SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, speaks during the final day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Thursday, July 21, 2016. (Photo: AP/Carolyn Kaster)
He Loves Us... Unless We Don't Love Him
On watching Donald Trump's acceptance speech
Jul 22, 2016
I watched the Republican convention last night.
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka was light-hearted, loves her father, and gave a good introduction to a man whom few know well.
Watching Trump give his speech was an out of body experience.
I suddenly felt fearful. I felt fearful for myself, my community, my family, my country. Only he has the strength to save and protect us. Only he knows how to fix everything that is broken. Only he can bring back the happiness and prosperity that was once there for everyone. Remember the Good Old Days? Only he has the tenacity and courage to restore the American dream. Everyone else is too weak, too politically correct, too timid. He can do it. He said so.
I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me.
"I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me."
He will make America great again. He will be the voice for working people. He will defeat ISIS. He will bring back jobs. He will protect law enforcement officers. He will end the violence in America's streets. In the future, everyone will be safe, protected in his strong arms, and prosperous.
That is one heck of a big promise.
Very alluring.
Later, after seeing and hearing him, I can understand why so many people adore him and believe his promises. Then I thought about what he didn't say.
While he made clear that he would be the voice of the average working person, he didn't say anything about raising the minimum wage.
He didn't say anything about reducing the crushing debt that college students accrue.
He didn't say how he would defeat ISIS.
Lots more unanswered questions.
What will he do about health care after he kills Obamacare?
Why does he think that education will be great for everyone if only there is a free market? We know the evidence runs the other way.
After he finishes building the Great Southern Wall, will he have money left to repair our infrastructure of roads, bridges, and tunnels?
Then, this morning, I heard him talk to his volunteers, without a script. He talked about himself nonstop for an hour. He talked about how great he is. He mocked Ted Cruz and said he would reject his support. He brought up the episode where he said Ted Cruz's father was implicated in JFK's assassination, and Trump didn't back down or apologize. Off script, he is the same old Donald.
But the basic appeal, which we will hear until November, is the invitation to be protected by a strong man who never apologizes, never explains, never backs down.
He loves us. He loves working people. He loves us unless we don't love him.
Get used to it.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
© 2023 Diane Ravitch
Diane Ravitch
Diane Ravitch is a historian of education at New York University. Her most recent book is "Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools." Her previous books and articles about American education include: "The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education," "Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform," (Simon & Schuster, 2000); "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn" (Knopf, 2003); "The English Reader: What Every Literate Person Needs to Know" (Oxford, 2006), which she edited with her son Michael Ravitch. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
I watched the Republican convention last night.
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka was light-hearted, loves her father, and gave a good introduction to a man whom few know well.
Watching Trump give his speech was an out of body experience.
I suddenly felt fearful. I felt fearful for myself, my community, my family, my country. Only he has the strength to save and protect us. Only he knows how to fix everything that is broken. Only he can bring back the happiness and prosperity that was once there for everyone. Remember the Good Old Days? Only he has the tenacity and courage to restore the American dream. Everyone else is too weak, too politically correct, too timid. He can do it. He said so.
I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me.
"I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me."
He will make America great again. He will be the voice for working people. He will defeat ISIS. He will bring back jobs. He will protect law enforcement officers. He will end the violence in America's streets. In the future, everyone will be safe, protected in his strong arms, and prosperous.
That is one heck of a big promise.
Very alluring.
Later, after seeing and hearing him, I can understand why so many people adore him and believe his promises. Then I thought about what he didn't say.
While he made clear that he would be the voice of the average working person, he didn't say anything about raising the minimum wage.
He didn't say anything about reducing the crushing debt that college students accrue.
He didn't say how he would defeat ISIS.
Lots more unanswered questions.
What will he do about health care after he kills Obamacare?
Why does he think that education will be great for everyone if only there is a free market? We know the evidence runs the other way.
After he finishes building the Great Southern Wall, will he have money left to repair our infrastructure of roads, bridges, and tunnels?
Then, this morning, I heard him talk to his volunteers, without a script. He talked about himself nonstop for an hour. He talked about how great he is. He mocked Ted Cruz and said he would reject his support. He brought up the episode where he said Ted Cruz's father was implicated in JFK's assassination, and Trump didn't back down or apologize. Off script, he is the same old Donald.
But the basic appeal, which we will hear until November, is the invitation to be protected by a strong man who never apologizes, never explains, never backs down.
He loves us. He loves working people. He loves us unless we don't love him.
Get used to it.
Diane Ravitch
Diane Ravitch is a historian of education at New York University. Her most recent book is "Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools." Her previous books and articles about American education include: "The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education," "Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform," (Simon & Schuster, 2000); "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn" (Knopf, 2003); "The English Reader: What Every Literate Person Needs to Know" (Oxford, 2006), which she edited with her son Michael Ravitch. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
I watched the Republican convention last night.
Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka was light-hearted, loves her father, and gave a good introduction to a man whom few know well.
Watching Trump give his speech was an out of body experience.
I suddenly felt fearful. I felt fearful for myself, my community, my family, my country. Only he has the strength to save and protect us. Only he knows how to fix everything that is broken. Only he can bring back the happiness and prosperity that was once there for everyone. Remember the Good Old Days? Only he has the tenacity and courage to restore the American dream. Everyone else is too weak, too politically correct, too timid. He can do it. He said so.
I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me.
"I am not saying this mockingly. I felt in my bones the appeal of a strong man who could solve every problem. He frightened me, then reassured me that he would protect me."
He will make America great again. He will be the voice for working people. He will defeat ISIS. He will bring back jobs. He will protect law enforcement officers. He will end the violence in America's streets. In the future, everyone will be safe, protected in his strong arms, and prosperous.
That is one heck of a big promise.
Very alluring.
Later, after seeing and hearing him, I can understand why so many people adore him and believe his promises. Then I thought about what he didn't say.
While he made clear that he would be the voice of the average working person, he didn't say anything about raising the minimum wage.
He didn't say anything about reducing the crushing debt that college students accrue.
He didn't say how he would defeat ISIS.
Lots more unanswered questions.
What will he do about health care after he kills Obamacare?
Why does he think that education will be great for everyone if only there is a free market? We know the evidence runs the other way.
After he finishes building the Great Southern Wall, will he have money left to repair our infrastructure of roads, bridges, and tunnels?
Then, this morning, I heard him talk to his volunteers, without a script. He talked about himself nonstop for an hour. He talked about how great he is. He mocked Ted Cruz and said he would reject his support. He brought up the episode where he said Ted Cruz's father was implicated in JFK's assassination, and Trump didn't back down or apologize. Off script, he is the same old Donald.
But the basic appeal, which we will hear until November, is the invitation to be protected by a strong man who never apologizes, never explains, never backs down.
He loves us. He loves working people. He loves us unless we don't love him.
Get used to it.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.