Trump would be a disgrace to the presidency

Ziad Ahmed, Staff Writer

“We have a problem in this country. It’s called Muslims. You know our current president is one. You know he’s not even an American … When can we get rid of them?” are words that thundered through a supporter’s mouth at a Donald Trump Campaign Rally on September 17, 2015 in Rochester, New Hampshire. The unidentified man’s seemingly obvious bigotry was met with, “We’re going to be looking at that and many other things,” by the current GOP frontrunner, Donald Trump.

As an American Muslim who fervently believes in social justice, Trump’s continued promotion of intolerance is extremely troubling. It breaks my heart that I live in a country where someone could ever be considered for the presidency without affirming that islamophobia, hate, and all forms of discrimination are unequivocally unacceptable.

When I think about who I want to be the leader of the United States of America, my first priority is whether he or she values my life and all lives equally. I then look to whether a candidate is knowledgeable. Finally, I look to see if the person who claims to be fit to govern this great nation is in the spotlight for their positive contributions to society, rather than for their narrow mindedness, celebrity status, or ludicrousness.

When I look at Donald Trump, I see a racist, sexist, uninformed, ignorant, fear- mongering, egotistical, and immoral man, but more than that I see an overwhelmingly inadequate potential president.

I say that he is unqualified not because he has personally offended me, but rather because of his consistent record of idiocy. In Donald Trump’s speech announcing his 2016 candidacy he declared, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best … They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” Along with his clearly perverted perspective on our current reality, he plans to worsen it by promising to deport every single undocumented citizen as soon as he takes office. Furthermore, he plans to waste billions of dollars in building a wall along our entire southern border. His so called immigration policy demonstrates Trump’s severe xenophobic, imperialistic, and delusional attitudes.

In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump did not know the name of one Middle Eastern leader he was asked about. He claims that his lack of knowledge about foreign policy is irrelevant as his team can inform him of facts upon arriving at the White House.

On May 7, 2013, Donald Trump tweeted, “26,000 unreported sexual assaults in the military only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?” His misogyny is apparent in his famous comments regarding Megyn Kelly, Hillary Clinton, Carly Fiorina, and even his own daughter.

Also, it is imperative to realize that Donald Trump is not a candidate presenting ANY viable proposals, but instead he is an arrogant man professing his ridiculous beliefs on a national platform.

I would think that all people would be opposed to the idea of Donald Trump as President. I would hope that the American people want a president who believes in equality, is educated about our reality, and formulates legitimate policy. The fact that Donald Trump currently has so much support is truly shocking, but also understandable. I get it. We are ALL tired of politicians that mask their true beliefs behind walls of propaganda to win votes. We are ALL ready for a President that professes his or her true beliefs. We are ALL hoping for a leader that “Makes America Great Again,” but no matter how loud his megalomania is, Donald Trump is not our answer.