Should I Give Donald Trump a Chance Before I Judge His Presidency?

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Sean J. Doyle, Guest MINDSETTER™

 

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President-Elect Donald Trump

Should I give Donald Trump a chance before I judge his presidency? 

It should be made clear to the reader that my disgust over the recent presidential election is mostly not about Democrat versus Republican partisanship.  It is also not about losing – that is something I’ve learned to accept after regularly engaging in political campaigns.  My disgust is primarily about our country’s electorate failing to protect the basic American promises of equality, respect, dignity and religious freedom.

I heard Donald Trump brag about sexually forcing himself on women.  I heard him say that he can grab women by their vaginas and kiss them without permission because he is rich and famous.  My daughter is a strong, intelligent and savvy young woman.  She believes in social justice and gender equality.  I refuse to look into my daughter’s beautifully analytical eyes and tell her that we should wait and see before we judge Donald Trump’s presidency.

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I watched Donald Trump flail his arms and hands and distort his voice as he cruelly imitated a reporter who suffers from a congenital muscular condition.  I work with children with disabilities.  I refuse to tell them that we should wait and see before we judge Donald Trump’s presidency.

I have black friends, gay friends, Muslim friends and friends who are Jews.  My friends are talented, intelligent and cultured contributors to our community and I am fortunate to know them.  They represent groups of people who truly believe that their freedoms and rights were marginalized by the bigoted rhetoric of the Neo-Nazi and other Alt-Right groups who support Donald Trump. 

I will not state as fact that Donald Trump is himself a Neo-Nazi.  His White House team, however, includes Stephen Bannon, a known Alt-Right ideologue and Mike Pence, the Vice President-elect, who supports conversion therapy to “cure” homosexuals.  Pence once lobbied Congress to oppose any effort to entitle those in the LGBTQ community to anti-discrimination protection laws.

Donald Trump strategically rode the wave of anger and hate proffered by the Alt-Right.  At best, his purposeful decision to not confront the groundswell of racism and hate gave legitimacy to the appalling mission of those groups for his own political gain.  At worst, he is an outright racist, misogynistic bigot.

I refuse to tell my friends and colleagues of varying religions, ethnicities, colors and sexual identities to wait and see before we judge Donald Trump’s presidency.

I believe that there are essentially two types of people who actively supported Donald Trump - racists and those who allowed themselves to ignore his racist behaviors.  Perhaps some acquiesced to the bigoted rhetoric because his hardline positions made them feel safe. 

Donald Trump’s campaign was one of vitriol, division, bigotry, misogyny and hate.  It challenged my sensibilities as a social liberal who desires positive change for all Americans whether they be female, male, black, brown, white, LGBTQ or straight.  The hurdles to achieving that change have just grown a bit taller.  Rather than concede my ideals, I will persist.  Perhaps I’ll see a better America, the one I know can exist – perhaps, at least, my children will.

When an opportunity presents itself to advance social acceptance and equality I believe it is our responsibility to act.  I endeavor to instill in my children a sense of fairness, acceptance and equality.  My strategy is to talk openly and model good behaviors.  When I fail to model well, I try again.  I will seek opportunities for my children to safely promote social equality, to help others and to stand next to those who stand alone.  For me, the awkwardness of addressing inappropriate behavior with family, friends and colleagues is far less emotionally damaging than living with inaction. 

I will not change my mind about Donald Trump even if he manages to achieve some good.  The end result does not always justify the means – not at all costs.  And not at the expense of the dignity, respect and civil rights of people in the minority.

So, do I need to withhold my judgment of Donald Trump’s presidency? 

No, I do not - I have seen enough.

 

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Sean Doyle

Sean J. Doyle is a public school teacher in the town of West Warwick and he is the President of the West Warwick Teachers’ Alliance, AFT Local 1017

 

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