I’m going to jump straight in there and make it clear that
I think Donald Trump is a jackass. This essay is in no way a defence of him, his
dumb opinions, or his opportunist power- grab which is ultimately harmful to
the American people.
His recent plea to the US government to enforce a total ban
on all Muslims entering America is just the cherry on top of a layer cake of
offensive remarks. Since his announcement to run for President, only 6 months
ago on 16th June (I know, it feels like he’s been running for a
lifetime), he has taken aim at women, the LGBTQ community, Mexicans and
disabled people.
“Donald J Trump is calling for a total and complete shut down of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can
figure out what is going on”
(I’m not sure what was more scary, his actual words, or him
saying them in 3rd person)
These latest remarks have provoked the biggest reaction of
all, understandably. Hearing a ‘politician’/businessman hold to ransom a whole
religion for the actions of a few was surreal and unprecedented, even coming
from Trump. Not to mention how dangerous his words were, which, by the way,
sounded uncannily like the Islamist extremists who declare war on the ‘evil’
west.
One of the strongest reactions to Mr Trump was here in the
UK, where a petition to ban Mr Trump from entering the UK and to label him as a
hate speaker, gained over half a million signatures (as of 29/12/2015).
However, perhaps the only thing more dangerous than Mr Trump’s words is banning
them. One of my favourite quotes is
this gem from Voltaire, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to
the death your right to say it” *shivers*.
Just because Donald Trump said something offensive, and
frankly factually inaccurate, it doesn't mean he shouldn't be allowed to say
anything else. It undermines the notion of opinion. I would love to get Donald
Trump on a plane to the UK, and show him why he is wrong, and debate with him
until he has no logical choice but to change his mind. Besides, don’t tell me
you wouldn’t love to see him cry as Ian Hislop tore him to pieces…
The petition to ban Donald Trump from the UK was in part a
response to the government’s own policy on hate speech. In the last 12 months
alone, the UK government has blocked the entry of 9 Islamist ‘hate speakers’
(who didn’t get the privilege of a parliamentary debate or petition, their fate
was non-negotiable.) The petition seems to take a swipe at the absurdity of
applying the rule to select communities, but not to others; it seems to ask,
‘why ban 9 poor Muslims but not rich white guys?’. Donald Trump’s views could
indeed be seen as hate speech, just as those of activist, Roosh V could. (The
man who publishes books and tours the world instructing men how to ‘bang’ women
from every country, and teaching them that no ‘doesn’t really mean no’) Both
are white, middle class Americans, neither have been banned from the UK. While
Donald Trump may have had the privilege of a debate, the 9 people banned from
the UK this year weren’t so lucky, and their fate was non- negotiable.
So while the petition raised the right question, its
solution to the problem- to ban more- is unfortunate. The UK policy on hate
speech, to me, sounds flawed from the beginning, so to argue that it should be
enforced regardless is crazy, isolating and potentially damaging. Yes, Donald
Trump’s views are hateful, and they deserve to be challenged, not banned.
People’s readiness to ban books and people, and censor tv
shows is becoming alarming, and it begins to undermine the free speech we’re
trying to protect. Just as Cady wisely said in Mean Girls, “the only thing
worse than going back would be not going back”.
As a community I think the only
way to overcome intolerance is to look it square in the eyes; it’s easy to
forget the power we have to respond, to debate, and to turn the channel. Banning
something/someone suggests his views are legitimate, and that they’re something
to be afraid of. Let's not help Donald Trump by giving his views legitimacy.
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