The Underbelly of America

Normally when you think about the underbelly of society you visualize people on skid row, the homeless, the poor, drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals of various sorts, sex offenders. You get the picture. Yes, that's where people's minds seem to go in this world of class division. Recently though, I've been seeing things differently.

I've spent a lot of time trying to understand Donald Trump and the attraction he seems to garner from so many people. I've watched his rallies and listened to his rhetoric and rants. I've watched the people listening and conversed with his supporters in coffee shops and at various gatherings but I've always been left not knowing, not understanding. Even now I'm sure I don't totally get it but I have come to a few conclusions.

It strikes me that Donald Trump really is a cult leader and he knows this very well. He knows it and uses it in the manipulation of his followers, the press and his opponents. We all fall for it every time. First and foremost he sees himself as an entertainer. He tells bad jokes, does lousy imitations and goofs off making fun of everyone. He acts like an Elvis impersonator in a suit and without the songs. Many in his audience love it. They laugh, cheer, poke each other and give affirmative nods with a holler thrown in for good measure. It seems to be all in good fun. The second thing he does is to play the victim. He usually does this very well. He's able to point to the press or the democrats or the elites, whomever he can get the most out of in his quest for sympathy from his followers. Nothing, absolutely nothing is his fault. It's always someone else with Obama at the top of the list. It includes everyone though, sometimes even his innermost staff or political allies. And with his victimhood come enemies. The list of these is for him to keep and for his supporters to memorize.

The worst though is yet to come. It really is the underbelly of society and, sad to say, America. Donald Trump says the things that people have wanted to say all their lives. He says the things that people's mothers told them never to say. He says things that nuns and preachers and teachers taught people over the years never to say or do. He blurts out hatred, racism and phobic comments that deep down in people's souls, they have been yearning to get out. He can rant against the poor, people with disabilities, religions and cultures, and there are people who cheer for what's in their hearts. There are people who want desperately to say the same things and they've wanted to for years. Cheering and defending him are the next best thing but the line is very thin.

Imagine where we are. We have people dying due to poor planning and mismanagement of the federal government. We have doctors and nurses and janitors crying for help with equipment and supplies as they care for the sick. We have elders being identified as expendable and Asian American brothers and sisters being spat on. We have Governors and Mayors being told they won't get help unless they show appreciation to Donald Trump. Yes, we have all of these appalling things happening that our mothers and fathers, nuns, preachers and teachers told us never to say or do. This is the real underbelly of America. I have to hope that we're better than this.