I admit it. I have been stumped by Trump. Why has this joke not gone away? My reading came together this morning with an editorial by Charles Krauthammer, and a Psychology Today article posted by a former teacher colleague of mine I greatly respect. The disregard for thinking deeply, along with the rise of bullies who shout the loudest on social media goes a long way to explain the Trump phenomenon.
The solution to the Donald Problem is education. It is NOT a quick fix, and apparently it is too late to save us from Trump. Only Hillary or Bernie can do that right now. Ultimately our saviours will be our teachers. If we can stop burdening them with senseless testing requirements, there will be time to teach students the deep reading and analytical skills they will need in this complex world. We will have time to teach them how to debate with their intellect and not the volume of their voices.
The article by Charles Krauthammer supports the ideas expressed in the Psychology Today article. In the editorial Krauthammer explains why so many Evangelical conservatives support Trump, even though it is obvious to ANYONE who has EVER attended a Christian church regularly, that Trump is NOT an Evangelical….or even a serious Christian. What he IS, is a loud-mouthed bully who gets his way by being the most aggressive. People are scared and think this is the only way to be safe in a world increasingly run by bullies. It is easier to have a bodyguard than to find a way for people with differing opinions to live together in peace, treating each other with respect.
We DO have a choice. We can resist the Trumps of this world, or we can bow down and pay them the protection money and power they are trying to extort. Which will it be?