Recently, I saw a picture online of John Edwards and Donald Trump. No, they weren’t together. They were in side-by-side with a caption by each. The one describing Edwards noted that he paid off a woman he was having an affair with and his career was ruined. The one describing Trump noted that he paid off a woman he was having an affair with and his career is being applauded. This troubles me.
We are barreling into a time where there is a schism so wide that simple ideas of right and wrong are being redefined. What was a ghastly act by a former candidate is now acceptable. What was considered to be morally reprehensible is now just a character flaw. This wavering of morality (and ethics) to suit an agenda is forcing(?) people to redefine what they believe, or, at times, compartmentalize it. So, certain behavior is okay if things are going your way? I was having a conversation the other day (well, argument) with a conservative, Trump supporter and I questioned her/his support for Trump. During this ‘discussion’ it was noted that this person didn’t really care about Trump’s personality, his indiscretions, his commentary, or his attitude. The only comment was, “He gets things done.” Be that as it may, this person prides her/himself as being Christian. Trump’s behavior, commentary, and braggadocio are decidedly not. Over the course of time, I have noticed that collectively this view is common. Where individuals are appalled at the fact that Bill Clinton had an affair in the Oval Office and Hilary forgave him (maybe?), they see no problem with the idea of Trump having an affair with a porn star or a Playboy model. Okay…I know there is a difference. Clinton was president at the time. But, if this is the argument, it would be that because he was president he was held to a different standard. Well, based on this assumption, shouldn’t Trump be held to the same standard? Shouldn’t evidence (which is just coming out) that he had an affair put into question his character? And using this logic, wouldn’t it be not just about affairs, but about the office of the president? On the campaign trail and while in office, he has made derogatory comments about minorities, celebrities, opponents, and the press. These aren’t just statements of disagreement, they are juvenile diatribes using language more suited middle school. For instance:
This moral relativism is just self-serving. People can argue all they want about speaking the truth, honesty, or telling it like it is, but it is contrary to the type of commentary that would be accepted from another politician, candidate, office-seeker, or president. Yet, it is justified because of the convenience. They have their candidate and everything will be overlooked because they are getting what they want. I am trying to still figure out what that is. However, this goes beyond just the presidency. This moral relativism has become a worldview. People say they care deeply about life, but don’t care about children. People say they care about everyone, but also support political incorrectness. People say they care about children, but want to cut their healthcare. This contradictory belief system is merely moral relativism. Standards change depending on how they feel. If they are the minority party, any hint of commentary or behavior that is questionable is horrible. When they are the party in power, it is okay. Perhaps this is why we are fractured as a society. A great number of people are self-serving, inconsistent in their beliefs, and don’t have a solid foundation for argument.
1 Comment
7/20/2019 09:18:59 pm
I accept the reality that we will never be united in terms of our preferences for our leaders. But how I wish we could have been more united into pushing our leaders to do the things they should do. This discussion with a Trump supporter gave you an overview regarding what could be the reason why they support the president despite the inconsistencies. I am not forcing others to dislike him, but how I wish we have set a higher standards for our leaders!
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Andrew Kemp
With the exception of a year, I have been a teacher or a student for my entire life. I have taught on many different levels. I have been a middle school teacher (okay, for one semester for student teaching...because of this, I have a profound respect for middle school teachers), high school, undergraduates and graduate students. I have coached soccer in youth leagues and high school. Education is in my blood. Archives
November 2019
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