The American Dream

In the New York Times, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote a fictional article about a party that was arranged by Donald Trump's wife Melania.

In her work of fiction, Adichie wrote a number of terrifying implications about Trump's personal life and how he impacts the people around him — including his wife.

The most terrifying inference Adichie made, however, was about Americans as a whole:

"Americans were so emotionally young, so fascinated by what Europeans knew to be world-weary realities. They were drawn to Donald's brashness and bluster and bullying, his harsh words, even the amoral ease with which untruths slid out of his mouth. ... They had followed him from the beginning, breathlessly and childishly."

Her words are reminiscent of the playground toady who follows around the middle school bully.

I was recently chatting with a friend. This friend was telling me how I "have" to vote and that those that don't vote are the problem with our country. The more I learn about politics, the more futile the "democratic" process really seems. Much worse, though, the more I learn about the hearts and minds of the average American, the more futile the discussion seems.

I have been tutoring for a good while now; the lack of knowledge is solidified at an early age. I have been pursuing small debates with friends whose intellects I thought I could trust; there are a handful of beacons still shining in the shadows, but the morass is all but ubiquitous.

"Fear and wonder, a powerful combination."

"You really think people are going to be seduced by that?"

"I think he knows what [America] is. [America] is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. ... He'll bring them death—and they will love him for it."