“And yet, as we meet here tonight, there is a growing danger that threatens every blessing our ancestors fought so hard for, struggled, they bled to secure.
Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children.
Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities. Many of these people have no idea why they are doing this, but some know exactly what they are doing. They think the American people are weak and soft and submissive. But no, the American people are strong and proud, and they will not allow our country, and all of its values, history, and culture, to be taken from them.
One of their political weapons is “Cancel Culture” — driving people from their jobs, shaming dissenters, and demanding total submission from anyone who disagrees. This is the very definition of totalitarianism, and it is completely alien to our culture and our values, and it has absolutely no place in the United States of America. This attack on our liberty, our magnificent liberty, must be stopped, and it will be stopped very quickly. We will expose this dangerous movement, protect our nation’s children, end this radical assault, and preserve our beloved American way of life.
In our schools, our newsrooms, even our corporate boardrooms, there is a new far-left fascism that demands absolute allegiance. If you do not speak its language, perform its rituals, recite its mantras, and follow its commandments, then you will be censored, banished, blacklisted, persecuted, and punished. It’s not going to happen to us.
Make no mistake: this left-wing cultural revolution is designed to overthrow the American Revolution. In so doing, they would destroy the very civilization that rescued billions from poverty, disease, violence, and hunger, and that lifted humanity to new heights of achievement, discovery, and progress.
To make this possible, they are determined to tear down every statue, symbol, and memory of our national heritage.”
With all that is going on in this country, we need someone to bring people together not to name a group as an enemy.
Of course, you can parse the headlines and the text of the speech from whichever perspective you’d like. However, the tone of Trump’s speech was divisive and he made no effort to address any of the actual social issues that lead to the demonstrations and protests. He set a tone of “us vs. them” rather than admitting that we still have some progress to make.
Just to be clear, I agree with a few of his policies and I even agree with some of the points he made in this speech, particularly with regards to cancel culture but I am honest when I tell people that “I just don’t like Trump.” I think he’s a narcissistic con artist who is not fit for the office of the Presidency or to represent our country in any way. I believe the tone he uses is completely antithetical to actually achieving any progress in our country. And before you label me as a “snowflake” who can’t handle the frank speech, stop and think about how you need to speak and behave in your own job. Most of us probably make an effort to understand where people are coming from and treat people with respect and some compassion in order to get things done. There is truth to the saying “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.