(Cartoon image is by David Fitzsimmons in the Arizona Daily Star.)Hundreds of white supremacists and other racists took to the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday. It was the largest turnout in favor of racism in decades in this country -- and shows the racists are becoming much bolder since the election of Trump.
There was violence, and at least one terrorist act (as a racist barreled his car into anti-racist demonstrators). Donald Trump, after waiting most of the day, finally made some remarks generally condemning "hate" and "violence". What he did not do was to specifically condemn racism or the burgeoning white supremacist movement, or even mention the terrorist act. And because of that, I believe he fell far short of what he needed to do as the country's leader.
His failure to speak out boldly against racism, either during his campaign or after becoming president, has encouraged the white supremacists to once again take their sick message to the streets. And his picking a white supremacist to be a close advisor, and picking a known racist to be Attorney General, have given the racists even more encouragement. They believe they have a friend in the White House, and that there perverted view of how things should be might once again become the predominant view in this country.
I think they are wrong, but Trump's failure to condemn racism has made it harder for decent Americans to help the country to progress. Why won't he condemn racism? Is it because of his own racist past? Is he still a closet racist? Does he approve of the growing white supremacist movement?
I think the answer to those questions has to sadly be YES. We have a racist inhabiting the White House. I wish it wasn't true, but I have seen no evidence to the contrary.
