Trump’s Call for Unity: Hypocrisy or Hope Amidst the Drama of Division?

Introduction

As someone deeply involved in blockchain, Web3, AI, and marketing, why am I venturing into a discussion on political unity and division in the United States? The reason is simple: the themes of collaboration, decentralization, and trust are foundational to the technologies we advocate for and build every day. The current political climate is a stark reminder of what happens when trust breaks down, and collaboration ceases.

An example from the blockchain industry illustrates this point well. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has been vocal about the need for unity in the blockchain community to fight against regulatory challenges from the SEC. In a recent statement, Garlinghouse emphasized, “Ultimately, as our lawsuit comes to a close, for so many others, it’s just starting, so the fight for clarity has to continue”​ (CoinTelegraph)​​ (The Daily Hodl)​. His call for industry-wide cooperation highlights how unity can drive progress and overcome significant obstacles. This article aims to bridge the gap between societal dynamics and the technologies we champion, emphasizing the need for unity and collaboration in all aspects of life.

As a Canadian observing the political landscape of our southern neighbor, the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has sparked a complex conversation. In the wake of this violent act, Trump is now calling for “unity” — a striking contrast to his previous actions of instigating violence at the Capitol, defrauding charities, and placing corrupt friends in government positions.

Hypocrisy of Unity Calls

The hypocrisy is glaring. When Gabby Giffords, a Democratic Congresswoman, was shot in 2011, the GOP’s response was markedly different. Instead of calls for unity, many Republicans continued their divisive rhetoric. For example, Sarah Palin’s political action committee had previously released a map with crosshairs over Giffords’ district. After the shooting, she referred to the criticism she faced as a “blood libel.” This kind of response only served to deepen the divide rather than promote healing and unity.

Historical Context of Division

It’s strange that both parties now call for unity when the United States has not been unified for decades. The American public is often called a melting pot of different people and cultures. Well, that pot has boiled over, and the people have not fully melted into a united ‘American people’ — an American soup? The country is made up of diverse groups such as Caucasians, African Americans (with movements like Black Lives Matter), Asians, Arabs, Muslims, Japanese, Irish, Latinos, Native Americans, and many more. Unity is typically only found when fighting an external force or war, like Russia or China.

Failure of Civil Dialogue

The issue about unity is that it’s easy and obvious for politicians to say when they reach a breaking point. But the real issue is that both sides don’t listen to each other. They don’t heed and listen as if the other side were their brother, mother, sister, father, or trusted friend. That civility and genuine listening is all but gone. Politicians are focused on their political jobs and ‘fighting’ for their constituents. The issue is that their constituents need to listen and not demand what they want over getting along with the other side. There’s an unwillingness to engage in genuine dialogue and compromise.

Cultural Addiction to Violence

As a side note, Americans, including its male youth, are addicted to violence through MMORPG war and combat games. This addiction is part of the cultural fabric of being a world war winner, where dominance and overpowering “the enemy” are central themes. The success of Marvel and other superhero war-action movies feeds on this dualistic good-vs-evil storyline that easily wins audiences. Movies like “Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011) and “Iron Man” (2008) showcase American heroes defeating villainous enemies, reinforcing the idea of American exceptionalism. It’s part of American culture. It is American culture. This trend isn’t new; during the Cold War, Hollywood produced numerous films depicting Americans as heroes fighting against communism, reinforcing a cultural norm of seeing conflicts in binary terms of good and evil. Examples include “My Son John” (1952), “The Red Menace” (1949), and “I Married a Communist” (1949)​ (Senses of Cinema)​​ (SPYSCAPE)​. Additionally, more recent films such as “American Sniper” (2014) and video games like “Call of Duty” series have perpetuated the narrative of American soldiers as ultimate heroes, further embedding this cultural addiction to violence.

Extensive U.S. Military Engagements

The United States has long perceived itself as the world’s police force, defending democracy around the globe. This mindset has led to numerous military engagements:

• Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
• War of 1812 (1812–1815)
• Mexican-American War (1846–1848)
• Civil War (1861–1865)
• Spanish-American War (1898)
• World War I (1914–1918)
• World War II (1939–1945)
• Korean War (1950–1953)
• Vietnam War (1961–1973)
• Gulf War (1990–1991)
• Invasion of Afghanistan (2001–2021)
• Invasion of Iraq (2003–2011)
• Other engagements: Dominican Republic (1965), Lebanon (1982–1984), Grenada (1983), Panama (1989), Somalia (1993), Bosnia (1994–1995), Kosovo (1999), and Libya (2011)​ (ThoughtCo)​​ (InfoPlease)​​ (Veterans Affairs)​.

These engagements often position the U.S. as the defender of democracy and freedom, further ingraining the notion of American exceptionalism and the need to lead global efforts against perceived threats. This interventionist approach has sparked both admiration and resentment worldwide, impacting the global perception of American leadership.

Obama’s Rhetoric

Even former President Barack Obama has contributed to this narrative. In various speeches, Obama has often inspired Americans by saying, “We’re number one,” a phrase deeply embedded in American political vocabulary. For instance, in a 2011 speech on jobs and economic growth, Obama said, “We’re the United States of America. We’re the greatest nation on Earth. We know what it’s like to out-compete and outperform everybody else because we’ve done it before.” While this can be motivating, it also perpetuates a sense of superiority that complicates efforts to genuinely unite a diverse populace​ (whitehouse.gov)​​ (whitehouse.gov)​​ (whitehouse.gov)​.

Personal Reflections

I have good friends who are both Democrats and Republicans. I understand both sides. When I toured and drove across the USA seven times in my youth, I really felt welcomed and got along with Americans. However, America has changed significantly. It became #1 but did not plan for the impacts of immigration and hard-working foreigners developing, growing, and accumulating their own power. Nobody in power in the U.S. ever planned for the ineffective hope of a ‘melting pot’ devolving into a multi-sector struggle for power and acceptance. America lacks a change-management approach to cultural change and evolution.

Economic and Cultural Shifts

For example, the rise of Asian American communities in places like Silicon Valley has led to significant contributions in technology and entrepreneurship. Companies like Google and Yahoo were co-founded by immigrants Sergey Brin (Russia) and Jerry Yang (Taiwan), respectively. However, this success has sometimes been met with resentment and racism, rather than acknowledgment and integration. The “bamboo ceiling” faced by Asian Americans in corporate America exemplifies this struggle, where despite their significant contributions, they often encounter barriers to leadership positions. Similarly, the growth of the Latino population in states like California and Texas has reshaped the cultural and political landscape, leading to tensions and backlash from those who feel their cultural dominance is being challenged. A case in point is the 1994 passage of California’s Proposition 187, which sought to deny public services to undocumented immigrants, reflecting the state’s tension over demographic changes. More recently, the debate over DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) has highlighted ongoing tensions regarding immigration and cultural integration.

Perception of Rigged Systems

Additionally, many Republicans and other Americans feel their voices are not heard and that the system is rigged against them. They perceive the justice system and societal structures as favoring the intellectual elite and ignoring the concerns of ordinary people. When they feel disenfranchised and believe they lack the intellectual resources to compete with what they see as a liberal elite, some see violence as their last resort to be heard. This sense of desperation drives them to resort to violence, believing that the system will not hear them otherwise. This is evident in movements like the Tea Party, which emerged as a reaction to what many perceived as government overreach and economic disenfranchisement. The rise of right-wing militias and the prevalence of conspiracy theories, such as those propagated by QAnon, further illustrate the deep mistrust and sense of disenfranchisement among segments of the population.

Hypocrisy of Trump’s Shift in Tone

The hypocrisy is striking that Trump, who has often sown division and conflict, now calls for unity. This situation reveals the harsh lesson that those who perpetuate division and violence may eventually grapple with the chaos they have incited. Ironically, the shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, was a registered Republican at a Republican rally. The FBI identified the shooter, who is now deceased, and a motive was not clear. Those who have perpetuated division and violence now find themselves in a position where they must confront the very chaos they have sown.

Trump’s response immediately after being grazed by a bullet further illustrates his complex nature. Once helped by the Secret Service, he fist-pumped the air, showing strength and resilience (source). Is this a man who will listen or fight against the enemy after being attacked? Given his career history, it is likely he is a man out for revenge rather than reconciliation. Will he listen to his enemies? Unlikely. What do you think? It depends on how he reflects on his assassination attempt: a lesson? Or not.

Conclusion: A Call for Genuine Unity and Leadership

Rebuilding a country and achieving true unity seems unrealistic when no side is willing to apologize or take responsibility for their actions. It’s like watching children who have grown into stubborn adults, each unwilling to budge or admit fault. This entrenched stubbornness on both sides makes genuine reconciliation and dialogue incredibly difficult.

Call to Action: The call for unity must transcend political divides and be rooted in a commitment to dialogue, empathy, and genuine understanding. It requires mature leadership willing to acknowledge past mistakes and make amends. Without this willingness to apologize and take responsibility, any call for unity will likely be superficial and short-lived. Only then can we hope to see our neighbors to the south rebuild a declining country embodying the principles of peace and unity? It’s time for Americans to engage in genuine listening, to view each other as fellow human beings rather than political opponents, and to work together towards a truly united nation.

Americans must learn to be team players within their own borders. They could use a really good football or basketball coach.

What do you think? Post your comments and thoughts below.