White Supremacists Were the Big Winners in Yesterday's Vote

Black Lives Matter protesters at a February 29, 2016 Trump rally, shortly before being escorted out of the venue.

For the GOP and the mainstream media, the elephant in the room is the white supremacist movement. The GOP leadership, Rubio, Cruz and the mainstream media should acknowledge this horrible reality. The reason there is a reluctance to confront this is the risk of alienating the extreme fundamentalist Christians who are at the core of this movement and view Trump as their savior.

For months, Trump’s outrageous hate-mongering comments run parallel to the white supremacist agenda, largely without real challenge. An example of this can be found in an article in the February 1 issue of The New Yorker called “The Duel” by Ryan Lizza, which analyzes what resonates with voters. The article reports: "Trump fans tend to express little regard for political norms. They cheer at his most outlandish statements. O'Reilly (Fox News) asked Trump if he meant it when he said that he would 'take out' the family members of terrorists. He (O'Reilly) didn't believe that Trump would 'put a hit on women and children' if he were elected. Trump replied 'I would do some pretty severe stuff.' The Mesa crowd erupted in applause 'Yea, Baby!' a man near me yelled. I had never previously been to a political event at which people cheered for the murder of women and children." Trump's comments and the barbaric responses of his racist followers is exactly what occurred in Germany in the early thirties.

This incident, and many others like it, where Trump's racist, hate-mongering comments and the racism of his supporters have been well documented; yet, the GOP establishment, the candidates and the mainstream media have been far too timid in challenging this. Trump and his racist supporters must be called out for who and what they are; if they are not, after November, Americans will likely be required to salute Trump by declaring "Sieg Heil", which I am sure many white supremacists did last night.

In my Monday blog post, "FALLING INTO THE BULLY'S TRAP - BULLYING IN REAL TIME ON PRIME TIME," I indicated that it is fortunate that Trump, unlike many bullies, is very transparent. There is no ambiguity on what he stands for and what he has the potential of doing. Even last night this transparency showed when he called himself “a unifier,” and went on to say of House Speaker Paul Ryan: “I'm sure I'm going to get along with him (Ryan), and if I don't, he's going to pay a big price.” This is a threat, and should be reacted to as such! This is also a reflection of what he will do to anyone who stands in his way.

If someone in the GOP were to, in very quick order, produce a documentary called "In Trump’s Own Words – How The Republicans Are Falling Into the Bully's Trap," it would more effectively expose Trump and white supremacists for who they are, and the huge damage they have the potential of doing.

My ninety-seven year old mother lived through the horrors of the Nazi regime in The Netherlands. She indicated her hope that Americans will not have to reflect, with regret, on the poem by Martin Niemoller:

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Replace “communists” with "undocumented immigrants,” “trade unions” with “dissenters,” and “Jews” with “Muslims.” Niemoller's observations hold great potential for regretful reflection during a Trump presidency. 

Photo: Reuters, taken from The Daily Mail

Falling Into the Bully's Trap: Bullying in Real Time on Prime Time

As an expert in bullying, I am as astounded by how a bully has entrapped so many in such a short period of time. What is even more astounding is the lack of understanding and appreciation on how dangerous bullies are, and in this instance the potential of turning a democracy into a dictatorship.

Bullying is all about power and control. Bullies are calculating masters of deflection who deceive and manipulate to achieve their ends. Donald Trump, now partnering up with another renowned bully, Chris Christie, has and continues to bully his way to the most powerful position in the world. Christie's endorsement of Trump validates what Trump is leveraging: anger at, disdain for and distrust in the establishment candidates. Trump’s bluster and outrageous statements continue to resonate because he is perceived to tell it like it is. What is missing is an effective offence that convinces the populace that most of what he preaches is a blatant distortion of the facts, and how dangerous he is.

Until the Republican debate on Thursday night when Marco Rubio took on Donald Trump, the mainstream media and the other candidates allowed Trump to go unchecked. Predictably, Trump, using childish school yard bullying tactics, shifted his focus from Ted Cruz to Rubio. Rather than challenging political positions, tried to discredit him by ranting about things like Rubio sweating and drinking too much water, as though they were akin to treason. Unfortunately, Rubio, rather than being more substantive in challenging Trump on his bigotry, racial slurs, intolerance of dissenting viewpoints, inconsistencies, and inflammatory and extreme positions, fell into the bully's trap by taunting Trump on things that have nothing whatsoever to do with his character, capability, qualification or temperament to be the leader of the free world.

An opinion piece called 'Trump Agonistes' in the February 27 - 28, 2016 Wall Street Journal, provides a balanced perspective on how Trump’s competitors are trying to expose his weaknesses. More importantly and worrisome is how Trump is unable to tolerate any kind of criticism or dissent.

To illustrate this, consider a disturbing piece on the front page of last Saturday's New York Times called ‘To Fight Critics, Donald Trump Aims to Instill Fear in 140-Character Doses’ by Alexander Burns and Maggie Haberman, reports how Cheri Jacobus, a Republican political strategist, was viciously and personally attacked by Trump, his campaign manager and Trumps followers: "For days they replied to his posts with demeaning, often sexually charged insults aimed at Ms. Jacobus, including several with altered, vulgar photographs of her face." This example is a classic case of how a bully retaliates and is why so few have been courageous enough to expose him. Yes he is feared because people do not want to endure his wrath and this is perfectly understandable. To date, his wrath has just been an articulation, what should be feared is what he could potentially do if he is elected.

Usually bullies are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Fortunately, Trump is more transparent in that what you see and hear is what you get. By being transparent, Trump is also predictable. This predictability offers the populous a view into what could happen if Trump becomes President.

Consider – his threat to sue the New York Times for trying to expose him. As President, will he dilute the first amendment?

Consider – his promise to deport eleven million undocumented immigrants. If he is unsuccessful, will he, as Hitler did, find a final solution?

Consider – his position on Muslims. Will we see a return of internment camps?

Consider – his intolerance of anyone who opposes him. Will we see a return of McCarthyism?

Consider – his high regard for Vladimir Putin. Will he become a Putin?

Consider – his refusal to denounce the endorsement of the KKK. Will they influence the government's agenda?

Consider – his position on free trade. If Canada and Mexico resist, will they be annexed?

Consider – his comment "I love the uneducated.” Will we see a U.S. version of Hitler's Brownshirt movement?

Consider – his obsession with winning. If four years from now, his power and control is at risk, will he abolish the next election?

As indicated at the outset, I am a bullying expert and I know what bullies are capable of and the horrors and damages they can inflict. I also believe in thinking in time. Pre-World War II, in Europe many fell into the bully’s trap. In the early 50's, many in the United States fell into the bully’s trap as well.

All that I can now do is implore Americans to think in time to prevent history from repeating itself.

My response to "Workplace bullying may increase risk of suicidal thoughts"

Because of the stigma associated with suicide, the statistics may not reflect the magnitude of this problem, as often the deaths are not reported as such. An example of this: I gave a talk on bullying in the workplace and a man came up to me and asked if he could give me a call. He said what I described in my talk was exactly what his wife was going through. They both assumed it just came with the territory and there was nothing that they could do about it. Ten days later he called me, in tears. He told me that his wife committed suicide two days earlier. In deference to her memory, and other members of the family, her death was labeled "died suddenly.” Now when I look at the obituaries and notice the term "died suddenly" and it is a premature death - it gives rise to the question.

Read the article I am commenting on here.

Fueling the flames of discontent in Israel

by: Andrew Faas
Author - The Bully's Trap - Bullying in the Workplace

Over the last few weeks the worldwide media have been portraying Israel as a country under siege, security forces and police shooting and killing people at random, and mass protests. This is resulting in a huge drop of tourists and business travel, and the potential loss of investment and intellectual capital (including scientist and researchers supported by Israel Cancer Research Fund)coming to this land of creation, innovation and resourcefulness.

Last week I had the privilege of being part of a North American delegation in Israel on behalf of the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF), and the researchers and scientists they support to celebrate ICRF's 40th anniversary.

Were it not for Israeli scientists funded by the ICRF, I would be dead today. Just over a decade ago I was diagnosed with Leukemia and given at most six years to live. Thankfully I was prescribed a drug, Gleevec, which turned my fatal condition into a chronic one. ICRF funded the research, which led to the development of this miracle drug, which targets the harmful cells without affecting the healthy ones.

The Faas Foundation has supported ICRF for close to a decade, obviously for personal reasons. More importantly however, it is our passion for basic research that has been the major factor. Without basic research there would be no discovery, and without funding there would be no basic research, which would restrain the development of better treatments and ultimately a cure.

Unfortunately, now as in 1975 when ICRF was formed, governments and big Pharma provide little investment in basic research. This is something we must lobby for. However, we cannot wait. Now, as it was then, we must continue to appeal for private funding.

On many occasions, on learning that I am involved with ICRF, friends and associates have commented that they did not realize I was Jewish. My response has been "I did not realize it either", as well as making the observation that all of us are the sons and daughters of the land of Israel.

ICRF is often characterized as a Jewish charity because of its name, which for unfortunate reasoning has restricted their ability to solicit support beyond the Jewish community. What is not properly understood is that the organization is actually the world’s cancer research fund because the scientists and researchers in Israel are from countries around the globe - a mosaic of different religions, ethnic backgrounds, colours and creeds, whose work directly and or indirectly affects every citizen of every country.

Consider what we witnessed when visiting a laboratory at one of the research centres in Israel. It was led by a Palestinian Christian whose team included a Jew and a Muslim working together in good faith with a collective sense of self and purpose. Much can be learned from this model. Just imagine if all the world leaders worked together in good faith with the same collective sense of self and purpose.

Also, consider the fact that no oncologist around the world is able to properly practice oncology without referring to the research done in Israel.

On learning we were going to Israel many of our family and friends expressed concerns for our personal safety based on what has been and is conveyed by the media, much of which misrepresents what we saw, heard and experienced. During the seven days we were there, other than increased non-intrusive security measures, we could not detect any of the extreme situations portrayed in the media. I should point out that we were not in a security bubble and went to both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and most nights walked to and from our Hotels to visit historical sites and restaurants. What was evident however was how quiet it was compared to previous visits, largely due to tourists and business people cancelling their trips to Israel.

On Saturday the front page of the Europe edition of The Financial Times" reported, "Day of rage brings new violence." The only instance of violence was "Palestinian posing as a journalist stabs a journalist with a knife before being shot dead in the West Bank." The Times also reported that "as of yesterday, eight Israelis and more than 30 Palestinians - including terror suspects who Israelis killed - had died in the violence in Jerusalem, Israel and the Palestinian Territories" On the same day the International New York Times reported that 20, not the "more than 30" Palestinians were killed. (It should not take a forensic reporter to give an exact number here!) Considering all of the reported instances of police brutality in the United States, it is a bit rich for the media to be fanning the fires of discontent in Israel, where the security forces and police have and are responding to threats and attacks on them and those they serve and protect. Mohammed Abbas, the Palestinian president, has also lost total credibility when he falsely accused Israel of "executing" a 13-year-old boy from Jerusalem. Perhaps the reason we are not seeing the Ferguson type protests is that most Palestinians view their leaders for what they are, who use extremists and impressionable children to wreak havoc, knowing the media will play along.

At the end of our trip we reflected on how overwhelmed we were with the expressions of appreciation from almost everyone we came into contact with for being there during this period, and their appeals to relay what we witnessed, indicating that the terrorists are winning the battle because of the economic and social consequences of people being afraid to come.

There is no question that this is a tense period for Israel and its people, and caution must be observed while living and visiting there. It is not however a war zone; rather it is a place where rational and pragmatic steps are being taken to protect its people and to prevent those who wish to do harm; and it is working.

In response to their appeal, I appeal to you as sons and daughters of the land of Israel, please do not let the terrorists win.