Earlier this week I had to take a moment because something Donald Trump said really hit home.
“So many self-righteous hypocrites”, he said on Twitter.
My heart sunk because intuitively I knew – to some degree – he was right.
I refer to myself as an example: I know I have bullied and judged others. I have also victimised, I have exploited and I have fought hard to win – often using tactics I’m not very proud of. My friends would also point out that I’m also guilty of being self righteous – quite often, as it turns out.
The difference is, I’m not in the public eye, so it appears I get away with it.
All this made me think for a moment: perhaps this is the reason why Trump is QUITE so excruciating.
After all, he is the worst kind of human, right? Impulsive, out of control, judgmental, ignorant, abusive. No wonder everyone is distancing themselves from him: “inexcusable”, they say – “despicable” – even “insecure”, according to Barack Obama.
To be honest, this was when I really saw my own humanity reflected in all this: I know I’ve “put people down to pump myself up”…. I think many people have, in their time.
So it turns out Donald is not alone in being human – quite the opposite, in fact. Scarily for me, I can really relate to him.
So maybe, just maybe – Donald Trump’s performance on the world stage offers us an opportunity to learn something about ourselves.
Look how quickly we point the finger, and absolve ourselves of any guilt.
No, I don’t want him to become President – for one thing, I think he lacks self control. No, I am not a fan of his policies or his character either. To be honest, given the alternative, I’m just pleased I don’t get a vote.
However, I am keen to hear a different narrative, which is more grounded, more responsible and self reflective.
What can we learn from all this?
Is it too much to suggest we could even feel gratitude for freshening things up so spectacularly?
At the end of the day, this isn’t about one man – it’s about all of us.
Why is the West looking around the world for a war?
Has the time come for the people of West Asia to reclaim political and media narratives stripped from them by Western imperialism?
Are the chickens finally coming home to roost for the BBC?
