Why is "MAGA" offensive?

[whatbogsends]

What was “Reagan era greatness?”

When you look at Trump’s history and his rhetoric, it does seem like he and his followers would like to roll back progress we’ve made in civil rights and prevent whites from becoming a minority in this country.

Among other things, the Reagan era is where we began to explode the national debt. Which is why it's extremely humorous that, for a long time, Republicans claimed to be the party of fiscal responsibility.

 

[Hank77]

So how do you explain the greatest landslide victory over an incumbent president? Apparently there weren't very many "Left". Not to different from this in 2016:

The 2016 map is incorrect, Trump didn't win Colorado or New Mexico.

 

[Albion]

The 2016 map is incorrect, Trump didn't win Colorado or New Mexico.

Nor Virginia, but he did win PA. So I don't know which election that map refers to. 2004?

 

[Ringo84]

Among other things, the Reagan era is where we began to explode the national debt. Which is why it's extremely humorous that, for a long time, Republicans claimed to be the party of fiscal responsibility.

There's a quote somewhere that says something to the effect of "I like capitalism up to the year 1980 or so". You can guess what happened after 1980: the Gordon Gekko 'profit above everything else' and 'lavish tax cuts on the rich and use the budget deficit as an excuse to cut federal assistance to the poor' era.
Ringo

 

[Hank77]

First of all, Donald Trump tried to claim that he coined the phrase "Make America Great Again," which is a blatant lie because the phrase was first used by Ronald Reagan.

Trump said, and I quote: "The line of 'Make America great again,' the phrase, that was mine, I came up with it about a year ago, and I kept using it, and everybody's now using it, they are all loving it, I don't know, I guess I should copyright it, maybe I have copyrighted it."

However, he was lying when he said he had coined the phrase and it was his.

‘Make America Great Again’—Who Said It First?

Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has been consistent about one thing: His promise that he is going to "Make America Great Again."

The Republican nominee claims he coined the slogan at some point in 2014. He once even accused Ted Cruz of ripping him off when the Texas senator used the phrase in his own presidential campaign announcement. But Trump is not the first politician to use the phrase.

Ronald Reagan repeatedly promised to “make America great again” during his 1980 presidential campaign. He, too, used it as slogan on campaign merchandise.

Secondly, concerning the phrase 'Make America Great Again'...

"When Donald Trump says, 'Make America Great Again,' what time period is he talking about? A lot of people overlook that America's history has been built upon injustice against other racial groups, including Native American people." - Vanessa Bowen, creator of 'Make America Native Again' hats

Navajo Artist Creates 'Make America Native Again' Hats to Critique Donald Trump's Campaign Slogan

What time period is Donald Trump talking about?

And finally, can you give me a period in American history when you think America was great?

I've always thought that America was great and been thankful that I was born here. There is room for improvement but it's better than in the past.

 

[Hank77]

Nor Virginia, but he did win PA. So I don't know which election that map refers to. 2004?

The poster said 2016, comparing Reagan's map to Trump's. That's the way I understood his post.

 

[Albion]

The poster said 2016, comparing Reagan's map to Trump's. That's the way I understood his post.

I was agreeing with you on that. He did say 2016, but the map clearly is not of the 2016 election.

 

[whatbogsends]

The 2016 map is incorrect, Trump didn't win Colorado or New Mexico.

Why are you bringing facts into this?

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

I have not see that many Obama hats, nor have I see anything about Black supremacy. I see Blacks asking for the same rights, and to be treated the same.

If you think that is Black supremacy, then the problem may be you. I am sorry you think it is offensive.

Of course I don't really think of "Hope and change" is "Black Supremacy". The point is that it is exactly what liberals are doing when they attibute "MAGA" to white supremacy. So, in your own words, if you are offended by "MAGA" hats then "the problem may be you and I am sorry you think it is offensive" .

 

[Veritas]

It's not the slogan, it's the rhetoric that often accompanies it.

What "rhetoric"? Be specific.

 

[Veritas]

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

A lot of people are offended by the Clintons' and Obama's. You didn't see them behaving the way Trump haters do.

 

[Hank77]

A lot of people are offended by the Clintons' and Obama's. You didn't see them behaving the way Trump haters do.

LOL, right....

 

[Shiloh Raven]

LOL, right....

That was my thought too when I read the other post.

 

[bèlla]

No one can "bring out the worse" in you. The absence of personal responsibility in some statements is staggering. It's your proclivity to the message that matters.

I have never desired to walk into a building and start shooting or rob a store or commit physical violence against someone. That doesn't change the reality these things take place in American society on a daily basis.

And if we're susceptible to influence from rhetoric, hats and social media stunts we have a different issue. Scapegoating others doesn't diminish our brokenness or irresponsibility. It's just another guise of victimhood and helplessness.

 

[DaisyDay]

It's not the slogan, it's the rhetoric that often accompanies it.

Naw, it is the slogan that's offensive with its implication that Obama ran American into the ground.

 

[Strathos]

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

Because it can be taken as an implication of support for all of his policies.

Roe v Wade will never be overturned

I'm not convinced of that.

A lot of people are offended by the Clintons' and Obama's. You didn't see them behaving the way Trump haters do.

True. They behaved much worse. (Kenyan Marxist, illuminati witch, secret Muslim, "don't re-nig", lock her up, Malcolm X's son, Michelle is actually a man... I could spend years listing off every crazy insult and conspiracy theory aimed at those particular politicians).

 

[camille70]

No one can "bring out the worse" in you. The absence of personal responsibility in some statements is staggering. It's your proclivity to the message that matters.

I have never desired to walk into a building and start shooting or rob a store or commit physical violence against someone. That doesn't change the reality these things take place in American society on a daily basis.

And if we're susceptible to influence from rhetoric, hats and social media stunts we have a different issue. Scapegoating others doesn't diminish our brokenness or irresponsibility. It's just another guise of victimhood and helplessness.

So all the arguments against violent video games and rap music lyrics are nonsense? Advertisers spend billions for nothing because people can't be influenced? Affirmations don't work? Cult leaders don't exist? Jim Jones was a myth? Why do we renew our minds in the Word? Are pastors who tell us to avoid certain TV shows and movies because of how they can influence our lifestyle and make us susceptible to sin by normalizing and glorifying certain behaviors wrong?

Repetitive sound bites are effective. Hearing things over and over again is effective. Meditating on messages, positive or negative, is effective. The bible tells us words contain the power of life and death, warns about careless speech, and moderating our own behavior, even if it isn't sinful, if it can have an effect on others and cause them to fall. Is the bible wrong now?

People respond differently, and your threshold may be different than others, but don't tell me people can't and aren't being influenced. We even have folks around here parroting Trump lies and talking points like they're gospel, becoming insensitive to the suffering of others when it is someone who doesn't look or worship like them, denying the Christian love and compassion we are supposed to show to others.

Trump doesn't just lie and spew foul ideas. He repeats them over and over and over and over. Even after finding out they are lies. He is media savvy so I have to assume this is intentional malice. If someone hears hundreds of times that group xyz (Muslims, immigrants, Mexicans, the FBI, the press, the government, establishment GOP, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters) is an enemy of the US, will they not be affected or feel compelled to act? It wasn't too long ago that bombs were sent out to most of the individual people he criticizes. His words are not in a vacuum. Words have consequences, and as the leader of our nation he is far too careless with his.

 

[Paulos23]

Of course I don't really think of "Hope and change" is "Black Supremacy". The point is that it is exactly what liberals are doing when they attibute "MAGA" to white supremacy. So, in your own words, if you are offended by "MAGA" hats then "the problem may be you and I am sorry you think it is offensive"

No. The problem is when was America "great"? Most of the answers I get is before Obama was president, before immigrants invaded and took jobs, before woman had jobs, etc. Lots of fear of the other, and lots of looking for simple answers to complex problems. Lots of blame at anyone but themselves.

And that is the problem, it isn't when America was great, it's when these people felt in charge. They are afraid of being treated equal, because they are afraid of coming up short.

So they target immigrants, minorities, etc. As the problem. Anyone but themselves.

It is not a slogan to improve the nation as a whole. Only a part of the nation. And that offends me.

 

[Veritas]

Among other things, the Reagan era is where we began to explode the national debt. Which is why it's extremely humorous that, for a long time, Republicans claimed to be the party of fiscal responsibility.

And then along came Obama.

 

[ViaCrucis]

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".

And that's what's terrifying.

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.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years is that here in America "Christian values" are rarely Christian.

-CryptoLutheran