To My Republican Friends: What Did You Think Would Happen? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

To My Republican Friends: What Did You Think Would Happen?

45
To My Republican Friends: What Did You Think Would Happen?
Google Images

Discussing Donald Trump with my Republican friends is an uncomfortable affair. Most dismiss him, try and distance themselves from him. Most tell me that he doesn't represent me, I do not stand for what he stands for. Most are shocked that their party betrayed them like this, are embarrassed that Trump will be the Republican nominee.

And in response, I laugh.

I laugh because when Republicans were accusing President Barack Obama of being a Muslim, foreign-born terrorist, my friends were not embarrassed, even after the absurd accusations were undeniably proven false.

I laugh because when Republicans referred to the Affordable Care Act and FEMA as secret death panels for Christians, my friends were not embarrassed.

I laugh because when Ted Cruz said "there is no place for gays or atheists in America" last year, my friends were not embarrassed.

I laugh because when Republicans so blatantly gerrymandered their districts in order to snuff out the voting power of minorities, my friends were not embarrassed.

I laugh because when top Republican leaders refer to food stamp recipients as vermin and lazy societal leeches, and want to take away Medicaid benefits, my friends are not embarrassed.

I laugh because when Ann Coulter said "I think there should be a literacy test and poll tax in order to vote," my friends were not embarrassed.

I could go on. For hours I could go on. I could talk about police violence, immigration, public schooling, the death penalty, the economy, gun control, and so much more. Over the past 15 years, and even before then, Republican leaders, pundits and talk show hosts have been saying and promoting horrible, sickening, derisive and many times, absolutely and completely false propaganda. Without even looking at Trump and his rhetoric, the other Republican candidates this election cycle have continued on this path. Ben Carson refused to ever support a Muslim for President of the United States. Mike Huckabee warned that Obama wants to force Americans to memorize Koran passages. Jeb Bush used the disgusting term "anchor babies" multiple times. Carly Fiorina completely fabricated a lie about Planned Parenthood. These are not secrets, either. Nothing that has been said up to this point is false, and most of it has been orated loudly and proudly on national TV or radio.

When I point these things out to my friends, their usual response is "but, you can't really blame me for this!" Again I laugh, because I really can.

The people who I don't blame are the actual racists and sexists and bigots and empathetically-challenged individuals who believe these horrifying quotes and conspiracy theories. If Bob, for example, really thinks that black people shouldn't be able to vote, or that poor people don't deserve financial support, or that every Muslim is a terrorist, why would I blame Bob? The Republican Party must seem like heaven to him!

The people who I can, and do, blame are the majority of my Republican friends, and, I'm assuming, most of the Republicans at Harvard, and it is to them whom I now speak directly to. Behind the facade of conservative economics and support for the Constitution, you have ignored the poison of hate and allowed it to infiltrate and overcome your party. For years, you have watched the slow decay of Republican ideology from afar, pretending to be up on some moral pedestal when really all you did was look the other way. Time and time again, when you saw the ugly underbelly of fear and bigotry surface and resurface, you dismissed it as an insignificant subset of individuals who didn't represent your "values." But what did you think would happen? Did you think it would all just go away? Did you not see that every one of your "values" was being corrupted and twisted? Because I sure did.

When you tell me how ashamed you are about Donald Trump, I laugh on the outside, but on the inside I am furious. I can't help it. I don't care if you're for or against abortion, for or against universal healthcare, for or against rising taxes or immigration reform. We are all allowed opinions. But you damn well should have seen what was happening. Donald Trump is the menace you created when you chose to split hairs and try and hold up a rotting, long-gone ideology instead of speaking out against the infection. The Republican Party is no longer, and has not been for a long time, anti-abortion or pro-gun. It is anti-compassion, pro-hate. You pretended this wasn't the case, and boy do you deserve what's coming.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

4811
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

119150
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

1113
mu bucket list

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

799
Everything hurts and I'm dying

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Signs You Go To Kent State

You know you're a true Kent Stater when...

874
Kent State University
Great Value Colleges

If you go to or went to Kent State, then more than likely you have done or will do some of these things.

1. You’ve slipped and fallen on the ice at least once.

The winters at Kent are brutal, and while the heated sidewalks and some great snow boots are always a help, there’s no chance you won’t bust it on the ice at least once in your four plus years at school.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments