Donald Trump Raises
'Interesting Question' about Heroism in War (Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland)
"Trump raises an interesting question: is it possible to be a hero when fighting in a stupid or unjust war? Apparently the answer is: you can, but only if you fail to succeed on the battlefield. In Vietnam, McCain was a victim, so he's glorified. Toward Chris Kyle, who killed over 100 people in Iraq and for whom Clint Eastwood made a much-talked about film called American Sniper, there are mixed feelings - even in America."
The case of Donald Trump, a billionaire and a clown who now
aspires to the presidency of the United States, is the latest proof of the sad thesis
that shameless, vulgar cheek – often unadorned with talent, hard work or
honesty - is enough to achieve success, especially if you come from a privileged
background.
Donald was born into a wealthy family, but to his credit be
certainly multiplied the mere tens of millions inherited from his father. Even
if his boast about being worth $10 billion can be dismissed as exaggeration,
his assets undoubtedly amount to a few billions. Therefore you can, and even unfortunately
must, call him a man of success. And not only financial success: for the last ten
years he has been a television star, has had his own programs and even owns the
Miss America pageant.
He recently decided to try his hand in major politics and
announced he wanted to be the Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential
election. He needed just a few weeks to overtake all other candidates on the
right, including Jeb Bush, and take first spot in the polls. Conservative
voters apparently liked Donald’s pugnacious, larger-than-life personality, including
his recent remarks that illegal immigrants from Mexico are “rapists and
murderers,” and that a massive wall should be built on the border, etc.
More sensible Republican politicians are wringing their
hands, fearing that Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric hurts the party, which lost
the last presidential election because in part, Hispanics supported Obama.
“What he does is very damaging … he fires up the crazies,” said Senator McCain,
bringing on himself the wrath of The Donald.
At a public event, Trump said McCain “is not a war hero” - it is worth
recalling that McCain fought in Vietnam and spent five years in captivity, even
undergoing torture. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people
who weren’t captured” explained Trump, who as a young man avoided service in
Vietnam by citing a foot injury (today he doesn't remember which foot).
Posted
By Worldmeets.US,
With this, it seems, he crossed a line. In America, free
speech allows for a lot, but there are two topics that are so sacrosanct they must
never be sullied, i.e. God and war veterans.Trump had proven himself"mentally
unfit to be president and should immediately withdraw" opined former Texas
Governor Rick Perry. A similar conclusion will undoubtedly be drawn by many
Trump supporters, which means that we are likely witnessing the beginning of
the end of his political carrier.
By the way, Trump raises an interesting question: is it
possible to be a hero when fighting in a stupid or unjust war? Apparently the
answer is: you can, but only if you fail to succeed on the battlefield. In
Vietnam, McCain was a victim, so he's glorified. Toward Chris Kyle, who killed over 100
people in Iraq and for whom Clint Eastwood made a much-talked about film called American Sniper, there are mixed feelings - even in America.
