Racism during Trumpziism - Donald Trump reaction

How I responded to a racist note in my gym bag

An echo experience from Alabama

Trump Tells Congresswomen to ‘Go Back’ to the Countries They Came From

By Karim Shamsi-Basha-  This is an echo opinion column published in Alabama.com.

This note was left in my bag at the gym last week, because it has become acceptable to be a racist in America.

Donald Trump can say, “Go back” to the “Totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” to four Muslim congresswomen, three of which were born in the United States.

The note in my bag had the same Trumpziism language. 

Was this hateful message inspired by Trump and his rhetoric? I’m sure it was caused by many things, including Trump’s continuous assault on what makes this country the beautiful diverse tapestry it became in 1776.

Many Americans embrace this beautifully diverse tapestry, like our own Alabama Senator Doug Jones, who surprised me with his supportive Tweet:

"As expected, the @realdonaldtrump disturbing rhetoric has gone mainstream. In Alabama especially, we know what can happen if we allow this kind of hatred to fester and if we don't call out racism when we see it." 

Someone left this note in
@arabinalabama's bag at a gym in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. His response? A note to his children that said, "Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission."

Arabinalabama is my twitter handle. This is what I wrote to my children following the incident:

“So I wasn’t going to show you all this, but then I thought this is something you will face one day no doubt. Someone left this in my gym bag the other day. Things are for sure getting worse as far as race in this country. Just do this for me though: Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission, not hatred. Be compassionate, loving, in the long run, that will pay off much more than hatred. I love you all so much, and this only makes me stronger, and should you as well.”

I came to this country from Syria at the age of 18 to seek a better life, and it has been 35 years of dreams coming true, freedom burgeoning at every turn, and, unfortunately, racism sometimes thriving—fashionable and strong.

Facebook Backlash

Examine the actions of Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only way”.

I posted the note and some brief commentary on Facebook. 

Friends have since then posted their support on Twitter which has taken a life of its own as well. The question remains, Why are people from different “anything” less worthy?

I never wanted any of this backlash, but journalists make things public. They pour their souls out for the world to stomp on, and stomp on it they have. Despite receiving love and support, I have received a thousands of hateful and racist comments, as well as a few death threats. One comment said, “You should be beheaded.” Another, “Go back to Syria.” I have since then made my Facebook profile private.

Death threats are nothing new.

Racial issues make the waters of our lives boil and spill over, sending the steam of intolerance, the heat of hatred, and the smell of burning rage. No doubt, this is often promoted by the notion that some are better than others due to the color of their skin.

Does this behavior filter down from the top down? Trump did not invent racism, he is only bringing it back with style. He is making it acceptable to be intolerant, belligerent, and aggressive. That is how he acts, and his fans have followed suit.

All of that is now normal behavior.

But it shouldn’t be. It should be looked at as despicable, unacceptable, and revolting. Common decency asks us to accept everyone regardless of their different “anything.”

Humanity pleads with us to rise above, to smile, to preach peace, to speak kindness, to be humble, to promote tolerance, to help others, and to be loving beings in touch with their empathy, in tune with their charity.

Love is the answer

Love is the only thing that will fight racism, bigotry, and all the ills of this world. If you trace the greatest leaders throughout history, you will find they accomplished huge tasks and motivated millions by love.

Examine the actions of Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only way”.

Read the words of New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Mania, who said this after the Christchurch shooting in March of this year, “Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities.”

Will racism continue? Will the President continue to inspire hatred and division? Will white nationalists continue to harass others on social media? Will Muslims and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists and people of other faiths be harassed to the extent that they feel unsafe?

Will different skin color continue to cause problems?

The answer to the questions above is a “Yes.” But I like to think that “Yes” is marred by compassion, shaken by mercy, and will eventually be destroyed by love.

The timid “yes” will become a resounding “NO.”

Call me hopeful. Call me idealist. You can even call me a dreamer. Life without hope, idealism, and dreams can be pretty boring.

Karim Shamsi-Basha is a journalist living in Birmingham, Alabama.  Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated to the United States from Damascus-Syria in 1984, at the age of 18.

Republicans deny science ~ climate change alert!

Climate change is "science" and Republicans are in denial about its costs 

Applause erupted at the March 4, 2018 Democratic caucus in Topsham Maine when one of the candidates who spoke raised the subject of electing people who believe in science. In fact, the crowded room at the Topsham Town Hall caucus responded with unscripted and spontaneous applause.

Coincidentally, I found this "echo" letter to the editor, published in Tuscaloosa News. This letter is a somewhat surprising "echo" because it was published in a newspaper that's otherwise pretty conservative, or, at least, the letters to the editor would indicate the right wing readership~ except, for this letter:
By Abbie Patterson, McCalla Alabama

Alabama's two senators may be on opposite ends of the political spectrum, but one thing they can come together on is protecting our Earth’s climate. 

Being a Democrat, Sen. Doug Jones has clearly expressed his climate concerns, saying he believes in science and that he will work to reverse the impact of climate change. But, where does Republican Sen. Richard Shelby come in?

Most people think that being a Republican means that environmental concerns are pretty low on their list. 

But, climate change is slowly becoming more and more of a bipartisan issue. More Republicans are acknowledging climate change and both ends are working on environmental legislation. Most concerns with Republicans revolve around how climate change is impacting our national security and the federal budget.

One of Sen. Shelby’s main concerns has always been a balanced budget -- and this past year of hurricanes and forest fires is seriously threatening that. 

It’s time that we make climate change an issue for both Republicans and Democrats and keep Alabama's senators accountable. 

Call Sen. Shelby and Sen. Jones’ offices today and urge them to protect environmental funding in the federal budget.

On climate change, hold all of our senators accountable.

Mike Pence meets Vice President Joe Biden and Vice President Walter Mondale

Senate pictures show the world a class example about political leadership. 

Alabama Senator Doug Jones and Minnesota Senator Tina Smith

Democrats Doug Jones and Tina Smith are sworn in as senators

Also, it was a good day for three American Vice-Presidents

Three Vice-Presidents - excellent examples of political leadership during a time of transition building in the US Senate

• Vice President Mike Pence, Republican, performed the swearing in ceremonies for two Democratic Senators- Alabama Senator Doug Jones and for Minnesota Senator Tima Smith
• Former Vice-President Joe Biden, Democrat, accompanied Senator Doug Jones to the Senate swearing in ceremony.
• Former Vice-President Walter Mondale, Democrat, accompanied Senator Tina Smith to the Senate swearing in ceremony

Former Vice President Joe Biden and current Vice-President Mike Pence are together during the swearing in of Alabama's Senator Doug Jones. 

Joe Biden to accompany Doug Jones for Senate swearing-in ceremony

Jan 3, 2018 1

Vice President Joe Biden will accompany Democrat Doug Jones, of Alabama, to the Senate floor as he is sworn in on Wednesday, CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports. 

Biden, who is a longtime friend of Jones, has known the senator-elect since Jones was a young volunteer on the vice president's 1988 presidential campaign.

Biden previously told "CBS This Morning" that Jones' win in the Alabama special election had sent a "message" to Americans amid persistent partisan division and polarization. 

Moreover, Biden praised Jones, a former prosecutor, for focusing his campaign on issues that really matter to the people of Alabama.

"It sends a message that not only do they reject all that [Roy Moore] stood for,...but also Doug talked about the issues he cares about," said Biden on "CBS This Morning."

Biden, who campaigned for the Democrat and says he spoke to Jones three times on Election Day, said the advice he gave to the candidate was to "focus on the issues."

"If you noticed the bulk of what he did was that, and last night — instead of a victory lap like a lot of Democrats may have wanted to do and go out and say this is a big loss for the president, which it is — he talked about bringing people together," Biden said.

Ahead of Wednesday's ceremony, Jones told reporters that he was "loving" that Biden would be joining him on such an important day in his career.

"The fact that he's been here for a long time. He's been here many years himself, so it's going to be a special day," said Jones.

Jones will join fellow Democrat Tina Smith in the Senate as both sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence. Smith takes the seat of Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota, following his resignation amid allegations of sexual misconduct. She will be escorted by former Vice President Walter Mondale, a Minnesotan. 

America's three Vice Presidents are demonstrating political leadership. This was an important swearing in ceremony, with both symbolic and historic significance.