Monday, January 30, 2017

Valid Criticism or Trump Derangement Syndrome?

Regarding POTUS Donald Trump's statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it has been noted that the words "Jews" and "anti-Semitism" were left out of the 3 paragraph statement. In addition to the Washington Post article linked to above, Mark Shea implies in his blog that this omission is further proof of Trump's own racism and anti-Semitism.

The complete statement follows below:

"It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that we remember and honor the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust. It is impossible to fully fathom the depravity and horror inflicted on innocent people by Nazi terror.

"Yet, we know that in the darkest hours of humanity, light shines the brightest.‎ As we remember those who died, we are deeply grateful to those who risked their lives to save the innocent.


"In the name of the perished, I pledge to do everything in my power throughout my Presidency, and my life, to ensure that the forces of evil never again defeat the powers of good. Together, we will make love and tolerance prevalent throughout the world."


While I admit that Trump's omission of the words "Jews" and "anti-Semitism" does appear odd, I look to the first sentence in the statement -
"It is with a heavy heart and somber mind that we remember and honor the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust. It is impossible to fully fathom the depravity and horror inflicted on innocent people by Nazi terror.

The obvious question for Trump's opponents would be, who is Trump talking about when he mentions "the victims, survivors, heroes of the Holocaust" and "the depravity and horror inflicted on innocent people by Nazi terror"?

If, as his critics maintain, Trump is a racist and anti-Semite, why would he even bother to give a statement regarding the International Holocaust Remembrance Day? The idea that Trump would issue the statement simply because it's expected of him contradicts Trump's normal refusal to do something simply because he is expected to do it.

I suspect that, had Trump's statement had included the words in question, his critics would have claimed that Trump didn't actually write the statement himself.

Look, I am not a Trump supporter, but I suspect that this is mostly another case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.

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