Just keep doing what you’ve been doing, everyone, that’s how Donald Trump will become president of the United States. Then, Armenian headaches, heartaches, and possibly catastrophes will grow significantly because of the instability he is likely to foster in Armenia’s neighborhood—Georgia/Caucasus, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria, and Ukraine/Crimea.
It seems to me that everyone is falling into the Trump-trap. Whether it is intentionally set by him or just a by-product of how he behaves, I don’t know, but the trap is there. By now it should be obvious for all to see. Yet, everyone, and it seems some of the same people, keep falling into the Trump-trap again and again. This trap may be even older than Trump, as suggested by a “Politico” article titled, “How an Outsider President Killed a Party.”
It starts with misunderstanding him and his campaign. Arguing that he is racist and anti-Mexican, or is using racism to mobilize some segments of American society, falls into the Trump-trap. So does arguing that he is anti-women and anti-Muslim. He is not any “ist” and he’s just talking, don’t read deeper into it than that (although some contend that even the “just talking” is a well-practiced act). Anyone busy building a Trump-scale fortune through crafty deals and “fortuitous” bankruptcies, is less likely than most people to have adopted or developed any “isms” or ideology, unless opportunism can be considered an ideology!
Perhaps the best example is the most recent one. Trump claimed that it was possible a judge presiding over a trial involving Trump could be biased against him. Trump based his “concern” on the fact that the judge’s parents are from Mexico and the latter is involved in a group of lawyers whose roots are in Mexico. Clearly, Trump has spoken out against Mexicans. So, it’s natural for him to have that worry—of a Mexican judge resenting Trump’s comments and reacting accordingly, whether or not it’s true or valid (and I certainly don’t believe it is true or valid). Any normal human being would (at least) wonder about that under the same circumstances. So when Trump gets criticized for his highly objectionable comments, the average person is surprised and put off by the criticism because that same average person would have the same concern under similar circumstances.
Obviously, when presidential candidates voice such thoughts, they are magnified and take on a greater importance and can easily be given too much weight. If your European-origin neighbor was known to hold racist views and was in court before a black judge, he might say to you something like Trump did, right? But then it would be forgotten as you went about trimming your shrubs and he went back to mowing his lawn. That’s how Trump’s comments should be taken. They should be heard and quickly forgotten, not amplified and repeated, giving him even more visibility.
Every time his seemingly outlandish comments are given more credence than they deserve, he gets one step closer to the White House. That’s because attacking him for those comments, or even seeming to attack him, solidifies the support of those who already like him and builds support among others by making him into a martyr, or at least someone being unfairly criticized. This happens precisely because he talks naturally, like any one of us would with our friends. That’s the context in which he’s seen.
That “guy next door” perception is also his strength against his now certain major-party opponent, Hillary Clinton. She is the opposite of that “neighbor” with her stiffness, her (only partially deserved) reputation for flip-flopping, and the Clinton-phobia with the attendant venom it has produced for a quarter century. For the record, I am no Hillary lover, nor am I a part of the warped contingent in American society that loathes her. She is just another presidential candidate whom I prefer less than others.
Trump should be treated the way he treats others. Call him a wimp, a wuss, for not debating Bernie Sanders as he initially suggested some days ago. Laugh at him, but in a friendly (if dismissive) chuckle, not sarcastically or acerbically. Treat him like the pathetic creature he really is. But don’t do it from a holier-than-thou perspective. Don’t make a martyr out of a moron. Do it like neighbors chatting on the street where one guy wearing a toupee might get teased for it. Or, if someone says something dumb, they get called out for it in a neighborly way.
From a different, non-Trump based perspective, another behavior by Clinton that would help Trump is if she does NOT bring Bernie Sanders on as her vice-presidential running mate. Clearly, there’s an awareness in the Clinton camp that the more left-leaning, economic justice-advocating, and younger segments of American society are displeased with her. Evidence of this is that Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s name is being floated publicly already. But I don’t think that will do, even though she would have made a great presidential candidate. I suspect a two-woman ticket might generate a backlash, unspoken though it would be. Having Sanders as a running-mate addresses a multitude of concerns relating to Clinton, even if they are perceptions and not real: trustworthiness, energy, anti-establishment, youth support, alternative seekers, etc.
Spread the word. Otherwise the U.S., the world, and Armenia/Armenians are in for a very long four years.
Garen Yegparian
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Fantastic article. Yes, let’s elect Clinton and start a new Armenia-Turkey protocols.we really need another Clinton
You are a naive buch.Clnton believes in nothing and helps no one except herself.
She will serve the highest bidder.She collected hundreds of millions from Saudi Aeabia and other Islamic dictators.
She will be easily bribed by Turkey to work agains Armenians in Armenia and Ngorno Karapagh.
Non of the Islamic dictators have recognized the Armenian Genocide .They are all supporting Clinton.
No guaranty that Trump will be good for Armenians but we know he does not trust the Islamic countries who are supporting ISIS.It’s important to understand the complicated relationships.
Mr. Yegparian, and the one other commenter “Vaheh” are wrong! This article is far from fantastic. I’m not sure how you can even refer to it as an article when there is not a shred of informative or factual information.
Mr. Yegparian, an “article” full of barking at your fellow Armenians “don’t do that”, “do this”, “don’t think that”, “think this”, sounds an awful lot like others in history telling Armenians what to do… and look where that got us!
I’m not saying Trump is the best presidential candidate that can be, but he’s certainly better for America, and Armenians everywhere, than the competition. Let’s say he’s the lesser of two evils, would that make you happy?
Before you essentially force Armenians in this country to vote for Clinton (who’s husband I actually liked), based on speculation, conjecture, and downright ridiculous and redundant nonsense, ask yourself where Trump’s and Clinton’s interests are. Who their allies are, who their enemies are… etc. You will find yourself in a “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” situation. And, when it comes to Clinton, be very careful what you wish you, because you might just get it!
How can you expect Clinton to further the causes of the Armenian people when she is funded by the very people who led to, or stood back and watched as Armenians were robbed and butchered of everything they lived for? The people she does business with are a cancer, and, as is the nature of cancer, they will destroy the very thing that sustains them.
We’ll see if Trump makes good on his promises (against muslims, mexicans, etc.) but at least he takes a position, rather that some people (Clinton) who just sit back, wait for their opposition to make a statement and then attack that statement. Kinda wreaks of cowardice, don’t you think?!
Fellow Armenians, please don’t be fooled by statements such as a “Trump trap”… I don’t even know what hat means, because there is no trap. Look at the candidates histories, look at the facts, try to envision what will happen a year from now…four years from now. In my opinion, and this is just my own opinion; with Clinton, absolutely nothing will happen. Four years from November, we will be in the same position we are in today. With Trump, this is what he does. He makes deals, and closes them. I don’t know if he will make good deals or bad deals, or if there will be positive or negative movement, but there will be progress, and that’s the important thing. At least Mr. Trump understands that the killer of all deals is time! So, you have to do something, anything… like my father used to say, you’re either part of the problem, part of the solution, or you’re just part of the scenery!
Hillary is too predictable. She’ll be like Obama. Maybe Trump who derides NATO, will be less PC and not be blackmailed by Turkey
was it not clinton who did not want to be quoted or photographed in dzizernagapert?
to deal with world madness, you need a mad man!!!
I am sorry but your analysis is totally wrong
As far as Armenia and Armenians are concerned Bernie was our best bet. I don’t expect anything good from these two.
Wow!!! It is incredible that this article was published by the Armenian Weekly, without any “qualifications”, insulting and disrespecting all Armenian-Americans who are Republicans.
I suggest that the Democratic Party seriously consider electing Mr. Yegparian Chairman of the Democratic National Committee instead of Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
No further comment is necessary.
Vart Adjemian
For the Armenian-American community, none of the candidates are “our best bet” and that includes Sanders in my opinion. What guarantee was there Sanders was going to keep his word?
Clinton is another vile flip-flopper in the same tradition of the neocon establishment of the past several decades. In other words, Clinton is Obama’s third term, more of the same, in other words, more of American debt for the purpose of financing global chaos.
Trump is a tool, with shady business connections to Azerbaijan and Turkey. However, one thing I am enjoying is, Trump’s treatment of the “establishment” in the USA, the traditional lying neocon two-faced ruling elites, and also its associated “Main Stream” media. Since he is not financed by them he says what he believes is best for his nation, and unlike some others in the establishment, ‘his nation’ happens to be the USA. And his idea of “America First” has caused a shakeup of the establishment and they are getting really worried because suddenly the decades-long status-quo is under threat.
Trump is appealing to the average Joe, because people are just tired of all the lies and political correctness of the government which has been taken over by an entity with an ideology totally detached from the American public, at least a large segment of it.
By one metric, a person like Trump has no chance. By another metric Hillary should be in jail. So the next few months will be interesting.
Interesting how the people who are in charge of the Armenian community today, these so called “intelectuals” do not represent the Armenian people. These people are shills who are using the good nature of the Armenian people to secure a Hilary win. Donald Trump use to be a buisnessman! He did buisness! As a politician Hilary has done much more to destabalize the middle east then Trump! She has a TRACK RECORD of starting wars! Donald Trump wants to destroy the ISIS Christian killers and leave the rest to stabalize itself. Hilary wants to start a WAR with Russia! Trump and Putin have a mutual respect.
Regardless of what these “intellectuals” tell you Trump is the Christian candidate
Trump is the candidate of peace
Trump is the candiate that will create jobs
Trump is the candidate that will bring back traditional values
Trump is the president that EVERY American deserves
Mr. Yegbarian must have been in contact with Clinton team to sell off Armenians so badly. Who can forget how Hillary laughed at Armenians and said genocide should be a question for historians. I think the author of the article does not understand that besides the brainwashed liberal Armenians who know nothing of Soviet Armenia there are plenty of immigrants who have seen what social engineering has done to people.