Sean Major-Campbell | An archbishop admonishes Trump

THE ARCHBISHOP of San Juan de Puerto Rico, Roberto O. González Nieves, has done what so many readers of Family and Religion may be surprised about. He has spoken directly to the political arena and specifically to Donald Trump. Remaining silent was not an option in the face of racist remarks which now included Puerto Rico. The offensive presentation at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York (NY) City was clear in focus against Latinos, migrants, and Puerto Rico.

Those who represent Jesus Christ our Lord are duty bound to speak truth to power. They uphold the dignity of the person and seek always to advance respect and protection for the most vulnerable, to include the foreigner, the migrant, and the minority.

The MAGA Republican crowd gleefully enjoyed Comedian Hinchcliffe’s disgusting comment, “I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” The former president and now nominee of the GOP simply basked in what they all found entertaining.

Politicians have a duty to uphold high moral standards. They must take responsibility for their various platforms. Archbishop Roberto González is right in also noting about humour, “It should not insult or denigrate the dignity and sacredness of persons. Hinchcliffe’s comments not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred. Such comments have no place in a society founded on ‘liberty and justice for all’.”

The more we grow to understand the language and place of human dignity, the more we will appreciate the archbishop’s profound admonition that the comments “do not promote a climate of equality, fraternity, and goodwill among and for all women and men of every race, colour, and way of life which is the foundation of the American dream. These kinds of remarks should not be part of the political discourse of a civilised society.” There is much here for those who would seek to serve in political office or as a minister of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, in a world where systemic racism makes a highway for white supremacist agendas, many will quickly try to pass off the comedian’s racist remarks as just a passing joke. In the world of bullying and victimisation, it is always the othered, the stigmatised and the discriminated whose voice should be heard.

Elisabeth Román, president of the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry in Puerto Rico, expressed palpable pain when she observed, “The thing that hurt me the most was that they laughed. We have been for months, maybe more years, in this political campaign denigrating the migrant, the one who is not from the dominant culture. You see how they talk about migrants, like the mere fact that we have to leave our country criminalises us.”

One should never lose sight of the stages of stigma and discrimination. Trump told sycophants in Austin, “We’re like a garbage can for the rest of the world to dump the people that they don’t want.” Their comedian presenter then took it to another level in MSG, NY.

One of the things about bullying, whether veiled or otherwise, is how it incites harm to others. That is why Archbishop González was most pertinent in noting that the comedian’s remarks “do not only provoke sinister laughter but hatred.” Hatred has the potential to manifest in violence.

A feature of the MAGA campaign has been a consistent disregard for fellow human beings who are deemed different. Minorities are therefore stigmatised. Stigma is a well-known strategy in the dehumanising of others. Stigma facilitates a tag for the despised. The stigma legitimises a reason in the mind of potential attackers to bully and attack those who have been stigmatised. Stigma in action is discrimination. Pet eaters are therefore to be condemned and treated as less than human.

The hearers and potential attackers are mentally groomed as they hear descriptions such as “vermin” and “enemy within”. We in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean should beware of the name-calling on the political campaign trails. Note, too, the social media and AI-generated posts which denigrate one’s opponents. Be careful of what you are applauding when your favourite politician speaks.

Christianity is so much more than feeling good about us while condemning others. To follow Christ is to do what Jesus would do.

As the United States of America prepares for national elections, I encourage family and friends to prepare as if you were preparing for the perfect storm. Stock up on basic food supplies, to include drinking water, supplements and prescription meds. Kamala Harris’ victory will not be readily welcomed.

It would also be prudent to avoid public gatherings, especially with minority and inclusive crowds. The potential for mass shootings is real. Never underestimate a religious bigot with a gun! In a world where almost 50 per cent of the voting population supports a racist, xenophobe, misogynist, and convicted felon; on any given day, there is someone on the mall or your favourite shopping store who might kill you if they get the chance.

Anyway, good news prevails. Evil will not always trump what is good. Good ultimately triumphs. May we be inspired by Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Peace, I give to you. My own peace, I leave with you”.