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AIBU?

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Original poster

Trump. And my parents.

44 replies

Givemecoffeeplease · 29/01/2018 22:17

Mentioned to my dad that if Trump comes to London as tentatively planned (still no date) that I’ll be there with all the protesters making it clear that I don’t want him here, and I don’t want his brand of politics anywhere in the world.

My dad questioned why I didn’t protest when Putin visited, or when the Saudi Royals visited (their country as I’m sure you know treats women appallingly).

I kind of see his point. We should protest every ruling class, politician and individual who wields such power and refuses to see the importance of equality (not to mention all other of their flaws). However there is something about Trump (the pussy grabber) that really gets to me. What should I have said to justify my position? Why should I protest against him and not Putin? What is it about his particular misogynist traits that makes him more deserving of our bile than other despots and dictators? Thanks MN. I feel I let the side down not having a decent answer. I feel I’m missing something really obvious.

OP posts:
kitkatsky · 29/01/2018 22:28

Well he’s western, president of the greatest country in the world (allegedly...) I think those things make you expect more from him than from countries who have been dictatorships until recentish history. At least that’s how I’d justify it to myself

Tapandgo · 29/01/2018 23:34

Because we are insisting we have a ‘special relationship’ with the USA, there is every chance he will drag us into a conflict that we don’t want or need! ( Saudi and Russia) are not likely to have that influence on us.
It’s important right minded British people show our distain for his brand of ‘Americanism’.

genderQueer · 30/01/2018 01:13

This reply has been deleted

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TheClaws · 30/01/2018 01:37

I don't think you're missing anything, I think you're jumping on a bandwagon the same as many others

This implies a lack of original thought that’s just a tiny bit arrogant. No, actually the man is unsuited to his position in every way possible way and he has done nothing but prove that since he was on the campaign trail. Whether he is treasonous is yet to be proven, but he is certainly odious and leading the the world into instability.

And I thought of all that by myself ... no bandwagon. Grin

Plumsofwrath · 30/01/2018 01:46

The UK and the USA share, apparently, similar cultural and moral standards, similar goals, similar fortunes. When America sneezes, Britain catches a cold.

There is no cultural connection between Russia or SA and the UK. Plenty of shared business interests which the general population doesn’t get to hear about, but otherwise lots of noise on all sides about how there is near-abhorrence for the other’s beliefs and practices, and love of their own.

If you align yourself with a morally bankrupt person/ regime/ movement, you become just as bankrupt yourself. In fact, you’re potentially worse than that for not having had the courage of your convictions and going for something you believe in. You slither and slip, hoping to get out before it get too bad, but choosing to stay in for a short long as it suits you until it gets there.

Britain’s quite good at that, really.

If I were in the UK for sure would I be on tag march (as I was the anti-Iraq war March in 2003). As it happens, I’m in the USA - my daily existence is a protest march Gin

TheClaws · 30/01/2018 01:50

Plumsofwrath that is beautifully expressed.

geekymommy · 30/01/2018 01:53

Does he think that, if you don’t protest all bad leaders, you shouldn’t protest any? If that’s the rule, then only people with a lot of free time would get to protest.

This American says thanks. Also that I didn’t vote for him.

claraschu · 30/01/2018 02:10

Plumsofwrath said it better than I could. Thank you!

TheDowagerCuntess · 30/01/2018 02:10
  • Because every move is designed to pander to his base. It's not what he actually thinks (going by his previously known stance as a progressive, Democrat-leaning New Yorker)
  • Because he behaves like a 4YO, criticising people all the time but unable to take it himself, never apologising, always having to be the best, the greatest, the smartest, needing to be the centre of attention / adored, he's petty and vindictive, he pushes himself to the front of the queue with that belligerent, raised chin of his (the examples of his toddler-like behaviour are endless)
  • Because his means of getting ahead is by creating suspicion and hate and division. He doesn't know how, nor want, to bring people together.
  • Because his policies are the antithesis of what America was built on.
  • He wants to send women's rights back to the dark ages.
  • He ignores science and evidence because they're inconvenient.
  • He's not 'draining the swamp', he's loading it up.
  • He thinks building a wall is a workable solution
  • His appointments speak for themselves - Betsy de Vos, Ivanka Trump, Kushner, Spicer, Bannon, et al, ad infinitum.
  • He wants to grab 'em by the pussy.
  • He's cheated on all of his wives.

I mean, add in the rest of the reasons, because this list is by no means exhaustive.

TheDowagerCuntess · 30/01/2018 02:17

That response was more to genderQueer, rather than reasons why you might protest against Trump and not other leaders.

I'm slightly incredulous that s/he might think people don't like Trump because it's fashionable or something, and not because there are so many valid reasons to have a problem with him.

BradleyPooper · 30/01/2018 02:21

The USA has always had reasonable (sometime buffoonish or objectionable but not really ever skin-crawling, hateful misogynist racist) Presidents. Trump seems to be a particular betrayal.

IndigoMoonFlower · 30/01/2018 02:35

Not to mention his shithole comment about Africa, so racist and such a bad example to the young!

Cavender · 30/01/2018 02:36

I suspect the answer might be as simple as:

To let him know we don’t like/support/agree with him.

I’m pretty sure the Russians and Saudis know that they aren’t well regarded in the U.K.

Trump believes, or purports to believe that he’s “very popular” in Britain.

A peaceful protest would help dispel his illusions.

FannyWisdom · 30/01/2018 02:40

And no one wants to piss Vlad off because his army is bigger and he's daft enough to use it.

Sugarcoma · 30/01/2018 03:55

Your dad has a point and you’re, as a pp said above, jumping on the bandwagon. It’s actually sad that you’re so blinded you’d turn to MN instead of stopping to consider for yourself why you haven’t protested an entire cavalcade of evil dictators and terrorists who’ve been welcomed by successive Labour and Conservative governments alike but are prepared to protest against a democratically elected leader.

I’m no Trump fan but I’m also not a hypocrite.

Clem7 · 30/01/2018 06:29

I’d rather live in Trump’s America that Saudi Arabia, but I’ll be protesting Trump if he comes and wouldn’t protest the Saudi Royals.

Saudi Arabia’s politics are obviously unacceptable by our standards but are slowly improving. I hope that they will continue to improve women’s rights, partly as a consequence of international diplomacy.

America, on the other hand, is a country moving backwards (and sharply). They are also harming he whole world by pulling out of the Paris accord. America has a far bigger impact on world and, particularly, British politics than almost every other country. Also, Trump galvanizes his base by selling the idea that America is now more respected as a result of his policies (contrary to objective fact).

Sometimes you affect change through friendly diplomacy . Some times you do it by puttting your foot down. For various reasons, Trump needs the latter.

falang · 30/01/2018 06:40

You're dad's right. We were have a laugh yesterday at work about people protesting about trump coming here. Yes he is barking mad. But Americans elected him. And there have been many more odious leaders who have been welcomed here without a peep. You and many others are bandwagon jumping.

Original poster
Givemecoffeeplease · 30/01/2018 07:10

Sorry to those who think I’m bandwagon jumping / being fashionable. I’m not, and I’m also more than happy to come on MN to ask opinions. It’s a great place and as the above shows, there are a variety of opinions.

OP posts:
goodbyehollyjane · 30/01/2018 07:13

What is the aim of the protest?

annandale · 30/01/2018 07:16

I actually hope there won't be protests. Not because Trump isn't a danger to world prosperity and peace, but because it's so arrogant of us. I can't think of a better way to make Americans feel like withdrawing into isolationism and protectionist trade than watching bunch of islanders who can't even maintain membership of a beneficial trade bloc jump about.

A big festival celebrating the best of UK/US culture would be better, starting with Tom Pained maybe.

InfiniteSheldon · 30/01/2018 07:19

Your Dad is right if you protest Trump when you've never protested the others check your privilege

MissBax · 30/01/2018 07:22

As someone who has always voted Labour I have to say I'm ashamed of the way this is going. Yes Trump is a loon, but he was elected president and as the USA is our closest and strongest ally it would be stupid of us to make him unwelcome. It always seems to be the left who want to silence and no-platform those they don't agree with. Surely the more sensible approach would be to welcome him and allow for any rational discussion and debate.

CrazyExIngenue · 30/01/2018 07:37

Are you protesting anything he's actually in the UK to do, or just him as a person?

Whilst I despise the man, I think protests for the sake of protests are quite stupid and undervalue the whole point of them.

However, you can point out to your father that King Salman and Putin rarely arrive in the UK with as much pomp and circumstance as the US President, so it's a hell of a lot easier to protest the Cheeto directly as he's easier to find.

AnneTwacky · 30/01/2018 07:48

I'd like to protest the way he's specifically asked Theresa May to ban protests and is pretending to everyone in the US, that we all love him. Hmm

Fekko · 30/01/2018 07:52

There were protests against the Chinese presidents visit. I was part of it (completely by accident).

Trump is more of a world menace and stands for everything loathesome about modern society - the lies, the buying, self serving, selfish mob politics. And that’s just for starters.

Every day I wake up and ww3 hasn’t started, it’s a bonus!