Truth, Tolerance, and the Rise of Trump

Last updated on: August 8, 2016 at 11:41 am by Guest Contributor

Truth, Tolerance, and the Rise of Trump 2016-08-08T11:41:59-06:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our land of the free, home of the brave turned 240 this past Independence Day, and our young country, though not without failure, has had much success. We have been the melting pot, the voice of democracy, and the technological trailblazer on the world’s stage. The dreams we have dreamt for equality in the workplace seem closer than ever as we witness the end of the first African-American President’s second term, with a woman waiting in the wings to take his place, if she can defeat The Donald.

What is there to say about Donald Trump that hasn’t already been said. My patience is constantly tried. The fascination with trying to figure out how did it come to this ended when he became part of the final two. Trump is no longer a ridiculous sideline to the main event. Myself, like many in America, and even some of those in the Republican Party are still wondering how this happened. When the power hungry businessman turned celebrity turned politician first stepped onto the nomination-seeking scene much of America screamed “satire and mockery.” We expected the debacle of his presidential run to be brief and come to a swift end. Secure in the safety of the power of the vote, we trusted the American people to get this brash bully off the political stage quickly. What has become evident during this time of elections and racial unrest is that America is not as tolerant as we would like to believe.

Though many drive around with their COEXIST bumper stickers on the back of their flexible fuel hybrids, it is clear that some are using their secret ballots to declare otherwise. This is their right. Let them exercise it; but let us not be so delusional as to think that we have mastered the way of the peacemaker. We cannot claim tolerance when we elect preachers of intolerance to the highest office. Yet here we stand, the nominee for one of the major parties is a man who is propelled forward by the starkest of “us” versus “them” mentalities.

I am well aware that in our push for acceptance we cannot forget there is also a craving for justice. We want justice for the rape victim, the racially profiled, and the victims of terror, but how will we find it when children who know nothing of building walls come home from school asking if their Latino friends are going to be kicked out of the country? I have asked myself time and time again, “Who is voting for this guy? How did he win the Hispanic vote in Nevada? What Evangelical can reconcile Trump’s opinions with those of Jesus’? Is this real life or reality television?”

Unfortunately, the country was ripe for a candidate such as him, not because people agree with everything he says, but because we were hungry for someone willing to stand against the political machine. It seems there has been a miscalculation between what equals justice and what brings about victory. We cannot be willing to exchange one for the other.

America really does want to be the best. I would like to say that we value humility, but if we put it to a vote—pride wins. We carry a mentality of go big or go home, and Trump embodies that in an infectious way. Our nation wants to be the richest, most powerful, and also the most tolerant of them all. But do we so insist on being the winners of the world that we would elect a candidate who turns people against each other?

Are the voters looking for a heavy handed disciplinarian because they feel lost in a world where no absolute truth is acknowledged and all is allowed? In our quest to be progressive have we sacrificed having the discernment needed to draw a line between right and wrong? So much so, that the inner longing of a public hungering for authenticity has settled for unfiltered diatribes that refuse to pander to political correctness as substitute. While America continues to step away from the ways of God and wanders through this existential confusion we have let candidates issue threats laced with the rhetoric of fear and pride. Self-evident truths which were once seen as concrete have now been made abstract, and we have molded the objective into the subjective.

Though we cannot yield the beauty of truth to the quest for tolerance, by no means can we put our nation in the hands of someone who name calls those who stand against him and persecutes those who peacefully protest. A ruler who does such things is unfit to rule a free people, but would a free people elect a man willing to play the tyrant to sooth their desire for truth?

Chara Donahue is a freelance writer, certified biblical counselor, and speaker. She holds a MSEd from Corban University and is passionate about seeing people set free through God’s truths. She loves to write about faith, culture, and the deep truths that drive our fascinations with it. Chara is the founder and editor of Anchored Voices and can be found on multiple social media platforms @CharaDonahue.

Previous Post

July 13, 2016

The Benefits and Risks of a Clinton-Warren Ticket

Next Post

February 13, 2017 Is Donald Trump the Antichrist?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Us About Us Action Center Advertise Ask a Theologian Ask a Theologian Blogs Books Campaign Blog Candidate Spotlights Commentary Donate Facebook Featured Writers Fellows Fellows From the Pulpit General Information Hillary Clinton Interfaith Blog Latest Media Center Media Center Media Center MyBlog MyBlog News Newsflash Newsflashes Our Team Reader Blogs RSS Sermon of the Week Shop Social Networking Static Items Support Talking Points Test blogs The Basics Theology Uncategorized YouTube

Select a Month November 2020 October 2020 February 2020 August 2019 July 2018 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 January 2006 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Ezekiel saw a vision of a valley of dry bones that came to life.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE