Why Trump? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Why Trump?

They Thought We Were Out to Get Them... and They May Have Been Right

16
Why Trump?
New York Magazine

Like many liberals, I have spent the weeks since Trump won trying to figure out not only how he was victorious, but how he was even close. It is far too simple to complain of racism or misogyny. Equally choosing to believe Trump supporters were conned or deluded is overly simplistic. The truth is more complicated: Many Americans voted for Trump because they felt their lives, livelihoods and culture were under threat. And they may have been right.

Democrats are fond of accusing Trump supporters of deluded conspiracy theories. But the reality is that there is more than a kernel of truth to Republican complaints. A lot of democrats really do want to take people’s guns – and to destroy the 2nd amendment – A lot of democrats believe that religion has no place in public life, and that religious people are hopelessly backward and stupid. The hatred and condescension with which liberals have addressed these people is the height of electoral stupidity.

It is important here to address the topics of discrimination and bigotry. These reprehensible prejudices are all too common among Trump supporters, but their role in his election has been wildly distorted. Differences in policy or cultural values do not necessarily reflect hatred or discrimination. One can be pro-life without being a sexist, against expanded immigration without being a racist or against same-sex marriage without being homophobic. There are millions of Americans who hold these views and yet maintain respect for the equality of all.

In short, Democrats, and this is especially true for those of us in college, tend too often to view those we disagree with not just as wrong but as on the wrong side of history, as people who have no respect for modernity, and for whom the modern world has no place. Donald Trump was a horrific candidate and he will be a horrific President, but faced with a Party that too frequently wished for the evisceration of every value they held, it is unsurprising millions of honest Americans voted for Trump.

It is time we realize people with different cultures than us are not our enemy. Religious, gun-toting, struggling Americans should be our allies against the Trump administration and against the policies it will enact. To win them over we should acknowledge our common differences and our common goals, not devolve into allegations of hatred. The real bigots thrive when we swell their numbers with insults and rants. Instead we should work to separate the decent people who voted for Trump from the indecent values he represents.

College campuses offer an ideal starting point for this effort. I am a left-wing Democrat. I detest Donald Trump and everything he stands for with every fiber of my being. I believe he is the representation of the worst of America. But for my fellow students who cast an honest, well-informed vote for him I have nothing but respect. As liberals, we must realize not every policy we not like is a sign of hatred; it may merely be a different solution to a common problem. And as we convince our Trump supporting friends and neighbors that his solution, and everything he stands for, is wrong, we must not resort to the hatred and anger we so frequently decry. For one thing it is morally reprehensible, but perhaps more importantly, it is terrible politics.

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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

187405
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13082
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

456512
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

25778
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments