Is Donald J. Trump the real last Jedi?
A thought exercise to explore how to effectively create an alternate reality
Probably like many people, I have marveled and wondered at former President Trump’s ability to create a diametrically-opposed alternate reality on any issue whatever. He’s really quite remarkably successful at this, and in thinking it over, I came up with a simple thought exercise to examine the phenomenon. Here goes:
Imagine that former POTUS is giving a statement to media. On a table nearby sits a drinking glass with a quantity of water in it — the quantity, or rather the perception of quantity, is the basis for the famous test to determine whether an observer is a pessimist or an optimist. The former would say that “the glass is half empty,” while the latter would say “the glass is half full.” Everyone knows this simple example — it’s been around for ages. Whether it is an efficacious way to explore the pessimist/optimist dichotomy is not important in this particular thought exercise.
For reasons unimportant at the moment, someone asks №45 the obvious question; and for reasons known only to him, he decides that the presence of that glass is something he’d rather not have. He has a Machiavellian intellect, and such a mind can come up with some odd things — it is important to him for some reason that the glass not exist. As he has done many, many times on more important matters, he responds with one or more hand motions, and by denial: “there is no glass.” This has two effects: first, he avoids answering the question; and second, he has started to create an alternate reality — one in which something that is obviously present does not in fact exist at that time.
Now, everyone else in the room can see the glass. So do the cameras, and the fact of the existence and presence of the glass is recorded so that thousands or millions of people can later see for themselves that the glass is sitting right there (some are watching it live). If challenged, Trump will simply end the statement to the media. Yet, several weeks later, a great many people when asked say that there was no glass. How is this to be explained?
Over the next few weeks Trump is asked many times about that darned glass. He repeats, many times, that there was no glass. Jason Miller, when asked about it, says “the 45th President has made it clear that there was no glass, and has told you all that many times.” His supporters in the Legislative branch either repeat what Trump and Mr. Miller have said, or decline to answer the question.
Eventually, others will decide it’s better to join in…there is no glass,they will say. Several more weeks go by, and the question is always responded to in the same way; and now there is an ever-increasing volume added to the answers. A couple more weeks go by and now Trump supporters on the street are asked the question — now the issue has trickled down to the “base,” and the question of half-empty versus half-full has been relegated to the back burner; it is now an existential thing, driving an alternate reality.
And here comes the magic…his “base” will simply parrot the alternate reality started by the former POTUS! He said so many times…everyone says the glass did not exist (or at least the people they listen to). At this point you can actually show them the bloody video — and if anyone of the base even agrees to watch it, they will tell you that Trump has made it clear there was no glass; that the half empty/full issue (the original question) is not a real issue; that the video must be fake, because everyone knows there was no glass; and that somehow the unresolved issue of the glass is the fault of Obama.
Over the past few years I have watched probably a hundred videos of Trump supporters being asked similar questions on other topics, and they virtually all come out in this way. It really does boggle the mind, or at least my mind. Don’t believe me? Attend please:
While many people were out gathering for last July 4th (seriously, in a pandemic?), I was at home working. I happened to catch a newly-posted video by The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. It is Jordan Klepper interviewing people at various Trump events over the years, including evidently while the Impeachment was going on, and also while the Senate trial was pending.
It is both entertaining and disheartening. I place the link to this video here and hope you all will watch it. I wish I could present a transcript of the whole thing, but I’ve neither the time nor the patience for that. I will, however, mention just two of them to illustrate. Interviewer is JK, Trump Supporter is TS:
TS — A white male, perhaps 30, in a MAGA hat and T-shirt (and a Trump 2016 button): Barack Obama had big part of 9/11.
JK — Which part?
TS — Not being around, always on vacation, never in the office
JK — Why do you think Barack Obama wasn’t in the Oval Office on 9/11?
TS — That I don’t know. Like to get to the bottom of that.
Well…jeez folks. Who was President in 2001 when the Twin Towers were attacked; and why would Obama be there at all?
TS — a white female, perhaps 40 in a MAGA hat (couldn’t see a shirt, as she had an American flag around her shoulders — after I heard her words, that really pissed me off): Barack Obama is a Muslim, he’s a terrorist, and nobody will ever tell me different…do I have proof? No. Do I have articles? No.
JK — But your mind is made up without any information…
TS — My mind is made up (looking happy and proud about it).
Okay, there’s a true Trump supporter: doesn’t need any facts or evidence; her mind is made up.
So, let’s review: Barack Obama should have been in the Oval Office on 9/11/01, some 7 years before he was first elected President; and without any evidence, Barack Obama was a Muslim and a terrorist (and lack of evidence has no impact on her mind).
Trust me — if you watch that whole video you will see even more things that will blow your mind — the segment on the Access Hollywood Tape is priceless! For example, it simply never even occurred to me that “one man’s sexual assault is another man’s flirtation.” Who knew?
So, in light of all the above, we return to the question: how is this phenomenon to be explained? I have given the question much thought. Other people considering the thing would no doubt throw out some oblique references to Adolph Hitler, Jim Jones — any charismatic “leader” who had the ability to sway people even to atrocities. I have another idea, and it came to me when I re-watched an old movie. Bear with me again, please:
Obi Wan and Luke are arriving at Mos Eisley, with R2 and C3PO in their possession. Obi Wan (to Luke’s amazement) when Luke is challenged by a Stormtrooper:
Trooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi Wan: You don’t need to see his identification (slight waving of hand in a certain and subtle way).
Trooper: We don’t need to see his identification.
Obi Wan: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. (Hand)
Trooper: These aren’t the droids we’re looking for.
Obi Wan: He can go about his business. (Hand)
Trooper: You can go about your business.
Obi Wan: Move along. (Hand)
Trooper: Move along…move along (almost cheerfully).
Luke: I can’t understand how we got by those troops; I thought we were dead.
Obi Wan: The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.
Could this be the answer? Trump is the real last Jedi knight, and has so perfected his control of the Force that his many hand gestures and vocal nuances can cause so many people to think his way? Is it really that simple?
In continuing our thought exercise, let’s assume it is — let’s try to remember that Obi Wan said that the Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. Also, let’s remember that there is a Dark Side to the Force, right? Enough said.
You don’t care for that hypothesis as an explanation? Good for you, then, for not being so easily led (and being grounded in reality) — you are not delusional, and there is hope for you and therefore the rest of us. I didn’t really care for it either, and was just having a bit of fun.