Trump: 'existential threat to democracy'
President Donald Trump is “an existential threat to democracy,” according to a University of Pennsylvania professor.
Therefore, it is important for higher education institutions to be careful about how they talk about politics to avoid encouraging voters to support former presidents despite their biases against elites, Professor Jonathan Zimmerman wrote recently.
“Let me be clear: Like most of my colleagues, I view Donald Trump as an existential threat to our democracy.” Zimmermann (photographed) wrote about Philadelphia Inquirer On Thursday.
“The election of a second President Trump would be a disaster for the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, and other essential American principles and practices.” He joins a chorus of professors warning that democracy is over if Trump wins in November.
But “Professors, if you want to stop him, don’t give Americans any more reasons to distrust us,” he wrote.
Scholars are “playing right into his hands,” Zimmerman wrote.
He wrote:
Political scientists have shown that many Republicans dislike Trump but plan to vote for him anyway because they dislike Democrats more. And that includes institutions that Democrats say are controlled by mainstream media, Hollywood, and — yes — universities.
“So the more reasons we give people to dislike higher education, the more likely they are to support Trump,” Zimmerman wrote. “But we continue to help him, even if unintentionally, in at least four ways.”
The four ways are: calling America and higher education racist, policing language (such as using the unpopular “Latin” language), and “suppressing dissent on transgender issues.”
“Most Americans support people’s right to define their gender identity,” he wrote. “Opinions differ on whether transgender people should be allowed to participate in sports teams that match their gender and shower in locker rooms.”
“Yet our academics have labeled anyone who raises concerns about this topic as a ‘transphobe,’” wrote a professor at Lia Thomas’ alma mater.
“Never mind that some female transgender athletes have suggested that competing against other women may give them an unfair advantage,” he wrote. “They are wrong and we are (always!) right. “Do you have any questions?”
Zimmerman wrote:
I am not asking my fellow professors to change their beliefs about trans athletes or anything else. I'm asking them to show more humility about those beliefs, and especially more tolerance toward Americans who hold different beliefs.
“If we call them narrow-minded and ignorant, they will turn to welcoming people you know.”
more: Professor mocks the left, claiming that if the Republican Party wins, 'democracy will die'
Image: University of Pennsylvania
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