Over the past several weeks, as we delve deeper into the disproportionately dysfunctional world of the upcoming general election. The candidates running in the Republican Party—Donald Trump and Ted Cruz—are turning my country into an international laughing stock. I say “my country” because I still believe in the greatness of the United States of America; I haven’t been dissuaded by the negativity for our culture—or as someone would have us believe, lack thereof—or even by those that slowly erode the very foundation while trying to restore its greatness. Restore, now that’s interesting isn’t it? What ideal is it that we’re trying to restore? Are we referring to reverting to a time where women, minorities, immigrants, and the disabled had little to no rights? Maybe the need is to restore to a time when there was no minimum wage and children often failed to complete even the most basic of educations because they needed to put food on the table for the entire family? Exactly what do these politicians mean to restore?
Unfortunately, what I see happening is not progress, but devolution. The current GOP candidates are effectively attempting to turn back the hands of time to an era where anyone that did not fit into the box of white male was an outsider and required realignment. Frontrunner Donald Trump has absolutely no clue what it takes to lead this country and although he claims to want to restore our nation to a better time—I’m not sure what “time” he’s referring to, maybe he misses breadlines—what he’s succeeding to do is set us back 50 years. He is a self-centered, narcissistic, hate monger, and I do not want him running MY country. Supporting Trump is akin to saying that we are willingly entering a time when being different justifies the bullseye he is placing on population segment’s backs. His blatant disrespect and lack of understanding in areas of national concern (hot button topics involving women’s rights, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and freedoms already granted by the Constitution) and international concern (trade embargoes and agreements with Iran, Cuba, and North Korea; terrorism; and overall international relations) are embarrassing. When the citizens of the country that he wants to rule and “restore” are more knowledgeable about these issues then him, one can’t help but see overwhelming doubt at his competency to fulfill the role.
In all honesty, this man represents everything that is wrong with America. It absolutely stuns me to see the effect that he’s had on the country. It seems that every time the primary is in his favor, it’s due to his skill as a politician (really?) or that he has his ear on the pulse of the nation, but when the results favor the opponent, another embarrassment—Seriously? Has the Republican Party just given up?—then they must be cheating. It’s an election, probably the most humiliating in recent history, and it would appear that the Republican candidate has no concept of the inner workings—or any workings—of our government including how the Constitution works, protected classes, discrimination, or any number of other concepts that have already been challenged and rules established.
If one of these two clowns want to lead this country, then they need to step up their game and stop using their perceived power to alienate major segments of the population. So far, each campaign has successfully distanced themselves from the LGBTQ community, immigrants and aliens (regardless of immigration status), entire religious groups (specifically Muslims), and women. Any member of one or more of these groups that still elects to vote for either of these two socially dysfunctional excuses for human beings is doing themselves and the rest of the country a monumental disservice. When the very basis of your campaign involves restoration, but at the core you project nothing but ignorance and hatred, you have no right running this country.
This is my country. I’m proud to call myself an American, but I have great concern for the greatness of my country’s future.