There is a lot of talk recently about the limits and challenges of being politically correct. Being PC describes language, policies, or measures which are intended not to offend or disadvantage any particular group of people in society. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has said:
I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people and I don’t, frankly, have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time, either.
One could claim that being PC is just a thin band aid on top of much larger societal problems. Even if Trump wants to pull off this band aid, he has offered no cure for the festering wounds underneath. In fact it seems that the opposite is the case. While Trump’s bluster is clearly resonating with a large group of frustrated Americans, his politically incorrect speech is inciting violence. How is this a cure? Worse than the blind bigots who support him, Trump is a shrewd opportunist who will try to harness their anger and fear for his own benefit. Sucked in by his promise of “Making America Great Again”, this school yard bully will default on these empty, meaningless, and self serving promises leaving his supporters even worse off.
When Trump swears that he will “Make America Great Again” he is being a politician making empty oaths. When his hateful rhetoric incites violence and he is unable to confess his responsibility, Trump has sinned. David Brooks has opined in the New York Times that Trump is unfit to lead. There he wrote:
History is a long record of men like him temporarily rising, stretching back to biblical times. Psalm 73 describes them: “Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. … They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.” ( NY Times 3/18/16)
Maybe Trump is right that this country has a big problem in being politically correct. But a true leader knows when you put away the political for what is correct. The end of civility and the rise of violence is inexcusable- we need to work in earnest to solve the problems beneath the surface- not just stoke those fires for personal gain. These underlying issues are real and need our attention. To be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time for Trump.
Said to Myself 
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