Why is "MAGA" offensive?

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Given how quickly this has regressed into another "feel good Trump bashing" thread. I just thought I would remind everyone what the OP topic is. Why was "MAGA" okay in 1980 with Regan and now it is offensive with Trump in 2016? Does anyone have any answer other than "Because Trump is bad and if you disagree, you must be a racist."?

 

[Ringo84]

When did rambot say anything about "feeling offended"?

Because the context of Reagan using the phrase "make America great again" and Trump "they're rapists" using it is different.
Ringo

 

[Radagast]

But MAGA isn't about making America great, it's about being joining an evil cult and ejecting all sense of reason.

I see you making the allegation. I don't see any evidence.

And I take it that by "evil cult" you mean the GOP?

 

[Radagast]

Does anyone have any answer other than "Because orange man is bad and if you disagree, you must be a racist."?

Not so far.

 

[Radagast]

When Donald Trump says, 'Make America Great Again,' what time period is he talking about?

As with everybody else who uses the phrase, he's referring to the Golden Age where everybody had jobs, there was no crime, and everybody was happy.

The fact that this Golden Age never existed is beside the point. People voted for him because they thought he would take them one step closer to that Golden Age.

 

[TheBear]

Simple question.

Why was this Okay, and this is offensive?
View attachment 249727 View attachment 249728

Because - ORANGE MAN BAD

 

[Ringo84]

Seems like a tacit admission that the "MAGA" slogan is a promise he can't keep, since even you admit that such a "golden age" never existed. That's progress, I suppose.
Ringo

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

"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,

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?

Let me be clear, nobody ever said or suggested that America was ever perfect. It has been far from perfect. However, in striving to become "A more perfect union", there has been uncountable times when America demonstrated "greatness".

As an American service member in the Armed Forces, I have a deeper respect for "American Greatness" after traveling to many countries that aren't so "Great". Try going to places like Djibouti, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Yemen and see if you still think "America was never great". In fact, I am currently typing this thread from an undisclosed location in a very "not so great" country. Try going on a missions trip to third world Africa, China, or North Korea and see if your perception of "American Greatness" remains unchanged.

People spend too much attention on things like "White Privilege" or "Male Privilege". But I tell you that there is an "American Privilege" that is prevalent not only on this tread but in the entire country. It is when people like you and many others have taken for granted the blessings that they have ungratefully received and ignorantly taken for granted. America was never Great? Try telling that to the families of the men and women who gave their lives for it. Try telling that to my Mexican in-laws and millions of others who gave up everything they had and waited patiently for years to become American citizens.

Perhaps you are correct that it isn't appropriate to say "Make America Great Again". Not because it was never great. Rather, because it always was and still is "Great". I believe that anyone who disagrees with this statement is ungrateful and is experiencing an amnesia of the blessings this Country has brought to countless people across the world and continues to do so today.

I will close with this. American Greatness is not a "period of time". It is the brave and courageous American men and women who make this country "Great".

 

[Sparagmos]

The only time nations become this polarized is before civil war..

Are you serious? I see the same references to civil war from the guys over at fox comment sections who want to scare “leftists” into thinking they are going to come out from behind their keyboard and stat shooting us.

Please tell us in detail how a civil war would start. How coworkers would take sides and start shooting each other, how neighbors would start attacking each other, and how parents would declare their children enemies. People avoid even talking about politics with family and coworkers who are on the “other side,” yet you think we are going to all give up our comfortable lives and start killing each other? That is beyond ridiculous.

 

[Sparagmos]

Given how quickly this has regressed into another "feel good Trump bashing" thread. I just thought I would remind everyone what the OP topic is. Why was "MAGA" okay in 1980 with Regan and now it is offensive with Trump in 2016? Does anyone have any answer other than "Because orange man is bad and if you disagree, you must be a racist."?

Your question has been answered, you just don’t accept the answers. That’s your problem.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Your question has been answered, you just don’t accept the answers. That’s your problem.

The problem is not that I "don't accept the answers" the answer is pretty clear. Liberals hate Donald Trump and everything he stands for due to the numerous reasons they described. Because they hate Trump, they also have distain for anyone who supports Trumps policies, views, and vision for the country. Thus, "Trump bad and if you agree with the Trump you must be bad too." That is the official answer to the OP because with the exception of two people on this thread this is the only response that has been given. The answer to the OP is that if I believe that the President is an ignorant and bigoted racist who is anti-women, it is perfectly acceptable to assume that someone wearing a "MAGA" hat is an ignorant and bigoted racist who is anti-women. It doesn't matter if a person of color or a woman is wearing the hat. They are just stupid on top of everything else. That is the official answer to the OP.

 

[Spiritlight]

Trump is wanting to return America to "Regan Era Greatness"

Regan had dementia while in office and before he left he wasn’t really running the place in a sound mind.

We were scared senseless of a nuclear war and thought a nuclear WW3 would start anytime.

After he left we had a recession in 1990.

Ok, we have that achieved that similarity.

it’s just the role model ethical dignified statesman that’s lacking. Trump is the antidote to dignified class..

 

[Sparagmos]

Thus, "Orange man bad and if you agree with the orange man you must be bad too." That is the official answer to the OP because with the exception of two people on this thread this is the only response that has been given. The answer to the OP is that if I believe that the President is an ignorant and bigoted racist who is anti-women, it is perfectly acceptable to assume that someone wearing a "MAGA" hat is an ignorant and bigoted racist who is anti-women. It doesn't matter if a person of color or a woman is wearing the hat. They are just stupid on top of everything else. That is the official answer to the OP.

And....you aren’t accepting their answers.

I find it hilarious that on a Christian forum, where everyone seems to agree it is “bad” to follow “bad” people (satan, witches, communists, et,) and that agreeing with those bad ideologies and people is bad, will in fact send you to hell, some Christians can’t understand how some of us think the same way about Trump and his supporters. Yes, supporting a “bad” person and ideology is “bad.” If I wear a T-shirt with a pentagram on it, I will be associated with the occult and told I’m going to hell by people here. If I wear a swastica, I will be associated with the racist views of nazis.

 

[Spiritlight]

As with everybody else who uses the phrase, he's referring to the Golden Age where everybody had jobs, there was no crime, and everybody was happy.

I know that place, it was on an episode of My little Pony friendship is magic. The unicorns were plying with the fairies too lol

 

[Radagast]

Let me be clear, nobody ever said or suggested that America was ever perfect.

And really, it's not so much "Make America Great Again," as "God shed His grace on thee."

I have a deeper respect for "American Greatness" after traveling to many countries that aren't so "Great".

Truth, that. Many Americans seem anxious to destroy what they've got, not realising how much better it is than most of the world.

 

[(° ͡ ͜ ͡ʖ ͡ °) (ᵔᴥᵔʋ)]

Regan had dementia while in office and before he left he wasn’t really running the place in a sound mind.

We were scared senseless of a nuclear war and thought a nuclear WW3 would start anytime.

After he left we had a recession in 1990.

Ok, we have that achieved that similarity.

it’s just the role model ethical dignified statesman that’s lacking. Trump is the antidote to dignified class..

So if I understand your post correctly, the reason why someone wearing a "MAGA" hat is considered "offensive" is because Trump is lacking as the role model of an ethical dignified statesman?

 

[Kentonio]

Let me be clear, nobody ever said or suggested that America was ever perfect. It has been far from perfect. However, in striving to become "A more perfect union", there has been uncountable times when America demonstrated "greatness".

As an American service member in the Armed Forces, I have a deeper respect for "American Greatness" after traveling to many countries that aren't so "Great". Try going to places like Djibouti, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Yemen and see if you still think "America was never great". In fact, I am currently typing this thread from an undisclosed location in a very "not so great" country. Try going on a missions trip to third world Africa, China, or North Korea and see if your perception of "American Greatness" remains unchanged.

Why are you comparing America to third world countries? If that's your barrier for 'greatness' then it explains a lot about America's self-perception in recent times.

Try comparing US living standards to places like Europe and Japan instead. In some ways you'll come off better, and in many others you'll come off far worse. It's a much more honest comparison and might give you a much better realization of where your country is doing well and where it isn't. It'd certainly be considerably more useful than some mythical concept of 'greatness'.

 

[Spiritlight]

So if I understand your post correctly, the reason why someone wearing a "MAGA" hat is considered "offensive" is because Trump is lacking as the role model of an ethical dignified statesman?

I think a lot of people would see the red cap s a reminder of many of the negative things they dont like about him personally. As soon as I see it myself there is a flood of bad memories and an instant bad feeling. It's not a hope for the future it's a reminder of how much our political systems worldwide, dignity and ethical standards we consider acceptable as a society have been compromised by what has happened over last couple of years.

 

[EpiscipalMe]

Given how quickly this has regressed into another "feel good Trump bashing" thread. I just thought I would remind everyone what the OP topic is. Why was "MAGA" okay in 1980 with Regan and now it is offensive with Trump in 2016? Does anyone have any answer other than "Because Trump is bad and if you disagree, you must be a racist."?

“Make America great again” taken out of context is not offensive. However, context is everything.

To take an extreme example, the swastika was a religious icon used by ancient cultures in Europe and Asia:
Swastika - Wikipedia
Nothing offensive about that until you consider the context that it was coopted by the Nazis. Now it means something very different.

So “make America great again” taken out of context is not offensive. However, the phrase is now being used by a President who has said some very hateful things about people (individuals and groups) and who has followers (not all of his supporters, mind you) who have odious views of what American greatness should look like. These people have coopted the phrase “make America great again” and are using it in a context that many find offensive.

 

[Goonie]

“Make America great again” taken out of context is not offensive. However, context is everything.

To take an extreme example, the swastika was a religious icon used by ancient cultures in Europe and Asia:
Swastika - Wikipedia
Nothing offensive about that until you consider the context that it was coopted by the Nazis. Now it means something very different.

So “make America great again” taken out of context is not offensive. However, the phrase is now being used by a President who has said some very hateful things about people (individuals and groups) and who has followers (not all of his supporters, mind you) who have odious views of what American greatness should look like. These people have coopted the phrase “make America great again” and are using it in a context that many find offensive.

Indeed there are phrases that loaded because of that. An example in the UK is when brexiters talk about the “will of the people”.