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I attended Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, and let me tell you, what I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears was nothing like what you read in the mainstream media. Not even close.
Contrary to reports describing the event as a gathering of racism, bigotry and misogyny, I observed a crowd overflowing with joy and camaraderie. With ears ringing from all the chants of “USA! USA! USA!’, I left the room reflecting on Trump’s latest slogan: ‘Make America Dream Again’. And, I must admit, for the first time in a long time it seemed to me that better days were still possible. Others there that night, however, left with much darker and more sinister interpretations of the same event.
It was as if there were two rallies for Trump on Sunday night: one for those who love him and one for those who hate him. Thanks to modern psychology, we now know that this is exactly what happened.
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The illuminating concept here is confirmation bias, which basically says that you look for evidence to support what you already believe, not the other way around. So when you go to a Trump rally looking for hate, you will find hate. Conversely, if you’re looking for hope, you’re likely to find it.
Empathy requires us to step back and really experience what others see, even if you disagree. This insight echoes a poignant verse from Hebrews 12:15, which warns us of the dangers of how, when we become bitter, we can fail to see: “Be careful that no one misses the grace of God; out of bitterness springeth up and causeth trouble, and by it many are defiled.”
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In politics, when you hold a grudge against someone, that person can’t seem to do anything right. When our political opponents do succeed, our hostility blinds us to their achievements. Instead, we focus on their failures, confirming our biases and reinforcing our prejudices. It’s a vicious cycle that affects both sides of the political divide.
Were there any dark moments during Trump’s speech? For sure. I wasn’t there early enough to see the “comedian” make his wrong and terrible joke about Puerto Rico. In fact, I wasn’t there for many of the clips that were replayed because those comments weren’t made by the headliners. Despite some moments of outrage and anger (which Democrats express all the time without all the media pearls being caught), the room was filled with countless uplifting moments of hope and patriotism. But remember, these moments are impossible to see when you’re hunting for hate.
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Trump resonates with tens of millions of Americans because he doesn’t look down on them. He does not mock their lives or the people they are or the things they like. Instead of scolding them, he empowers his followers to dream big again. He acknowledges their sentiments and gives them permission to oppose elite liberals. He challenges the status quo, emphasizing that those who boast superior intelligence because they attended prestigious schools are often out of touch with reality. He advocates for ordinary Americans, acknowledging their struggles and insisting that they are not too naïve to question the system.
While the media may characterize Donald Trump as a narcissist, his followers see him as a defender of their values and rights.
“Is everything really okay?” Trump asks, pointing to obvious problems like rising crime rates, prohibitive costs of living and troubling education directives that instruct children to trust their teachers, not their parents. It calls for clear solutions, whether popular or not, reminding us that what we’re told is “normal” is actually anything but.
Instead of simply criticizing the current administration, Trump resonates with his supporters by not only expressing his frustrations, but also offering solutions and fighting for them every day. While the media may characterize him as narcissistic, his followers see him as a defender of their values and rights.
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If you’re not careful, rejecting the other side—as many are doing with Trump—turns into rejecting his supporters and defenders. This alienation will make those voters dig in their heels, making it clear that they don’t believe the other side will ever be their champion. By shutting down their chance to win their votes, the left reinforces the very divide they claim to hope to overcome.
In short, don’t go looking for hate unless that’s all you want to find.
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