As we enjoyed a lovely Saturday at the Echo Park lake in Los Angeles, we noticed some commotion going on behind us. Hoots and hollers flowed through the air as a group of young revelers took turns whacking a pinata with a hefty stick. The pinata was fashioned in the caricature likeness of Donald Trump and wow...was he ever getting bashed.
It was a gleeful expression of political sentiment to be sure, but at the same time troubling. What would the same people so exuberantly bashing Trump have done if they had come across the an identical scene with an Obama pinata? I have a feeling it wouldn't have been tolerated and racist accusations issued.
I'm befuddled by the Trump phenomena...to be sure much of what he says are mindless rants. However, there is something to the spirit of his candidacy. You do feel some kind of joy from him and his high hopes for our country. But also you have the other side of his brazen emotional displays, and they are much darker...perhaps appealing to people's' basest fears and ignorance.
At the end of the day, I've come to believe it won't make much difference which of the remaining candidates running win the presidency. All presidents are flawed. They all have their moments of greatness and moments of shame. As long as we the people have the right to express our approval or anger at their actions, I think we'll somehow manage just fine...as we always have for over 200 years.
#trump #2016election
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