Opinion: Trump uses fear and resentment as weapons as he seeks return to White House

Fear and resentment are two powerful emotions. Because of their power, it is tempting for people to use them to try to motivate people. That is exactly what Donald Trump is doing as he seeks to return to the White House. One type of fear that Trump is using is that America will become a more multi-ethnic, multi-racial society. America is already the most multi-ethnic, multi-racial society in the world. However, a portion of the white population in America does not like the level of diversity our country has attained and they do not want to increase it. White supremacists fear the loss of power and influence they have had and they see it slipping away from them. Trump recognized this fear and used it to gain followers since he began his search for power while Obama was president.

The second powerful emotion that Trump has used extensively is resentment. People who have studied revolutions, including the English and French revolutions, recognize that large portions of the population felt resentment from being dominated by the upper classes, particularly by the nobility and wealthy. It is true the nobility was extremely influential and powerful compared to those beneath them. The English Revolution overthrew King Charles I and cut off his head. After an extended struggle during the 17th century, Parliament established its authority over the monarchy.

Trump is trying to make many Americans feel they are being held back or held down by privileged people or the “elite.” Just as resentment fueled revolutions in the past, Trump is hoping to use it to return himself to power. Just as he encouraged a violent interruption in the transfer of power in what would have been a coup, so his words and actions have and still can result in violent actions by his followers. Trump also promotes fear in some Christians that their religious freedom is being taken away. This is not happening, but it becomes a weapon that Trump and some followers use. Using fear of unfavorable changes in the American population combined with resentment at perceived disadvantages people have in society, Trump seeks to rise in power as a religiously inspired leader of the people.

Our American Revolution and subsequent establishment of a Constitutional democracy was not based on fear and resentment, but rather determination to maintain the freedoms they were experiencing in the colonies as free citizens with recognized rights. The founders believed they had a right to govern themselves apart from the domination of the overseas nation, from which they came. They did not dwell on their fear and resentment, but acted with determination as an organized free people. The war they waged was against the colonial nation that exercised its power over them without their consent.

Right now, we face an aspiring leader of the nation who does not use clear democratic policy statements setting forth rational plans for the nation to benefit all citizens. Instead, Trump is building on fear and resentment to gain followers and to carry out retribution using violence against those who oppose his autocratic approach. The plans have been set forth as the “2025 Plan” conceived by the conservative Heritage Foundation. This plan will change the nature of our democratic government into an autocracy. We should take the stated anti-democratic plans of Trump very seriously. At the same time, we should overcome the fear of a highly diverse society in which white people are no longer dominant and the resentment of people who feel they are not as successful as they ought to be because of domination of others.

America does not need fearful and resentful people, but those who are committed to creating “a more perfect union” of free people, who work to benefit one another through the democratic principles that have been established. These principles emphasize strengthening the opportunities for people to better their lives through education and work that will leave a foundation for those who come after them. America has struggled through the sacrifices of many to overcome the forces that have divided us along many lines. We have not arrived at a perfect society, but the use of fear of diversity and resentment at the so-called elite will not lead America to be able to go further toward its goal of “liberty and justice for all.”

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Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, Ph.D., lives in Black Mountain.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Trump uses fear and resentment as he seeks his rise to power