There is much in the actions of the Trump presidency that makes me uncomfortable and queasy; that stirs anger and provokes dismay; that erodes my pride and joy in being an American. But nothing has affected me as much as the recent executive orders for the “Muslim ban” and “The Wall.” These decisions of course are no surprise after months of bilious rhetoric from the Trump camp but nevertheless serve as a severe gut punch to anyone like myself that still held hope that core American ideals would overcome knee-jerk isolationism.
What has particularly concerned me throughout is not related to potential policy or legislation changes (though I am concerned about those as well) but how the ethos and the spirit of this country is being transformed. Hatred and marginalization of “others” is becoming normalized and mainstream – and these concepts have no place in this nation. Ours is a country with a flawed and checkered past but we have moved inexorably (albeit slowly but nevertheless inexorably) toward a tolerant and progressive society. Those that have held that progress back are now in positions of power to do more harm than ever before in my lifetime.
There is a personal aspect to this. I myself am not Muslim and I have a general disregard for all religion. My family, however, is Muslim; my background and my forebears come from a culture that identifies as much with Islam as it does anything else. While this does have some bearing on my reaction, my fear and concern does not spring from any perceived threat on my own identity or those of my family and friends as Muslims. This is about my faith in the American system itself. This is about my faith in the American people. How can a country built on the fruits of inclusion and integration support those who so clearly reject those ideals?
