Trump Uses Mount Rushmore Speech to Deliver Divisive Culture War Message

[Nepperhan]

If you keep scratching a scab it won’t heal, it will get infected.

Scratching a scab is ignoring the problem.

May we return to the subject of this thread now?

 

[MikeInVA]

May we return to the subject of this thread now?

Sure. People who don’t like Trump were offended by something he said.

 

[JonNC]

If your group was not subject to the discrimination, you benefited.

Incorrect. I received no benefit.

Your statements of achieving everything on your own may be accurate but no one starts out with a blank slate. Not in life and not after education and training.

And I already mentioned those.

No one is accusing you of being guilty of anything – you are personalizing the discussion far too much.

If your group was not subject to the discrimination, you benefited.

The “you” in this refers to whom, then?

 

[JonNC]

Ignoring a problem is not an effective method to solving it.

Amplifying the problem into something it isn’t doesn’t solve the real problem.

 

[Neithan]

I thought it was an opinion and couldn’t tell the difference. It’s a news article that reads like an opinion piece. It’s like the editors didn’t even attempt to remove obvious bias. That tells us a lot about journalism today.

 

[Ender]

Ignoring a problem is not an effective method to solving it.

Finding a problem where none exists pretty much guarantees it cannot be solved, which applies to Trump’s speech. Regardless of what he actually said, it will remain condemned by those who hear dog whistles every time he speaks.

 

[Nepperhan]

Finding a problem where none exists

That’s what the Jesuits call “a leap of faith”. Opinions differ as to if there is a problem, sure. But don’t ignore the obvious or ignore the concerns of others.

Amplifying the problem into something it isn’t doesn’t solve the real problem.

Actually, it does. You know, ‘squeaky wheel’ and all that… I leads to greater focus and greater emphasis on finding a solution.

 

[Nepperhan]

Sure. People who don’t like Trump were offended by something he said.

I don’t recall anyone taking offense.

Don’t lose sight of the point: In a time in our society when churches and individuals are praying for reconciliation, Trump did not even attempt to provide a unifying message.

 

[PaulinVA]

Well, I for one am glad I participated in this thread.

It’s so heartening to hear that systemic racism has been abolished and that there is no racism in the Air Force.

Let’s do world peace next.

 

[MikeInVA]

Trump did not even attempt to provide a unifying message.

Generally, a speech that uses the “Us against them” theme is considered unifying. See George W Bush’s, “You’re either with us or your against us” speech after 9/11 as an example. The issue is with the people who so hate Trump (and our nation) that they are against him regardless of the subject at hand.

 

[JonNC]

That’s what the Jesuits call “a leap of faith”. Opinions differ as to if there is a problem, sure. But don’t ignore the obvious or ignore the concerns of others

Here’s a truth. There is a problem. The problem is that in many of our big cities there is a culture that perpetuates the idea that government through law enforcement can violate the rights of individual American citizens. It comes from the philosophy that government power takes primacy over individual rights. That needs to change.

leads to greater focus and greater emphasis on finding a solution.

Actually, it does. You know, ‘squeaky wheel’ and all that… I leads to greater focus and greater emphasis on finding a solution.

When the protests focused on the violation of George Floyd’s rights, they were effective. The violence and rioting destroyed that focus.

 

[JonNC]

It’s so heartening to hear that systemic racism has been abolished and that there is no racism in the Air Force.

Systemic racism is statutorily illegal in the United States. Report it to the DoJ.
If there is no racism in the Air Force, that would be remarkable, as the Air Force is made up of human beings.

 

[JonNC]

JonNC:

1. NYT often babbles

Review again what makes up an ad hominem argument.

I’ll remember your suggestion when people criticize, oh, let’s say Fox News.

 

[PaulinVA]

Systemic racism is statutorily illegal in the United States. Report it to the DoJ.

And yet, the Bishops think it still exists.

https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/upload/racism-and-systemic-racism.pdf

Today, racism continues to exist in our communities and in our parishes. Racism is what makes us see the “other” with suspicion or to attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people. This evil manifests itself in our individual thoughts, and also in the workings of our society itself. Today’s continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth, and representation in leadership positions are rooted in our country’s shameful history of slavery and systemic racism.

 

[JonNC]

And yet, the Bishops think it still exists.

Then they are wrong. Have them check the plethora of civil rights legislation that has outlawed it. Are there racist individuals? Yes.

Today, racism continues to exist in our communities and in our parishes. Racism is what makes us see the “other” with suspicion or to attribute negative characteristics to an entire group of people.

Nobody is denying the existence of racism. Racism, however , is not systemic.

of people. This evil manifests itself in our individual thoughts, and also in the workings of our society itself.

Individual thoughts, yes, workings within our society, sometimes, but it is not systemic.

Today’s continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth,

Inequality does not always equal inequity.

representation in leadership positions

Depends on the leadership. Americans elect many of their leaders. To say those choices are based on race, considering the very high number of elected blacks and Hispanics, lacks any evidence at all.

are rooted in our country’s shameful history of slavery and systemic racism.

This is just factually false. Slavery ended over 150 years ago. At least six generations removed. If a poll was taken of Americans; was slavery a good thing, 99.9999% suing no may be an underestimate. Systemic racism in the form of segregation, Jim Crow, etc have also long since ended.

 

[PaulinVA]

@MikeinVA and @JonNC , I could continue to post examples, but I don’t think it will do any good.

What I think, and a host of others document, just doesn’t seem to matter.

So, which of you is going to tell all the Black protesters that they don’t experience discrimination due to systemic racism?

 

[JonNC]

So, which of you is going to tell all the Black protesters that they don’t experience discrimination due to systemic racism?

I would, but if they disagree, I would point them to their local Democrat officials who have been running the systems for 50 years or more.
If there is systemic racism, it is from the same political party that has historically been responsible for systemic racism.

Or, Paul, since you live inVirginia, perhaps a peek at your Governor.

 

[PaulinVA]

I would, but if they disagree, I would point them to their local Democrat officials who have been running the systems for 50 years or more.
If there is systemic racism, it is from the same political party that has historically been responsible for systemic racism.

So, Jon, is there system racism or not? You’ve said there isn’t.

And, by the way, when did it end? A date would be useful.

 

[JonNC]

So, Jon, is there system racism or not? You’ve said there isn’t

If it is systemic, it is codified in the system. That means it is the required way a system must act. That is illegal in the United States.
If there is a system where operatives are acting outside the law, it should be stopped by legal means.

And, by the way, when did it end? A date would be useful.

Over the course of many years, two or three constitutional amendments (13 and 14 come to mind), followed by a number of civil rights legislations and other statutes.

 

[PaulinVA]

@JonNC, you do know that murder is illegal and yet. It. Still. Happens.

As an example, first it was systemic racism that lenders redlined certain areas and wouldn’t write loans for houses in those areas. Then, they Did write loans. Only the loans had predatory interest rates and other features.

“The system” doesn’t have to be laws. It can be practices.