It took a man like Trump to bring the US’s Ugly Americans to the forefront.
Where were they lurking before? In the small towns and rural areas of the large country, far away from literacy, close to religion and harbouring an often violent dislike to their ‘big government’ whom they see as constantly interfering in every facet of their lives. Why didn’t they show their presence before? Because their Presidents and those in authority followed the law and respected it. This made them feel like an ineffective minority, a crazy fringe ignored by the rest. No amount of positive ‘big’ government actions helped. They didn’t care when the Federal Government provided financial stimuli during the Covid time or during floods and other natural calamities. Sometimes this (and I hate to say it) was a good thing. I marvelled at pictures and videos of hurricanes and floods destroying their homes completely and they could be seen saying “what can we do, we have to start life again.” Problem solved as easily as that. I was awestruck because in any other country they would be mourning and weeping and pleading to their governments to help them. And then comes out a destructive, poisonous rattlesnake from their from their front yard and like the biblical animal in Genesis, he tells them they are the salt of America and together they can make their country great again. Trailer trash people suddenly being shown their power and ability to get what they want. No limits. Even rushing into their most sacred Capitol and driving away all their lawmakers of both red and blue colours. The genie has escaped from the bottle. The goons of Uttar Pradesh has got their Adityanath and the source of his power, his modern Nazi party isn’t going to give up their control anytime soon. Trump and Modi. Closer parallels than you could figure. Roland. Toronto.
