The Need for a Unifying Nationalism to Save Our American Democracy
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Our American democracy is at risk.
It is being threatened from without by interventions such as the “sweeping and systematic interference” by Russia in the 2016 presidential election. It is being threatened from within by the pseudo form of “nationalism” being promoted by President Donald Trump.
Trump first proudly pronounced himself a nationalist in October of 2018 at a rally for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (D-TX). Trump’s proclamation at that time evoked a firestorm of criticism from many knowledgeable observers and commentators who felt it could be a dog whistle to his base, signifying and reinforcing his commitment to a discriminatory and exclusionary United States. In other words, they believed he might be espousing white nationalism
Trump’s fireworks in this past month of July confirmed those suspicions. Some of those July fireworks were set off for Trump, some by him, and some because of him. They began on the 4th of July when Trump held an alternative “rally” in Washington DC in front of the Lincoln Memorial at one end of the mall, ostensibly as a Salute to America. This first-of-its-kind event, featuring Trump speaking for nearly an hour, and fly-bys from all the branches of the military, was attended primarily by Trump supporters — many in MAGA red hats. By contrast, the traditional celebration hosted by John Stamos, featuring over one dozen performances and a large, diverse, and participatory audience, was held immediately after the Trump celebration at the other end of the mall.
In mid-July, Trump sent out “racist” tweets in which he said that four Democratic women of color in the U.S. Congress (called the Squad) should go back to their countries of origin. This was followed by a campaign rally in North Carolina at which Trump supporters chanted “send her back” after he made disparaging and attacking remarks about one of the Congresswomen, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.
Immediately after that rally, Trump initially said he tried to stop or speak over those chanting. After video footage proved this not to be the case, and he had a little time to reflect upon it, as he is prone to do, Trump changed his mind and tune, tweeting out more offensive remarks about the…
