A behaviorist perspective

The behaviorist school of psychology suggests that introspection is of little value and that what matters are observable behaviors. Strangely Donald Trump (and his administration more broadly) is a walking demonstration that idea.

Take the question of whether he is or isn't a racist, a question over which our befuddled media have been agonizing over for at least the two years plus of his presidency, some longer, and most intensively since he sent out a series of tweets last weekend. At issue was his attack on four non-white women members of the House of Representatives.

"So interesting to see 'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly...... ....and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how....   ....it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!  

First "who come originally" sets the context that they are 'not one of us', 'not really American'. Next by linking their supposed origins to corrupt governments, he is suggesting they they are somehow equally tainted. And then the oft-repeated line to 'go back to where you came from', again indicating they don't belong. It's worth noting that three of the four women he attacked were first generation Americans while his claim to "Ameicaness" is only one generation better.  But it is clear that he is using a line of argument and phrases that are those of white supremacists and white nationalists.  So does that make him a racist?

The answer has to be it really doesn't matter whether he is or not - something anyway one can never really know. What matters is that he behaves like one. He can say repeatedly "I'm not a racist", something that most racists do anyway, but that's probably just another lie.

Whether he is or isn't if he behaves like one that's all we need to know. We don't need to label him one; we simply need to point to the many instances in which he has and continues to act like a white supremacists. And that should be of grave concern to anyone who claims to hold Judeo-Christian values (like, for example, Republican members of Congress).   Whether its Trump and his band of crooked brothers (and sisters), or prison guards abusing inmates, they may go home and be sweet and loving to their friends and family, but that's quite irrelevant; it's their action that matter.

And, lest we get side tracked into "don't listen to what he says, see what he does", as president, his words have the effect of actions. While the adage about actions speaking louder than words applies to those who have voice that reaches, in Edward Murrow's words "only to the end of the bar", Trump's  reaches and influences millions.  His words are directly responsible for shaping attitudes of perhaps a third of the country and in all likelihood indirectly for the actions of many, including those like James Fields, the white nationalist recently sentenced for the murder of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville two years ago. Were he capable of honest self reflection, Trump should keep Murrow's observation in mind:       

"Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar".