Disclaimer: As of today, I do not support any candidate in this presidential race. I am not even eligible to vote in US elections as I am not its citizen. This article is not a political view on the race itself. Instead, it a perspective on the reactions of the mainstream media and public figures.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump suggested a ban on Muslims entering the US. What followed was a widespread backlash in national and international media against his remarks, which were termed “racist” and “fascist”.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump suggested a ban on Muslims entering the US. What followed was a widespread backlash in national and international media against his remarks, which were termed “racist” and “fascist”.
A couple of days back I read the article on Washington Post and watched the videos in which Trump made these remarks. What he suggested was for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US until the authorities could figure out how to ensure the safety of American citizens while allowing immigrant and non-immigrant travelers into the country.
First of all, what Trump is doing is political posturing in view of the electoral race. Election campaigns are filled with candidates taking extreme stances in order to occupy mediashare and mindshare. This should not be taken too seriously. If Trump were president today, he will most likely not execute such an extreme plan.
Trump’s proposal may not sound as extreme if there were to be a serious escalation in terrorist activity on US soil. Actually, Trump’s proposal has a historical precedent. During world war II, Japanese Americans – including US citizens – were incarcerated as the US feared an attack from imperial Japan. Incarceration of US citizens just because they were of a certain ancestry is a much more extreme step. However, it was deemed a necessary step at that time when the US faced grave dangers during the war.
Basically, desperate times require desperate measures. Today, the US is not in a desperate state. No president, even Trump, will execute an order to ban Muslims. But if there were to be another 9/11 type of attack, be rest assured that at a minimum all refugees will be put on hold. Trump’s remarks were aimed to invoke the worst fears of the public and make himself seem to be the candidate with the strongest will to keep the US safe. I believe he succeeded in doing that. Despite what the mainstream media may portray, the average person would agree with Trump’s views. Not many would tell you so in public due to fear of being viewed as politically incorrect. But if you do a secret ballot, they would vote for Trump on this.
Let me clarify that I am not supporting Trump’s views (Hey, I am sharing this in public and would not want to be politically incorrect, right? :). But his views will resonate well with the average American voter. The media backlash is just an effort by editors and journalists trying to show their political correctness, but it will not deter voters. I expect to see a jump in Trump’s poll numbers following this issue. Let’s see how good my political acumen is :)
