Those People...

The following is a direct quote that someone posted on Facebook this afternoon. After having stated that the writer hadn't seen anything that had "gone wrong yet" in this country since Trump took office, I noted the sharp uptick in anti-Semitism since he was sworn in. This person's response, and I swear I am not making this up, was to say:

 

"[y]ou realize most of the hate in this country is from the illegal immigrants that are here. Don't be so surprised when the report comes out that the Jewish center bomb threats and the cemetery shit was all of those people… but you believe what you will little snowflake."

 

(Holy f*ck, dude. I mean… holy f*ck.)

 

Yeah. I honestly don't even know where to begin with this. This statement, on its face and like so much coming from the President this person supports, is rampant with mistruth, misdirection, and barely veiled racism. Let's break it down:

 

"Most of the hate in this country is from the illegal immigrants that are here."

First, such a statement is unequivocally false. Any reliable source of information will prove it to be false. Common sense, however, perhaps more clearly demonstrates the falsity of this statement. What purpose does an illegal immigrant have to proffer hate upon this nation? They're here, in most cases, trying to escape oppression, to make a living, to simply exist. I'm not going to get into debate of whether or not they should be here through legal means, as that topic could fill an entire post in and of itself.

 

But… illegal immigrants, hate mongering? Prove it. I'll wait.

 

As far as the Jewish community committing hate crimes upon itself… for what purpose and to what end? If there's no bomb threat, then those occupying the affected Jewish Centers simply go on about their lives unmolested. And to say that those of the Jewish faith would desecrate holy cemeteries? Again, to what end?

 

But let's blame "those people."

 

Those. People.

 

How many times have we heard those words uttered in our society throughout the years?

 

I don't want those people using our drinking fountains, or sitting on our busses.

 

Why should those people have the right to adopt children? Or get married?

 

*blink blink*

 

Immigrants are not the problem. Not in any way, shape or form. Trump's supporters have lashed onto this issue as a rallying cry, but tell me this: Who is more responsible for the economic disparity in this country, the immigrants who, by and large are transient farmers making next to nothing in wages, or the billionaires perpetuating a system in which the costs of our health care, basic services, fuel, and other essentials continues to skyrocket, while corporate entities and executives reap billions in benefits?

 

This is over-simplified economics, admittedly, but seriously; the notion that illegal immigration is the root of all evil here is nothing short of preposterous. To think otherwise belies the education I know so many Trump supporters have but otherwise fail to utilize.

 

The person who said this was formerly a friend of mine. Someone I used to care about and respect. I am appalled by this person saying such things and proffering such notions. I am saddened that someone I associated with could hold such sentiment inside. It troubles me.

 

What's more troubling is that so many Americans think this way, blaming the immigrants, and those people.

 

It's shameful. And it disgusts me. Yet so many people do think this way, and share such thoughts in public forums.

 

I'm not going to pretend I know this person's motives for saying or believing such things, but I cannot with any rationality find a legitimate reason for such beliefs. Ironically, the post that started the discussion was one in which the original writer lamented the fact that Trump supporters couldn't offer any insight into their support of the President or the current administration.

 

Blame and name-calling was the reply.

 

I, like the writer of the post on which I commented, have yet to have anyone I know that supports Trump offer any insight, either. Not one.

 

Not.

 

One.

 

When asked about the rise in anti-Semitic activity, Trump decried the question as unfair. No, Mr. Trump. That was about as soft a softball question you could get, the answer to which should have been one of the easiest he could possibly deliver: a firm statement from the President of the United States that such acts will not be tolerated in America.  Instead he belittled the Jewish reporter that asked the question.

 

Defend that.

 

Stating "I'm the least racist person you'll ever meet" and then minutes, MINUTES later, belittling an African-American reporter and asking her if she is "friends with" the Congressional Black Caucus, and asking her to set up a meeting?

 

Defend that.

 

While a military operation was going on, one which he ordered after ignoring his intelligence briefing on the subject, one in which an American serviceman and innocent people were killed, Trump was instead tweeting.

 

Defend that.

 

Again, while he was supposed to be in an intelligence briefing, he was instead using his office, sending a retweet from the official POTUS twitter handle, to dress down a retail department store because they wouldn't carry his daughter's clothing anymore.

 

Defend that.

 

Or is that all the fault of those people, too?  

 

Well, if the people to whom you're referring are those that would speak up about things we see wrong in this nation, with this presidency; if those people are those that would hold our president and Congress accountable; if those people are those who refuse to quiet our voices until the issues facing us are addressed?

 

You can go ahead and call me one of those people, too.

 

And I'm sure you will. And I'm sure you'll continue to belittle those people because they dare to speak up. But by all means, keep calling names.

 

Who's the snowflake, now?

 

© 2017 J.J. Goodman. All rights reserved.