I don’t use clickbait titles very often, but this was one, because I want to talk to people who think that nine out of ten things that the collective known as Donald Trump, his white house staff, and the Republicans in Congress do is a distraction from … whatever.
Yes, distractions can happen, but most of what happens is not a distraction. The Trump administration is incapable of that much forethought and planning. When Trump throws trans people under the bus, telling that is a distraction is YOU throwing trans people under the bus. Here are some examples of the distraction meme playing out on Twitter:
New distraction tactic for @realDonaldTrump = banning Trans people from military service
As a #Veteran, this is a DISGRACE#VeteransResist ? pic.twitter.com/XgB6lFdjhp— Obi-Wan Kenobi ?? (@gbmnyc) July 26, 2017
The firing of #Mooch is just a distraction from the fact that @realDonaldTrump, on the advice of #Kushner, hired him in the first place. https://t.co/4cOyOhOp0A
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) July 31, 2017
Was the shiny mooch just one big distraction? pic.twitter.com/UoreLGgdJI
— BE (@ThatBarb) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/real_marna/status/892105037723430914
Trans Rights are Human Rights
Trans Rights are Not a Distraction
Trans Lives are Under Attack
— Mel Stone (@melstonemusic) July 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/real_marna/status/892105037723430914
Trans Rights are Human Rights
Trans Rights are Not a Distraction
Trans Lives are Under Attack
— Mel Stone (@melstonemusic) July 26, 2017
Here is a text book definition of distraction with the Department Of Education. Trump donates his salary but slashes their budget $9 billion
— ?? Christopher Zullo (@ChrisJZullo) July 26, 2017
There's a 13.8% hike in school property tax collections coming. Everything else is a distraction from that. #txlege https://t.co/pjSj1BAx8O
— Texas Counties (@TexasCounties) July 22, 2017
Chomsky: Trump is a Distraction, Used by the Deep State to ‘Systematically Destroy’ America https://t.co/RhrKug5wer
— DEPLORABLE JACKPHAT (@jackphatz) July 22, 2017
Sorry to intrude on Sat morning toons but all the Trump Drama was a Distraction. The GOP is doing their dirty work NOW! CALL 202-224-3121 https://t.co/pA6rLwmz9n
— gmp_01 (@gmp_01) July 22, 2017
Distraction
— Jon Marcus (@ThusSpokeJon) July 22, 2017
This theme plays out in other ways as well. I recently wrote a Facebook post bout the 2020 election. Something like 9 out of 10 commenters told me to stop talking bout 2020, and to focus on 2018. Some told me to focus on other things.
I’ve got news for you. Every week I carry out a number of focused acts related to the climate change crisis. Everything else is a distraction.
I also carry out an act or two to work towards replacing my Republican representative in Congress because he is vulnerable, we can switch this seat, and that may be part of changing Congress from Red to Blue. Everything else is a distraction.
I frequently expend effort helping in the campaign for who I think should be the next Governor of my state. My fellow staters tend to switch parties every two terms, and we’ve had a Democrat in office for what will be 8 years. I am focused like a laser beam on making sure my bone-headed compatriots don’t blindly put a Republican in office in 2018, and I’ve got my candidate. Everything else is a distraction.
My state house representative is a seriously red tea-bagger. I’ve not done much about that yet, I just moved to her district. But I’ve done a couple of things and I’ll do more. I’ll do what I can to make sure she is replaced by someone excellent, a Democrat, and I already know who it is. Everything else is a distraction.
Today, I started to process of encouraging someone in my school district to run for the board. I want to see more good people run for more offices. Everything else is a distraction.
Oh, and today, for dinner, I’m going to make tacos. Except they really aren’t tacos, they are more like burritos. We must defend the burrito, which is not a taco and not a wrap. Everything else is a …
Anyway, I’m not the only person who cringes when I see “No, that really important example of Trump and his Republican Minions taking away our rights and ruining the planet and garnering more and more wealth is just a distraction,” or who hates it when an attempt at a conversation about politics gets shut down by well meaning and smart people because it wasn’t what they were thinking about that day.
I an prove that with Twitter:
Oh my god: Not everything in the Trump Administration is a "distraction." They don't have that skill level. They're just pure chaos.
— Bill Humphrey in MA ???????? (@BillHumphreyMA) July 31, 2017
A lot is going on today. A reminder: Nothing is a distraction when everything is on fire. pic.twitter.com/JTlMZfcKij
— Jeanette (@planethalia) July 26, 2017
Trans Rights are Human Rights
Trans Rights are Not a Distraction
Trans Lives are Under Attack
— Mel Stone (@melstonemusic) July 26, 2017
I urge you to walk. And I urge you to chew gum. Beyond that, I urge you to walk and chew gum at the same time. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!!