Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Politics and Religion
In America, Trump Is Not the Problem, We Are: Guest Writer

In America, Trump Is Not the Problem, We Are: Guest Writer

Last updated on: May 31, 2024 at 9:37 am by Dennis Knapp

0 Comments

In America, Trump Is Not the Problem, We Are: Guest Writer 2024-05-31T09:37:46-06:00 Dennis Knapp

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.

Below is from my good friend, Matt Graham. He allowed me to share his recent take on former president Donald Trump. Think what you will about Trump, but Matt does make some valid points.

Regardless of what you think of Donald Trump you should ask yourself why so many people like him. If your answer is “they like him because they are a bunch of racists” then you haven’t thought about it enough.

To the right, Trump is an anti-corruption candidate. He is the political rights means of revolution. He is a patriot who is taking the brunt of the wrath of the deep state and corrupt mono-party in Washington DC. With each attempt to bring Trump down, Trump supporters are further convinced that Trump is right about the level of government corruption.

To the left, Trump is a dictator along the lines of a Hitler or a Stalin. He is a half-wit, racist, philanderer who has tricked half the country into following him or he has revealed that half of the country is composed of evil people. Given the opportunity, he would take over the government and impose some sort of autocratic rule over the citizens of the United States and destroy relations with all our allies abroad.

These are the lines that political actors and news media outlets have drawn and it’s not surprising that these ways of seeing Trump are so broadly adopted.

My take:

Trump is not a half-wit racist even if he is a philanderer. In some ways he is a horrible communicator. But in other ways, his way of communicating is nothing short of brilliant. He paints his political opponents with whatever brush he wants and no matter how silly it is it somehow seems to stick.

He attacks friend and foe alike which means he is willing to obtain his ends by whatever means necessary. This is appealing to those on the right as they have felt politically bullied for a long time, especially since Obama took office. And the right has been dumbfounded by Republicans who make political promises only to drop the ball time and time again. Trump’s personality of “This is what I’m doing no matter who disagrees” fully resonates with those on the right who are tired of the direction the country is going in.

Trump will not be able to unify the country. He is not that sort of person. He is the hired gun to take out political opponents. This approach is necessarily alienating to the left. But the right doesn’t really care at this point. The political right and left have long stopped caring about alienating the other side.

Trump does concern me in many ways, but charges of being a Hitler are too over the top. And yes, I do realize that there are parallels, but there are parallels between Hitler and Reagan. A few parallels don’t entail a moral equivalence.

The left and the right have been growing increasingly hostile to each other at least as long as I can remember. But lest we think the monsters are in Washington DC, we need to remember that these people are (to the degree that we have influence) reflections of us. WE are divided. It is only fitting that we have divisive political leaders.

I don’t think there is a political solution to our problems. I’m not saying we shouldn’t vote, of course we should. I’m just saying, I don’t think the political arena is the ultimate court of appeal. We need a revival. The people of the United States of America need to be fixed.

Thank you!

Read The Latin Right’s other writing here.

Please visit my Facebook page and IM your questions (and follow my page) or topics for articles you would like covered.

Also, please subscribe my YouTube page for updates on upcoming articles.

In America, Trump Is Not the Problem, We Are: Guest Writer

Politics and Religion

Catholic Culture

Trump

Previous Post

May 29, 2024

What is Fr. Martin’s Endgame?

Next Post

June 10, 2024 The God Who Hides in Plain Sight…

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"My honest take? I think St John Paul II was adamant that on his watch, ..."

Michael Lewis

Amoris Laetitia Deserves a Better Defence

""It's reasonable to ask what those claims mean in practice."It is. And I've laid out ..."

Todd Flowerday

Amoris Laetitia Deserves a Better Defence

"I've said what I said, Peter. Read the words. If you don't have anything new ..."

Todd Flowerday

Amoris Laetitia Deserves a Better Defence

"I don't expect you to decide who should be admitted to the sacraments. I'm asking ..."

Pilgrim

Amoris Laetitia Deserves a Better Defence

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Arius Atheists Catholic Apologetics Catholic Culture Catholic History Catholic Humor Catholic Poetry Catholic Politics Catholic Theology Dr. James White Faith Alone Joe Heschmeyer Kamala Harris Martin Luther Pope Francis Preborn Children President Biden Science and Catholicism Sola Scriptura Synod of Synodality Trinity

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Besides Samuel, Elkanah and Hannah had this many children.

Select your answer to see how you score.

2 0 5 8