The atmosphere of political rhetoric in America will become more and more acidic as election season draws closer. A frightening prospect, considering how venomous it already is. But that rhetoric reaches beyond the world of campaigning – it becomes a serious issue when it feeds into the prejudice and racism of our daily lives. Jockeying for position among the Republican presidential hopefuls has exposed some of the uglier sentiments a politician can support, like the Islamophobia and bigotry of Donald Trump and Ben Carson.
Trump and Carson have both shown their prejudiced colors since they gained the spotlight – take, for instance, Carson’s professing that a Muslim should never be President. Or Trump’s record of insisting that Obama isn’t American. Or the anti-Mexican bigotry that keeps spilling out of his puckered face.
Much of their hatred is being brought to light by a Muslim Congressman. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-MN, who is clearly troubled by the ideas circulating publicly and within the medi. Ellison made sure to say so with a statement he recently released: not only are these ways of thinking unconstitutional but they’re also “out of touch with who we are as a people”. America is, and has always been a highly multicultural society. Why do so many ignorant fools think it “belongs” to the whites? Diversity is our culture. Rep. Ellison continued, saying that “every American should be disturbed” by these statements; they represent ideas that are highly troubling to hear both on a personal level and a nationwide level. The fact that potential Presidential candidates are broadcasting to a demographic is more than worrisome, it’s dangerous. Listening to such heinous bigotry reinforces daily prejudice.
Rep. Ellison’s calling out of the Republican hopefuls is a welcome sign, though. He brings up that the hopefuls “are engaging in and tolerating blatant acts of religious bigotry,” a clear and no-nonsense way of phrasing a very serious problem. Rep. Ellison’s actions are those of a real representative of his constituency – not the constant pandering to a blind fear and hatred some Americans were tragically bred with.
In a campaign environment where vitriol is commonplace and extreme statements of bigotry and prejudice are rampant, Rep. Keith Ellison represents a voice of reason and genuine care for the people whom he represents. We need people to keep this group of presidential hopefuls in check. This election is a completely different beast from last term’s. The Republican candidates are playing a dangerous game of political clown pander – let’s get serious before one of these maniacs actually gets elected.