed false sympathy when he mourned the loss of life in Syria's most recent civilian attack. He has been wicked enough to turn his back on these same "beautiful babies" that he pretends to mourn.
Trump choosing to "retaliate" against Assad's latest political violence should come as no surprise. His administration is in shambles and has been since the beginning. He lost the popular vote, has abysmal ratings, and is seen as untrustworthy by many Americans and the global community. Most importantly, he and his cronies are currently the subject of an FBI investigation into his involvement with Russia.
This failed bombing is the result of Trump making a desperate attempt at a ratings boost. He also undoubtedly saw it as a chance to divert attention away from the Russian scandal.
I will not see this fiasco as somehow validating his presidency. I will not praise anyone who uses excessive and expensive military force as a show of fire power and nothing more.
Give me a president who realizes the enormity of the Syrian crisis and similar global catastrophes the moment they step into the Oval Office. Give me a president who does not say one thing and then do the exact opposite. Give me a president who welcomes terrorized families with open arms.
Give me a country willing to realize when their leader is acting in the interest of self-gain alone.