Both George Washington and Donald Trump are/were rich, white males; so both are arrogant, bigoted billionaires. George and Martha Washington owned around 300 slaves; they were among the wealthiest persons in the 13 colonies. In today's terms, probably billionaires. Though mythology has it that George was a humble person who put his country first, I am skeptical that any bigoted billionaire could be anything other than arrogant.
Thomas Jefferson, another slaveowner who, had he managed his financial affairs better, might have been another billionaire. As it was, he was a millionaire; and an arrogant, bigoted one; likely also a rapiost.
So much for high standards for the prestigious job of president.
This article is stimulated by 90 years of living in America, 35 years living in poor, black communities. Plus Trump's recent election, and three recent articles in The Atlantic. First two quotations are from "The Accidental Patriot," by Caitlin Fritz, Dec. 2016:
"Among the Iroquois, George Washington earned the name 'Town Destroyer'; the father of one country had ordered the devastation of another [country]."
"Thomas Jefferson presidency, which helped transform the tempestuous [Indian] West into a national blessing, a source of revenue and votes and geographical power." In other words, westward expansion---conquering, killing and stealing Indian land---ethnocentrism/oppression now proudly symbolized by the St. Louis Arch.
The revered founding fathers really were a bunch of evil, rich, white males; Trump's cabinet will also be loaded with rich, white males. The founding fathers treated women, the poor, Native Americans and African Americans as second class citizens. I predict much the same from a Trump administration; or a repeat of the Reagan administration where racial profiling and the wealth gap exploded.
In the January 2017 issue of The Atlantic, two of my favorite writers, Peter Beinart and Ta-Nehisi Coates, have written two fine articles. Coates: "My President Was Black," Beinart: "Glenn Beck's Regrets."
From Beinart: "Many Americans revere the Constitution. Mormons like Beck consider it sacred."
The truth: The Constitution is flawed; for one thing. it legitimated black inferiority, slavery. It was written by rich, white males who seldom practiced what they preached. Contrary to Lincoln's eloquent words, a government truly of the people, by the people, and for the people never has existed. It has been a government of the elite, by the elite and for the elite.
Beinart writes: "Beck, in fact, invented some of Trump's most disturbing themes. . . . 'I played a role, unfortunately, in helping tear the country apart.' He told me that now that America has 'hit the iceberg', he wants to help heal it. . . . it may be too late."
Coates writes: "I still want Obama to be right. I still would like to fold myself into the dream. [Since Trump's election], this will not be possible."
The election, the inauguration, of President Obama "defied despair, despised [American] history." But in November 2016, the despair was back.
American has two broad themes running through its history: ethnocentric/oppression and freedom/justice. The optimists highlight freedom/justice; the pessimists, ethnocentrism/oppression. In spite of pervasive ethnocentric/oppression, Obama remains an optimist. So does my black mentor, John Perkins who was born and raised in segregated Mississippi. But I see ethnocentrism/oppression more dominant, past and present.
A recent Smithsonian magazine issue was devoted to the new African American Museum. It had a picture of the Museum with the Washington Monument looming in the background. This picture says it all. The Museum---symbolizing the unending struggle of American blacks, their survival, their successes. The Monument---symbolizing rich, white males, their slavery, who always have the last word, who are skilled at redesigning systems of oppression. Don't forget that the White House and the Capitol Building were built with slave labor.
The exploitation, the ethnocentrism/oppression is unending.
The American church could and should be the answer; the biblical kingdom of God as justice for the oppressed. But most of the American church has largely failed, especially the white evangelicals. Far too often we have sided with ethnocentrism/oppression and neglected justice and the love of God.
See my blog "Lowell Noble's Writings" for more on the biblical answer.
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