How to understand Donald Trump

[OneSheep]

Given that we have many people angry and despairing about our new president, it is timely to have a discussion about Donald Trump’s activities as they arise. However, this is not the World Forum, this thread is specifically meant to promote understanding of our elected president. This thread is not meant to be a place where we defame; we are to only address what is already stated in reliable media.

Specifically, we are applying the gift of Understanding to a look at humanity:

The Spirit opens the mind, so we can better understand the divine, humanity, and situations.

Pope Francis (video translation)
catholic.org/news/international/europe/story.php?id=55220

So, in order to have open minds, we begin with an openness to forgive, because forgiveness also comes from the Spirit.

 

[Catholic1954]

The best way to understand the President is to go to the source and actually listen to him. When he makes a speech, listen to the whole speech, not just out of context quotes from the media. If he is interviewed by someone, watch the entire interview. Get all the facts from HIM and not what the media wants you to know. Public speaking is not a strong virtue with him, but listening to ALL of what he has to say, will go a long way to understand where he is coming from. :twocents:

 

[bardegaulois]

The best way to understand the President is to go to the source and actually listen to him. When he makes a speech, listen to the whole speech, not just out of context quotes from the media. If he is interviewed by someone, watch the entire interview. Get all the facts from HIM and not what the media wants you to know. Public speaking is not a strong virtue with him, but listening to ALL of what he has to say, will go a long way to understand where he is coming from. :twocents:

I definitely endorse this, and not only with regards to Donald Trump, but with regards to any political person, whether domestic or foreign. Moreover, a good review of news and opinion, from sources having a variety of editorial views, will help as well.

A good example that’s been very much highlighted lately is what many are saying about Steve Bannon, clearly the mastermind behind the emerging Trump Doctrine. When it was announced that he was being appointed to the National Security Council, many balked at what they believed to be his lack of experience - only to quail up when it was pointed out to them that he had completed a master’s degree in national security at Georgetown and served as a naval officer, completing a tour as an assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. Of course, they then went on not to attack his CV, but to attack his beliefs.

Well, what are those? If you just listened to the six o’clock news, you’d think his views are akin to those of such fringy figures as David Duke or Fred Phelps. Few, though, have bothered reading perhaps his finest statement of principles, containing what he really thinks about racism and Vladimir Putin (presented at the Vatican, interestingly enough) here: buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/this-is-how-steve-bannon-sees-the-entire-world?utm_term=.xuE8opqQX#.ccbr3Gyvo .

In order to be informed citizens, we need to know very intimately who the players really are and what they issues really are. If not, we wind up motivated merely by sentiment or fancy, which is likely the reason that the United States and many other countries are experiencing such discord nowadays.

 

[dshix]

The best way to understand the President is to go to the source and actually listen to him. When he makes a speech, listen to the whole speech, not just out of context quotes from the media. If he is interviewed by someone, watch the entire interview. Get all the facts from HIM and not what the media wants you to know. Public speaking is not a strong virtue with him, but listening to ALL of what he has to say, will go a long way to understand where he is coming from. :twocents:

I’ve been doing this and I continually get a VERY different impression than the daily news gives.

 

[OneSheep]

The best way to understand the President is to go to the source and actually listen to him. When he makes a speech, listen to the whole speech, not just out of context quotes from the media. If he is interviewed by someone, watch the entire interview. Get all the facts from HIM and not what the media wants you to know. Public speaking is not a strong virtue with him, but listening to ALL of what he has to say, will go a long way to understand where he is coming from. :twocents:

Well, your two cents is really a million!

Yes, we can all come to understand a lot about people by listening to them. Unfortunately, there are many people in this nation whose concerns are not being listened to, and they are feeling anger and despair.

So, what I am hoping to address here are not only his words but his actions. Both words and actions can be understood in light of people who have good intent.

 

[Katherine438]

The best way to understand the President is to go to the source and actually listen to him. When he makes a speech, listen to the whole speech, not just out of context quotes from the media. If he is interviewed by someone, watch the entire interview. Get all the facts from HIM and not what the media wants you to know. Public speaking is not a strong virtue with him, but listening to ALL of what he has to say, will go a long way to understand where he is coming from. :twocents:

 

[dshix]

By the way, did anyone listen to Trump’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast?

I was blown away. He flat-out said some things in support of religious faith I’ve never heard a president dare to say. He even expanded on his own religious convictions. Remarkable.

 

[Robert_Sock]

Professors often have to have two personalities: one the professional self and the other the casual self. This is also true in many professions but is especially true in politics. What we see in Donal Trump is just an artificial self, specially tailored for public dealings. Who is the real Donald Trump, we will never know?

 

[dshix]

Professors often have to have two personalities: one the professional self and the other the casual self. This is also true in many professions but is especially true in politics. What we see in Donal Trump is just an artificial self, specially tailored for public dealings. Who is the real Donald Trump, we will never know?

What evidence do you have for this opinion? One could argue that Donald Trump is a transparent President with more evidence than you have given here (because you have not given any).

Also: Do you ever listen to him speaking directly? At the National Prayer Breakfast, for example?

 

[TheAmazingGrace]

By the way, did anyone listen to Trump’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast?

I was blown away. He flat-out said some things in support of religious faith I’ve never heard a president dare to say. He even expanded on his own religious convictions. Remarkable.

I’ve also never heard a president dump on a fellow celebrity/politician at the NPB. Truly unprecedented.

 

[Robert_Sock]

What evidence do you have for this opinion? One could argue that Donald Trump is a transparent President with more evidence than you have given here (because you have not given any).

Also: Do you ever listen to him speaking directly? At the National Prayer Breakfast, for example?

My evidence is self-experience in having associated with professionals both at the professional and causal levels. I’ve yet to hear Donald Trump speak and I do not watch, listen, or read that mainstream news, but from the little I know of him, I would bet he was a used car salesman in his last life. He makes promises to those who follow him, but I think he is going to fall flat on his face delivering. The world needs to function in love and harmony and this is where Trump is very short-sighted. Trump may invoke some positive social change, but his knowledge of world affairs is dismal.

 

[Viki63]

My evidence is self-experience in having associated with professionals both at the professional and causal levels. I’ve yet to hear Donald Trump speak and I do not watch, listen, or read that mainstream news, but from the little I know of him, I would bet he was a used car salesman in his last life. He makes promises to those who follow him, but I think he is going to fall flat on his face delivering. The world needs to function in love and harmony and this is where Trump is very short-sighted. Trump may invoke some positive social change, but his knowledge of world affairs is dismal.

This may be true, but we can pray that he surrounds himself with knowledgeable people.

.

 

[thistle]

I think Spirituality and Trump are a contradiction and not suited to this forum.

"The Spirituality Forum is the place to discuss:

1. Our daily walk with Christ (why/how/where to be more spiritual)
2. Questions about Prayer / Devotionals
3. Saints
4. Sacramentals (devotions and practices, including fasting and abstinence)
5. Apostolates (preaching, retreats, hospital, military, or prison chaplaincy, counseling, working with youth, married couples or the elderly, etc)"

 

[OneSheep]

I think Spirituality and Trump are a contradiction and not suited to this forum.

"The Spirituality Forum is the place to discuss:

1. Our daily walk with Christ (why/how/where to be more spiritual)
2. Questions about Prayer / Devotionals
3. Saints
4. Sacramentals (devotions and practices, including fasting and abstinence)
5. Apostolates (preaching, retreats, hospital, military, or prison chaplaincy, counseling, working with youth, married couples or the elderly, etc)"

Good Morning,

This thread is about understanding people. Understanding is a gift of the Spirit.

The application is concerning Number 1, our daily walk with Christ. When we feel anger or despair about someone or something, this is part of our daily walk, and this thread is about Understanding as a remedy.

When we understand, rather than condemn or condone, we take a more spiritual approach.

Does that help clarify?

God Bless

 

[OneSheep]

I’ve also never heard a president dump on a fellow celebrity/politician at the NPB. Truly unprecedented.

I noticed that, as well as the uplifting things he said.

So, applying Understanding, why do you think he was “dumping” on a fellow celeb? In other words, if you were to do it, why would you do so? Specifically, what reasons would you give for saying the same things that he did? Since we cannot actually enter his mind, we can only address the questions from a first-person standpoint.

Note: the word “understanding” means to “stand among”.

 

[OneSheep]

My evidence is self-experience in having associated with professionals both at the professional and causal levels. I’ve yet to hear Donald Trump speak and I do not watch, listen, or read that mainstream news, but from the little I know of him, I would bet he was a used car salesman in his last life. He makes promises to those who follow him, but I think he is going to fall flat on his face delivering. The world needs to function in love and harmony and this is where Trump is very short-sighted. Trump may invoke some positive social change, but his knowledge of world affairs is dismal.

Do you understand his behaviors, Robert? Can you see his good intent?

 

[styrgwillidar]

Pretty simple. He’s a businessman who understands he needs to deliver to the customer, based on what the customer hired him to do.

He’s been hired to look out for the interests of US citizens based on the ‘sales pitch’ he provided in his campaign; not promote any particular party’s, political faction, religion’s, business’, industry, or foreign government/citizen’s interests.

That’s what he’ll do.

 

[OneSheep]

Pretty simple. He’s a businessman who understands he needs to deliver to the customer, based on what the customer hired him to do.

He’s been hired to look out for the interests of US citizens based on the ‘sales pitch’ he provided in his campaign; not promote any particular party’s, political faction, religion’s, business’, industry, or foreign government/citizen’s interests.

That’s what he’ll do.

Well, yours would be the point of view of a person who sees that Donald Trump is addressing all the interests that you have. People on the street are demonstrating against decisions made that go against their own values and what they see as their interests or the interests of people they care about, including issues concerning the foreign governments favored/disfavored by Mr. Trump.

But yes, indeed, Donald Trump is looking out for the interests of those who voted him in and supported his campaign. His intent is good. He is not out to hurt anyone, but intends to help everyone with his policies and decisions, whether they agree or disagree with his methods/ideologies.