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I wrote to you my opinions and you were kind enough to
respond back. Now, I believe that what is currently
happening in this country is directly related to the
election of Donald Trump as president and requires that I
update my previous letters to you.
So, here goes.
If you have been listening to the news or watching the
news, you have seen a plethora of incidents in which or by
which President Trump has engaged in ghastly racial behavior
that he apparently relishes and, he engages in a pattern of
speech that is adorned by outright lies or half-truths and
vitriolic name calling.
It appears that his “base” of voters revel in his
racist antics and they support him in his undertakings even
though President Trump has amply demonstrated that he is
totally clueless as to how government operates and how
foreign affairs are conducted.
He has a pronounced aversion to telling the truth and
seemingly revels in denigrating people of color and
constantly is in awe of what the world terms as autocrats or
dictators. Not good for an American president to idolize
those leaders who oppress and kill their citizens and deny
them basic human rights.
But, despite having people around him who are of sound
credentials and astute in foreign affairs, President Trump
stylizes himself as a “stable genius” and that, “he alone
can solve all of our problems.” Only fools and narcissists
engage in such loose and dangerous thinking.
Andy, you asked me the last time we spoke as to how
could so many people follow such a person when they have
access to sources that would inform them that President
Trump lies are open and notorious.
Andy, once you realize and understand that people vote
their fears in the hopes that a savior will protect them
from themselves because their fears often drain them of the
capacity to think logically and act fairly, people like
Trump can gain a mass following with empty rhetoric and
hollow promises.
Andy, when a person can create a “monster” and then
tells you that the “monster” is coming your way and your
only hope is to throw your allegiances to a loud talking
bigot, you take your chances and fall into line.
That is what the GOP has done with Trump. They are
fearful of this bully and his tweet machine and they give
him lip service of fealty despite the grave damage he is
doing to the national fabric of civic unity and cordial
relations.
A person like Trump does not want to engage in acts of
compassion or empathy or personal sacrifice because he has
been taught, wrongly so, that such characteristics
demonstrates weakness; and Trump wants to be portrayed as a
tough guy…almost like a mob figure who takes no prisoner and
who will wipe out an opposing family on a mere whim.
Regrettably, Trump has now surrounded himself with
sycophants who are so morally pliable that they have been
molded to do his will and not work for the good of the
commonweal.
Andy, I would be less than honest if I did not tell you
that so much of the voter base who voter for an apparent
“strong leader” as opposed to a woman being president
(Hillary Clinton), did so due to the stroking of the fears
that America is slowly becoming a nation of minorities and
the current hegemony of white males as the sole driver of
power and perks in this country is slowly coming to an end.
That is one reason I believe why Trump is quickly
filling up any and all federal judgeships with white males.
For it is in the courts of these federal judges, who are
appointed for life, that Trump and his anxious white males
can make their stand and maintain a stranglehold on any laws
that Congress may pass.
Andy, you seem to be a guy with his head screwed on
right, so, be sure to read commentary from both sides of the
political aisle so that you are not bamboozled by hijinks
regardless of the speaker’s party affiliation.
Sharing power and perks with other Americans who are
not white is not a death knell to any white person. It
simply means that a more equitable distribution of wealth
and benefits will be passed around the table without one
person or a small cabal of persons eating 99 percent of the
economic pie!
Those who oppose the notion that the government should
be by the people, of the people and for the people would
have you believe that unless you choose sides with people
who are draconian in their efforts to stymie any real
progress by minorities, you lose.
Andy, do not believe that cruel hype. America has
enough for everyone who wants to share and not hoard and who
wants to smile and not frown at each other.
Working for the collective good of the country is a noble
task and not everyone is suited for it. I believe you are
admirably suited as a young person who has a firm inner
moral compass that will not lead you into hypocrisy or
mortal turpitude for your only selfish gain.
I hope I am not wrong about you!
Well, Andy, write me when you can. I listen to your podcast
whenever I can and I am
encouraged that you are maturing into a person that I could
fondly wrap my arms around your shoulders and smile into the
camera and say, “Hey everybody, this is Andy and he is my
good friend!”
All the best!
Contact Lafe Tolliver at
tolliver@juno.com
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