A Jewish friend of mine’s father has a handy way of figuring out where he stands on a variety of political issues, especially those that affect or disproportionately affect minorities: He just takes whatever the group in question is and subs in the word “Jew.” For example, he persuaded himself that he should support gay marriage by asking, “Do I believe two Jewish people should be allowed to marry each other?” The answer was clearly yes, and at that point he was for marriage.
It’s not a difficult exercise, and I recommend everyone try it when thinking about where they stand on issues that don’t directly impact them: Just take whatever non-majority group you belong to that is key to your life and identity.
Now take that self-identification and imagine that someone said the things that Donald Trump said tonight about undocumented immigrants. Imagine he portrayed your group, your family, your friends, as criminals and rapists who are endangering the lives of Americans everywhere, who he will purge.
Because undocumented immigrants commit crimes at about the same or slightly lower rates than whatever group you’re part of, the things he said about immigrants tonight are probably as untrue about your group as theirs. Now imagine he paraded the parents of children who died at the hands of people who happen to belong to your group and said that everyone in your group must be thrown out of the country ― and maybe your allies in his political opposition as well.
Catholics are responsible for the deaths of these people’s children and we must round them up and throw them out.
Rednecks are responsible for the deaths of these people’s children and we must round them up and throw them out.
Jews are responsible for the deaths of these people’s children and we must round them up and throw them out.
If you’re not a redneck, Catholic, or Jew, put your group in that sentence. Sit with it. Internalize it. Imagine you’re being talked about that way. Imagine what it will feel like the next time that your group gathers in a public place, and others around you look at you anew as the enemy. Imagine how your children will feel. Really think about it. Imagine it.
Because when authoritarians take power, it doesn’t take much for them to come after your group too ― and then you won’t have to imagine.
