So about Trump and genocide

[Cyrano]

I play in a poker game with six or seven regulars. Our biggest arguments are usually about someone taking too long to call or fold. But Trump interfered in our last game. (None of us are Trump voters.)

Between deals, one of the guys got going on what an asshole Trump is. One thing led to another and one of the other guys eventually spouted something like, "He'd build concentration camps and gas chambers to make a profit, or to save his own ass."

Another one of the players, who is Jewish, shot back "That's bullshit. The guys a miserable prick, but stop comparing him to Hitler."

Thus started what was perhaps the most heated argument we've ever had at our round table with the green, plastic table cloth on top.

As usual, nothing was decided other than who came out ahead and who lost big. But I can't let go of the issue that was being argued.

And I have a feeling that a couple of my friends are still thinking about it.

Here's what I'm wondering: "Would Trump resort to genocide for reasons of profit, self-survival, or hatred?"

I believe Trump to be one of the most horrible, ignorant, self-absorbed, cruel, human beings on the planet. But I don't know the answer to that question. I don't believe Trump has a conscience, or anything else that most people would call "decency."

Nonetheless, genocide is perhaps the most degraded, inhumane act that can be committed by anyone. And I really have no idea whether or not, even Trump, would go that far, regardless of the motivation. But my conclusion comes down to this: "I don't know."

What do you think?

[Takket]

1. "Would Trump resort to genocide for reasons of profit, self-survival, or hatred?"

of course not and even if he wanted to he couldn't get away with it

[dewsgirl]

2. If he could get away with it, of course he would.

[Squinch]

3. If he thought he could get away with it, and if he thought it would earn him adulation, he would in

a heartbeat.

For him, the decision would not be about right and wrong. It would be about cost/benefit, where the biggest benefit would be a feeling of power and adulation.

[unblock]

4. Son of a holocaust survivor here

He's already pushed us well down that path.

It's not a question of would he resort to it.

It's more a question of why would he stop going down a path he's already on.

His only source of power lies in feeding red meat to his bigoted base. If his base demanded killings start (at a larger scale than what's currently happening) who on earth would think Donnie would stand up to them and say no, that's going too far??

[thbobby]

6. I believe trump is a sociopath

His administration has separated children from parents, put the children in cages while they deported the parents. He talks about Hispanics as if they were animals. He let Hispanics die in Puerto Rico by not providing aid to American Citizens he thought were not worth the effort. I could go on, but my point is clear. The Holocaust did not begin overnight in Nazi Germany. Jewish People were treated like trump treats minorities. They were dehumanized, deported, and vilified. I do not know if trump would instigate a genocide, but I sure as hell don't know that he would not. He is already laying the groundwork. I do hope and believe America will not let a genocide happen, but I am frightened. unblock, being the son of a Holocaust survivor is something I can only imagine. I respect your opinion on this much more than any I can offer.

[unblock]

13. I don't think he would "start" it. He's too incompetent, thank goodness.

He's just emboldened others by treating non whites as subhuman and advocated violence on a number of occasions.

If right wing militias started going into black or Hispanic neighborhoods and lynching people of color, would donnie really stand up to them?

[Meadowoak]

15. Don't forget, Putin is calling the shots.

[Cyrano]

7. Yeah, but ...

Genocide?

How much of his base would go along with it?

Are there really tens of millions of people in this country that would buy into it?

And if there are, perhaps it's time to give up all hope in the human species.

I don't know the answer. But if tens of millions would follow "Dear Leader" that far, then it seems to me that the human species is an evolutionary "mistake."

[unblock]

12. Keep in mind that hitler's is not the only form of genocide

Having an institutional machinery set up specifically for systematic killing is unusual among genocides.

The killings are usually more opportunistic, or militaristic in their goals. Often the goal isn't wiping out an entire population so much as commiting enough violence to ensure subjugation.

Keep in mind our early treatment of native Americans qualifies as a genocide and certainly plenty of Americans were fine with that.

[thbobby]

14. Genocide can be a subjective label

Police brutality and murder of African Americans could qualify. Could letting poor people die for want of medical care? Could poisoning a town's water supply with lead and not making every effort to provide safe water and medical treatment? Genocide does have a succinct definition, but much of gop's policies are functionally very similar to genocide. And then there is the NRA and the slaughter of Americans due to unlimited firearms.

[world wide wally]

5. Ask yourself one question:

Has Trump ever balked at doing something that benefits him because it was against his conscience?

[2naSalit]

9. Conscience? What conscience?

There is no such thing associated with this individual.

[2naSalit]

8. Yes, I think he would, may have participated

in other things just as bad like maybe human trafficking, just my suspicion.

[atreides1]

10. Tell your poker buddy to open his eyes!!!

Hitler didn't start out with death camps already built, those came soon after he had complete control over the government!

And the "Final Solution" wasn't decided upon until 1942, which was 8 years after Hitler and the Nazi Party took complete control of Germany!

One last item...I work at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and many of the survivors see the similarities between Hitler's rise to power and what Trump is attempting to do...only instead of Jews Trump targets brown people...whether they come from south of the border or the Middle East!!

[oberliner]

11. I agree with the Jewish player

And his comments.

[MurrayDelph]

16. I'm Jewish

and my dad was at Normandy on D-Day.

Trump is running concentration camps. I disagree with the Jewish poker player.

[oberliner]

17. "Trump is running concentration camps" ?

Are you for real?

[MurrayDelph]

18. What would you call the places where they have the kids who were taken from asylum seekers?

Luxury Day Spas?

[oberliner]

19. What would you call the places where kids who arrived at the border were held prior to Trump?

June 18, 2014

[MurrayDelph]

21. Well since Google images

tells me the data is July 2018, I'd say w have a question of credibility.

[oberliner]

22. It's from 2014

Here's the article with the photos:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/immigration/2014/06/18/arizona-immigrant-children-holding-area-tour/10780449/

It's photo #5 in the slideshow:

Two young girls watch a World Cup soccer match on a television from their holding area on June 18, 2014, in Nogales, Arizona.

[treestar]

20. It did not really compare him to Hitler

Hitler didn’t do it for reasons of profit.

The Orange ass would do it for profit but lie about it so as to justify it.