NEW YORK - Nov. 24, 2019 - Openness and awareness begins with the ability to self-critique and reflect upon
things central to one's own beliefs, thoughts, actions, behavior, and results. For this reason, I will stop collecting signatures for US President and instead help Michael Bloomberg get elected US President in 2020. Bloomberg's tweeted today "We cannot afford four more years of President Trump's reckless and unethical actions.The stakes could not be higher. We must win this election. And we must begin rebuilding America".
Donald Trump blames Mexicans and other immigrants for the ills of our nation. Failure to confront his internal imperfections forces the President to continually look for scapegoats to make up for his shortcomings. Trump allowed the targeting of latinos. Trump's rhetoric is appealing to groups who also use Mexicans and immigrants as ready made scapegoats. Scapegoating at a group level is made easier by the fact that some group members (all races) are individuals who are composed of their own weaknesses and flaws. The President's rhetoric tries to provide legitimate reasons for indignation and falsely magnifies the problems by his proposed wall on the US and Mexican border. A small number of undesirable Mexicans serve as the hook Donald Trump has tied all of America's problems. Trump's approach sends the wrong message and makes it plausible to justify persecution and violence to anyone who looks like me.
Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist, Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. In his book "The Righteous Mind" Haidt takes the high road with regards to religion and correctly points out the effective utility the role of religion has played throughout history. Haidt repeatedly uses The Elephant and the Rider Metaphor. Haidt says that our emotional side is the Elephant and our rational side is the rider. Perched atop the Elephant, the Rider holds the reins and seems to be the leader. But the Rider's control is precarious because the Rider is so small relative to the Elephant since it is not reason who guides life, but customs. " Jonathan Haidt also started the Astroid Club, a unique non-debate on America's biggest problems, which are hurtling toward us through space and time at an alarming rate of speed. Envision a gathering convened by two people who disagree politically but are willing to mutually acknowledge that the other side may see some real threats more clearly than does one's own side. An approach that would make Fredrick Hegel blush with joy! Unfortunately, the last post on the website is from 2014. Michael Bloomberg will help change this. http://stoopjuice.com/how-to-get-better-by-2020.pdf
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