January 20th commemorated a momentous event. Every four years on January 20th in the United States, a new President is formally admitted into their position. However, this marked one of the most divisive and controversial elections fresh in people’s minds. “Hillary Clinton amassed nearly 66 million votes against Trump—the largest total ever for a losing candidate.” Though there has been known cases where the popular vote has exceeded that of the electoral votes, Trump has also brought questionable material to the table of the United States. He will be one of the first president who has no political background in addition to his extreme remarks like his proposal of a grander wall along the U.S./Mexico border with Mexico shouldering the cost, announce withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership on day one, promise to move 2 million “criminal aliens” out of the country and religious intolerance towards some religion groups like Muslims have left Americans very divided. Aside from all of this, his speech delivery has been very similar to that of his candid, normal language, but what particular phrases are an indication of the future events that may ensue in America?
First and foremost, he states that, “we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.” Trump has borderline that of a previous political group in history, a group that encompassed a lot of bluntly said poor, rural White Americans: the People (Populist) Party. It is evident through his many “Make America Great Again” merchandise that he hopes to advocate for all Americans and make decisions on the basis of their opinions but he has yet to show evidence of such. For example, he claims that “a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have born the cost.” President Trump is directly apart of the 1% he has mentioned, and he still has in place Trump Tower and other corporations under his name. To further complicate matters, Trump still hasn’t released his tax returns as many of his present supporters have cried out in the past for Barack Obama to release his birth certificate. The president’s global business enterprise remains an invitation to corruption.
Trump then goes on to claim that America’s “education system [is] flush[ed] with cash.” Trump’s pick for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos has proposals of otherwise that may facilitate an education system with a decline in performance: a push for school choice and a free market for charter schools. School choice, according to edchoice.org, “allows public education funds to follow students to the schools or services that best fit their needs.” While attractive sounding in words, school choice causes students to be seen as commodities which in turn causes schools to not provide the best quality in education but appearance such as providing students with toys and commercial items instead of a thought-out curriculum. School choice and charter schools will only make the influx of cash and corruption in our education system increase.
He then goes on to claim that “the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.” Contrary to this statement, the nation has seen other statistics. In a 2015 study conducted by the Brennan Center of Justice, “the national crime rate is about half of what it was at its height in 1991. Violent crime has fallen by 51 percent since 1991, and property crime by 43 percent.” In addition, Barack Obama and his administration have worked tirelessly to reduce the negative stigma associated with drugs with the aims of “treat[ing] drugs more as a public health issue than a punitive criminal justice undertaking.” The 2015 Monitoring the Future survey (MTF) shows decreasing use of a number of substances, including cigarettes, alcohol, prescription opioid pain relievers, and synthetic cannabinoids (“synthetic marijuana”).
“We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.” Islam is very subjective, and what person can be interpreted as partaking in a particular form categorized as radical Islam? This statement alone foreshadows a very divisive nature in America as the People against Muslims with prejudices and wariness on Muslims just on the basis of appearance. It does not help at all that he quotes the Bible saying, “The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.” I am a Catholic myself, and I can realize that there is an imposed balance between church and state. What dictates that the words of the Bibles should be a reference to guide a population of people? Asides from millions following the teachings of the Christian faith, what upholds this particular religion dominant and imposed in America? How can the people of the United States live in unity if Donald Trump sets up the scene of hostility towards Muslims? If the Bible preaches love, how can we not be accepting of other religions?
Donald Trump has struck a chord in our nation and has engendered waves of grief and worry for our future but we must keep in mind that a person cannot enact policies against the majority of Americans without backlash or corrections. It is evident by the many politicians that did not show up to his inauguration like Rep. John Lewis, former Florida gov. Jeb Bush, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Jared Huffman, and the list goes on. These politicians will be fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens, those of immigrants, other religions, etc.
We have yet to know what will come out of Donald Trump’s four year term but America must remember to keep hopes in their heats. Aziz Ansari, a Muslim-American, delivered a encouraging and well-said monologue on SNL and his last words are reassuring and promising for the future on
“If you look at our country’s history,” he said, “change doesn’t come from presidents. Change comes from large groups of angry people — and if day one is any indication, you are part of the largest group of angry people I have ever seen. Good luck.”
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