I have not posted in some time as I have been decompressing from my rather single-minded focus on the travesty of Donald Trump for such a long time. As I write this, it is December 6, 2020 and although he is still in the White House and I do not expect him to play nice and go quietly and with class as every other president has done, his days are numbered. However, there is an effort by his apologists and supporters to rewrite the history that has been his presidency to put him in a light that paints him in political and/or human terms.
That is their perception but it not the reality. One can argue that ones perception is ones reality. I can see that but not when their actions, based on false facts, can and do influence and affect others. What do I consider the difference between perception and reality. I guess I would say that perception would be what they think happened or is happening and reality are the cold hard facts that prove what did or is happening.
Here are a couple of quick specifics:
I saw a Facebook post by someone who posted that Trump stood up to terrorists and extreme government leaders. When questioned by multiple counter-posters, she became vague. I did not wonder as there are no darned examples on her claim; just her perception. Quite the contrary, two of our biggest potential adversaries, Vladimir Putin (Russia) and Kim Jong Un (North Korea), were treated by Trump as the best of friends. Not the best advocacy for standing up to extremists.
Another person told my wife that no-one mentions all of the good things that Trump accomplished. Now that gets into some arcane issues. I did not have a chance to quiz the person. Quite frankly, after some thought, I did not need to. I am not going to put words in this person’s mouth and try to paint her with a racist or xenophobic agenda; nor am I going to, as I suspect, assume that she had no specifics at all and was looking to express a “feel good” attitude about Trump for whatever reason as told to her by someone else.
Regardless, whatever either one of these people perceived as accomplishments of Trump were their perception. And, they have nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with my absolute disdain for both Trump and those who support him.
I will tell you why. Specifically, they are talking about politics. I could care less about Trump’s politics when I am talking about the POS that he is. While I would have fought against his administration tooth-and-nail on his politics, it would not have been reason for me to consider him an absolute travesty for America that he definitely is. And that is not perception; that is reality. Here are some reality points:
He is an abject liar. I remember my father saying about someone that they would lie even when they didn’t need to just to keep his hand in. This is Trump. He lies for the express purpose to either promote himself or denigrate others.
His misogyny, xenophobia, and racism has fueled his actions and supported terrible actions by like-minded scum ever since he has held office.
He is ready and willing to make fun of people with disabilities and infirmities. A leader should not do this. Definitely, a President should not do this.
His unwillingness to accept the reality of his defeat in order to cast the country in turmoil, raise money for personal use, and fuel division within the country is beneath the office.
If there is any defense for his actions is that he seems to be suffering for Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is a mental disease that could be treated but does not bode well with a position of leadership. This particular problem may, in affect cause all of the other problem we see emanating from his administration.
So here is the issue, as I see it:
The facts support my contention. The people who continue to support Trump have to ignore and explain away those facts in order to build their perception of him as a leader. That they can do so keeps me from taking them seriously and from considering their opinions regarding anything.
Quite frankly, until there is an understanding that this is about the failings of a extremely flawed individual who is unfit to lead, regardless of political point of view or agenda, there will be a divide in this country that will not go away.
