Over the past year, I have traveled more than ever—some trips for work, others for leisure. Each journey has been an opportunity not just to see new places but to see the world through the eyes of others. Perhaps more importantly, I have seen America through the gaze of those looking in.
From bustling cities to quiet corners of the world, the view of America from the outside is sobering. It is not the triumphant vision of “making America great again” that some would like to believe. Instead, it is a vision clouded by confusion, concern, and, in many cases, outright disgust. The people I’ve spoken to wonder how a country that once prided itself on being a “melting pot, democracy, and leadership could elect a lying, racist demagogue to its highest office—twice. They wonder how the so-called “greatest nation in the world” has descended into a cesspool of inhumanity, where cruelty is not only tolerated but encouraged.
From the outside looking in, America is not a beacon of hope—it is a cautionary tale.
"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries." ~ Aldous Huxley
The adage tells us that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And yet, here we are, witnessing the alarming resurgence of a political movement built on scapegoating, division, and the deliberate erosion of democratic norms. The parallels between Donald Trump’s rise to power and Adolf Hitler’s ascension in Nazi Germany are too stark to ignore. What was once the history script now plays out in real-time, with a different cast but the same sinister themes.
Weaponizing Social Pressures and Manufactured Crises
Germany in the 1930s was suffering. The Treaty of Versailles had left the nation economically crippled, and food shortages spread uncertainty across the country. Hitler, seizing on this vulnerability, capitalized on fear and anger, directing it toward a common enemy—the Jewish people. The relentless propaganda machine blamed Jewish citizens for everything from economic despair to cultural degradation. The logic was simple: keep the people angry and afraid and offer them an easy target for their rage.
Nearly a century later, we see history attempting to repeat itself. Trump and his allies have consistently sought out scapegoats to blame for America's issues. In a recent display of absurdity, a plane crash—where every person in charge was white—was somehow twisted into an attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). To the MAGA cult, DEI isn’t about equal opportunities or fair representation—it is simply a placeholder for Black, Hispanic, and marginalized communities. Trump and his supporters have turned a framework meant to uplift into a bogeyman, a false enemy to be fought at all costs.
DEI is not a threat but the essence of what has made America great. A country built by immigrants on the backs of enslaved Africans, Indigenous communities, and countless others should not cower in fear of diversity. DEI initiatives ensure that workplaces reflect the rich and complex population of the United States.
And who benefits most from DEI? White women.
White women have seen the most significant gains from affirmative action and diversity hiring practices. The statistics do not lie—when doors open for marginalized groups, society benefits. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for example, revolutionized access for disabled individuals, enabling them to enter workplaces, public spaces, and educational institutions that had previously been off-limits. And yet, the very people who benefit from these initiatives are being convinced to vote against them in the name of white grievance.
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