The Real Reason

I’ve spent a lot of time, off and on, considering the reactions of Trump supporters to criticism of their leader. I have no respect, but do have understanding, of those who are overtly racist and acknowledge it. They, at least, can look in the mirror and understand what they see. Are they un-American? I think so. Are they dangerous? Can you say Dylan Roof? But they are truthful, however dire and heinous their truth is.  

        I’m much more troubled by those who hide whatever their real motivation may be behind the flag labeled “patriotism.” As an example, critics of Trump are chastised for being “disloyal” or “unpatriotic” or “disrespectful” of the President. Some will cite all three. If they conflate the man with the office and assume both deserve the same respect, then they are either 1: sadly misguided, or 2: blindly hypocritical. The first error is that there is no organization in a free society where the office confers a legal obligation for personal respect, no matter how amoral the holder.

        Most of us have at least once worked in an organization under the command or supervision of someone either incompetent or unable to relate to subordinates. This may be a hated supervisor who is obeyed because the job requires it, yet massively disliked by employees. Some of us, myself notably, have had to be the filter between the areshole in charge and those who must accomplish the organizational mission. To a great extent this is the difference between management and leadership. Managers manipulate people and material. Leaders provide vision and encouragement. Good leaders lift people up, poor ones suppress them. Good leaders are comfortable in one on one personal situations, poor leaders operate like gravity - macroscopically and at distance.   The revolving door in the Trump administration, marked by all the “acting” heads of departments, because he hasn’t been able to confirm new ones, would seem to indicate that Trump’s is the latter style. Comments from staunch Republicans leaving the administration via resignation supports this theory. The inability to process all this very public and visible data and activity is representative of the second sycophant possibility - blind obedience based on some deep and unspoken connection reflecting private refusal to acknowledge the visible carnage.  

        So, here’s my “self-test” for Trumpists to determine where you really stand. Take a moment to reflect on how irate you were when Michelle Obama was criticized for caring about how school kids ate. Recall how mad and empathetic you were when the two Obama daughters were slandered and subjected to critics for their clothing choices. Reflect on all the times someone said slanderous things about President Barack Obama and he responded as a bully with public temper and/or twitter tantrums. Can’t think of any? Me either. 

         If you still want to play the “respect card”, then here’s the final balance. Respect cannot be commanded or legislated. It is earned, and right now Trump’s account is empty. If you can’t see that, then look in the mirror and meet the problem face to face, because if you still support this man’s actions or public performances, there is something deeper, darker, and unacknowledged at work.