According to Axios: "Donald Trump joins a long list of leaders across at least 78 countries who, since 2000, have left office and been jailed or prosecuted — including in democracies like France, Israel and South Korea.
“In fact, since 1980, around half of the world's countries have had at least one such case, and that's not counting impeachments or coups."
So, odds were, that it was bound to happen here sooner or later. And now it has. We now have a former president that is a CONVICTED FELON. Given Trump's very long list of unscrupulous business practices (now proven in court, twice), no one is surprised.
While it is an embarrassment to our nation, a beautiful thing occurred as well; our democratic rule of law prevailed. Proving that no-one, not even former presidents, are above the law in America.
Trump puts his immoral depravity on display on a daily basis. He is what he is. And more convictions will most likely be coming.
But beyond Trump, my question is this: are all of his MAGA "followers" immoral as well? Logic would say, yes, they are. After all, in their eyes, he can do no wrong, so it must mean that they condone his behavior. This is not a judgment, just a logical conclusion.
However, I would say they're just ignorant. Again, not a judgment, just a logical conclusion. To be ignorant, means you never knew something in the first place. Meaning, they never knew what a want-to-be authoritarian looks like because our country has never had one; but now we do. He wraps himself in the guise of nationalism and promotes a self-centered "America First" platform. And again, 50% of the country is ignorantly mistaking nationalism for patriotism. But make no mistake about it, they are NOT the same. Patriotism is defined as: the love of country, the love of co-patriots. Nationalism is defined as: the policy of advocating the self interests of one's own country exclusively, regardless of effects of a country's actions on other countries.
And even worse, Fox "News,” SuperTalk Radio, and politicians like Mississippi's governor and Republican members of congress, condone and promote Trump's immoral and anti-democratic behavior. They KNOW better. They are not ignorant.
There is an Aesop fable that goes:
"A kind and compassionate woman once found a frozen almost dead snake. She took it home and nursed it back to life. Once better, it turned and bit her. Surprised and hurt, she asked the snake, "why did you bite me?! I saved you from dying?" The snake said, "silly woman, you knew I was a snake.” Like Trump, a snake is what it is whether you are willing to acknowledge it or not.
MAGA followers would be wise to look at Trump the same way ... before he steals their democracy right out from under them.
Camille Wright is a Northsider.
