Ali: Racism and bigotry get a pass in 2024 as Trump talk that once shocked is normalized

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As a film enthusiast and someone who has spent years observing the evolution of American politics through the lens of media, I find the casual acceptance of bigotry and racism during last night’s debate both heartbreaking and infuriating. The fact that former President Trump’s derogatory comments about Palestinians barely raised an eyebrow is a clear indication that we’ve come to accept this kind of hate speech as part of our political discourse.

During the Atlanta debate on Thursday, Trump made a derogatory remark about President Biden, implying that his approach towards the Israel-Hamas conflict was similar to that of a Palestinian.

Although Trump’s insensitive comment about an entire group, which carried undertones of prejudice, garnered little attention from the media.

During the 90-minute live debate, there’s been an abundance of analysis – from Biden’s subpar showing to Trump’s endless stream of falsehoods. However, what truly saddens me is the seemingly uneventful tolerance of casual racism within our political arena.

Last night, the ex-president’s biased remarks during his performance on CNN’s broadcast were insignificant compared to the more significant topics of discussion among people today.

In 2015, when Trump made his entrance into the political campaign with inflammatory remarks about Mexican immigrants being “rapists” and proposing a ban on Muslims entering the US, there was an outpouring of news headlines and articles in response.

During this year’s highly anticipated television broadcast, such unpleasantness hardly made a splash.

Nine years ago, the risks were less significant; now, the consequences are more severe, leading us to shift our focus. This election is not just about maintaining democracy but also combating fascism. However, if we’re prepared to tolerate offensive comments on race, faith, or people in pursuit of victory, then we have surrendered.

As a devoted cinema-goer, I can’t help but share my perspective on the recent debate between Trump and Biden. During the exchange, Trump made a contentious statement about Biden’s immigration policies leading to the influx of dangerous immigrants taking “jobs that were once held by Black people.” And if that wasn’t alarming enough for me, he expanded his fear-mongering rhetoric to include the supposed loss of “Hispanic jobs” as well.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel frustrated when important conversations are left unaddressed during live debates. The question of what is meant by a “Black or Hispanic job” is murky at best, and yet it was never clarified on the debate stage or from behind the moderator desk. Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, as co-anchors, had a responsibility to challenge such remarks and ensure that racial stereotypes weren’t given a free pass. However, they seemed to turn a blind eye, allowing offensive statements to slip by unchecked under CNN’s debate rules that apparently do not include real-time fact-checking.

To be fair, the first debate of the 2024 presidential campaign was anything but business as usual.

As a cinema devotee, I couldn’t help but notice the starkly different performances during the recent debate between Biden and Trump. I found myself concerned as Biden seemed weaker than usual, his demeanor bewildered and frail. On the other hand, Trump displayed an unusual level of control, which left me feeling uneasy.

Simply put, there hasn’t been much reflection or discussion on how such clearly discriminatory remarks managed to pass unchallenged.

In a sad turn of events reported by CNN in 2024, xenophobic fear-mongering, previously confined to the extremes, has become a common theme in American political discourse.

It’s not uncommon for Palestinians to be portrayed as the negative side in a good versus evil conflict, including in the MAGA community. Regrettably, Trump’s statement about Palestinians is being seen as an oddity rather than a serious insult to their entire people.

In more plain and clear terms: The use of derogatory language and stereotypes towards Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims remains prevalent in society, despite the supposed progressiveness of today’s world. I had assumed that this perspective would change during my lifetime, but the media’s perpetuation of harmful associations – linking Palestinians to Hamas, Muslims to terrorism, and Arabs to mysteriousness – has left me disillusioned with this hope.

In the debate on Thursday, the perpetuation of racist views towards Black and Hispanic employment was once again evident, demonstrating how we have grown accustomed to the prejudiced rhetoric from the right. Mainstream media, including those with liberal leanings, have become so desensitized that they barely responded to the linking of Black and brown communities with crime, low-paying jobs, poverty, and other negative stereotypes.

If hateful speech reaches an extremely offensive level, it may spark strong reactions, implying that intolerance is prevailing.

During the debate, it was essential for Joe Biden to challenge Donald Trump’s disrespectful remarks. Unfortunately, he did not effectively push back. Additionally, CNN and other media outlets should have emphasized the potential harm of using racist language to win votes, but they did not do so sufficiently.

If this approach wins the White House, we all lose.

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2024-07-18 19:45