Why and how did Donald Trump rise to power and do you think his tenure can help the world if you ignore the obvious negatives?
Early this morning in the dreamtime I was standing on a sidewalk as the Presidential limo pulled up to the curb. I was in a group of a few others and the driver opened the door and there sat The Donald. He waved toward us, encouraging us to come into the limo. Of course I didn't believe I was the one being asked in. I have great distaste for Trump and don't fit into his groupies. A few of us were holding brown paper sacks and as he kept pointing at us and waving, I finally did the whole, who me? (points at self) and was told, Yes! you with the paper bag.
sourceFor some reason, in this dream, I got in the limo and was seated in a group of less than 10 people. I noticed a subtle shift in my behavior as I nearly immediately started acting and "playing it safe."
sourceThis question asks us to "put aside" Trump's "obvious negatives" and speak to how his tenure can help the world. As a woman, I can't put aside his obvious negatives because the presence of powerful men like this in the world, lifted to the highest reaches of public power, their voices elevated and given the highest priority, are in fact a threat to my wellbeing and safety, and that of many others.
Trump: Yeah, that’s her. With the gold. I better use some Tic Tacs just in case I start kissing her. You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.
Bush: Whatever you want.
Trump: Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.
Trump talking with Billy Bush of "Access Hollywood"
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Each time I encounter Trump's words or face, his very being, my stomach lurches and twists.
In fact I'm writing this article with this knot in my stomach. Trump represents to me the "Old Guard" of the Patriarchy, that dying beast in death throes currently as we birth a world of that values diversity and care for the earth.
Trump, a billionaire not because of his own actions (in fact, if he would've left his assets gifted from his bloodline alone he would have much more money than he has now proving that in fact he is not a lucrative businessman as he has conned many into believing), throws his weight around and acts like a mega-bully while lying, gaslighting and diversions. He's playing a massive game with the populace and it's incredible to me that people still support him! It's beyond offensive that someone like this is parading, late-night Tweeting around the world picking fights -- and has the title of US president?!--, but beyond offensive, his bullying is actually encouraging violence against people of color and immigrants throughout the world.
Trump has given a voice and space for bigots & Nationalists to act on their racist hatred.
Hate crimes have in fact risen since his tenure. And his bigotry has normalized prejudice in the minds of many biased & narrow-minded Americans.
Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference Education Fund, says it well:
"I think President Trump's rhetoric has given perhaps a new legitimacy to some who feel they can express attitudes which had once been discredited, but now seem again permissible."
Through championing the building of a wall along the US border with Mexico and fueling that by saying that Mexicans are rapists to calling for a Muslim travel ban (because all Muslims are prone to being terrorists), Trump has accelerated racial tensions in America and brought it out of the woodwork. source
He also has done nothing but put "The Swamp" he wanted to drain into the cabinet.
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This is a Plutocratic Aristocratic Oligarchy! How are people still fooled into thinking he is working "for us"? Do you see us represented??
Out of the Woodwork
None of this is new in the United States.
Since 9/11, there has been a stew set at a low simmer of racial tension. The fact that someone like Trump made it to office on a hot bed of inflammatory, bigoted and hateful division speaks to the American populace more than it does to Trump.
This has brought the anti-diversity Nationalism of the people of the USA out of the woodwork, so to say.
He is calling a spade a spade (which many of his supporters love him for) and championing it across a worldwide stage.
He would have no platform if these sentiments weren't seething through the United States.
After the tenure of our first black American President, fueled with a fed-upness for politics as usual and increasing downturns in the US economy, it's my belief that the racial & economic tension across the United States is finding voice through Trump. What has remained unspeakable except behind closed doors or in people's minds, he has brought to the largest platform.
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What has existed in the hearts and minds of Americans, he has manifested and given voice to. The ownership of women's bodies, including daughters, which is an offshoot of Patriarchy, Trump is living out loud and large. He is unedited and he is the signpost of what I as a woman want to see over and done with throughout the world.
Fuel for the Fire
The feeling I get in my stomach when I see Trump is fuel to my fire to continue working for racial justice and equality, for women's voices and for the safety of our bodies.
I grew up in Indianapolis, the seat of Mike Pence's office as Governor of Indiana. Not only this, but I went to the Elite Christian High School where a lot of the Republican Christian Lawmakers and Office-holders send their kids. I know this particular brand of Christianity that is now having a large sway in the White House in regards to Abortion laws, Gay Rights, Funding for Abstinence-only education or coverage of contraceptives on insurance plans (where Viagra is still covered), and attacks on Planned Parenthood, a huge practical and educational resource for women. Women's reproductive rights have stalled under Trump/Pence and the US remains the only developed country with no paid Maternity leave.
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Women's bodies are not their own within these lines of thinking and their bodies are not safe. It is no coincidence, then, that among Evangelical Christians a leading disease for young girls is anorexia and bulimia. In fact, this is a rampant wildfire of a disease in these circles. Spiritually and emotionally, I see this correlation as a result of the anti-sex doctrines taught in many churches combined with the lack of control or grounding women are given over their own bodies.
Because of my upbringing, I can understand this type of antiquated Christian thinking and it's really scary for me to see it making laws and having a platform in the White House.
For me and many people who aren't Patriarchal males or women who derive their power from playing into white cis-male patriarchy (a quick look at Ivanka- pretty "good daughter", Melania silent, pretty "good wife" or Kelly Conway blonde thin bulldog voice for the Patriarchy- can give the archetypes here), his tenure has added fuel to our fires to take a stand and fight against the death throes of these particular brands of bullying and competitive control-over.
This is the only way I see his tenure helping the world- through strengthening his opponents and fanning the flames which fuel positive solutions in our world
The hope lies in getting this stuff out of the woodwork, identifying it, bringing it to light and seeing it. Having half of America harboring racist or misogynistic thoughts (and yes women can harbor them as well) is not going to go away if it stays in the dark. I think it's for the best that it's getting all out there now.
#Resistance
Whether it's in thousands of protestors rise up against the Children sitting at the border in cages...
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And against the hatred against Muslims he has stirred up...
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Or the thousands of women's groups taking a stand for women's voices & rights through Women's Marches, organizing grassroots movements, and all of the women taking a stand.
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Or with the March for Science and others who are speaking out against Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement and his words as a climate change denier.
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Resistance is Fertile!
The only way out of this mess is through it. While Trump needs to be impeached for a plethora of crimes, in the meantime we need to have the hard dialogues with people who are Trump supporters. These lines of thinking aren't going away and in fact they are held by family members, neighbors, and coworkers in a town near you!
In that limo ride with Trump, I realized I started to slip back into the good pretty daughter role the Patriarchy tried to sculpt me for, one in which I remain its silent and pretty tool.
One thing is for certain though, I have a voice and I'm using it.
I'm no good daughter of the Patriarchy. And if you try to grab my pussy,
