It seems that the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump isn’t familiar with what Ku Klux Klan stands for.

“White supremacy, what is that?” It’s Evil, it’s Bad, really Bad. Trump has even during the last day tried to explain that there he has a knowledge gap in relation to Klan leaders like David Duke, what fascism stands for and who Mussolini was. In New Yorker’s February 29 issue it can be read how Trump explains that he doesn’t know anything about Ku Klux Klan, David Duke’s endorsement for his presidency and white supremacy:

“On CNN, Jake Tapper pressed him about David Duke, and Trump, seeming to forget that he had given a one-line disavowal, reverted to a position of theatrical incomprehension: “Just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, O.K.?” Tapper asked three times if Trump would denounce the Klan’s support, and each time Trump declined. “I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists,” he said. “So I don’t know. I don’t know—did he endorse me, or what’s going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists.”

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trump-and-the-ku-klux-klan-a-history

Interestingly enough, the New York journalist Evan Osnos also writes that the problem with Trump isn’t the knowledge gap, but rather what could be considered a “memory gap” about Ku Klux Klan: “In 1986, he was rejected from a federal judgeship after saying that he thought the Klan was “O.K. until I learned they smoked pot.” (ibid)

To clarify, here are some lessons from Sweden for Mr. Trump on the difference between Ku Klux Klan and Santa Lucia-celebrations in Sweden. In essence, it’s about the basic difference between GOOD and BAD.

Picture nr. 1 below, “GOOD”: These are so called “stjärngossar” (litt. “starboys” in a Santa Lucia celebration in Sweden).

This celebration stands for hope, light in the darkness, community and a bridge between the sacred and secular, something like Thanksgiving in the US.

Good. More of this, Mr Trump…

So how about Ku Klux Klan, Pichture nr 2 below:

BAD. These are no “stjärngossar” but part of the white supremacy. It stands for hatred, racism, and segregation.

Conclusion, Mr Trump: Now it’s up to you to decide. Maybe you want to become a “starboy” in the Swedish Luciatåg? Maybe that will fit you better after all than becoming a Bad President of the United States of America. You are very welcome to Sweden! J

 

DT

Donald Trump as a Swedish “starboy” (stjärngosse) with scared friends in the Republican party. What’s next??