Recently, Donald Trump crowed about being a Nationalist. To be clear, that word’s connotations fall on a political scale somewhere between being salute-the-flag patriotic to espousing jackboot totalitarianism. Trump’s understanding of the word, in my view, tilts dangerously to the severe right. This is what Trump said in Houston at a political rally. "You know, they have a word – it’s sort of became old-fashioned – it’s called a nationalist. And I say, really, we’re not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I’m a nationalist, okay? I’m a nationalist. Nationalist. Nothing wrong. Use that word. Use that word."
Okay, let’s use that word. So Trump is a Nationalist. Francisco Franco was a Nationalist. Benito Mussolini was a Nationalist. Kim Jong-un is a Nationalist, as were his father and grandfather. And of course, Adolf Hitler avowed himself to be a Nationalist. Historically, nationalists have opposed multiculturalism and ethnic diversity and are inherently divisive because they place their group (nation, religion, political values, ethnicity, or what have you) at the front of the line ahead of those who are not included in their group. So just how far into the muck can the Orange Man drag us? Aside from the fact that Trump uses mind-numbing repetition in most of his spoken addresses (the mark of a dimwitted thinker with a deficient vocabulary), Trump does convey to his supporters the notion that, above all, America goes to the head of the line, America First. He wants, it appears, our country to be as self-centered as he is. He wants, certainly, for America to reflect the narcissistic nature that defines his character. The remainder of the nations in the world can eat goose turds. Really, should we care about other countries? Trump has even categorized several other countries (all with dark skinned populations) as “shithole countries.” In short, we will comport ourselves according to self-interest. Hip-hip-hooray. Bravo for us. Let’s all chant: “We’re number one! USA! USA! USA!”
If we follow Trump’s cheerleading cues, we become what he is: obnoxious, objects of ridicule because we shamelessly love ourselves, cheerleaders chanting vapid praises about ourselves, and bullying others as we display racial and cultural superiority to the “losers” (his word) of the world. Apparently, Trump judges people by skin color and wealth, the darker and poorer folks are the bigger the losers they are. Tough nuggets, you stone cold losers! Get to the back of the line.
An assessment that is supported by history, especially the last two World Wars, comes from Charles De Gaulle when he said, “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”
Pretty sure that Big Orange likes his country all right because he has been feeding at the public trough most of his adult life. Pretty sure that he has shorted America yearly by finding loopholes in tax law and fudging on deductions. Pretty sure he avoided military service by claiming he had bone spurs, and so doing added cowardness to mendaciousness because our country indulges the rich and privileged. Pretty sure he enjoys cheating on wives and associates with impunity (ain’t America great) because he has fixers who can smooth over the rough spots for him. Pretty sure he is all for America because a sucker is born every minute, and he is nothing if not a con artist.
In many ways, Trump is the reincarnation of Mussolini. Take, for instance these two pronouncements from El Duce, the man who dismantled the framework of democracy in Italy and subsequently became the leader of the fascist movement. He said, “We do not argue with those who disagree with us, we destroy them.” And more, “Italian journalism is free because it serves one cause and one purpose…mine!” Sound familiar?