Just two days after
ld's most powerful person, Donald Trump put out the following tweet:
"Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!"
Within hours he attempted a do-over.
"Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have a passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!"
It is unlikely that Trump's second tweet was a result of his better angels taking over. More likely it was the result of an astute member of his staff.
One need not look too far back in history for examples of fascist leaders criticizing the voices of those who oppose them. As far as Trump's assertion that his citizen critics are "professional protesters," I am afraid he's got it backwards. Hitler had his Storm Detachment, Mussolini had his Black Shirts, Stalin had his OPGU, and even Woodrow Wilson had his Committee on Public Information, professionally led groups one and all dedicated to silencing public dissent.
Those who are grieving the election of Trump can take heart in the famous Native American quote, "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children," for on November 9 thousands of "nonprofessional" public high school students walked out of their classes in protest of the November 8 outcome, and not just from states that Clinton carried. Students in Utah, Arizona, Nebraska and Iowa marched out in solidarity following the election. Dissent exercised by adults is important. Dissent exercised by children can change the world. Hope lives!
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