A series of essays.....
.....as seen through my eyes!
By: Jacqueline E. Hughes
Have you noticed as you watch conservatives speak on
news stations, with the exception of Fox News, how the majority of Republicans
and their supporters proceed to talk over the interviewer and other guests to
such a degree that comprehending the conversation is nearly impossible? Has
extreme repetition of words and not allowing the opinions of others into the
conversation become the norm by which we are being convinced to cooperate with
this current administration?
Well, after this long 'week of crazy,' the concept of
the manipulation of our country's beliefs and her people, by various formats and
ideologies, has become increasingly clear to most of us.
The dynamic of the culture in this country has changed
dramatically. We can't just disagree with one another any more. If a person
disagrees with someone else, he/she must also call them a liar and a phony. We
are witnessing people being divided by religion, cultural beliefs, and
backgrounds whether they were born here or living here with the hopes of
citizenship. And, we are being manipulated into believing that diversity is
undesirable as opposed to being, fundamentally, basic in making our country
stronger.
To manipulate someone or something means to control them
in a skillful manner. I may be giving way too much credit to this new
administration by the use of the term skillful. However, their manipulation has
reared its ugly head in several predominant political ways over this past 'week
of crazy,' and, more than likely, will continue for as long as they can get away
with it.
I have contended for quite some time that Trump and his
supporters have been doing all that they could to follow through on their
initiative of 'The Dumbing-Up of America.' Unfortunately, they have succeeded in
far too many ways, already.
A well educated nation is a strong nation with people
who understand, defend, and are capable of transferring their intelligent
ideologies along to other countries thus creating a cohesive union of nations.
This administration is being led by a politician guided by expediency rather
than principle with an inclination towards methods that are advantageous rather
than fair or just. He has chosen many of his Cabinet appointees because they
hold opposite views from what each position stands for or have no worldly idea
of what a particular post is all about in the first place.....proving my
point.
One of the most disturbing of these appointees is Betsy
DeVos of Michigan. As a political donor and lobbyist who has spent decades
working to dismantle public education and privatize public school, DeVos has yet
to demonstrate any knowledge of civil rights laws such as the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act. She appears to lack even basic knowledge of
educational practice, which was evidenced in her descriptions of assessment and
accountability measures for students and educators. And yet, she was his choice
to handle the responsibility of protecting our nation’s most vulnerable
students.
Certain members of this administration know that 'The
Dumbing-Up of America' begins with our children and, they are doing the best
that they can to influence this president. If this country fails to grant our
youth the right to achieve their full potential, regardless of their location or
background, we undermine our mission and cause great harm to our public schools
thus greatly effecting the bright and prosperous future of the United States
through the imagination and education of our youth.
Poignantly stated by the National Memo, "Everything
about Donald Trump is about appearances and his fragile ego. Unlike Lincoln, his
agenda shows no promise of elevating above anything but a childish need for
self-validation and a tyrannical need for the accumulation of power." This is
precisely what has concerned many of us for so long now. Like the spoiled child
that he is, he can be and is easily manipulated himself.
To whom do we reasonably contribute the manipulation of
this highly vulnerable president? The answer is conflated with the presence of
Steve Bannon, and his history of white nationalism and agenda of propaganda and
hatred, infused with the documented backing of the Russian leader, Vladimir
Putin.
Bannon is viewed as one of the most influential people
within the White House and his views have been significant in framing the way
that Trump has begun his administration and is believed to have been a co-author of the term 'American Carnage' used in the inaugural speech. Last week,
Bannon, who views the media as the opposition party, told the media to shut-up
and listen for awhile. With Bannon's recent inclusion into the shaking-up of the
National Security Council by downgrading the Joint Chiefs Chairman and inserting
Steve Bannon, political advisor, it has been said that the Joint Chiefs
attendance at security meetings will now be by invitation only. Government
officials have told all of us that in order to hear the truth about anything, we
must only listen to Donald Trump because only he speaks the truth. And, think
about the fact that we have yet to ascertain the full extent of influence on
Trump issued by Putin himself.
Now, with executive orders flying around the White House
as prolifically as paper airplanes decorated with black squiggles made by a
Sharpie pen, never to be seen or read by anyone outside of the Oval Office, the
entire world has been accosted by a blanket ban designed to hurt all Muslims
everywhere! Done in a 'back of the envelope' way, Republicans are demonstrating
their lack of intelligence by initiating their knee-jerk 'reaction policies'
that could ultimately place our own military troops stationed in the war zones
of the Middle East in jeopardy.
This Ban is a set-back on the war on terror and is a
"self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism," says Republican Senators
John McCain and Lindsey Graham. To add insult to injury, some Republicans are
calling the protesters around our nation over the travel ban initiated over the
weekend a "Flash Mob" and that the Left is still crying over their loss in the
November election. This White House has only displayed tendencies that would
harm the welfare of Americans and our troops overseas.
This travel ban against the Muslims was not about
protecting our nation from terrorists. Rather, this ban was about weakening our
country from within.
I have believed for quite some time that this entire
scenario was designed and utterly contrived to make us feel afraid. And, after
this has been accomplished, Trump then rides in on his white horse to protect us
from all of the terrible evil out in the world. This is the plan employed by
this man to display his power and strength; a perfect example of a manipulated
leader attempting to manipulate others. This is how his campaign was run. And
now, using lies and deceit, his administration applies the same rules to their
attempt at running our great nation.
Tom Friedman is a New York Times columnist and author of
his latest book,"Thank You For Being Late," tells us that the threat today is
between the world of order and the world of disorder. "We shouldn't think 'in
the box' or 'out of the box' anymore. We need to think 'without a box.' This is
global chaos and everything is connected with everything else. To lead and
succeed, you have to be able to understand the world. You have to be educated,
you have to read, and you have to know that all things are connected. Nothing is
connected in a Trump world."
A prime example of his total disconnect is when Trump
lopped-off the non-partisan people who were running our infrastructure in the
State Department, pulling our Ambassadors to other countries, and sending their
bosses packing. These are the people who, along with their many other duties,
ensure the protection of the U.S. Government to American citizens, property, and
interests in foreign countries. Is it just stupidity, or is there some form of a
plan by Steve Bannon and the rest to weaken us? Especially after he has been
identified with propaganda and right wing extremists!
Mr. Friedman once wrote of a friend who said that
Americans kick around this country like it is a football when in reality, it is
a Fabergé Egg. You can drop it. You can break it. There's so much at stake for
us. If we grow weak as a country, if we get distracted, and get knocked off our
values, our children will grow up in a fundamentally different world.
In Trump-land, the Republicans are showing a complete
lack of intelligence. They are blaming the mixed messages they are sending out
on a "Hyperventilating Media." They have mocked Senator Chuck Schumer's
teary-eyed statement that the travel ban initiated over the weekend was mean
spirited and un-American and all part of making us feel afraid. The president
said that Senator Schumer's tears were fake and asked who his acting coach was.
Belittling others seems to rank high as standard procedure within this
administration.
I, for one, am becoming exhausted by this 'all about
Fears and never about Facts, Phobia induced' White House! I want action! For me,
if being politically correct means upholding our Constitution, then I am, most
definitely, politically correct!
There are several words in our vocabulary that decidedly
encapsulate how many of us are feeling right now and would help to counteract
the negative emotions felt towards an administration that is serving to weaken
our great nation by sending the world a propaganda message that will serve to
make us less safe and more vulnerable every day. #Solidarity,
#MutualRespectAndUnderstanding, #RespondToBadWithGood, and the most important of
all: #RESIST!!
We must RESIST......
Thank you, Sally Yates, Attorney General of the United
States, for your sacrifice for your country. 'We The People" means All of the
people and you understood this more than anyone in this new
administration ever will.
No one can deny that these last several days will always
be labeled 'A Week of Crazy!'
Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved
