When You Know You’re Right
It is said that one of the most intolerable things to endure is to be ahead of one’s own time. There are stories of thinkers, scientists and inventors that have been tortured by the rejection of their ideas which were later proven to be CORRECT. Horace Wells, who discovered the analgesic properties of nitrous oxide, is a good example. A botched surgical demonstration led to professional ridicule, which then led to a psychiatric decline and eventual suicide. Ludwig Boltzmann who discovered the second law of thermodynamics, was so demoralized by harsh criticism of his work that he too took his own life.
In these two cases, as well as many others, the individual in question KNOWS that he’s right, but faces rejection or even ridicule. The psychic pain that results can be impossible for many people to bear.
The reason I bring this up, is that it might be pertinent to an understanding of our enigmatic President. I don’t mean to suggest, necessarily, that Mr. Trump is ahead of his time. That’s neither here nor there. But the phenomena pertinent to this essay is that of facing rejection or ridicule when you KNOW, deep in your heart, that YOU’RE RIGHT.
I’ve spent a bit of time recently pondering what I feel is one of Mr. Trump’s most glaring faults, to wit, his propensity to react or over react to each and every criticism made against him. And he does this even when the critic in question is “below” him or is even inconsequential. Why battle with Chuck Scarborough? With Rosie O’Donnell? With the Charlottesville hysterics? And why fight the same battle again and again and again?
Initially, I considered the psychiatric concept of “borderline personality” as a possible explanation. One of the hallmarks of this type personality is defensiveness. Everything is a slur. Everything is an attack. And EVERY slur must be defended against, and EVERY attack MUST be counter attacked. Impulsivity often goes along with this as does over reaction to stress. Mr. Trump’s three marriages are also consistent. So, on the face of it, “borderline personality” seems a possibility. After further consideration, however, I don’t think that it’s correct. One of the other hallmarks of the borderline individual is lack of empathy, and Mr. Trump has shown time and again to be empathetic to those experiencing personal tragedy, medical afflictions, soldiers and the disabled. Borderline people often engage in risky or self-destructive behaviors such as smoking, drinking and drugs, none of which apply here. Borderline personalities often have unstable career performance, also not applicable here. So, looking at this possibility closely, I don’t think it’s the answer.
Which brings me around to the phenomenon I described at the outset of this essay. One of the remarkable aspects of the Trump Presidency (in addition to the constant fracas) is how right Mr. Trump is on nearly all of the important issues: What to do for the economy. What to do about Russia. Korea. Iran. Defense spending. Taxes. Border control. The mid-east. Immigration. Race relations. Sanctuary cities. Election fraud. And so on.
It must be absolutely INFURIATING to know that you have the correct assessment of these and other serious and complicated problems, but every where you turn, you face “resistance”, obstruction or worse. And it must be absolutely MADDENING to be ridiculed for espousing what’s right. So there, ladies and gentlemen, is the source of the animus that motivates Mr. Trump to fight battles large and small. And, when thought of in this way, is quite understandable. It’s too bad, however, that this is the case, because I believe many of these battles are unproductive and, ultimately, bog him down.
Please note that I will be away seeing the eclipse and doing some hiking for a couple of weeks. Essays will resume on my return in early September.