Say his name in the south and applause burst like shells raining on the battlefield. Many cheer, some holler and a few hoot: “Don-ald Trump! Don-ald Trump!”….
The modern Rebel Yell….
At a recent high school graduation in Kentucky, the valedictorian recited the obligatory “inspirational” quotation. Rather than attributing it to its author, President Obama, he credited Donald Trump (valedictorians have always been well known for their snark). Those gathered to (ironically) celebrate basic education cheered and applauded – but quickly quieted after the speaker told them who really said the words.
That a Kentucky crowd doesn’t like Obama isn’t surprising. It isn’t even interesting. What strikes me, however, continues to be the cheers and chants that follow Trump wherever he goes. That isn’t interesting so much as haunting. (My nightmares are crowds of people, pumping their fists and chanting “Don-ald Trump! Don-ald Trump! Don-ald Trump!”….)
Who cheers quotations? Seriously? Is that not notably odd?
This student could have quoted Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, FDR, Reagan… and I guarantee you the crowd would not have burst into bobblehead cheering mode. Cheering presidential quotations isn’t a common human reaction – in Kentucky or any other state. But “Donald J. Trump” means something different. It’s not just a name – it’s the rebel yell of the American Confederacy.
Donald Trump = Rebel Yell
What was the intent of the rebel yell? To terrify the soldiers on the other side. Check: by that purpose, I think a crowd of Kentuckians chanting “Don-ald Trump!’ is more effective at scaring “the enemy” than the original rebel yell of the Civil War.
The rebel yell was also intended to embolden confederate soldiers during an attack. Check: yes, we have plenty of evidence showing that “Don-ald Trump!” emboldens confederate-minded soldiers; so much so that most don’t bother wearing their hoods anymore.
Donald Trump’s rhetoric brings out the worst of America, and his name makes them want to fight. That is a harsh reality that non-supporters need to address prior to, for example, entertaining the idea of impeachment proceedings.
It’s clear how much the political left underestimates the danger of die-hard Trump supporters. Their write-off attitude lost democrats the 2016 election, jeopardizes the 2018 mid-terms, and lords only know what might explode if democrats actually try to remove Trump from office in the future.
There’s a reason republicans in Congress aren’t lifting a finger to stop Trump’s obliteration of democratic norms: because they are terrified of Trump supporters. Republican politicians are terrified for good reason: they know Trump voters, whereas democrats only scoff at them from afar. Advice for democrats: learn from your republican colleagues – there’s more to it than simple re-election.
If democrats want to get rid of Trump, they first need to understand the source of republican fear and have a plan to deal with the aftermath. If the don’t, getting rid of President Trump will be very, very ugly…. and all democrats will have when the dust settles is yet another failure, another Elegy, and another 4 years of President Donald J. Trump.
Published: by | Updated: 06-04-2018 17:03:19
