Gordon L. Weil
Donald Trump opposes “woke.”
The dictionary says that “woke” is a word coined by African
Americans to make themselves and others aware of social injustice and the need
to deal with it. Trump disagrees with
that goal.
Diversity, equality and inclusion – DEI - recognizes that institutions
have discriminated against women and non-whites. He believes DEI now reserves job slots for
them as unjustified compensation.
People who see themselves as displaced by DEI question the
entire effort, claiming it rewards identity and not merit. Rather than assuring that DEI should provide equal
opportunity without setting aside preferential slots, they argue that DEI simply
must go. Trump agrees and leads the movement
to stamp it out.
But the notion of “woke” does not stop there for him. It is
obviously his view that the term “woke” is the same as “politically correct.” That term embodies liberal positions that are
justified and politically popular, but are not accepted by those whose vested
interests may be affected.
For almost a century, in their responses to the Great Depression
and the Second World War, the United States and Europe turned toward policies using
the government to provide social and financial support to minorities and less
fortunate people. Environmental concerns
and international cooperation to reduce conflict became parts of this
evolution.
At its core Trump’s concept of “Make America Great Again” focuses
on a return to values and practices that existed a century ago. They are inaccurately labeled as “socialism,”
because of the increased role of government.
The practices and standards adopted in democracies, even
including the opening of political participation to women and minorities, are thought
to be the “woke” work of elites seeking control and are targeted for removal.
An automatic assumption is that leadership positions
occupied by women or Blacks were attained by DEI and not by merit. Upon taking office, Trump fired the Chair of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Black, and the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard,
both women. The new military chief, a
white man, seems to have been selected based on his nickname, “Raising Kaine.”
When it comes to race and the nation’s struggles for
equality, Trump minimizes slavery and the historic political and economic bias
against Black people. Elemental truths
of American history are minimized or erased if they might provide a basis for
policies to ensure equal opportunity.
Racial supremacists have emerged in fervent support of Trump’s effort.
As a result, the war on “woke” extends to changing exhibits
at national parks and museums to minimize mentions of slavery and racism. It penalizes academic institutions for
offering places to members of groups who had previously been denied access. It suppresses voting by members of minority groups
who are denied representation.
But it goes much further.
Policies that are aimed at environmental improvement, especially air quality,
are rejected. The use of polluting coal
for power generation and heating was being phased out until Trump’s undertook
to keep it in business.
Mileage standards for cars are weakened, and support for renewable
energy is eliminated. Wind power is opposed by presidential whim.
Quitting the Paris agreement on environmental goals, the
U.S. has isolated itself from the body of world opinion trying to reduce global
warming. Trump calls climate change a “hoax.” Just
as he has tried to rewrite American history, he attempts, by this unsubstantiated
claim, to repeal scientific findings and the real experience of billions of
people.
His war on the conventional wisdom of the world goes even
further. Disillusioned by the shortcomings
of the United Nations, he prefers to weaken its ability to resolve conflicts. Instead of trying to make it work, he lauds
his own attempts to force peace settlements by using American political and
military power.
His attitude toward the U.N. reflects his disdain for
international cooperation. He has made
clear that the U.S., the essential pillar of the Western alliance, is
uncomfortable with its commitment to NATO.
Though from a different starting point, he is becoming the ally of
Russia’s Putin in promoting its decline.
He goes even further in aligning himself with Putin by opposing
the EU. Though formed with U.S. support
to make new European wars impossible, Trump ignores that history and is only
able to see European unification in trade terms, as a plot against the
U.S. Neither Trump nor Putin wants a
strong rival in Europe, so, in essence, the EU becomes “woke.”
Rejecting history may appeal to MAGA supporters who believe
they have lost influence and power. But Trump’s
efforts to repeal progress are likely to fail, because change is inevitable,
even if he dislikes it. As shown by the growing
political opposition to his ending healthcare subsidies, most people are becoming
accustomed to being “woke.”
