The Cats Are Not Safe, After All

There are many photos like this of Don Jr. and Eric Trump. They are authentic. They have circulated the Internet widely for a decade now. But in light of the recent manufactured right-wing controversy about Haitian migrants (legally in the USA under the temporary protected status program) eating pets in Springfield, OH, it's worth reflecting on this duality.

Q. Why isn't the practice of affluent tourists hunting exotic animals for sport controversial in the same way as low resource immigrants eating domestic animals for sustenance, even though the former really happens all the time and the latter appears entirely fabricated for the purpose of generating paranoia during an election?

A. Consider the lingering effects of European colonialism, systemic racism and xenophobia, and the pervasive notion that wealthy white men are never suspect or scrutinized for engaging in behaviors objectively worse than those alleged without evidence of minorities and immigrants.

The Real Reason for Trump's Wall

Trump is considering what kind of expensive wall to build (paid for by America, not Mexico). Meanwhile, drug runners have perfected mile-long tunnel construction with vented sections in remote areas of the desert along the border. And ladders are always going to be cheaper and taller than walls.

There is nothing in Trump's proposal that will address the real issue of drug abuse that he pretends to care about.

But this isn't about stopping drugs or even preventing people from using them (many of the most addictive and lethal drugs are manufactured by highly profitable pharmaceutical companies in the USA). This is about constructing a physical safety blanket for older white Americans suffering from anxiety about a changing country, placating their innermost views on brown-skinned immigrants, and masked with a thin pretext of political calculus.