American media outlets are having a lot of fun pillorying U.S. President Donald Trump because of his generalized statement about the Charlottesville, Virginia melee last weekend. The social media is also having a blast with it and the satire and comments continue unabated from all around the globe. Many of my fellow Canadians have also chimed in, both pro-Trump and anti-Trump, but mostly anti-Trump. As in the U.S., many are indignant over the fact that POTUS didn't lay the blame squarely on the white supremacists initially.
Well, as one who has a hard time staying out of a good argument, here are my two cents. To begin with, I would remind my countrymen that our Prime Minister also generalized blame and nobody is scourging him publicly. Justin Trudeau tweeted, "We know Canada isn't immune to racist violence & hate. We condemn it in all its forms & send support to the victims in Charlottesville." No specificity there. He essentially said what Donald Trump said, but maybe that's a small point since it isn't his country. By the way, this was reported from the American news site The Hill.
Second, Stephen Colbert, of late night TV fame, joked about Trump referring to the "Alt-Left" saying, "There is no Alt-Left". Ha, ha, big joke, audience laughs on cue. Well, actually, there is an Alt-Left. It's called AntiFa (Anti-Fascists). They are violent and they were in Charlottesville. Witnesses of this are many including New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg.
Third, Colbert joked about Trump favouring the anti-Semites in the crowd. A couple of things on this. Trump is no tacit anti-Semite and is no friend of the Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville or elsewhere. This was proven by white supremacist Chris Cantwell who criticized Trump for giving his daughter to a Jew and later referred to Trump's son-in-law as that "Kushner bastard". Also, have you ever heard of BDS? It's an international organization that is fiercely anti-Israel (motivated by anti-Semitism) and there are bases in Canada, the U.S. and many other countries. The group was even endorsed here by the Green Party of Canada, though that party's leader, Elizabeth May, had the good sense to not do that.
To be sure, this issue is bigger than Donald Trump and he was right to say that America has a long history with racism. White supremacy and white privilege have historically been twin American idols. Meanwhile a majority of the American media is doing its level best to discredit the president with the over done questioning, the endless fever-pitch analysis and over the top reaction to his every word on the subject. The coverage has been glib at best. So much for journalistic impartiality.
Neo-Nazis banded together to chant their spew and with assault rifles, hand guns and tiki torches they claimed victimhood. AntiFa saw a bunch of skunks and started kicking them. Now, that was really smart. Rage from all around took over and a young woman lost her life in horrific fashion. Anti-hate protesters later assembled in front of Trump Tower and waved placards telling the president, "New York Hates You!" The hypocrisy of so many on this issue is palpable and it's really too bad that those who profess to condemn hate only ever see it in the people they don't like.
To be sure, the Trump administration has big problems and rage against the president seems to be all the rage. I think people of all political stripes need to look into their own hearts and honestly assess why they are so angry. Then I think we would all do well to re-read the story of The Good Samaritan and be reminded that true loving demands that we get over and rise above ourselves.
"You were made by God and you were made for God; until you understand that, your life is never going to make sense." Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church.
