Now is the time to ensure American values are upheld
As the day administration changes in Washington, D.C. approaches, there is a sense of unease among many minorities from Muslim Americans to Hispanic Americans and many more. The challenge members of minority groups is to control their anxiety, remain vigilant while still going about leading a normal day to day life.
One of our friends advised us that we should keep our passports current and have cash handy to escape when the Volkssturm come knocking on the door. This friend was reacting to a spike in racist rhetoric on social media. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports a large increase in mostly verbal incidents. I wanted to say “not in our country” but I wonder if can I be sure that this would not happen.
It has been argued that Donald Trump's election rhetoric may have been empty bombast. At the least he demonstrated that he can make reckless statements with no regard for their consequences. Whenever his campaign stumbled, he raced to the bottom and made prejudicial remarks about one group or another. To characterize the rhetoric as mere election bluster would be Pollyannish.
True he appears to have backed off many of his positions, but what is chilling is that his initial appointees reflect his election rhetoric. Many of his core nominees are not just conservative — which would be normal in any election where there is a transfer of power from one party to another — but are known to have espoused fringe ideologies bordering on neo-fascist, Islamophobic, racist and in favor of torture.
If Trump is unable to fulfill his grandiose promises and his popularity slips, he may go back to the same fear mongering that he resorted to boost his campaign. Except that with the power of the office at his disposal and the group of folks around him it may not be mere words.
We have the constitution, courts and just maybe the conventional media to block his actions — if they are deemed illegal — but there is no easy antidote for bigotry. With rare exceptions, it is unlikely most Republicans will take a stance against his policies. There is the disturbing spectacle of Republicans, both in and out of power, falling over each other to pay obeisance to the President elect. Even Mitt Romney, who called him a “phony and fraud,” was standing in line for a position in his cabinet. It is hard to detect even the glimmer of a principled stand.
This behavior of the Republican party is rapidly leading to the normalization of the abnormal. As has been pointed out by pundits, this is a more insidious danger than open racism.
Our country's much deserved exceptionalism is because of the strong underpinnings of fairness, and inclusiveness and not because of power or wealth.
Minorities of all stripes have felt they could have a seat at the table if they try hard enough, an assurance to live in security and self-confidence that they can practice their faith without interference. All of this is now at risk.
Bigotry did not start with Trump, and it will not end when he leaves office. The arc of racism and its acolytes in our country is of a slow decline. In the short term, there will be a spike but that too should pass. There is always hope, although right now hope is on life support. In most recent surveys the younger generation is much more accepting and open minded than their parents on issue of race, color, sexual preference and more. This included even the younger evangelicals. That is where most observers see the hope for our country.
Most folks who voted for Trump were voting for jobs and I suspect are not bigots. But they are guilty of ignoring racism.
If his administration discriminates against the civil rights of their fellow citizens, they have the greatest responsibility to stand up to it. Speaking truth to authority is an American tradition.
Those who did not vote at all, approximately 45 percent of all eligible voters, should know their votes would have counted. They must shake off their lethargy and participate in the social and political life of our country.
The individuals and groups so rudely maligned by Trump during the campaign are as patriotic as any other citizen.
My own family, which has given all to it, is just one of many millions to do so. We make the fabric of our society more rich and colorful. We will not permit anyone to turn us in to second-class citizens.
My response to our friend would be not to flee, but to stay and fight. There is a lot to fight for to ensure America remains the inclusive, fair minded and compassionate nation it has been.
• Javeed Akhter is a physician and freelance writer from Oak Brook.