Why is "MAGA" offensive?

[Strathos]

The slogan isn't offensive, but the person behind it is.

 

[Kentonio]

Last year MSNBC aired a MLK documentary named Hope and Fury. It was a good show, but I can't watch it again. I was so angry seeing the crowds of screaming racists. I've seen civil rights era shows before and was not affected like that, but after Trump and his MAGA crowds, their signs and t-shirts and the folks marching with tiki torches, it set me off. I was angry for DAYS and I get mad every time I think about it.

The US still had racial issues, but that blatant in your face hate, people being bigots and proud of it, was supposed to be in our past. We were supposed to have evolved to be better than that as a country. Trump has given people permission to be their worst self, hate their neighbor, and validated everyone's worst impluses, and it breaks my heart to see Christians jumping on to the bandwagon after being commanded to love their neighbor as themselves.

There are videos all over social media of people walking up people speaking different languages, or who look like whatever minority they hate at the moment and just insulting them. This wasnt happening on this scale before Trump. Yelling at folks telling them to go back to their own country, that Trump is going to deport them. Women and children are being attacked. It's out of hand.

MAGA hats have basically the same symbolism on the scale of a confederate flag as far as I'm concerned. I realize not all Trump supporters are racist, but racism is not a deal breaker for them. With all the hate rhetoric attached to it, I have to assume that is the message the person is trying to send, and is someone to avoid at all cost for my own safety and well being.

Good post. And yes, if someone is willing to wear a hat promoting an open bigot and racist, then they don't get to act offended by the idea that they themselves are supporting a racist platform (regardless of their own personal racial views).

 

[GoldenBoy89]

I think that is a fair statement. I think you would agree that attacking someone who is simply wearing a "MAGA" hat is unacceptable. I think it is appropriate to object to the president's vision and policies and to assume that a person wearing a MAGA hat supports those policies you disagree with. I also find it personally acceptable to approach someone wearing a MAGA hat and have a respectful debate over those policies. But to feel "offended" merely because someone is wearing a hat because they "believe" it has some underlying message of racism and hate is in my opinion absurd and childish. What if people started to believe that "Hope and Change" was a subliminal message to "Black Power"? To me, this example is no different than what is happening today with "Make America Great Again".

Absolutely I agree that people should not be attacked, not even verbally just for wearing a MAGA hat. I would never do such a thing and I would assume most Trump supporters wouldn't either in the other direction. I think we need to have more debate over the differences in policy instead of just assuming the other side has the worst ideas or worst intentions.

Like I said, the MAGA phrase itself doesn't offend me, I just don't identify with what it has come to mean to me and if others have their own meaning of it, that is fine. I'm not going to judge them by the worst examples. I don't believe it has some deeper meaning of racism or hate and I think most of the people who identify with it don't either but that doesn't mean there isn't a larger context attached to it.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Trump has given people permission to be their worst self, hate their neighbor, and validated everyone's worst impulses,

How so?

There are videos all over social media of people walking up people speaking different languages, or who look like whatever minority they hate at the moment and just insulting them. This wasn't happening on this scale before Trump.

There are also videos all over social media of conservatives being attacked and beaten for no other reason than wearing a hat.

Women and children are being attacked.

You mean the women who drag their children to a Militant ANTIFA protest and attack police officer?

MAGA hats have basically the same symbolism on the scale of a confederate flag as far as I'm concerned.

And this is the problem. Without any justification other than your feelings, this "symbolism" is a product of your own design and has nothing to do with the personal views and positions that the wearer actually holds. You believe it is comparable to a confederate flag. What if I told you that I find the slogan "Hope and Change" to be symbolic of "Black Power" and "Black Supremacy"? How would that be any different from your position?

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

What if a Hispanic wore a MAGA hat? My wife and her family is Mexican and they support President Trump, especially his position on immigration. Are they considered "racists" too?

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

The slogan isn't offensive, but the person behind it is.

So why is it offensive for someone to wear a MAGA hat if they are not the "person behind the slogan"?

 

[camille70]

How so?

There are also videos all over social media of conservatives being attacked and beaten for no other reason than wearing a hat.

You mean the women who drag their children to a Militant ANTIFA protest and attack police officer?


And this is the problem. Without any justification other than your feelings, this "symbolism" is a product of your own design and has nothing to do with the personal views and positions that the wearer actually holds. You believe it is comparable to a confederate flag. What if I told you that I find the slogan "Hope and Change" to be symbolic of "Black Power" and "Black Supremacy"? How would that be any different from your position?

I'm not going to go into a deep conversation about this. I'm not aware of any women attacked at an ANTIFA protest. Since Trump has been president we have had Muslim women attacked, in fact someone was killed defending one on a train.We had a black woman attacked and her throat slit. There have been dozens of others I don't care to think about. Its been documented that hate crimes have increased. Sometimes I am mistaken for a Latina. Years ago at the height of the fox news anti immigrant rhetoric I had men stare me down with hateful glares for long periods of time. I changed the way I style my hair to avoid this. Even though some of the hate is not directed toward me or my race, I still feel unsafe. Racists aren't going to stop and question me if I'm the right brown person they hate before attacking. So don't tell me that how I feel is part of the problem when I am only responding to what has been on display and what I have personally experienced.

As far as Obama, he didn't campaign on getting rid of white people. Thanks for including that though. I was wondering about your motivations in starting this thread.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

What if a Hispanic wore a MAGA hat? My wife and her family is Mexican and they support President Trump, especially his position on immigration. Are they considered "racists" too?

It's not a racial identifier. It's a cultural one. A political culture, to be exact.

 

[Kentonio]

The guy who only started claiming to have become a Christian when he was running for office and needed the Christian vote. The same guy who says he doesn't think he has anything to ask for forgiveness for. The same guy who has had 3 wives, cheated on all of them, slept with porn stars, defrauded large numbers of people out of their hard earned money (as proven in court on multiple occasions), and who lacks even the vaguest semblance of humility or compassion.

You think this guy stands for Christianity and family? Seriously?

Nationalism meanwhile, you're welcome to.

 

[Kentonio]

So why is it offensive for someone to wear a MAGA hat if they are not the "person behind the slogan"?

For the same reason it'd be offensive to wear a nazi swastika, even if you weren't personally Hitler.

 

[Varangian Christian]

The guy who only started claiming to have become a Christian when he was running for office and needed the Christian vote.

You cannot say he wasn't Christian beforehand. You cannot claim to know the state of his soul.

The same guy who says he doesn't think he has anything to ask for forgiveness for. .

That is just something someone new to the faith might say, especially if they are in politics and do not want to appear weak. You cannot claim to know what he has asked forgiveness for to God.

The guy who only started claiming to have become a Christian when he was running for office and needed the Christian vote. The same guy who says he doesn't think he has anything to ask for forgiveness for. The same guy who has had 3 wives, cheated on all of them, slept with porn stars, defrauded large numbers of people out of their hard earned money (as proven in court on multiple occasions),

And Paul slaughtered Christians, Constantine worshiped Sol Invictus, Nebuchadnezzer was probably as bad a guy as any pagan in history, etc. It does not matter what they have done before, to the Christian all that matters is if someone is in relationship with God now and in politics all that matters is if they are fighting against the wicked and harmful.

Orthodoxy teaches that we should be humble and say "i am the worst of sinners", not in that we cannot acknowledge there are many evil people and enemies of God throughout the world, but so that we do not become puffed up against our brother in Christ. I know Trump is far from a model Christian, but that does not concern me politically and as a Christian i simply pray he will grow stronger in the faith.

and who lacks even the vaguest semblance of humility or compassion.

"WEEEWOOWEEWOOO! Whats that? The Trump-is-literally-hitler-alarm? To arms against the non-human fiend! Whoever kills the ogre will be my champion!"

As i said before, his personal salvation and spiritual maturity doesnt concern me. He is standing against the satanic forces of globalism and degeneracy that have corrupted our society, therefore i support him.

---Staff Edit---

 

[High Fidelity]

Because of what it embodies, similar to the Confederate Flag.

 

[Varangian Christian]

It's not quite so obvious when you consider his business dealings all over the world but I'll give you that one. He's a "nationalist" though, I would probably still question his understanding of the word. It doesn't exactly have the best luggage attached to it.

He is going to have to make compromises and do all sorts of things he doesn't want to. Thats what happens when half the government wont support you and your country has entangled itself in so many affairs around the world for decades.

I would agree he has made it clear he stands with Christians (as they make up a sizable portion of his base) though he also makes it equally clear that Christ is nowhere near the center of his focus in life, which is alright by me.

I wouldnt expect him to be spiritually mature yet as he is clarly new to the faith. He is a rich man who lives the high life and also has the weight of a country on his shoulders. His spiritual maturity is honestly about where i would expect it to be.

I find it fascinating how a man who's had three marriages and multiple affairs gets a pass on "standing up for family" because he's said he's pro-life a few times during his campaign. How much has he accomplished on the pro-life front?

He has done a lot and laid the groundwork for an eventual overturning of roe v wade. This is a quick summary of his accomplishment:
President Trump’s Pro-Life Wins - Susan B. Anthony List

And again, ones former life doesn't matter, especially in politics. I dont care if he is perfect, i care that he is effective in fighting for whats right.

No. I don't condemn anyone wearing any kind of hats because that would be silly. A person could be wearing an "I love Hitler" hat or t-shirt and I would honestly just chuckle and go about my day.

I read one of your earlier replies and see i got your stance on the hats confused with someone else. My bad.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I'm not going to go into a deep conversation about this. I'm not aware of any women attacked at an ANTIFA protest. Since Trump has been president we have had Muslim women attacked, in fact someone was killed defending one on a train.We had a black woman attacked and her throat slit. There have been dozens of others I don't care to think about. Its been documented that hate crimes have increased. Sometimes I am mistaken for a Latina. Years ago at the height of the fox news anti immigrant rhetoric I had men stare me down with hateful glares for long periods of time. I changed the way I style my hair to avoid this. Even though some of the hate is not directed toward me or my race, I still feel unsafe. Racists aren't going to stop and question me if I'm the right brown person they hate before attacking. So don't tell me that how I feel is part of the problem when I am only responding to what has been on display and what I have personally experienced.

As far as Obama, he didn't campaign on getting rid of white people. Thanks for including that though. I was wondering about your motivations in starting this thread.

That's fine, I respect your position and I wont press any further. Thank you for your point of view. But believe me when I say that I am very brown and I have not had anything close of an experience that you had. I am not trying to minimize your situation or say it didn't happen the way you think. I believe it did happen to you. However, myself and the 99% of conservatives to include Trump would condemn them. I just have not had an issue with racism. In fact, the only instances that I can recall where racism ever became an issue is when I am accused of being one from the left. But once again, I condemn such behavior that you encountered and I will pray for you and those who are in your situation.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

No, its just so wonderfully convenient though isn't it. Suddenly after 70 years of living a completely immoral and debauched life, the guy suddenly finds Christ, just at the very moment he needs the votes of millions of evangelicals. Gosh, it must be a miracle..

Perhaps the millions of evangelicals voted for Trump because they agreed with his policies and vision for the country, not his personal life or his "faith". One thing is for certain, Trump isn't attacking Christians or going on a world tour to apologize on behalf of Christians for holding to their Christian values.

 

[sfs]

Simple question.

Why was this Okay, and this is offensive?

I find (and found) them both offensive.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I find (and found) them both offensive.

How was it offensive in 1980? I regret to admit that I was not born then so I am curious on what your reasons were. From my understanding, the economy and world position was in a slum as a result of a failed Carter administration. Furthermore, if I recall, Regan was a fairly popular president from both the Left and the Right.

You can't argue with the results.

​

 

[seeking.IAM]

1. Reagan tore down a wall. He didn't build one.
2. We dispute what makes America great. How about doing some things for citizenry like universal health care and preserving social security instead of giving tax cuts to the rich?
3. Because it's empty rhetoric.
   
4. Because you don't wear a trucker's cap with a suit no matter what the cap says.

 

[Kentonio]

One thing is for certain, Trump isn't attacking Christians or going on a world tour to apologize on behalf of Christians for holding to their Christian values.

Another thing that is for certain is that no US president has ever done that either. You really need to stop getting your news exclusively from FOX and Brietbart.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

George Carlin had a great bit on people wearing the same hats and why you shouldn't trust them and this was at least a decade before this whole MAGA movement became a thing.

Oh George Carlin. May he rest in peace .