Hey everyone! Did you hear Trump has a new “tone” on immigration? Now on top of all the usual racist stuff he’s added the word “humane.” We’re going to deport people so fast it will make your head swim, but, you know, in a humane way.
Here’s our take:
Donald Trump has had a long presence on Twitter, a platform I honestly don’t get. He’s been tearing it up on twitter for years now while I wouldn’t know how to retweet a tweet if my life depended on it. There can be no doubt that twitter is the dumbest form of communication we currently have…check that, there may be newer and dumber, but I’m just not hip to them, so save all of your “yea, what about [insert your new fangled stupid form of communication here]” for someone else. Being that it’s the dumbest form and Trump has become a master and is now the GOP nominee, one cannot be surprised that his first official campaign ad is essentially a bunch of tweets read by an announcer.
@realDonaldTrump
In Hillary Clinton’s America, the system stays rigged against Americans. #Syrianrefugeesfloodin
@realDonaldTrump
Illegal immigrants convicted of committing crimes get to stay, collecting Social Security benefits. #skippingtheline #ourborderopen
@realDonaldTrump
It’s more of the same #butworse.
@realDonaldTrump
Donald Trump’s America is secure. Terrorists and dangerous criminals kept out. #thebordersecure #ourfamiliessafe. #changethatmakesAmericasafeagain
There it is, the entire text of Trump’s new ad on immigration in essentially 4 tweets. This is apparently our level of discourse in this year’s run for the Presidency. Just overlay some gloomy lighting over the first part about Clinton and brighter lighting over the second part about Trump and you have yourself an ad. A dumb ad, but you have your self an ad.
Perhaps we will discuss the contents of this ad some day on the show, but I doubt it. It’s dumb. Clinton is only advocating for a slight increase in Syrian refugees and she has stated that immigrants, undocumented or not, with a criminal conviction should be expeditiously deported without due process, not something we immigration advocates are so happy to hear.
My real issue with the ad is that the level of writing is only a tad above the classic Dick and Jane books. Ultimately I’m disappointed that Trump’s bigotry and racism is not being better presented in the literary sense. He needs help. #WilliamBuckleyRollinginGrave
-Matthew
This week we are joined by Ruben Andersson, anthropologist and associate professor of migration at University of Oxford’s Department of International Development. He is the author of Illegality Inc., and countless other articles that you can find at his website, www.rubenandersson.com.
In our discussion, we compare and contrast immigration policies and practices in the United States and Europe, our fascination with “border spectacles,” and why the real problem is anthropologists (not really).
Enjoy the discussion!
This week Daniel Thomann and Bridget Cambria join us to talk about Melania Trump’s immigration hypocrisy, the Berks Family Jail hunger strike, and more.