Trump and Shamelessness

Tot the editor:

Brett Stephens (Trump and the Annihilation of Shame, 4.12.19) painfully, albeit accurately, deconstructs a core cultural dynamic catalyzed by a Trump presidency – the annihilation of shame. But to describe the public response as acquiescence is incomplete.

President Trump flaunts those aspects of his personality for which he should feel ashamed. He has turned shame into shamelessness; the universal urge to hide in shame has been turned into exhibitionism. An essential aspect of being human has been undone and made its opposite.

But without a receptive audience – within congress and the public at large – he simply could not get away with this. He has brilliantly managed to infect his supporters with the very shamelessness he feels. President Trump’s behavior has blinded his supporters to the shamefulness of his behavior … and to their own shame.

Meanwhile the rest of the country feels ashamed of our President and judges his shameless supporters – rather than misguided - as bad people who should feel ashamed adding to the polarization in our country. 2020 cannot come too soon.

Respectfully submitted

Larry S. Sandberg MD