Is It a Coincidence?

Is it a coincidence that since the electoral college gave Donald Trump the office of POTUS, that there has been marked increase in hate speech and hate crimes? Well, here is a small slice of numbers that cannot be denied. During 2017, the Jewish Defense League recorded a 30% increase in the number of reported hate related incidents against Jews. That is the largest increase in the history of our nation. Those included everything from swastikas being painted on buildings, school busses, homes and businesses to the killing of Jews in their own temple during a time of worship. 

During 2017, the FBI recorded a 57% increase in the number of  reported hate related incidents against Jews. Of course, among the most public, most notable was the tiki torch march that took place in Charlottesville the night before the demonstrations during which a car was driven into the crowd, killing a young woman. We all recall the scene of those young men with white shirts and sleeves rolled up, carrying torches and chanting, ”Jews will not replace us - Jews will not replace us”. Yes, that happened in our time in our nation. That followed Donald Trump sharing his opinion in reference to that hate march, by saying, “I’m sure there are good people on both sides”. 


It is beyond me to find any good in the hateful things that were said during that march or since. Donald Trump has, of course, never offered any detail about what “good “ he saw or heard in that torch march. Those two brief sets of numbers are only a small example of the of hate filled language and acts that have permeated our nation in the last two years. Without too much effort each of us can recall a hateful, hurtful example of hate speech and acts that we have heard of and witnessed in our nation in the last two years. 

Is it a coincidence that all this has occurred since the electoral college gave Donald Trump POTUS? I think not. He uses his bully pulpit to bully anyone with whom he disagrees, any nation he disagrees with. He surely is interpreting his bully pulpit literally and using it to bully people. Is it a coincidence that his style of governing is compared to that of Adolph Hitler?

History is clear on this matter. In fact, any dictator or strongman who takes power, however he takes power, uses the bully pulpit to attack and undermine his enemies. Is it a coincidence that each of those despots first attack the media?  The history record is so clear on this point.  

Such reckless and narcissistic communication has stirred the pot of heightened, hysterical rhetoric throughout our nation.  That in turn. has been taken literally...taken as permission for other small-minded, weak willed, frightened, bullies to follow that example with more hate speech and horrible acts. The Jews who survived Hitler’s horrors have adopted the saying, "Never again" as a way of preventing such unspeakable atrocities from ever taking place again. However, just as in the 40’s, if good people simple step aside, simply brush off the gross behavior of the hateful bullies, sad to say it could happen again.  

Is it a coincidence that all of these thoughts, this hate speech, the horrid acts of hate filled violence are happening in such measurable numbers since the bully pulpit has been used to bully people? I think not. I for one do not want to be one of those “good people” who did nothing and simply brush off the hate speech, however it is flowered and delivered. I for one do not regard this as politics as usual. Are you one of those kind of good people? I hope not.