(This blog comes too soon after my last one, but Donald Trump’s speech to the Boy Scout demands a response. What I have written is directed at Donald Trump supporters. Only a few of them follow this blog, but if you “share” it on Facebook, it has a chance to reach more of them. I hope you will do that. I think the blog itself will explain why I am making this request. Thanks.)
I try to offer reasoned reflections on this blog to stimulate discussion on important issues, but Donald Trump’s speech to the Boy Scouts was so outrageous as to deserve nothing less than impassioned condemnation.
That speech (which I read in its entirety) was the equivalent of verbal child abuse, a deplorable example of the fact that there is no low to which Trump will not go to satisfy his narcissistic needs.
His speech confirmed that he has no moral character, no ability to make sensible judgments about right and wrong, and does not deserve support from any American, period.
But the real question to those of you who continue to support him is this: “What does it say about you that you support a man who is willing to emotionally abuse children?’
The only thing you need to know about the Boy Scouts to understand the abuse they received from Trump is that they are “boys,” adolescent boys who are still in the process of being formed into adults.
Those “boys” were not at a political rally. They were not there to hear the President of the United States rehash how he got elected, how he is being attacked by “fake news” people, or how great he is really doing as President that no one wants to acknowledge.
As this surreal scene unfolded, I wonder what were those “boys” thinking. What were their leaders thinking?
Do you think the bogus “war on Christmas” was on their minds when they heard that the president was going to speak to them?
It doesn’t matter why Trump chose to do what he did. His total lack of judgment in that situation was shocking and shameful.
But what does all of that say about you? You are the reason he was in the position to abuse those boys.
You are the reason he exploited their innocence and their immaturity for political advantage.
How can you not be ashamed of what he did?
More important, how can you not be ashamed of yourself for continuing to support a man who is willing to abuse children?
Do you think I am overreacting?
Then imagine your son or daughter in a situation at school where they were a captive audience to President Obama who was expected to lift up shared American ideals to inspire them to patriotism, but who chose, instead, to give a partisan speech promoting his own political agenda while attacking Republicans who opposed him.
How would you have felt about that? You know how you would have felt – outraged, and rightly so.
How, then, can you give Trump a pass on what he did when he abused those Boy Scouts?
The fact that you supported him before this happened should make you among the first to take offense that he betrayed that support in this way.
So where are you? Where is your voice?
Do you really hate liberalism and liberals so much that you are willing to accept a public display of emotional child abuse and continue to support the person who is guilty of it?
Trump is a deeply troubled and morally deficient person.
But the real question is, “What does your continued support of him say about you?
linnposts.com 
Trump is indeed incapable of basic human decency! Anyone who continues to support this incredibly flawed man as our President shares his depravity.
I’m angry that this happened. I’m angry that he can’t tell the difference between adults and teenagers. I’m angry that the BSA, which knew full well what 45 is like, invited him to speak anyway. I’m absolutely appalled that he still has support of any kind from anybody. And I’m disappointed and sad that he has exploited the divisiveness in the country so successfully.
Sorry, world. So very sorry. I hope we can do better next time around.
He’s a dispicable individual as are the republicans in congress that continue to support him. Their hatred of Obama has overtaken any sense of decency.
Jan,
You are to be commended for quickly and definitively condemning what Trump said to a Boy Scouts audience as child abuse.
Your statement that “His speech confirmed that he has no moral character, no ability to make sensible judgments about right and wrong, and does not deserve support from any American, period” sums it up. The man is scum!!
Thank you for speaking the truth………….Bill B.
I am so embarrassed for our country. When will this shameful behavior stop?
Mary,
When Trump is gone, in whatever manner………Bill B
Jann, as always you have gotten it right.I want to cry for our children and our country.
Trump is a sick individual. Worst president in my lifetime. How can folks say we have a Christian White House? He will destroy our country if he stays four years, Good post Jan. Kenneth Crawford
Kenny,
So glad to see your Cotton Hill wisdom on Jan’s blog. Best regards, Bill
I believe that Donald Trump is mentally ill. And I doubt that there is any type of treatment that will heal him. His character is very deeply instilled in him. In my humble opinion he is an embarrassment to our country in addition to being very destructive to the American spirit. I think those who voted for him and still support him need to do some very serious thinking about their actions and thoughts.
Did John McCain just put him and his political supporters down? Keep up you leadership. I agree with with your post 100%. Thanks.
Eleanor, I am trying to let the comments speak for themselves without further comment from me, but I want to answer your question. Yes, I think McCain is standing up to (and, thus, putting down) Trump and his supporters by being the John McCain he once was in the Senate. McCain is a decent man and he knows Trump is anything but that.
Agreed. I am wondering if you have read this Op Ed: http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/columnists/an-eagle-scout-reflects-on-trump-s-jamboree-speech-opinion/article_654f89fc-7151-11e7-960b-9729b51aec31.html
Shouldn’t be surprised anymore. Yet here we are!
Luke, I had not seen this. Thank you for calling it to my attention. As a former scout myself, I resonated with his exposition of the Scout Laws. My guess is, Trump has never read them, but even if has they won’t make any difference to him. Our nation is in serous trouble.
Indeed. I share your POV
Just so that we remember ALL things trashy: Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Rod Blagojevich, Anthony Weiner, Hillary Clinton, creepy Joe Biden, Obama gun running to Mexican drug lords, Ted Kennedy driving into river, leaving girl there to die. Let NOT the pot call the kettle black! So, lecture all you want about the failures of this President–Dems have so much experience on that topic.
This is the kind of childish response that would make Trump proud. “Mommy, Johnny did it, too.”
Feeling lectured to, Nick? Do you always feel uncomfortable when confronted with challenges to your biases? Perhaps you’re feeling insecure about what you think is true. I usually try looking forward and seeking a restart helpful.
Hope you are not “excusing” behavior of above-named Dems. with that comment. It’s in Both Parties–that needs to be recognized–can you do that? There’s that Biblical thing about seeing the speck in someone else’s eye and not the plank in one’s own. Then that Biblical one about casting the first stone. It’s not “excusing” DJT when behavior knows no party. Can you agree?
I don’t recommend quoting scripture here. The subject of Jan’s post is Trump’s behavior. Let’s stick with that.
The issue is not bad behavior by politicians. The issue is Donald Trump. He is President, no one else. Bad deeds by people of both parties has nothing to do with the kind of man Trump is. He suffers from a personality disorder to the extent that he was willing to emotionally abuse children. That alone disqualifies him from continuing as President, and that is the point of this discussion. By defending him, which is what you are doing regardless of what you say, you are defending his behavior. I find that morally repulsive.
Nick,
Jan was kind in labeling your comments as “childish,” and Rollie has been nice in his replies. I will be neither.
I bet you see yourself as having much “common sense.” By Albert Einstein’s definition, you do. He said that “common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.” We can see that you got yours and have clung to them “religiously”!
Chappaquiddick — how old is that?! And “Obama gun running to Mexican drug lords” — where the hell did that come from?!
I submit that you are a willfully-ignorant moron, at best……
Well . . . You INFERRED what I never IMPLIED in my statement (am not defending a bad speech to scouts) Please don’t put words in my mouth. Your “definition” of “emotional abuse” is kind of “far out”–most of the time when I hear the “emotional abuse” term, it is on a PERSONAL level–not to a large crowd too distant to see eyeball to eyeball. Emotional abuse can be when kids are posting ugly stuff on FB or instagram or mocking others in the halls at school or parents insulting kids at home. Another thing: only a professional psychiatrist/psychologist can legally name a “mental illness”–all else from non-professionals is blather. However, even I can see that a definition can apply, on a NON -Professional way. But there’s NOTHING THERE to cause him to be “disbarred” from his office. And, also, Jesus made scripture when he “commented” on behavior with the thought of correcting people’s behavior, Rollie. Why is it OK to comment on DJT’s behavior and not spread that Liberal Attitude around to others who have also behaved badly? Why focus so narrowly–doesn’t the word “liberal” mean wide-spread, open-minded, things like that? You want to focus narrowly to destroy, not to liberally cast a net over all kinds of bad behavior. I guess you must be a Conservative, esp. in critical commentary focused on “the enemy.”
You need to read the article on Trump’s toxic speech by Harvard psychiatrist Gene Berlin. It supports what I wrote about Trump’s emotional exploitation and abuse of those scouts. In regard to your desire to talk about the bad things “liberals” have done, I will say it again. It is a childish way of responding to an adult critique of what Trump did. You have no idea what I or others said about those other people at the time they did things to which we objected. It doesn’t matter. What does is Trump’s behavior. Your subterfuge shows a lack of maturity that for me explains why you wrote what you did. That is sufficient for me to have nothing more to say to you about it.
CNN will be having a book report by the author of “Why Trump Won” tonight (Mon). Maybe there will be some enlightenment there. Not a good idea to castigate “Trump voters” — spreads even more distance, hate; attacking those who differ from you. Some, like me, voted AGAINST worse candidate, Hillary. Do NOT want her brand of running the country. So had no other choice; as it turns out, I like the policies (backing off regulations esp., also cutting taxes, those things) and so does the stock market–they are making light of all the personal vendettas. I do NOT like his personal tweets, nobody does. Your “saying” I have a “lack of maturity” does not Make It So– just more blather when you run out of steam.
Have a nice day! :o)
Perhaps, Nick, you could launch your own blog in support of 45 and tell us why his policies are so thoughtful and helpful to our nation. The majority of the country may fall in line and see your explanation as persuasive – doubtful but you could give it a try. In the meantime some of us will continues to call him out on his obvious incompetence and harm he’s doing in our name.
And a good day to you…
Rollie’s reply should suffice, but against my better judgment, I will respond one last time. Regarding maturity, saying something does not, of course, make it so, but evidence does, so here goes. Castigating Trump voters is exactly what people like me should do because you are in denial about the harm he is doing. In fact, harm is all he has done thus far. He has gotten no legislation passed. His budget proposal was declared dead on arrival because it was so outrageous in its cuts and estimates of income. You applaud the stock market. You must have loved Obama because it went from the bottom falling out to record levels before he left office. Trump has had virtually nothing to do with the market. He has not saved the coal industry nor manufacturing. You like the idea of tax cuts. I imagine you like apple pie as well. It’s the same thing. Who doesn’t like a cut in taxes, but how is Trump paying for it? You have no idea. Not very mature thinking. You like cutting regulations such as restrictions on green house gases The residents of Miami and New York will curse you for that support as their cities go under water because of sea level rises. You like cut backs on pesticides that cause cancer. Pray you don’t suffer the consequences of your own foolishness, but others will. You don’t like his tweets. That’s like saying you don’t like his neck tie. Governing by tweets is irresponsible. Turns out his latest fiasco on transgenders serving in the military was “tweeted” without consultation with the military. This is government by chaos, and all you can say is you don’t like it. What will it take for you to take this stuff seriously? A nuclear war with North Korea? I could got one.
Yes, I think you and people like you lack maturity, but it’s your words that make it so, not mine.
East coast, west coast dropping/falling underwater has been “predicted” because tectonic ocean plates shifting. San Andreas Fault. My inland CA friends will then have beachfront property. East Coast going the way of Atlantis; people need to move inland now. OK??? Rollie, I am Not a Politician wanting to blog! I can have opinions without doing that! Other hobbies (woodworking) to keep me busy. Here’s a thought: companies can still be taken to court for air pollution, water pollution in spite of NOT having to file paperwork about their emmission compliances. It’s the PAPERWORK that drives people crazy, not the law of keeping emissions out of the air, water. Send a drone above smokestack, take emission report to court. A 60-Minutes report 20 years ago of NYC garbage trucks driving to the hollows of KY to dump trash exposed NYC Garbage Company corruption–and it was STOPPED. Investigative exposure does that. Maybe they burn NYC trash safely now, who knows. Not knowing how to pay for tax cuts is “immature”? Not my job! Start with greed and graft possibly. But I did like the image of apple pie; that was cute. Wish I could sit next to both of you in front of CNN television to “get the real answers”.
Talk to the hand… we’re done here.
Hi Rollie,
I like your idea of calling Trump 45. I like it better that my use of DT. I have switched to 45.
In my estimation there aren’t enough UN-complimentary words in the English language to describe this man who sits in the highest office in our beloved country. What an embarrassment he is ! We should all write a thank you note to John McCain for having the good sense and courage to vote as he did last week. Thanks also to the 2 brave Republican women who voted against their Party’s wishes. That’s bravery in action! Thank you Jan for “Thinking Against the Grain” and sharing your thoughts. And to everyone else…Please don’t stop thinking! Be discriminating where you get your “facts.” Discuss issues and be prepared to defend your thoughts with facts not wishful thinking. Communication may be the hardest thing we do in this life but it’s definitely worth the effort. “…onward through the fog” Thank you Kurt Vonnegut for those 4 words!
Very well-said, Laura! Jan is my best friend, and we are all blessed to have his “voice” in our world — “speaking truth to power” as the saying goes.
BTW, I have plenty of un-complimentary words to describe DT, but most of them cannot be printed here.
As Jan knows, when describing someone like Trump, I am quite creative with four letter words — and with innumerable hyphenated combinations 🙂
I say them out loud at home to keep my sanity!!
You should hear what I have to say (words) about Hillary!!! And Bill. But since they are not quite in the public eye at the moment, I just laugh uproareously. I still hope there are investigations into their “foundation” (such as it is) and ALL the corruption there. Debbie W. S. isn’t doing well right now either. The 3 Reps.who voted otherwise on the Health Care Bill did so because that’s what their state wanted–more $$ and power for themselves in the mix. They want to “work across the aisle” — what a joke that’s going to be! Dems don’t give a damn about their rotten health care system, and they don’t care to have any “cooperation” with Reps. Too bad–it will kill them in the next election for being such prigs.
You’ve had your last say on this topic, the primary reason being that you are saying things that cannot be taken seriously. To say the Democrats don’t care about fixing Obamacare and won’t work with Republicans is patently absurd. The Reps in the House and Senate developed their bills excluding Dems across the board. Worse, in the Senate they didn’t even reveal what was in the final bill that failed until the day they voted on it. We will see what the next election brings, but with public approval of the Republican healthcare bills at 17% before they crashed and burned, Trump’s approval rating at 33%, and his disapproval at 61% (according to the Republican friendly Quinnipiac poll), I am not impressed by your warning, nor your name calling. Write again and I will delete your comment, so don’t bother.