by David GreyOwl
In case anyone was wondering, Donald Trump, and to be honest, just saying that name leaves a bad taste in my mouth, did not win the election with any other demographic but whites. Trump was vaulted to the White House with the white vote. Let that sink in for a moment. The only ethnic category, the "President elect" won was the white vote. More than 40 percent of the nation's eligible, voting electorate did not vote. As a matter of fact, the number was very close to 47 percent.
Donald Trump ran his entire campaign on hate and violence. Trump supporters will try to refute that fact, and believe me, I have had quite a few Facebook acquaintances argue that very point. Christopher Keelty, a writer for the Huffington Post, penned an article about a fad that is sweeping the country. That fad is; the wearing of a safety pin. The pin, in Keelty's opinion is an attempt for whites to designate themselves as "allies." Like, Keelty, I believe the reasons for wearing the safety pin is an attempt to cleanse ones hands of responsibility after helping to place a white nationalist into the White House.
What, Christopher writes, and I quote, "It doesn't matter why, what matters is there's a white nationalist moving into the Oval Office and white people-only white people-put him there."
The "safety pins" will do very little, nothing at all, to assure people of color and immigrants they are safe under a, "Trump presidency. " People of color and immigrants know full well what is it like to live under oppressive governments.
Keelty wrote. "Remember the white guys in the 1970's who wrote all about freedom and equality and inalienable rights? Remember how they owned and sold slaves? Yeah, if that's the spirit you want to evoke, go ahead and wear your safety pin. I am sure lots of white people will smile when they see it. They might even congratulate you. But immigrants and people of color will recognize it as a symbol of your privilege."
People have become experts at producing various symbols to "show their support" for the many injustices that are a part of this nation's fabric. Instead of producing the various symbols, how about using your voice to address those injustices? Wearing a symbol is nothing more than a way to avoid speaking out, unless a situation forces one to speak out against what needs a voice instead of a symbol.
Most have come to accept seeing a symbol as a voice. That is nothing more than passive, non- participation, and it accomplishes very little. I am no fan of the acts of violence happening around the country with regards to the protest about this election. Believe me, I am no fan of, Trump, or what he stands for. Trump's election to the White House will go down in history as one of the greatest con jobs ever perpetrated on a population. If you are still convinced you need to wear a safety pin, at least use it for something more than a symbol that has very little sincere meaning.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dear-white-people-your-safety-pins-are-embarassing_us_58278b9de4b02b1f5257a36a