How Trump deals with criticism or anyone in power who dares to challenge his bad behavior is a pattern that is unfolding before our very eyes. Donald Trump turns virtuous values into evils, and those who call him out for his evil acts are human scum. This would be a great case study of demagoguery and defensive oratory of a historical figure. Still, the impact is more than just an interesting exercise in recognizing a deviant personality when we see one.It is more than just a skill of turning lemons into lemonade. On display for the world to see is how Trump deals with criticism and attacks by those who oppose him. The danger it poses is it inspires others to go and do likewise, giving them cover and rationale for being twisted, too.
There are many examples of how Donald Trump turns virtues into evils as a way to defend his bad behavior. Democracy is evil; dictatorships are good. Patriots are those who died in defense of our country's freedom, but now they are suckers and losers. Instead, patriots to Trump are those imprisoned on January 6 in support of Trump. Those accused of crimes were once called defendants; when he is accused of a crime, Trump is a victim who ought to be immune from prosecution for crimes committed while in office. For those who once saw decency as moral and ethical behavior, Trump touts his indecent behavior as an asset of an alpha male or asks voters to ignore it. Those elected or appointed to political office were once called public servants on behalf of constituents or the public to which they provided a service and represented their interests. Now, they should be in service to him and his self-serving and self-aggrandizing priorities as president.
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Some examples of how Trump uses making virtues out of evils to defend his self-serving interest and amassing of personal power:
Democracy is evil; dictatorships are ideal. In Trump's call to action, we hear that we should be more like Russia and China, as should leader Trump. They get stuff done effectively on behalf of their leaders' interests. (This means in Trump's interest and power as he sees fit that serves himself.)
Patriots were those who sacrificed for loyalty to an ideal; now, patriots are those who are loyal to Trump. Patriots once fought so our country could be free from foreign domination and the tyranny of a king and govern itself in ways that are fair to the standards we decided ourselves. Now, in Trump's twisted mind, a patriot is one who fights to protect Boss Trump's power, such as those who rioted on January 6. Those military who died in service to America are suckers and losers. who got nothing out of it for themselves. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/john-kelly-confirms-trump-privately-disparaged-us-service-members-vete-rcna118543
Those accused of breaking the law were once called defendants. Now, Trump calls himself a victim who should be immune from being accused of a crime committed while in office.
What was once considered decent is now a weakness, and indency is, to Trump followers, a virtue or irrelevant., an asset of a macho alpha male to be admired by those yearning to be one. Three trophy wives, porn stars and playboy bunnies on the side, and an expert in unethical business dealings that courts define as fraud. https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2024/04/is-decency-now-on-ballot.html Once presidents were someone to admire, and even to be one, but no longer. I speculate those who admire Trump themselves and consider themselves god-fearing churchgoers would not like their own children to grow up to be like him.
Those in politics were once called public servants because they were supposed to serve the interests of those who elected them. Now with Project 2025 waiting in the wings for Trump's re-election, the servants would be there to serve Trump. https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2024/03/why-trump-only-needs-to-be-dictator-on.html Trump makes service to himself and the accumulation of power to himself the virtue, the goal to which others must also be loyal. Trump is the ultimate egomaniac. Trump is stuck on himself and then keeps repeating it in various forms just in case you miss the point the first time. He did that on Memorial Day, which was supposed to honor those who gave their lives in service to an ideal. Trump clearly believed the Memorial should focus on him, the king of self-serving, and anyone who does not serve him is scum, too. Exhibit # 1 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4687907-donald-trump-joe-biden-judges-legaTrump's twisted personality was on display this Memorial Day.
For the record a graduation address delivered by Ken Burns puts this into a macro perspective, the antidote to the Trump's memorial day address: Ken Burns, H’24 Keynote Address to Brandeis University's 2024 Graduates (youtube.com)
"There is no real choice this November. There is only the perpetuation, however flawed and feeble you might perceive it, of our fragile 249-year-old experiment or the entropy that will engulf and destroy us if we take the other route. When, as Mercy Otis Warren would say, "The checks of conscience are thrown aside and a deformed picture of the soul is revealed." The presumptive Republican nominee is the opioid of all opioids, an easy cure for what some believe is the solution to our myriad pains and problems. When in fact with him, you end up re-enslaved with an even bigger problem, a worse affliction and addiction, "a bigger delusion", James Baldwin would say, the author and finisher of our national existence, our national suicide as Mr. Lincoln prophesies. Do not be seduced by easy equalization. There is nothing equal about this equation. We are at an existential crossroads in our political and civic lives. This is a choice that could not be clearer."
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