The message from Emmanuel Mensah is "Don't Give Up" 69 million hits are saying the same message since several years ago. https://youtu.be/pWp6kkz-pnQ
1
Why does the stable genius appear to dislike non-whites so much? If he's truly plain-spoken, maybe he could precisely explain and clarify his opinions for everyone. People have a right to know...consent of the governed.
www.thewaryouknow.com
2
We need to vet immigrants to sort the good from the bad. End the lottery and chain immigration. Uncontrolled immigration has ruined Europe. This is a fact.
3
How many millions of Norwegians are clamoring to immigrate to the U.S.? Just wondering.
7
Thank you for writing about this brave and remarkable man, Emmanuel Mensah; a true hero.
I also want to acknowledge Nice Leng’ete, also a hero, who is featured in this article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/13/world/africa/female-genital-mutilatio...?
The article about Nice Leng'ete does not accommodate comments, so I am adding it here because I know Nicholas Kristof gives a damn. This woman deserves a Nobel Prize for her amazing work turning around cultural traditions and saving young girls from genital mutilation.
8
I donated to NILC in the name of Donald J. Trump. They will send a card to the White House acknowledging the donation in his “honor”.
3
I think of Trump in a burning building, and the only image I can conjure is of him shoving women and children out of the way to get to the exit first. Stepping on them if necessary.
15
I think that the Presidents real problem is with students from Africa who come to this country that get married, smuggle their wife back to Kenya to give birth, then bring the kid back here in a long term plot (involving Harvard) to turn the kid into a empire hating socialist that is bent on destroying the rights of real estate investors, who takes over the country.
Makes as much sense as anything else lately.
2
So very, very sorry i left out Mensah's last name in my comment.
Yet the craven spineless Republicans who sit mutely as this racist sociopath destroy the country and our world will hypocritically tweet out MLK quotes on Monday. History will judge harshly those people who put power and party over country and humanity.
5
I've been reading the NYT since I was a boy, 50+ years ago. I submitted a comment hours ago decrying this once-venerated paper's slide into the Trump mudpit, and it didn't make the cut, as this one may not. If only I had written: "Gosh, Mr. Kristof, how wonderfully insightful you and we are--and that ghastly Mr. Trump, heavens!" The New York Times used to pride itself on disinterested reporting. Now it's part of The Resistance, preaching to an elite choir. What a shame, and goodbye.
2
Nicholas conveniently forgets to mention the Clintons, who raped Haiti of millions of dollars with their criminal "Foundation", all the while looking to appear oh-so-charitable to those poor souls in Haiti. Oh, and don't forget, Bill Clinton, who ALSO got a draft deferment, actually wrote a letter to an Army general, expressing his loathing of the military. And yet, Nicholas would be overjoyed to have Hillary in the White House, and Bill assuming his role as "First Guy". Sorry, Nicholas, we're not as uninformed as you might think.
2
This story hurts my heart so much I can hardly stand it. This question of whether or not Trump is a racist is absurd. If a person has a history of racist actions and deeds - then that person is a racist. Perhaps had the media been willing to label and shame Trump for his shameful history of racism he never would have been an acceptable nominee for the GOP. Instead, the media played footsie with him - at time even comparing Trump's 40 year history of pernicious racism to Ms. Clinton once using the term "superpredator" - a term which was not at all controversial at the time she uttered it. But - Trump supporters share his racism - they are fine with Melania Trump not following the rules - and yet the first to condemn any black or brown person who does not follow the rules, orders, etc that any white person pronounces. They also would insist, like Trump, that they aren't racists, just as they would assert they aren't sexists. But - saying it doesn't make it so - and it's up to the paper of record to hold people, including Trump, for their actions and words. And by the way - while Trump was calling Haiti a s-hole - Ms. Clinton's foundation raised millions for that country. But - well - she's not perfect...
5
How utterly surprising, Kristof misrepresents Trump's comments and based on the misrepresentation calls Trump a racist. Our "progressives' sure love their bandwagons.
The funny thing is Kristof acknowledges the essential truth of Trump's observation just substituted "wretched" for "****hole".
1
Bravo for the heroes, the real thing. The racists and the naysayers are just sad little people whose views amount to nothing. If one of them happens by some awful mistake, to have been elected president, we do not owe his any more attention that some half-baked nitwit in a bar someplace.
3
And let's not forget La David Johson, an African-American Green Beret who's Gold Star widow Mr. Trump showed his callous racism by caling her a "liar" and whose Chief of Staff, John Kelly, piled on more racism venom in attacking her friend and African-American congresswoman, Frederica Wilson, an "empty barrel."
4
Conservatives will claim Pfc. Mensah was just running into the building to get out of the cold. Look at how they slimed John Kerry'w heroism under fire. Nothing is beneath them.
5
Oh here we go!
Let's cherry pick those from hole countries from YEARS ago and trot out their virtues. And let's not forget that if the virtues were military in nature, the Left mocks those values. Oh wait! NOW it's Patriotic and chest-beating public puffery for the Left to claim military contributions as wonderful!
Sorry, the reach-for-the-smilling-salts tactics are decades late and trillions short. The eight Obama years did their best to horsewhip this nation to Third World status. Remember, Obama said and lamented: "Unfortunately we're still a super-power nation".
"Unfortunately"??????
No wonder Trump chose the MAGA theme. And no wonder the Left thinks it's treasonous.
Trump 2020.
3
Bigot? No. Racist? No. All American? Yes. America first. American citizens first. If someone concerned for places like Haiti or El Salvador they could adopt
2
Sorry. We are a nation of laws not men. All illegals out. That was on the ballot. America voted. Trump won. Get over it.
4
The only way to remove this cancer from the United States is to vote out every republican in Congress. Then real progress will be made.
4
Genetically all "so-called" races are united in one species: Homo Sapiens. This has been proven by cold scientific testing and is a fact. Skin color then is no more than a superficial attribute like eye color, body shape, height, teeth, toenails etc.
Because of the above simple truth, racism is a plainly stupid, old-fashioned ideology. Hard to understand why neo-Nazis willfully insist that white skin in and of itself makes for superior beings inside. It makes no sense and isn't true anyway. A course in high school biology would benefit them--and Trump too. Signed. A Nurse.
3
When many of our forebears came to the United States they may have considered their home countries s...hole countries. Otherwise, why would they have wanted to leave? Are many Norwegians rushing to the USA now?
4
Why do we always have to be careful about "tossing around" the word "racist"? trump is a racist. He has no compunction about labeling POC as rapists and police killers. He has no problem misconstruing the real reason football players kneel. And it's not because they hate America and the flag. (Let's pause to mention that trump doesn't know the words to The Star Spangled Banner.) It's OK, in America, to insinuate or even exclaim that black people are lazy or that Muslims are rapists. But, before you can call someone a racist, you must proceed with care. As always, the feelings of white people must take precedence.
trump is racist. It's time for him to go back to where he came from. Germany, please take him off our hands.
9
He was a barber. That is only skill he had.
2
If I may borrow from Mark Twain, the difference between the decent, sturdy man, Pfc Mensah and the vile, cowardly Trump is "the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
Yes, Nicholas, I will contribute $ to a Haitian fund(Thank You for nudging me and for your wonderful worldwide work) -- my effort at counterpoising my own fury over the disgusting, blathering racist that is Trump, and those disgusting, cowardly senators who abide and enable him.
7
The Google response to "President Trump says I'm sorry" is:
No Results found for "President Trump says I'm sorry".
If a small African nation incarcerates ALL the Americans working in the American embassy ALL their relatives announcing that they will be held in prison until President Trump says on TV to the whole world:
"I am sorry. I apologize to Blacks in Africa and all around the world",
those Americans will remain in jail for the rest of their lives.
2
“Some African countries are in wretched shape”. Which ones aren’t? What contributions have they made?
2
Excellent commentary Thank you
4
"Trump once showed a willingness to be big-hearted to immigrants"?--what a joke! Just because he satisfies his own greed by marrying an "illegal" immigrant, breaking the law by working illegally, makes him a hypocrite, not big-hearted.
3
I think that the media has to just stop taking Trump seriously, and particularly stop reporting on his Tweets. Trump is up to 2,000 lies.
When do you stop repeating what such a person says? How many lies before you stop saying "Trump says..." What is the number? 10,000? Billions and billions?
Every time you repeat his lies you are enabling a liar.
3
Norwegians who are a nice people would never immigrate to the USA today while Trump is president.
3
Calling Trump racist, when his daughter married into a Jewish family and he married a foreign immigrant is ridiculous. Its about time someone mentioned the fact that our first lady is 1st generation immigrant but of course not in a flattering way. Because she is beautiful, it somehow cancels it out?
2
Recall that, shortly after DJT's inauguration, the responses from many in his party regarding his actions and comments were something to the effect of, "Give him time. Don't judge him now; the White House will change him." A year later, and after the eruption over his "s--- hole countries," I heard one GOP member of Congress say to a reporter that it isn't fair to judge him now. We need to wait until his four-year term is over, and judge him then." I appreciate the perspective shown here, not of a year's actions, but those of several decades.
3
Here's another suggestion as "what can we do, what action can we take to rid ourselves of this awful human being occupying OUR White House.
VOTE! Never again complain that both candidates are awful or that the Dems are just as bad, no different than the Republicans. Neither is true. Sure, the Dems are rudderless, have little to no vision - but they are far far superior to the Rs. November 2018 - VOTE. Imagine if everyone eligible actually voted, and except for those hopelessly blinded by hatred, racism and misogeny, I beg you to vote for whoever has a "D"in front of their name on every ballot. The "R"s have become a tool for the fool in the WH and visa versa. They are owned by the wealthy donors to their party and have rejected all values, morals and ethics regarding our children, our future and the well-being of all life and the natural world. It's really VERY simple - VOTE. And there's really only 2 choices this time around - someone with a "D" in front of their name and someone with an "R" in front. If you took a chance with Trump, you have another chance in 10 months. Vote for the person with the "D" in front. Please.
VOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTEVOTE
7
What puzzles me most is that, by long tradition, we are a nation of immigrants. Go back a few generations in most of our families - mine included - and you find folks who came here to work hard and provide a better life for their children and their children's children. How have we arrived at a point where we have a racist, anti-immigrant no-nothing draft dodger sitting in the White House. I'm a fairly smart guy - although not a very stable genius - and the answer escapes me. All this, even after we elected a black man from Kenya as president! Sad!
4
One could only wish that the Kristofs of the world had penned companion pieces titled, "Mrs. Clinton, Meet a [Not-So-Deplorable] Hero You Maligned" or "Mr. Obama, Meet Someone Too Busy Being a Hero to Be a Bitter Clinger." Articles of this sort lose moral traction when applied in a discriminatory fashion.
2
Thank you, Mr. Kristoff. Such a man is the definition of “hero.”
2
It occurred to me today, as I left our downtown county jail to visit a loved one: How can someone in Trump’s position be so outright nasty and hateful?
He was born very rich. He appears to be physically healthy, albeit tubby and not exactly handsome. He has had one silver spoon after another: wealth, fame, power, celebrity, healthy, children.
And yet, even as he sits in the Oval Office, he spews hatred regularly, and lies about his own conduct on a daily basis. He publicly ridicules and demeans those less fortunate. He boasts like a mentally unfit person. And he is completely unable to be empathetic.
Pay attention everyone: Mr Trump is three-dimensional proof that living and working for the primary goal of acquiring vast sums of money, fame and power is a life wasted.
11
And, oh by the way, the Chief of Surgery at famed Children's Hospital of Los Angeles is a man by the name of Dr. Henri Ford.
A Haitian.
A very angry Haitian.
7
If American original( Called American Indians( or Red Indians by early people) would have applied same logic and not permitted Europeans?
Donation to Partners in Health made!
2
Exceptions prove the rule, do they not? The fact is the President has completely changed the discussion about immigration - legal and illegal - and by battling the deep bureaucracy daily he continues to make progress. Why this very organ of unoriginal thought recently published an article to this effect, so as was once said of items found in Rolling Stone, of course it MUST be true. It is. And we elected him for two reasons: this one, and to get under the skin of the left, their mouthpieces and their media commentariat.
Mission Accomplishing!
I wish someone would investigate Trump's businesses to see how many legal or illegal immigrants are making his beds, cleaning his rooms, cutting grass at his golf courses etc. I think we need to know if he is employing legal or illegal immigrants from Africa, Central America and all the other places he does not like. Please help in getting an investigation done by calling out for an invesitgation!!
4
Don't forget when it comes to women he's an ageist as well.
1
I’m not sure but sometime in my life I must have described Haiti with that phrase. Maybe not. I am sure I described cities I worked in and companies I worked for that way. Am I in trouble? Some of us actually use worse language to describe places we dont care about. The worst I heard was from an Indian coworker who launched into a diatribe about Trinidad. That was his experience and his opinion. Still aside from that he was a fair guy and far more politically correct then most people I know.
Is using harsh language going to outlawed in America? How about being an idiot? There won’t be anyone left. Besides I’m sure the people In those countries have some harsh language about Trump and the United States. Who cares?
2
Thank you for your comments. We need people to finally speak what needs to said in response to TRUMP. There was a time 120 years ago when people from Eastern Europe were labeled this way. That would have included his Grandfather. So Mr.Trump if you are such a genius you should know better and shame on you for representing my country this way.
3
Two qualities that I abhor are racism and lying. He will never be a man I respect or one whom I would have anything to do with in my life. Mensah is a man everyone can respect. It’s too bad Donald can’t/doesn’t read. I would suggest someone in the WH read this aloud to him - with the tv off.
3
The unfairness of it all, that this good man died trying to save others and the cruel, bigot that is Trump lives out his days in luxury is too much to deal with.
4
Thank you Nicholas Kristof for being so worldly and constructive with solutions to problems. I thought the lump in my throat caused by Trump's comments was beginning to dissolve but when I read your story of Pfc Mensah the tears started again.I was a child during the Second World War and I can never forget the talk of an Aryan race.It terrified me then and scares and disgusts me now.
3
We can throw open our borders, but we lack the will to do so.
1
Thank you for "telling it as it is". Trump is a RACIST. His supporters are enablers of racism. Keep calling him out, please. The decent people of this great nation should not and will not put up with this RACIST and his supporters. RESIST.
4
Trump, learned from his racist father and rather than change he’s wasted his life doubling down with his racist rhetoric and acts living a narcissistic life of hate. A sad man!
3
To stare at the picture of Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah is to see someone who radiates pure pride in those flags behind him.
To fail to recognize that is ignorance. this is the height of patriotism the exemplification of de Crevecoeur's "what is this new American breed" These are the people who reinvent us every generation. (MAGA)
The Irish, Germans Chinese, Italians, Latinos etc, just accept equality of all people and then reach for your dreams by your hard work and moxy.
The quintessential American is of no race or ideology exept a belief that they can make their own lives better in this great country.
Any one who does not understand that does not deserve to lead a free nation much less soldiers like Pfc. Mensah
3
Trump's base doesn't read the New York Times. They watch Fox News and oddball internet sites like Infowars (doesn't that name say it all).
The advertisers who support Fox News obviously have no standards, the internet sites operate independent of them, another day goes by, another week goes by another month goes by, another year goes by, and here we are.
1
Trump cannot comprehend Emmanuel Mensah. It is not within him.
It is hard to believe, but it is true.. this vulgar bag of foul air is god to a third
of this nation, a cult of hatred and ignorance.
4
They say beauty is only skin deep and that saying is also true for skin color. Genetically the difference between whites and people of color is just as superficial. Our hero pictured here in this article is like us: a Homo Sapiens. Denying that this is true is a willful stupidity shared by white supremacists, and even our president.
3
President Trump and all who support him should hang their heads in shame. Compared to the brave soldier mentioned in this piece, they are a disgrace.
4
Everything Trump said and did this week:
—lashing out against Haitians and Africans
—agreeing with Senator Feinstein (the last person he spoke to)
—completely misunderstanding the cues the Republicans in the room and doubling down on the clean DACA bill (“no I think that’s what Senator Feinstein is saying”)
—cutting the exchange from the transcript in true Soviet style.
—cancelling his trip to the UK by complaining about the new U.S. embassy cost and location, a lie about the reason for cancellation (England hates himJ and another one about Obama (the decision to move was done by the ptrevious administration) another about the cost.
Everything he did this week makes the Michael Wolf book look absolutely accurate and predictive of who this man is. And then there is the 130,000 dollar pay off to a porn actress for her silence.
Can this merry-go-round spin even faster?
4
I cry for my country.
5
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore,”
“Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
3
I bet his "base" loved Trump's comments nevertheless.
2
Racist draft dodger vs. a hero soldier. I'm not religious, and don't pretend to be. But I have a strong suspicion as to the ultimate fate of both, if there IS a God. Just saying.
2
Cue the saddest song on the tiniest violin. Yawn.
1
Unless you belong to one of the Native American Tribes you come from immigrant stock. There is no shame in coming from immigrant lineage, we just need to keep in mind that most of us did not originate here. The Africans brought on slave ships, had no choice where they landed but like the rest of us they contribute to the over all strength of our nation with the diversity ALL of us bring. Africans brought against their will were subjected to unspeakable hardship but bloomed where it counted and survived to credit our country in every way possible, a testament to their strength and resourcefulness. tRump's grandfather managed a house of ill repute. Stark difference there. Mensah reflect the best of the best, to me tRump reflects the worst of the worst. Mensah gives, tRump takes and takes and takes. I applaud what you wrote, give you 5 stars. Now, how to we rid ourselves of the coward, con man, liar-in-chief?
10
You are one of several brave souls that unabashedly denounces Trump's ignominious behavior, a classic case of 'racism', it's significance heightened by having such a brutus ignoramus in the White House. How in the world did the people of these United States help encumber such an ugly beast to an undeserved job, a bully so used in abusing his station, and belittling, if not humiliating, others? If demagogue Trump is ripe for a neuro-psychiatric evaluation, so are we for electing him.
3
A memorial to Emmanuel Mensah, erected outside Trump Tower, would show the world that New York City is made up of more than petty greed and mendacity.
9
"The Bottomless Bottom" . . .
I think we should stop wondering if we have arrived at "the bottom" of disgusting behavior of "our" president. . . there is no bottom !
Even More SAD is the suggestion that many people in "our" country have muttered comments about immigrants from Haiti and Africa - "Far Worse" than our disgusting president.
. . . And the Saddest of ALL . . . Pence, Ryan, and MOST of the GOP also are guilty of this despicable way of thinking - although they do show a bit more restraint about their true beliefs.
The GOP has corralled all their supporting hater electorate in carefully constructed Gerrymandered Districts -
Districts where the president's recent bigoted comments probably brought a smile of agreement to their pitiful faces. . .
Luckily, not a majority, but sadly, America has too many 10's of millions of "people" - who think like and agree with "our" president.
"People" who are actually children of immigrants !
5
I have deplored Sen. Cotton since his letter signed by 47 colleagues addressed to the Ayatollah of Iran, claiming that Obama could not be trusted so beware the Nuclear Accord. I thought it treasonous; so did others with Constitutional pedigrees. But when I learned he was a Rhodes Scholar, I tried to forgive him. But no, he continues to be traitorous and ignorant. But now I learn that he has a colleague who is a Rhodes Scholar, Sen. Cory Booker! And this gentleman is a fine example of taking advantage of his educational opportunities. I am elderly and likely not to see it but Booker has the stature and the character to become president one day. Cotton is in the Stephen Miller camp and unworthy of oxygen.
6
Is it just possible that a full throated CONDEMNATION of Trump's racism can be published without sneaking in a caveat such as, "It’s true, of course, that some African countries are in wretched shape ... blah blah blah...".
The issue isn't those countries. The issue is Trump's racism that is being exploited and held up as a role model by America's racists to advance their hate filled agenda.
7
If Trump had worn a hooded white sheet during his campaign to be president, his racism couldn't have been more pronounced to anyone not blindly partisan.
So the more important question is not about the racism of Trump, which was a major part of what he honestly campaigned on, it is about the vast majority of white Americans who voted for him and about the white politicians that still support him.
It would seem impossible to maintain support for such a man if you weren't a white-supremacist yourself, whether you are self-aware of your racism of not.
What is most disturbing and important about Trump, is the racism of our entire country he makes evident by his election and continued support.
Racism and tribalism have always been the greatest internal threat to our nation and the Civil War never resolved this threat. The main political divide in this country is still between the north and the south and the racist GOP was created out of the resentment of the forced integration of the south by LBJ. How strange that mainstream media mostly ignores this obvious fact.
7
funny what trump says.bring immigrants from Norway.Norway is very rich from their oil and it is supposed to be a great place to live with many social benefits.americans would like to move there.
3
I’d not heard the story of Mensah’s bravery until today. My first response was emotional—tears. My second response, also emotional, was white anger. How long will it be until America flushes our vile racist President and his cronies from the White House and Congress? And will Trump’s just as vile enablers, the so-called Christians like Franklin Graham, the 60 percent of Mormons who support Trump, and the Republican Senate, and many other individuals and organizations who claim to have America’s best interest in mind, say they’ve had enough?
8
There is no such thing as an American or Canadian or even Irish. Borders and nationalities and tribes are a human construct, so in that context, we are all human beings with the same red blood coursing through our veins. (pigmentation of skin aside)
When we are talking about racism, there is the easy definition of one skin color against the other, then you expand out from there to include tribes,religion,sexual orientation and so on,
This President has shown to be ''racist'' in deeds and words for almost his entire life. He has been discriminatory in those words and actions against essentially anyone that has not praised him, agreed with him or had nothing to offer him.
All the rest has been inconsequential in regards to his pursuit at being number one at all costs. ( even it means disparaging anyone )
3
Where are the voices of the Republican politicians who were in the room with trump? Why are they not equally disgusted? That they are not says boat loads about the Republican party as a whole and those individuals as decent human beings. And I am more than certain that, to a politician, they all claim to be Christians. I doubt Christ would see them that way.
Matthew 25:34-36
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
4
Re: "This boy was ambitious and entrepreneurial, and, despite language problems, he earned some money and then traveled up to the Klondike during the gold rush to operate a hotel that became notorious for prostitution. He prospered, and today his grandson is President Trump."
I take your point. We need to shut down all immigration now, before we get another Trump.
1
Who were the other Democrats in the room besides Durbin? No one else can testify to what Trump said? Republican, Democrat or otherwise? Come on.
1
Trump limitless awfulness, his indecency, his incompetence, his ignorance and the constant reminder that he is a crude and unapologetic racist are on display every single day. The question is, does Trump represents the views of 63 per cent of white men and 52 per cent of white women voted for him; is Trump expressing the views of the majority of Americans, is this who the Americans really are?
5
I hope that Pfc. Mensah's mom knows that every decent person regards her son as the very best of New York City and America.
9
Haiti and the parts of Sub-Saharan Africa that I am fortunate enough to visit have many wonderful people, great food, and many other things going for them.
However, any place where a solid wage is a dollar or two a day, and many people don't even have that, will have sh*th*le aspects. There is no such thing as noble poverty. The poverty is the problem, not the description of it.
2
Here was a man who served his country and yet we have a president, who, up until January 2017, never had an inkling to serve his country in any shape or form and finds it easy to belittle this man's native country.
Of course we know what this president is capable, given his still painful attacks on the Khan family!
What does the president know about sacrifice for one's country?
4
Initiate the 25th Amendment now, before we end up in a premeditated war, initiated to satisfied the tendencies of a narcissists.
2
The American president can do or say something stupid and the stock market takes a dive. But, lo and behold, those that control the market don't give a flip about Trump regardless of his attacks on immigrants, playing games with nuclear weapons, or his ability to pay off porn stars. I have stayed out of the market since Trump took the oath, but when I saw that the market didn't flinch when Trump insulted several countries, lied about saving Dreamers, and embarrassed our country by not knowing the words to our National Anthem, I jumped back into the market and in only two days I am up 22 percent and the market is off to its best start since 2003. In summary, for the first time in history, the American stock market doesn't give a hoot about what Trump says or does. That is pathetic, but true.
1
You could not draw a more beautiful and painful example of the kind of people that make up the idealized version of America, in the person of Emmanuel Mensah, who showed the can-do heroism and human decency we pay homage to and pretend is in our national DNA and what we strive for (Reagan's "Shining City on a Hilll" that Republicans make a mockery of these days...unless you are wealthy and white), when compared to the immoral, crumpled bigot of a carnival barker and schemer, Donald (J.) Trump. It is the Mensah's actions that reveal our goodness and possibility of living in a civil society, and Trump that reveals what we can become if we give in to selfishness, ego, lying, and paranoia. Pick your side.
5
Helping anyone without regard to your own personal safety is something that is nurtured. Do not think, do! Thanks to Pfc Mensah. Thanks to Pfc Mensah's parents. Thanks to Ghana. Thanks to the African continent.
Ask yourself, would you rush into a burning building to save another human? People all over the world do it every day.
4
Great column, thank you. And the solution proposed is a good one. Every time the Racist In Chief opens his mouth to demean our country and, by association, all of us, support an organization doing valuable work in the communities being insulted.
4
"Trump once showed a willingness to be big-hearted to immigrants who break the rules: He married Melania, a Slovenian who came to the U.S. on a visitor visa and then earned money as a model before she was authorized to work."
Good try Nicholas, but that was not a big-hearted act of magnanimity.
3
This young Man is worth a thousand Trumps AND his Collaborators.
Period.
5
About a month ago I read a relatively new book about Trump and family by a Pulitzer Prize winning author. In the book the author starts of with Trump's grandfather coming to America for the gold rush, opening a brothel and getting arrested for participating in a KKK demonstration. Shortly later he went back to Europe he got married became a father had a son named Frederick before dying in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1908. Donald Trump's father was Fred. It seems racism ran in the family for generations.
3
In Trump world, we are all in a heap, Trump is on top. I would rather talk, listen and learn from a Haitian immigrant than Trump any day.
2
Excellent opinion Mr. Kristof and so needed today of all days!
1
Before the “all republicans are racist” posters arrive, I’d like to point out that Represenative Mia Love from Utah has Haitian grandparents and that local news here actually went out of its way to cover the massive backlash that Trump’s comments have created here — on a busy news day with time preblocked out to cover President Thomas S. Monson’s funeral.
People here who used to say they were proud Trump voters now denounce him.
There’s lower case “r” racism that gets tollerated here, but upper-case “r” Racism is a very, very, quick way to alienate what are other wise dyed in the wool Republicans.
As odd as it may sound, this particular incident might end up being one that drives away some of his last die hard supporters.
Some of hard line anti-immigration people here in Utah even have condemned Trump. Which, /that/ alone should tell you how out of touch he is.
While all Republicans at least implicitly tolerate racism, there are still a lot of them who full-throatedly reject Racism. (See Jeb Bush and John Kaisch’s Op-ed)
I guess, I want this to be fake news, but almost as much as that I want democrats and republicans to publish a joint statement that America is still somewhere immigrants should aspire to live someday. We aren’t perfect.
But, as tattered and ragged and under threat as it might be, the American Dream is still real. That’s what I hope the world hears as a reaponse to this mess. A resounding “Believe in the American Dream no matter where you are!”
Apparently no one is talking about all the US troops fighting with African troops against ISIS, what happens to them? Why would these countries co operate now?
1
I'm sure everybody agrees with me that our president, a real hero, would have done exactly the same thing to rescue all those people. I can envision it now - racing into and out of the building, his hair in flames, carrying his gold bars (hey! gold melts!) to safety...
3
Most immigrants are good, hardworking people, regardless of the country they come from. But this misses the bigger question - in today's world, how much immigration does the US, and its citizens, want or need? The US is no longer the unsettled, wild frontier in need of large amounts of manual labor that so many romantically imagine when citing the Statue of Liberty or thoughtlessly saying "we're a land of immigrants", when questions of immigration policy are raised - as if that is all the justification needed. The truth is we currently have 328 million people in the US, almost a doubling since the first Earth Day, when it was pretty well agreed that the US didn't need any more people. We have 45 million in poverty, wages have stagnated, our cities are increasingly crowded, valuable wildlife habitat and farm land is being developed at an alarming rate, and we have huge issues with water, energy, and other environmental issues. Yet, we continue to let in over 1 million legal immigrants per year, many of whom come here through chain migration, with low education levels. Given the state of the country and faced with the prospect of more jobs being eliminated through automation, what is the rational basis for having ANY more immigration in the near future (other than nuclear family reunification)? Don't we have enough poor people, enough smart people, and enough problems to deal with without bringing in more people from anywhere?
1
Unless you're Native American, you're here in America because of immigrants. Some of these immigrants were brought by force and some came by choice. We are all immigrants, except for Native Americans, who technically could be thought of as the first immigrants
Immigrants deserve our care and compassion regardless of whether they are heroes or not. By constantly showing these examples of heroes and how that justifies our immigration policy we're placing an incredibly difficult condition for these people to achieve. Heroism isn't a condition for being human. Our compassion shouldn't be conditional. How many amongst us would meet that bar?
1
Here are some words that Democrats should stop using if they want to win the next presidential election: racist, sexist, homophobe, xenophobia, islamophobia, shame.
These words denote that the user is still embroiled in the liberal democratic politics of the Obama years. I believe that support for those policies is rapidly waning.
I would like to see a strong Democratic Presidential candidate in 2020. The country will be better off if there is a viable candidate from the Democrats. I would like to be presented with a difficult choice! I believe that a composed, confident and disciplined Democratic candidate would win.
I'm 65. i've lived under 13 presidents. I never was ashamed of any of them, until our current one. On the other hand, thinking back, I have never, not once, known an immigrant, who wasn't a better person than donald trump.
2
Stop sharing hard luck stories. They are nice but the don’t matter.
What matters is statistics. Why not contrast the technical achievements or the socioeconomic successes of a Haitian or African refugee to theNorwegian ones. Numbers talk
1
I am an immigrant to the U.S. and have now spent most of my life here. I qualified under a preferential visa for medical professionals and after securing affidavit of support during my stay in the U.S. Granted that a president should not say what he said, but let us face it, what President Trump uttered is not revolting to immigrants who witness illegal immigrants demonstrating for their rights under laws they have broken themselves. Failed immigration policies have contributed to this mass dragging the President and the country along.
1
That man is a true American Hero. A soldier who made a selfless act to save others and serve his country but I believe most Americans will write this off as an outlier and and continue to discriminate against other from "sh*thole countries". It feels like we're going backwards instead forward with tolerance for others.
Thank you President Trump for making other countries in the world look so much better than your own. I always hated the term "American Exceptionalism" for its self-serving and egotistical tone, the way it demeaned and degraded other countries and their unique stories and contributions, and the way it ran contrary to socio-economic facts and rankings. Like the current President, it turns out this phrase was never anything other than egotistical branding and sloganeering. Let's hope we never see its re-emergence again!
2
“Reach out and touch a life”, help save a life. Those are paramount. But let’s also help to save more lives. The imperative: get rid of Trump.
Trump should not talk or act for any of us. His behavior, his thought process (if you stretch the idea to include the base utterances that flow from his flawed foul mind) demeans all humanity. He has no moral standing. We need to get rid of Trump by all lawful means.
Here’s a desperate cry for anyone of like mind to create and share a symbol, something we can all wear as a universal sign to rid ourselves of this viscous beast.
2
Mr. Menshah is a true American hero we can all be proud of his selfless actions. There are many more immigrants who we won't learn about who are bettering themselves and contributing to their community each day here in the United States.
1
Your best column yet Mr. Kristof. Our President is so ignorant of the world around him that he can not even learn from his own family history. Please keep sharing the truth and sharing the important stories of heroes like Emmanuel Mensah, a far better man than our current President.
1
Of course Mr. Trump is a racist, an heir of generations of racists. That's why a large fraction of his supporters voted for him. He is also a liar who has worked with the Mafia and with the Russians, and who has abused the presidency, all to make even more money. And, this doesn't matter to many of his supporters. Trump appears to be mentally ill, but, there is no question about the xenophobic insanity of many of his supporters.
There are critically important questions that confront the rest of us. Can we encourage enough citizens to vote in this year’s elections, to recapture the Congress and remove Trump and his gang from office? Still more important, why are so many of Trump's supporters so frightened and what can we do about it, before there is no longer any hope of restoring the ubiquity of the belief that has underpinned our democracy -- the belief that we are all Americans, together?
2
Objectively, these countries are shitholes. That doesn’t mean all the people in them are useless to our nation, just that there is a higher probability that they will show up here with little to offer. What is wrong with using the most common likelihood to guide policy? Last I checked, that is the basis for evidence based decisions. If we don’t want to exclude based on national origin (we shouldn’t), then a merit-based system is the way to go.
Yes, There is much to malign in Donald Trump, but he is the president that we elected. The imperative facing us today is how to unite the country. How does this article help?
1
When my grandfathers emigrated from Europe they came with no discernable skills. One became a house painter the other sold vegetables from a horse cart. There is no way that under this president they would be allowed into this country today. Mr. Mensah embodies the greatest our country can offer and is the polar opposite of our Commander In Chief who is incapable of change. No longer is there any hope of Republican leaders doing or saying the right things and there really is only one hope now, at the ballot boxes in 2018 and 2020. America will have another chance to get this right.
1
It would have been nice to have been able to have read this article, collection
of facts before the election. I did not know Trumps family history, but it explains
a great deal. Obama told the truth about his heritage. Trump lied about it.
Look who's president now.
1
Thank you, Mr. Kristof. Does anyone know if there is a fund set up for Mr. Mensah’s family members in the US or Ghana?
I think of how proud my mother was that she could trace her ancestory back to William Bradford (you know, the guy who led The Mayflower expedition to Plymouth Rock!). She was so proud of being that white while denying that her own father was half native Ameridcan. Yes, the very William Bradford who brought white settlers and then killed off as many native Americans as seemed "necessary." We who are white are all immigrants in this country if one takes an historical perspective. And I am the proud father of an adopted son whose biological father was (is?) black. I love that we are a country of many colors, many religions as well as those, like me, who are atheists. Donald Trump represents only the most ignorant, the most narrow-minded bigots who reside in this country. He doesn't represent most of us, not at all.
1
It seems to me that what The United States of America tends to forget is that most of us are immigrants or descend from immigrants ( documented and undocumented). There are two exceptions, Native Americans who were here before Europeans arrived and then African Americans who were forcefully brought into this country.
1
Great insight but not likely to move the needle.Reminds me of the "some of my best friends are Jewish" mindset; one can admire individuals an specifics but continue to have very different views about the group these individuals belong to.
1
The great irony of the bigot-in-chief’s remarks, beyond their crude vulgarity, is that, from Haiti and El Salvador to countless African countries, their conditions today are largely the result of decades of exploitative, oppressive policies directed at them by the United States. For half a century or more, we have supported right-wing dictators like Duvalier in Haiti and Pinochet in Chile and pillaged their natural resources. However one wants to characterize their current impoverished plight, it is, to a large extent, a product of our subjecting them to our opportunistic foreign policies that have stripped them of their dignity and sovereignty. Characteristically, Trump adds insult to injury by profanely maligning, belittling and ridiculing people we have already exposed to the worst kinds of mistreatment. Why am I not surprised by yet another of this racist’s examples of plumbing the depths of depravity?
I'm becoming more and more disenchanted with our Country on a daily basis. From the comments made by Mr. Trump to the politicians and news organizations that either ignore or condone his behavior. There is a country I've traveled to that basks in beauty on the Indian Ocean, with people who are welcoming and grateful for what they have. I'm thinking of going to what Mr. Trump calls a s*hit hole country and making my life there.
Though we can thank the electoral college for this wreck of a presidency, I am hoping that all Mr. Kristof writes about here is seared into our psyche. This sad and embarrassing man must go in 2020. I want my country back.
Awesome. I’m full of warm fuzzies. Did Haiti replant any of the trees they tore down yet or are we just supposed to bask in the glory of cherry-picking?
1
Is anyone really surprised by Trump's remarks, by his back peddling, by the White House's response? Of course not. Let's use all our energy not to be angry, but to get enough votes to flip the congress in 2018 and start the process of getting rid him once in for all. Than perhaps we can start to undo the damage he and the GOP caused. Perhaps is the key word.
Thoughtful, thorough and beautiful as usual but the real problem is the ignorance of those who think only bumper-sticker thoughts.
Trump is simply "rich white trash" in every sense!
17
Thank you, Mr. Kristoff. I do hope that a journalist will research what the effect on Medicare and Social Security contributions will be when all the Salvadorans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, etc. are deported. These people have been working here legally and contributing to these programs through their withholding taxes.
15
Thank you Mr Kristoff for sending a beacon of light against the darkness of our leaders. Please continue to highlight the many organizations who strive to make life better. We have to be vigilant against the dark side of humanity & not succumb to fatigue and malaise.
52
Thank you for this insight. It is critical that we keep these facts out in front. I only wish they could be published other places that more of the mainstream will read or hear.
37
I’m in tears reading this. Mensch is the type of person we all hope we and our children can be
61
I apologize for autocorrect. Mensah
Well said. According to my wife and daughter who have both been to Haiti, it is a country facing difficult circumstances that is inhabited by truly beautiful people. In addition to the two fine groups mentioned in your column, our family would add Catholic Relief Services in Haiti to the list.
32
I wonder where all of the relief money went when the disaster struck Haiti?
At one point in time, I read that there were 26,000 relief agencies in Haiti "helping" the poor!
1
The parts of the op-ed about Haiti are incorrect. Trump made his vulgar commentsabout African countries on the Green Card Lottery list, not about Haiti.
Mr. Kristof, We all know what kind of person Trump is, all this moaning about his behavior seems to be a waste of time. He never suffers for his outrageous, nasty behavior. That is the real story.
37
I'd hope that I could go back into a burning building to save another, but have my doubts. Going back four times is something only a very special person could do.
67
My own grandparents both immigrated from a place many considered a "shithole" country when they came to America at the turn of the 20th century. Each was hungry, there was no work or money where they lived, and they thought America just might have some work so that they could earn enough to eat.
My grandfather, who many in my family older than I believed entered the U.S. illegally but later became a citizen through a number of machinations we now call survival skills, took a job catching hot rivets at a shipyard and my grandmother cleaned houses. Their daughters graduated from college and the three boys went to work, two becoming quite successful in business. They, in turn, squired children who, through education, became lawyers, college professors, business people, school teachers, members of the clergy, officers in the military, engineers, and so on. What their children accomplish only ages hence will know.
Before Trump denigrates entire nations and their people, he should dwell on the survival skills, sacrifices, and contributions of immigrant lives and their children like this young soldier who died in act of selflessness. Immigrants make their way to America because they are selfless, thinking of their children first and, as this man's life shows, strengthening America.
It is even sadder that the President does not have the capacity of spirit or warmth of heart either to see this or understand it. Acts of people from these "shithole" countries make us strong.
58
When I was a boy, the love of family and that wholesome everything is OK with the world feeling was always overshadowed by that ominous something lurking in the background. The racial epithets would commence, the derogatory means of maniacal self-promotion would whirl in a viscious vortex at the expense of other human beings. "If my son ever brings one of THEM home, he'll be out of my life." And I listened to it. And I cringed. And I hurt.
Sometime later, when federally-mandated bussing was implemented as one possible incremental means of getting beyond the aforementioned, it was treated by the paternal hierarchy in my family with all the panic, paranoia, and seething bile you'd expect from those weak of mind, black of heart. I later learned through my own EXPERIENCE what I intuitively had suspected all along; my family saw in the other, their own miserable inadequacies.
We have a "president" who is irreversibly weak, whose heart is as black as the coal he believes he's gifting us. His daughter sees it. I can see the exact disgust in her eyes, the same as mine years before. He is crumbling as he finally recognizes how miserable, and pathetic he really is, just like my father finally saw in HIMSELF. As he crumbled. As he faded. And is forever weak. And he's gone from me.
And in this despot's decent into oblivion, he has taken something from us as a nation that will take decades, if not centuries to restore. How long do we allow this in OUR lives?
48
Beautifully and sadly written. I thank my luck every day that I had parents who were kind and benevolent, and honored all people for their behavior -- not the color of their skin.
George W. smiles much much more thesis days, he's now moved up one position.
20
Reading about or hearing about Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah makes me tear up. That's because the story is not about race, country of origin, religion or political affiliation. It's about humanity. I relate to the other comments here as a second generation Canadian. My grandfather came to this country at the age of 15 in the year 1902, found a job, worked hard, went back to the UK, married his childhood sweetheart, came back, established his life, fought as a Canadian soldier in WWI and here we are today. And no doubt there are millions of similar stories that could be told. And still I hear the obnoxious refrain of - 'go back where you came from' or 'get out of my country' or 'I was born here' or the reprehensible 'love it or leave it', implying that the speaker is imbued with special status and rights that no foreign born citizen could ever claim. Recently, archaeologists and anthropologists have determined that North America, Central America and South America were all populated by people who migrated from Asia approximately 22,000 years ago. Today they are the Inuit, the First Nations people (so-called 'Indians'), the Aztecs, Incas, Olmecs, and so on. People should think about that before making comments about who is more entitled to be here if their standard is based on who was here first.
27
Most racists are truly ignorant people and Trump qualifies. A racist fixes on a position that gives him or her comfort and sticks with it through the last, dying breath.
Trump is utterly ignorant of what he is trying to lead, the U.S. government. Since he doesn't understand how Haitians or El Salvadorians came to this country in a time of deep peril and great need, he is free to ask, "Why do we let them in?" Doing so with great crudeness completes the picture.
Many who fled violence in Central America and were given safe haven in the States wound up here in the Washington, DC, area. They have changed to suburban landscape considerably, in many ways for the better. Cutting off their protected status, as Trump is doing, would separate families and empty out whole neighborhoods where people have brought less expensive houses and accommodated multiple generations of a family under one roof. The economic impact in DC and around the country would also be significant.
When someone is admitted to the U.S., we never know who is going to make a major contribution in science, medicine or in saving lives from a burning building. The hopefulness of life is an act of faith in humanity, a generosity of sprit of which the racist, and Trump, know nothing. In Trump-world, everything is about grabbing as much as you can, including from women, as fast as you can get it and celebrating yourself for doing so.
Who will take this man? We don't need him.
31
I agree wholeheartedly that DJT is a racist. That said, I worry that the president is provoking us into a discussion about political correctness, which is not going to hurt him in 2020. Let's keep our focus on DJT's failed promises to the middle class and his handouts to the wealthy.
9
Trump is the poster-boy for PC. His racism is politically correct to his base.
1
What strikes me about this article is that we hear once again about the never- good always-suspect of the Trump family and before our very eyes, it continues. Did Trump comment on the bravery of Emmanuel Mensah?
Worse yet are the denials of Senators Cotton and Perdue who appear to have spoken for the Republicans. A caring Congress should have landed on our disgrace-in-chief with both feet but instead, this latest atrocity will slide by and go unpunished.
All Americans are being given yet another reason after reason to put Trump in history's trash can where he belongs.
34
"All Americans are being given yet another reason after reason to put Trump in history's trash cab where he belongs."
Agreed. And what do we do about the poison among us--the one third of Trump voters who seem to love him for his vileness? They wear their stupid hats and have bumper stickers that say "Happy to be everything that makes liberals crazy mad. MAGA" These people don't care any more than Trump does that what made America great is being trashed.
We need to keep in mind that this terrible president is supported by millions (although definitely NOT a majority of Americans) who are just as vile as he is. Time to call them out. Mr. Kristof's columns are always illuminating--but don't expect to see any tributes to Mr. Mensah on Fox News. They'll be trolling for stories about bad things done by any brown or black-skinned persons. Perhaps Trump has a point about the press--if we hadn't let Faux News spout falsehoods and bile for so long that it has brain-washed millions of Americans, we might not be in this mess. If he does in fact change the libel laws, I expect Fox to be the first casualty. Perhaps President Obama could sue over the "birtherism" nonsense. And Hillary could sue over the endless false claims in the "Benghazi!!!!!" madness.
2
Sir,
After the « considerations» of Mr. Donald Trump about Haiti, Salvador and some African countries, I feel compelled to share with you and with your readers, some considerations of my own about Mr. Donald Trump, his root in America and his contribution to his country as compared to those despised people about whom he had to express so strong feelings.
I understand that the father of Donald Trump was born in the USA. It seems, that for a long while, this family was faking as Swedish. Actually, the Trump family like most, did not come on the Mayflower.
In 1779, long before the Trump family left, in 1885, their village of Kallstadt, in Germany to set foot in the USA, other people, some say fifteen hundred, who were going to become Haitian, fought at Savannah helping to consolidate the newborn America. Later, American soldiers from Haitian extraction fought in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Irak. In another field, in 1950, a soccer player named Gaetjens allowed America to stand tall by scoring a goal in the World Cup.
As a reward, Haiti has been invaded a number of times by the United States of America.
Those are things that, with some stability of the mind, a leader should have known before speaking. Unfortunately this one is of the kind who wants to throw aspiring immigrant in the sea, just like the traffickers today are doing in the Mediterranean.
Jean-Maxwell Cyprien MD
Geneva, Switzerland
18
Beautiful column, but I fear we may be edging towards civil war --something the fascists fiercely desire. That is bad for the world, even worse for America.
America's 3rd & final civil war would not only kill off the country, but 10's of millions upon 10's of millions of lives would be killed, many more would be maimed, and still more --maybe more than 100 million would be displaced. This bloody scenario we need to avoid.
To avoid this civil war, we either plan our own partition, or we commence carpetbagging America. To make the latter task more palatable, groups of like-minded folks & family should move together to America's many exhausted places, along with any businesses they have or can create.
4
The ultra irony is that Granddad Friedrich wasn't just from Germany, but descended from the "Poor Palatines" who are famously mentioned by one of our Founding Fathers in the following passage:
" why should the Palatine Boors be suffered to swarm into our settlements, and by herding together establish their languages and manners to the exclusion of ours? Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our language or customs, any more than they can acquire our complexion?"
-- Ben Franklin, "Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries, etc.," 1755
To Franklin, a pasty purist extolled by today's Tea Party, even the Germans were too "swarthy" to be acceptable for English acquaintance.
But eventually, despite Franklin's protestations, America did accept and benefit from the Germans, and the Dutch, and the Poles, and the Italians, and the Irish, and every other group that has come over willingly.
All real Americans know this. It is un-American to not understand this vital part of our history.
A stable genius who went to the best schools surely must know this!
19
You are a Joy! Thank you!!!
10
You have left out a vital part of the Trump story. If the US had had a merit-based color-blind immigration system when Trump's mother arrived here with about $50 in her purse, listing her occupation as "domestic," she would have been sent back and Trump's grandfather would be unknown to the world. Donald J. Trump would never have existed.
15
EMMANUEL MENSAH An immigrant from Africa, a continent whose immigrants to the US Trump maligned with his degrading, reprobate comments, sacrificed his life after saving 4 from a fire in New York. Words fail to describe Trump's savagery, depravity, immorality, criminality and destructiveness. How could the GOP have permitted Trump, with his atrocious record, completely documented by the court records of his 3,500 and counting law suits? I'll tell you how! They DIDN'T bother to do any background check on Trump other than to believe his claims to be a billionaire. Trump is turning the US into a pariah nation among the countries of the world.
13
John Smith; I agree with what you say. I also believe that the GOP went along with his hideous campaign -- and are quiet now -- because they fear for their own corrupt, money-making careers.
1
I live in the South Bronx surrounded by immigrants from countries so crassly degraded by our president. They're almost uniformly strivers with strong extended family ties, devoutly religious, modest in dress and decorum. I'm sure Trump considers people like Emmanuel Mensah "losers" for sacrificing themselves for others, the way he denigrated McCain as a loser for being a POW.
18
We MUST keep in mind that the so-called president successfully avoided STDs during the Vietnam conflict - a true service to our country.....
10
We, as a country, must demand that Trump resign.
Peaceful marches and demonstrations.
He must go.
14
"We should be careful about tossing around the word “racist,” and any one incident can be misconstrued. But in Trump’s case, we have a consistent, 40-year pattern of insults and discrimination, and I don’t see what else we can call him but a racist." ~Nicholas Kristof
With all the recent condemnation of Trump for his most recent crude remarks, it's refreshing to read Kristof's take. Always in perspective. A little history, some good examples and a productive suggestions to help alleviate the problem. Journalism doesn't get any better than this.
17
I’m sure Trump can find a way to give Mr. Mensah’s heroism a negative spin.
8
Yes, like too dumb to find his way out. Disgusting. I wonder about the soldier's family. Wife? Kids? Parents? So sad. Amazing young man.
Emmanuel Mensah should have an article written solely about Him and His sacrifice.
Holding him up as beacon for the president to see does no good. The president is blind and care-less.
How about a section in the times about our everyday heroes? Let their stories inspire us. It will accomplish more in the hearts of readers than yelling at /chastising a deaf president
6
This is not anything new to listeners of right wing radio. In their minds notions of racial justice are not fair to whites. Many really believe white people have been mis-treated for a generation.
We should concentrate our efforts on a scientific breakthrough that allows them to change races, then they will recognize their own prejudice and disgraceful lack of decency.
4
It's not hard to imagine what would have happened had a 28-year-old Donald J. Trump awakened to a smoke-filled apartment in the first floor of a five-story building in 1974. He would have exited the building as quickly as he could, would have run for one or maybe two blocks until he became exhausted, and then would have walked to the nearest bar to get warm in and have some drinks. In succeeding days he would have boasted about his speed in raising the alarm and saving his neighbors (which of course he wouldn't have done), and he would have blamed the fire on "the blacks".
5
Thank you for sharing the story of Mr. Mensah.
4
A great editorial, read by individuals who already agree.
If we want to stop these racist decisions then we have to convince Repuvlicans to do the right thing.
We need to get on Fox News , and make the case to conservative America.
4
They know. They simply choose to listen ‘through their pocketbooks’. The ‘brilliance’ of Fox is that they sell an emotional balm that allows their listeners to quell any qualms deep down.
Preachin' to the choir, bro.
The problem here is that the people who elected Trump have no shame, no decency ... and yet they generally claim to be "Christian."
I am so sorry for those whose actually believe the words of Christ that people like Trump's "deplorables" continue to destroy the public image of faith.
3
Thank you Mr Kristof for this article and highlighting the heroic act of Pfc Mensah. Hope Mr. Trump watched news about Pfc Mensah's heroic act rather than watching his favorite TV channel fox news for a change. I am not sure if fox news covered Pfc Mensah's sacrifice.
1
As much as a bad boy DJT is.. as dangerous as he can be (is) with Presidential powers .. as detestable as he is as a privileged human who ignores or disdains the greater obligations to broader humanity that having such privilege demands .. as uncouth and vile he may be as a man .. he is a small fraction as dangerous and evil as his Party - the GOP.
The GOP is a Party who can win elections - regardless how - they just do - so they have power over us. Shades of 1930s. And that is dangerous .. and that bodes disaster for us.
Ignoring their evil intents is like like ignoring the massive lion bearing down on us
And allowing them to win elections (mostly by not voting or voting like it is an inconsequential game or voting on one small piece of questionable theology or tax cuts) is like ignoring the very available door that would lead to shelter and salvation from the animal bend on rending us asunder.
The GOP clearly wants to undo about 90 years of social progress and form a plutocracy .. regardless that in doing such many will suffer and indeed the effort will by necessity carry with it vile demagoguery and bigotry - an oligarchy.
True patriots keep your eye on the ball. Throw out the GOP .. work with the Dems .. Conservative and Progress can hash it out therein .. and eventually restore two Parties that MUTUALLY have intellectually honesty and the best interests of the People in mind - but just have different slants on things and approaches in mind.
5
Thank you for this magnificent column, Nick. But we as a nation must move way beyond the excellent idea donating money to immigrant rights organizations. When Donald Trump, already accused of assaulting numerous women, bragged about grabbing women's privates, we did nothing. When he tarred a whole nation as rapists and murderers, we elected him (!). When he disparaged a sitting judge because of his heritage, we turned away. We have forgiven enough. It is time to insist that the spineless Republicans in the House impeach this despicable president, and for the Senate to convict and remove him. And we must all take to the streets to demand this now.
3
You mention Melania. It's been said before but is worth repeating: Two out of Trump's three wives were immigrants, proving once again that immigrants take jobs that few Americans want.
9
Ha! That's great!!!
Speaks for itself. I hope somebody brings it the Drumph's attention. The next time he goes to the Palm Beach Episcopal parish to attend Mass (he's not actually Episcopalian) perhaps the priest can remind him of Mensah's sacrifice - but I doubt D will care.
1
Trump repeatedly disparaged Elizabeth Warren, calling her "Pocahontas" because she once said she had Native American blood, while he claimed that his family was from Sweden.
It just may be that both their families told them these things as children, and there is nothing more to it than that.
2
And i would like to extend the reminder again that this is a man who proudly avowed that eluding venereal diseases was his private Vietnam.
4
What a profoundly sad time we are living through.
3
This article embodies the true meaning of what the USA is all about; it is quite unfortunate that our own President is unaware of what constitutes a true American. Emmanuel Mensah is a hero who sacrificed his life to help save others regardless of what nationality or race they are. He was a real man in every sense of the word, and I'm proud that he was a fellow American who served his country in many ways and made the ultimate sacrifice. The President can not even compare with the character and goodness of Mr. Mensah. It is so sad and pathetic that his man is running our country; it is an embarrassment and is shameful that he was elected in the first place.
I have first-hand experience with another compassionate person from Haiti; she took care of my mom in hospice in her last months of life, and she is a true angel on earth who respected and loved my mom. She did things for my mom that I was unable to do in her last few months of life, and I will never forget her; I consider her to be part of my family.
Mr. President, THIS is what the USA is about; maybe you should take some classes to educate yourself because you have no clue about what qualities it takes to be an American. YOU don't possess these qualities and you villify others who are much better than you. You are the opposite of what being an American is. You say these horrific things and still keep the office of the President of the USA yet a teacher who stands up for what is right is handcuffed? WRONG!!
2
Important article, thank you. It was Donald Trump's grandMOTHER, also German, not his grandfather, who founded and built Trump Realty. Trump is not only racist, he's misogynous. He speaks glowingly of his father, Fred, who inherited Trump Realty, but says little about his mother, a Scottish immigrant. That makes him a person of two generations of immigrants.
1
Thank you for reminding us that heroism is not linked to color, creed or country of origin but rather the heart and soul of the one rising to the challenge.
I suppose we cannot hold the dumpster responsible for his lack of honesty, ethics, compassion or responsibility since it's clearly genetic. Goes to show you that skin color can't be the deciding factor; that factor is and always has been individual makeup. And we can all see how the Donald follows the path of his grandfather who lied to gain entry, and father, the guy who lied to avoid renting to blacks.
Based on their behavior perhaps the Donald should look at restricting German immigrants.
2
Although it is worthy and noble to recount the heroism o Pfc. Mensah, it will never change the mind or heart of a Donald Trump or millions of his acolytes. Pathetically- they will die out and others will replace them: they simply do not care.
However, two hundred ninety Republicans in Congress and thirty-four GOP Governors- who- one would think would have a bit more propriety, have provided a united affirmation of President Trumps racist screed; their silence roars.
4
“Who better embodies our nation’s values?”
Trump does. If you took every American and forced them to tell the truth, a much larger number would act like Trump than like Mensah. Deep down we all know that’s the case.
Thank you. I just sent donations.
1
When will the Republican leadership stand up and condemn their toxic racist leader? When will they put country ahead of partisan political considerations?Trump has disgraced the title POTUS.He has disgraced America domestically and globally.He must leave the presidency before it is too late.
3
Trump does not like military people who get killed in fires.
2
In the context of Trump’s comments here’s a Norwegian he might NOT want to consider, Anders Behring Breivik. In stark contrast to Mr Mensah, Breivik took lives instead of saving them and became the worst mass shooter in Norwegian history. But then Donald won’t know/care about this sort of thing ‘cos Brevik is white.
2
Mensah deserves a monument--in the size and style of those confederate soldiers taken down for racism.
Mensah's statue doesn't have to be in the Bronx. Central Park would do fine.
2
Thank you Mensah. Thank you Nicholas.
2
Mr. Kristof, perhaps you'd like to meet the ladies and gentlemen of MS-13, or perhaps the disproportionate collection of federal and state prisoners who illegally entered he United States and committed crimes....
How about the US born and bred mass murderers?
Yes I also want to thank Mr. Kristof. For some others from those African countries I might add a few other names: Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Captain Mbaye Diagne, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hugh Masakela, and the list can go on for pages! Africans have added to humanity's attempts to advance human rights and culture for centuries in spite of international slavery, resource wars by colonials and neocolonialist, and more. The people of Africa deserve a lot more than nasty comments by an ignorant US President.
5
Trump's grandfather made his riches from hotel that was notorious for prostitution. His father made his riches by exploiting tenants. Trump made his riches by stiffing his subcontractors. Both Fred and Donald have history of racial bias and bigotry.
Jared Kushner's father sent prostitute to his own brother in law to falsely implicate him. Jared's company is known to use false legal suites to steal from his tenants.
Pfc. Mensah saves four lives before giving up his own while he could just have saved himself and waited for FDNY to do what they could.
Together, three are powerful examples to demonstrate that race or religious supremacy is a fiction. What matters si what values were instilled in a person by their parents and grand parents.
2
Beautiful, honest writing.
So what are we going to do? Why is no one protesting? Where are the passionate young people of this nation? Get your head out of your phones and do something.
1
Well, for balance, you might also have discussed one of the many Haitiens in this country who are in jail after being convicted of some heinous crime that would not have occurred if they had not been allowed to immigrate Singling out particular individuals, whether good or bad, proves absolutely nothing!
A few years ago in a fit of boredom, I joined Ancestry.com. What I have found has amazed, delighted and invigorated me. I can now go back to my 77th great grandfather in northern Africa. I suspect that a majority of Americans have come from somewhere else - and what fun it is to discover that. America is such a mixture of so many backgrounds and ancestries and
races. What a privilege it is to live here! How can anyone be so stupid as to deny that privilege and opportunity to someone else
4
Dear Nicholas, a big “Thank You” from Europe for your well written piece, (which I have given to my teenage kids for study of content and style.) I’d also like to thank you for the practical advice about what one can do to counteract this President’s evils. Trump represents all & everything I despise about ignorant, uninformed & bigoted America. (Make no mistake... he would find his supporters in Europe, too.) All the more am I grateful & relieved for commentaries like yours AND each & every reader’s letter that confirms to me, that the other America , the one I admire, still exists. So my thanks also go to your readers for their comments.
As a German, whose country’s history and presence had been so badly damaged by “only” 12 years of madness I ask you all: keep speaking up! NEVER fall silent! Warm regards from Europe.
119
Thank you for your letter, Mr. Ricke. My eyes filled with tears reading about "the other America" that abhors this president. We can't convey how horrified and disgusted we are about this man and about our compatriots who gave him such power.
Everyone knows or should know that Trump is a racist and doesn't really hide it. But the real danger is the Republican party and conservatives that pretend not to be while practicing the hurtful form. They continually use the southern strategy to win their base in congress. They use voter suppression or advocate it in every state that they control. They support candidates such as Mr. Trump while pretending to abhor what they say. They use the excuse of being primarried to support the reason they don't speak out. And the media support them by reporting their excuses as legitimate. It's time that Republicans that claim not to be racist demand that their party act accordingly.
7
So many of our immigrants understand the greatness of our country better than its natives, and endow our country with greatness through self-sacrifice and hard work. A beautiful story. It's shameful that they are routinely smeared by someone like Trump, a rather recent product of immigration himself.
6
I look into that young proud, handsome soldier's face, and have nothing. No remarks stand up to what this good young man did that during those terrible minutes. His actions are beyond words. I only wish I could shake his hand and let him know there are still people in this country who know what a young hero looks like!
God Bless You, Private!
15
Draft-dodger Trump wouldn't understand such heroism.
I have compared Trump before to Shakespeare's Richard III in that he keeps telling his audience (us) about his villainy; he is just so tickled by what he gets away with.
The play may have been about him but Shakespeare evaluated him through his choral figure, Queen Margaret, when she called him a "poisonous.. toad." This is what the American chorus is saying about Donald Trump.
8
The example of the benefits immigrants bring to America doesn't have to be as dramatic as Mr. Mensah. There are countless ways we all benefit from non-native people.
And all people deserve respect, even black and brown ones.
5
Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, Sir, Thank you for your service and your humanity. The Soldiers Medal is the service’s highest award for heroism outside of combat. Heroism and Heart! You made our world proud!
5
Thanks. My purse is bare for the moment, but your voice is hugely appreciated by me - and I am scared that there are so few comments, on the eve of MLK day. My personal goal is to say something when I see a racist or anti-semitic insult and ask for an apology. Especially when the insult comes, however inadvertantly, from me.
2
Mr. Menash is a true hero who we should all be proud of! He elevates our humanity in far greater proportion than what trump does to defacate on it!
2
Lovely well written tribute. Here is my question. Aside from reading and agreeing with Mr. Kristof how many people make a real effort to get to really know someone from another country, another race, religion or ethnicity?
As a Christian I am reminded of Christ and what he said in Matthew 25 when he noted ' For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
And when asked when had the people he was speaking to done these things for him he said 'whatever you did for one of the least of these of those, you did for me.’
7
This is so painful and sad. What a wonderful young man! Love to his family...
3
An inspiring story about a true hero. And a very sad observation that the man who is now the nominal leader of this country would throw away our most prized asset- the offer of an opportunity for people to immigrate, work hard and become woven into the beautiful tapestry which is our heritage - in the interest promoting a shallow, ugly little fantasy in which glitz masquerades as class.
6
"Glitz masquerades as class." A brilliant statement and an real insight.
It would be an entirely different premise if DT were the only, or most malignant, example of this attitude in his own GOP. Unfortunately, he is not even in the top 5 in the US Senate and Lord only knows how far down he would rank if you start considering the Louis Gohmerts in the House, or some of the prizes we have sent up from my home state of North Carolina.
And I'm not sure you can define this cartoon character as racist. I'm not convinced his attitudes are based on race. Instead I rather think he categorizes humas as those useful to him in his pursuit to make money, and 'others'. Perhaps Haiti and Africa should pay him to build hotels there. They would then be people.
This is an intolerable situation, of course, but it pales when you consider that even after a full year in office over 70% of his party approves of his performance. Anecdotedlly, in my circle of friends here in NC, there is almost universal approval of Mr. Trump's actions, across the board.
Contributions to aid organizations, as suggested by Mr. Kristof, is Christian charity of the first order, but if you want to really help those people, and, incidently, your own neighbors, VOTE!!!!
4
I am deeply saddened, maybe even ashamed, that such a large number of American citizens thought that DJT was a worthy example to put at the head of the most powerful, wealthiest, perhaps most important nation on earth. I apologize if I sound like I'm supporting the "America as Exceptional" point of view. I don't mean to. But, I do think because of 1) our wealth/political power, 2) our gargantuan military power and 3) (ironically) our media machine that has built an image of America as valuing fairness, equality and brotherhood we MUST have a leader with a moral compass. We must the big kid with the big stick in his hand who is willing to reach out to the littlest, least-liked kid and offer her or him a a friendly, helpful hand. Otherwise, we are just a country of self-absorbed capitalists seeking to improve our own lot even if we already control an out-sized portion of wealth and power. We must, we MUST take action right away to take power away from bullies like our president. To do this, we're going to have to head into the heartland of America, to every red county, and listen. Just listen and then after 5-10 hours, days, even weeks of listening we're going to have to step out into the abyss and explain why racism, sexism, homophobia and xenophobia not only hurt every single citizen but destroy the only power that the USA has: hope and the freedom to change. May God bless America with truth, with reconciliation, and redemption.
3
Thank you, Nick, for bringing us this story. Pfc. Mensah deserves to be remembered for his bravery and selflessness. I am humbled by his actions.
And then there is our buffoon-in-chief, who continues to embarrass us daily. He shows his ignorance and arrogance every time he talks or tweets. His statements yesterday prove beyond a doubt that he is a racist through and through. Forty years of racial discrimination and abuse is simply more incontrovertible evidence. I sincerely hope this nightmare ends well before 2020.
2
A fine op-ed, Nick Kristof, but it will all be "water off a duck's back" to Trump: he is a non-empathetic narcissist, and he is unlikely to change now. He is also a compulsive and cunning liar, personality traits that will also almost certainly remain static.
If you have not done so, you should watch the following TED video about liars:
https://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_meyer_how_to_spot_a_liar
Once, in the workplace, I encountered a pathological liar who exhibited the "duping delight" described in this talk. That individual turned out to be a dangerous sociopath. Unfortunately, my experience there happened before this talk was given! But we can also observe this behavior in Trump.
We can rant about Trump all we want, but he is not going to resign, he is not going to be impeached, and no one has the guts to invoke the 25th Amendment against him, at least not in his handpicked Cabinet of enablers.
Every day we are the targets in Trump's shooting gallery of abuses hurled at our American society, and at world civilization in general.
Do your part to register progressives and ensure they vote in November. Work hard at it -- contribute to the cause. It appears to be our only way out. And we desperately need a viable way out.
8
When is enough enough?
Isn't it time to invoke the 25th amendment?
Nicholas Kristof thinks that "a fine, practical response to racism is to help save a life"?
No, Mr. Kristof, a fine, practical response to Trump's racism is to vote him out, and to vote out any and every Republican who supports his racist policies.
7
Thank you Mr. Kristof for this great piece. Comparing Pfc Emmanuel Mensah to our embarrassing POTUS hits the nail on the head.
After reading this column, I just stared at the photo of Pfc. Mensah, posing proudly in his uniform next to the American flag. Tears are in my eyes. What a brave young man.
4
Every outraged American needs to March on Januray 20th. Republicans need to see that Trump has to go. The longer they let this go on the worse it will be for them in the end.
1
Mr, Obama and his family story is so much more reflective of who we are and, more importantly, who we strive to be as a nation. Mr. Trump is a big spoiled, mean-spirited oaf who has tapped into the very worst, basest instincts of some Americans. I say some because the vast majority of us are good, decent, compassionate people, and we will win the day. This young man, and thousands more just like him are one of the reasons why.
2
That is quite the inspiring story. Thank you.
"Wretched countries" is so much better? Putting that aside, and the fact that this accusation is based on hearsay of hearsay of a comment the President denies... Also, putting aside this was not a Twitter message, but, if it happened, was a comment made, in a private, off the record heated argument...
Not wanting an overwhelming number of folks from the identified countries has nothing to do with any individual personally and certainly does not "malign" them. It has to do with the economic strain large groups from those countries put on the US economy and the American taxpayer.
German, Polish, Italian, or Irish immigrants in the early 1900s have NOTHING to do with the conversation today. Back then there was no welfare, no SNAP, or housing assistance, no Medicaid, no child food programs, etc, programs that must be funded by the American taxpayer, as there are now for folks coming in under the TPS and other immigration programs.
There is now a real tangible cost the American worker sees in terms of taxes being paid to fund immigration programs and many American taxpayers have decided they don't want to go to work every day to pay for these individuals to come here and live off the sweat of the American taxpayer's brow. See election 2016.
When these folks hear Trump trying to stem the flow of resource draining immigrants that need to be paid for by their tax dollars, they find that appealing. Democrats dismiss/ridicule those hardworking taxpayers at their own risk.
1
Thank you, Mr. Kristof, for this excellent commentary. I posted on Facebook the original NYT report of this hero when it was initially reported by the NYT. He "is" a shining example of an immigrant American. He is one of many that would face danger to save others. Perhaps, his story will contribute to a truly constructive discussion of immigrants, such as my mother who immigrated from Russia in the 1940s. She is responsible for all of the compassion I possess to help people whenever I can. You and Pfc. Mensah has added to my determination and commitment. My girlfriend and I will be at the upcoming March in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, January 20th. We consider it our duty in the face of an administration that must legally and peacefully be replaced by members of an administration that recognize "we are all one people."
1
Thank you for your thorough, thoughtful, and sensible essay and for suggestions about what can be done. However, aside from sending money, Americans need a more public and high profile means of making it clear that racist and xenophobic comments like Trump's are unacceptable.
Ideas?
Sadly there will be plenty of people who will admire Trump for "saying what everyone is thinking". Just like the guy on Fox. Many of us are repulsed and embarrassed what he said but many of your citizens will be applauding. So sad.
Thank you for this poignant article. I especially appreciate your listing resources for what we can do to help support those from so-called "s-hole" countries. Thank you for continuing to be a voice of reason and compassion in this difficult times.
Kristof failed to mention about the many swindles by Trump who made money only by cheating investors and creditors and the US Govt. (Tax evasion). Those simpletons who voted for him believing his words have now joined those who were cheated by Trump in the past. I hear Trump saying "welcome to my club".
1
Pfc Emmanuel Mensah is an African American hero and we all salute him but that does not in any way justify the title that Trump maligned this hero or any other legal immigrant of this country or any other person or race in the world, unless you decide that you will twist and turn to make your false and unfounded argument that Trump is a racist. TRUMP IS NOT A RACIST, nor does he have an intention to antagonize any country. Trump is flushing away America's reputation established by previous presidents that USA is a country that will pay any price, make any sacrifices for the prosperity and well being of every human being of any country other than the USA irrespective of whether those humans wish to do us harm or wish to help us help themselves. With his America first speech as the president elected by the American electoral college, Trump declared to America and the world that he will ruthlessly without compassion put US interests first and uphold the US laws of the land. In doing so he finds himself at odds with policies of his predecessors and in the midst of partisan opposition. Trump is naive to think that in an attempt to get any kind of reform he can get even a a tiny bit of bipartisan support. How much support did Trump get for the Tax reform bill from the dems, which is allowing most Americans to keep some more of their hard earned money or reap some benefits of a thriving economy? ZERO What makes Trump think that he can get bipartisan support for immigration reform?
1
Why do we still have to prove we are worthy of equal treatment? People of color have fought and died for America since its birth but we still need to remind America of our sacrifice? America has a problem with race and Trump is only one symptom.Trump didn't elect himself and we need to stop pretending he did.Trump's problem is he an overt racist and make no bones about it.Trump's supporters claim they are not racist but support Trump. Go Figure that one.
1
Written so well. Yet, we have Senators who sit ideally by while Trump commits these outrageous acts of verbal abuse. We have Senators who are traitors to our Constitution and American Values. Until our representatives take some action against the President-at least a rebuke by Congress-nothing will happen. Trump will continue to be Trump and continue to undermine America
1
My concern goes beyond Trump reaching to the people that continue to support him. He reflects the deep racism and ignorance of people who like to blame all wrongs on people of color. Both Trump and his supporters are intent on exclusion yet they have no grasp of the true makeup of this nation. They have no interest in bringing us all together to make this country truly great. Together is a word they reject as they prefer to live in a world without the rest of us.
1
Trump made his vulgar remark after the White House meeting conversation turned to the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the “Green Card Lottery. Trump thinks dysfunctional African countries should be taken off the Green Card Lottery list. So, Trump’s remark would only apply to people like Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah only if Mensah or his family were Green Card Lottery winners. Of course Trump cannot order countries stricken from the list because immigration law makes any resident of any country that sends fewer than 50,000 to America eligible for the Green Card Lottery. Even if Trump could strike countries from the lottery list, it would have little impact on immigration. The United States accepts no more than 50,000 Green Card Lottery winner per year, and they come from hundreds of countries. Nearly all Africans who immigrate to America come through the regular immigration pipeline. So the furor over Trump vulgarity is much ado about nothing, especially when you consider Congress seems poised to eliminate the Green Card Lottery altogether as part of a shift to merit-based immigration.
5
Though the information provided regarding the green card program is enlightening, such context does not diminish the vileness of Trump's offhand comment.
3
Mr. Case, your tone deaf comments ignore the impact of any presidential statement. When a president denounces a group of people, he encourages others to respond in a similar fashion. The 'bully pulpit' gives our chief executive a more powerful megaphone than anyone else, and a minimally responsible person would use such influence carefully.
Secondly, Trump's comments demeaned entire countries, meaning that he targeted all the citizens of those countries. The fact that his statement followed a discussion of the Green Card Lottery has no bearing on the import of his slander against the people of an entire nation.
His abusive language qualifies as much ado about nothing only if you think that words don't matter.
3
Actually, it is much ado about something very important. It is about blatant racism, hypocrisy, moral turpitude, and indecency in the White House.
4
Trump is a man of very limited intellect and character. He, as do so many others of a similar ilk, compensate by being insulting and crude. I find this man to be so onerous in thought and deed that I no longer am surprised by any of his vile and mendacious utterances.
3
My concern is that President Trump is not merely a racist, he is disrespectful to anyone who does not suit his unbalanced view of his own value in this world. Also, unfortunately, those who voted for him did so because their world view is similar to his and their sense self-worth is also similar. They are so low that they must feel superior to others. A true genius would never flaunt his or her intelligence; they would act in ways that contribute this gift to society. A person worthy to be President of any country is humbled by the responsibility not puffed up. I am ashamed that rather than Making America Great Again he has Made America Denigrated Forever in the eyes of all decent people everywhere.
1
My question is this. What is Trump trying to distract us from this time? He usually says or tweets these things right before or right after he or his administration have done something of real, long-term, policy importance and something that would have gotten a lot of unwanted attention in the press if not otherwise for the distraction. What is he trying to distract us from now?
When will we stop taking the bait. Yes what Trump said was bad on many levels. But he is trolling us and no number of counter examples will change his or anybody else's opinions. While we're raging about the latest tweet or statement his administration is chugging along, wreaking the country for the benefit of the 'deserving' wealthy and large corporations. Mr. Kristof, every time you want to write something like this last column (which I did find inspirational) ask yourself this first, what would you have written about the actions of administration and Republicans in congress if you weren't devoting you valuable space to something stupid, racist, insensitive, or just darn mean the president said or tweeted?
1
And the most important thing we can do is vote -- in any and every election -- vote for people who are not racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, classist, Islamaphobic, anti-Semitic, homophobic, etc.. There will and should always be legitimate discussion and disagreement about policies, but we need to begin those discussions with a real desire for progress, an understanding of the commonweal, and an absence of hatred.
1
I am happy to take one Emmanuel Mensah as a fellow citizen against several million Trumps. Except that brave man died saving other people and we are left with the dredges, several million Trumps. What do we do? How do we make a stand against them and make progress?
Trump has the compliant GOP willing to bend so far backward to accommodate his every wish and look the other way as long as they get what their donors want that they defy gravity.
The Democrats are leaderless, still chasing shadows in the Me Too uprising. We don't have a moral social or political leader strong enough to take a leadership position for us to back actively, so its left to us citizens. We need to organize and push against this "Nazification" of our country and assault on every facet of our lives by Trump and his coterie. I am ready to put boots on the ground but where do I start and who do I count on?
1
Our current president has made me realize how proud I am to be an American - because I am so devastated by his defilement of the office of President of our country. Like many others, I have responded by reaching out to refugees and immigrants, trying to demonstrate that they are welcome here, that I am awed by their resilience, that I admire them and their culture - despite the comments of the immoral, reprehensible, selfish, ignorant man who we elected to lead us.
1
Sadly, part of Trump's appeal to his followers is his obvious racism. He says publicly what they think privately. It's not an accident that the election and re-election of our first black president was followed by someone like Trump.
Trump is a reflection of us and our ongoing inability to fully acknowledge that we have a race problem. The civil rights movement wasn't that long ago and while things have gotten better we still have a lot of work to do. This country has always seen people of color, especially black people and native Americans as less than human.
Until we are willing to do the work this issue is going to simmer beneath the surface. We will have to accept that from time to time people like Trump will gain control because they fan the flames of our anti-immigrant attitudes and our historical intolerance towards anyone who isn't white.
Every Republican presidential campaign since the civil rights movement has had an underlying of race baiting and they've been very successful. They will continue to do so because they know that their voters elect them because of that message, not despite it. Even today 87% of Republican supporters support Trump and think he's doing a great job despite the offensive racist things he keeps saying.
1
In response to Trump's stupid question "Do we need more of these people?" the answer is clearly YES.
I don't get these countries - like Honduras, mentioned in another column. My cruise ship stopped there. The country is beautiful. Why don't the people get along?
Gosh, this has been a week of really great news. DT spouts vulgarities at a meeting and two Republican US Senators can't recall hearing the repeated remarks. We're all set for another Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, and now we learn the the doctors say the Lunatic-in-Chief is in great [physical] health.
On the other hand, we do have millions of really fine stories of immigrants who came to America to help make it great. I hope they're all itching, as I am, to vote this fall.
THe bully and coward Trump would never risk his life for another person. The essence of the man is that ge holds contempt for anyone not him.
Thank you for sharing the story of Emmanuel Mensah. I had not heard it before. Every American should read this article. Mensah most certainly better embodies the nation's values. Trump is a disgusting human being, who values nothing but money and his own ego.
If there is a God who takes notice of us tiny, insect like creatures, and is pulling for us to evolve into greater wisdom, and i believe there is, Pfc. Emmanuel stands tall and proud before His eyes.
Nicholas, your column once again proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that "the pen is MIGHTIER than the sword". sadly, trump won't be embarrassed by it's revelations. EVEN SADDER IS THAT HE IS OUR PRESIDENT.
What a true American hero Mr. Mensah was. Thank you .
To call trump a politician is a stretch. He is a Realty and television guy. not a Pol in any universe.
Thanks for a wonderful essay. I wish we could trade Trump for someone like Mensah. It's people like Mensah who make America great, not racists like our president.
This piece only solidifies the already hardened mortar binding our disgust of this so called man we are forced to call president.
Unfortunately it won’t make it into the hands and ultimately, the brains of those who need to read it most...his supporters and deflectors.
Please forward this column to the White House and have it read to Trump (since we know he doesn't read himself).
We know he has no shame...yet he should be reading every single article about immigrants who have made this country a compassionate, embracing country.
Words fail me...I'm so appalled by this President! Mr. Kristoff...continue to educate us with these fine stories.
1
I hope there's an effort to place a memorial in this young man's memory, if not a statue then at least a plaque in some prominent place in that neighborhood. A plaque can be made so that it has his image, not just his name. I also like the idea someone expressed about a whole series on immigrants from the countries Trump disparaged focusing on those who are remarkable in some big or small way and have made our country a better place.
1
My sister has an unofficially “adopted” adult son who came here from Swaziland to attend college on a scholarship. His mother had died and father had been murdered. He then joined the armed forces as a path to citizenship and is in an army medical school program. He is currently in the special forces, speaks five languages and has been proudly serving his country in many areas full of danger. The GOP leadership’s silence or at best weak responses calling Trump’s comments “unfortunate,” etc. are just as abhorrent as the president’s vile words. Above all, his words reflect their beliefs and the policies they are putting in place. We must vote them out.
124
Beautifully written. Thank you for concisely expressing what so many of us cannot. As a daughter of immigrants, one of which is from one of the President’s undesirable countries list—I am angry, hurt and embarrassed by what he has said. However, reading this has made me feel better.
44
This is such a great piece. NYT should do this as a weekly series - I'm sure it would be easy to find heroes to write about.
23
Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah represented the greatness of our country, a man who gave his life helping his community. How sorry we are to have lost him so young. Thank you New York for honoring his memory.
I live outside D.C. and we have a large population of immigrants from Ghana. They are some of the finest people I've ever known.
It broke my heart to hear Trump disparage people who have come here from Africa to share their intelligence, goodness, courage and work ethic with all of us. To those of us who live in communities with large numbers of African immigrants, we know how wrong Trump is.
81
This essay is a perfect summary of what this country stands for and what it stands against.
Thank you, Nicholas Kristof.
68
He lived and died the Army values:
Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage
Hoo-ah Private!
64
Another thing we can do: "merely" be friendly to immigrants.
I've been fortunate to meet and work with many immigrants in my life. I can't recall when I developed this practice, but when it's appropriate to the moment (which is almost always), I make it a point to say to newly met immigrants, "Welcome to America." With a smile. Because I mean it.
Give it a try, and try to mean it.
34
God bless the soul of this brave, caring young man, and all my sympathy to his family who lost someone they loved, someone good and a true American patriot. He was a guardian angel for four people, and someone who put others before himself that horrible tragic night of devastation.
He made the ultimate act of self-sacrifice. It was done in the name of love and not hate. Nothing good is ever done in the name of hate. He must have had a deep love of humanity, who recognized the importance of the individual as well as the whole community of the world. His short life served both. He served his country, and he served those four trapped people in that burning building. Humanity comes in all colors and creeds and so doesn't bravery or honor.
My great grandfather fled Ireland, with his young family, during the potato famine when most of the population was starving and there were no jobs to be had. His heart was broken and he always grieved for the 'old country', but he was not going to watch his children starve and die as so many others did during that horrible, horrible time in Irish history. He worked on building the first subway system in America, in Boston. He was a laborer but a happy man because he could feed his family and keep them sheltered from the elements through honest labor. He grew to love America greatly.
We are all immigrants, and we all have stories. Our families fled countries they loved but could no longer survive in because of war, poverty and/or famine.
40
Maybe we are focusing a little too much on Donald Trump because he is the one who makes outrageous remarks. Years before Donald Trump declared his candidacy for president, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell declared his intention to make Barack Obama a one term president. He then proceeded to obstruct everything President Obama tried to accomplish. I believe this stemmed from his resentment at the fact that an African-American, whose father immigrated from one of the denigrated countries, succeeded in being elected President of the United States, something Mitch McConnell knew he would never achieve, far more than from President Obama's political party affiliation. Mitch McConnell's racism and xenophobia have not in any way abated and may in fact have influenced what happened in the now infamous meeting about immigration.
60
Give me a break. Since when does ANY party opposition leader say they want the other party's President to serve TWO terms?? Of COURSE they wanted him to a one-term President! Gee, where are all the Democrats willing to work with Trump and hoping he is a two-term President? Don't be so naive.
And today in KY, 93,000 people will lose health insurance thanks to Mitch's policies. A true humanitarian!
To Bigly Bonespurs, courage is avoiding venereal disease at Studio 54.
32
Forty years ago, my college roommate, a young woman from Nigeria, saved my life.
Fumi, wherever you are, I thank you again.
I've never forgotten you.
34
What a lovely tribute to a brave gentleman who served in our Armed Forces, then gave his life in his civilian world.
He honored us by coming to America. We must honor those like him who wish to join our nation.
As our neighbors to the north in Canada know, even today, nations that welcome immigrants remain vibrant and do not fear the future of an aging population.
33
Thank you, Mr. Kristoff, for another beautiful and informative article enlightening us about global social justice and new ways to give.
I had been sponsoring Haitian youth through a small NGO which collapsed after the earthquake. For awhile I sent money to my sponsored children through Western Union; however, there was no organized sustainable effort on their behalf and the appearance of some impending corruption. I therefore terminated my giving through that organization in 2014. I mourned the children but felt the donations could be better used for more solid organizations. I sponsor five Latin Americans through Children International and Unbound, picked up two Mexican citizens last year in a meager attempt to "offset" White House policy with that beautiful country.
You and your wife are truly doing God's work. Thank you.
Godspeed to Tyler Pager and congratulations to Diana Kruzman!
18
If the man could read, high on his list would be Tracy Kidder's 2009 book, "Strength in What Remains." From the publisher's summary: "Deo arrives in the United States from Burundi in search of a new life. Having survived a civil war and genocide, he lands at JFK airport with two hundred dollars, no English, and no contacts. He ekes out a precarious existence delivering groceries, living in Central Park, and learning English by reading dictionaries in bookstores. Then Deo begins to meet the strangers who will change his life, pointing him eventually in the direction of Columbia University, medical school, and a life devoted to healing. Kidder breaks new ground in telling this unforgettable story as he travels with Deo back over a turbulent life and shows us what it means to be fully human."
Partners in Health, mentioned by Kristof, plays a role in this book and his previous one, "Mountains Beyond Mountains." A reader would follow the links and find some much-needed enlightenment.
18
All of Tracy Kidder's books are illuminating. Thanks for sharing.
1
Nice piece, and thank you for the specific suggestions for donations. I just donated.
16
Mr. Kristof: I also want to thank you for this column. May God bless Pfc Mensah.
22
Thank you Mr. Kristof,
For your reporting and commentary and your field scholarship program. Please watch Ai Wei Wei's movie Human Flow. Refugees and migration are global challenges that confront, and demand solutions from, us all. We live on a small blue globe, together.
M.
12
Thank goodness you debunk the corollary that "While countries are sometimes dysfunctional, the people aren’t." Perhaps Americans have a chance after all.
5
Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah's story, life, and bravery is truly heroic. Would I have been able to do this? His life and actions are what truly makes America great again.
Every country has "heros" if you define "heros" as honorable people willing to treat others as they would want themselves and their family treated. There is something very "id", and ingrained in the human pscyhe apparently that makes all of us wanting to form "clans" and look after immediate family - probably as a deeply embedded survival necessity from days past.
However, many people have developed a higher brain function, and have developed empathy towards the infirm, weak, lame, poor, and those that don't look like themselves, and those in trouble needing help.
Unfortunately, President Trump has never developed an empathy for those other than himself and his immediate family, which goes beyond his simple survival instinct.
20
A country simply is not a person. No amount of association to the country, bravery, or sacrifice changes this fact. No disparaging remarks about country can touch this fallen soldier. His example and sacrifice stand on their own.
12
Let's all of us hope, as Nicholas Kristof does, that our compassion is more deeply held than our mistaken president's contempt for human beings.
20
I do not know what this argument was supposed to prove. Trump did not malign or disparage anyone. No one doubts that there are many fine people in every country on Earth. We (America and Australia) simply cannot take them all. Haiti is a poor and miserable country, as are many others. That is just a statement of undisputable fact, Trump's colourful language notwithstanding. Most people in those countries would give anything to leave their misery behind and come to the West. That is not a solution, as there are literally billions of them. We cannot take the lucky few by some random selection and leave the rest sulking in envy and dreaming of (and trying) crossing the iceans, seas and birders illegally. Behind Trump's harsh words and strict immigration policies is more reasoned and compassionate humanism than the one displayed by the mindless advocates of open borders. We witness consequences of their mindlessness every day as hundreds of unfortunate souls perish in the waters, sands and airless trucks and shipping containers. That Carnage has got to stop.
3
Your concern for drowning refugees rings false. You make the gross assumption that everyone in less fortunate countries wants to come to Australia or America. That is truly patronizing. And we take an overwhelming share of the world's resources. You better believe we owe other countries something. Australia, like America, was built on slavery. I'll leave to to you to do your homework and find out the vast contributions that Haitians have made to the U.S.
What you are highlighting is the true arc of racism and exclusion. It is passed down from generation to generation. Babies are born and are not automatically racists. They learn this from their parents. When these babies grow up they are already infected with racism and they pass it along. Until one starts questioning their parents messages or takes a good hard look at life around them, go out of their way to meet people who think differently or look different this will always be the case.
Interestingly the young people I know have friends from many races, cultures and genders. This happened because of the Civil Rights movement. It integrated public schools and public colleges. It exposed white Americans to look beyond their own roots, be curious about others different from themselves. Our only hope is that parents stop infecting their children with racism.
Basically Trump and his ancestors were infected early on.
What always amazes me is that we are all immigrants, but we would close the door on the next Immigrants to come to our country. Remember, not too long ago "Irish need not apply" signs were posted everywhere. Do we, as a country, now want to give up immigrants who so richly add to our diversity? I hope not.
9
I hope every American and more specifically every Republican law maker who feign amnesia to avoid embarrasment read this brilliant article.
Thank you Nicolas Kristof for once again trying to awaken the conscience of those who are dwelling in a state of oblivion.
19
Mr. Kristof,
There is no doubt that many of us would suffer in comparison with Pfc. Mensah, who repeatedly put himself in harms way to help others.
Trump's voters were well aware when they elected him that they were not electing a hero. I think they sent the message loud and clear that they were not looking for an inspirational President, full of noble ideas and sentiments, and more interested in striding on the world stage than engaging in their seemingly mundane, but, important to them, problems.
I suspect that President Trump might look at Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, say he's a great guy, and then point out that he is also dead, because he attempted to save one too many people and perished as a result. This is similar to what Republicans are saying vis a vis all kinds of programs that are designed to help vulnerable and people in America - they're great, but we can't afford them. That's what they say, and it's been working. They haven't been held accountable for voting against the ACA, for refusing to expand Medicaid, even for possibly not continuing to fund SCHIP.
It seems clear to me that pleas for generosity towards others will fall on deaf ears so long as people believe that their own futures are at risk.
Of course, Mr. Kristof can continue using his column for fundraising appeals to well of Times readers, but I the appeal is limited.
Paying taxes is the ultimate form of virtuous giving.
9
Trump did not suggest ending immigration from African countries; he proposed striking dysfunctional African countries from the list of countries eligible for the Green Card Lottery. Nearly all Africans, including Ghanaians, who immigrate to America come via the regular immigration process. Trump can't order countries stricken from the list; only Congress could do that. Congress is much more likely to eliminate the Green Card Looter altogether,.
1
No one doubts that some immigrants are truly amazing people like the young man in the article. Some are not only not of his character, but a burden and potentially a danger to this country. That's not the point. Trumps grand father came at a time that the u.s. was much less populated and there were far more opportunities for the unskilled and the uneducated. The debate that trumps horrific comments are keeping us from having, and this article doesn't address, is, how many and what kind of immigrants, if any, does the u.s. need in an age of decreasing labor needs, and a country of 325 million with multiple problems from: poverty, the environment, stagnant wages, loss of open space, deteriorating infrastructure, a failing education system and on and on, all of which are exacerbated by our booming population? A further question, that I think needs to be addressed is, what effect a merit based immigration plan will have on the countries we cherry pick immigrants from. Ex- how is Haiti effected by taking say, physicians, from a country that desperately needs them? Some of us think we do ourselves and these countries the most potential benefit by helping them help themselves so that the need for what appears to be endless immigration are reduced or eliminated by improving thier home countries conditions.
5
Ok then so let's have the debate. Economically, immigrants consistently produce above the national average, are more educated, and commit less crime in proportion to their percentage of the population.
It is also false that immigrants from poor under-developed nations are less productive, and that productive immigrants can only originate from wealthy nations. For instance, Nigerians are the best educated group in the USA, with 45% having earned a Bachelors degree (30.4% national average) and about 30% with graduate degree (10.9% national average).
You complain that the US is becoming over-populated. Here's the fact: only 87 inhabitants per square mile reside in the U.S. Compared to other countries around the world, the United States does not rank within the top 50, in terms of population density.
A lot of people are buying into immigration falsehood without checking the facts. What does not advocate open, unrestricted immigration, but let's not spread falsehood.
27
According to the pew group, since 2000 the average education of new immigrants is 65% have completed HS vs 83 % of u.s. residents and that's up over the 20 years before. according to migration.org 29% of immigrants in 2015 had bachelors degrees vs 31% of u.s. residents, again much higher than historical averages. The average resident of the u.s. produces 20 tons per year of co2. A Mexican ~1/5th that. Increasing the number of Americans is not good for global warming. We are 5% of the worlds population using 25% of its energy. We are about the same size as China at about the same latitude. We have 325 million, they have 1.4 billion. I guess we could live like that. Do you really want to? No one thinks either country is sustainable at even these levels. Truth is, we and the planet simply don't need any more people.
1
Thanks for a great article and for the links to places to donate. I appreciate having suggestions for reputable organizations to send support, and know I can always rely on your columns. I hope the countries that Trump has disparaged see an outpouring of support from people in the U.S. who have a different point of view than our president.
16
Mr. Kristof,
Thank you again - and as always- for an inspiring, intelligent, and informative article. Through you we meet amazing people and become better educated and compassionate ourselves.
What Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah did was brave beyond belief - compassionate and honest and he lost his life as a true hero. I feel sad for the loss of the future of this wonderful young man and for his family who has lost their son.
What can we do to help his family?
Thank you for suggestions for worthy organizations that need our help and our donations, which we should make in memory of Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah and ask that acknowledgements be sent to you for a follow up article.
30
Thank you, Nicholas. I attend a multi-cultural church. One of my best friends is named Mensah and came here from Ghana. Over 60 years ago, I attended a seminar conducted by an anthropologist from Ethiopia whose son was a classmate. Nearly one-third of our congregation comes from Africa. Our church was recently recognized at the Smithsonian for our acceptance of refugees from the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. All things are possible.
22
Thank you and God bless you, Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah! You are a true hero!
May your loved ones be comforted by the amazing generous heart you were! Rest in peace.
25
Thank you Mr. Kristof for introducing us to the heroes and heroines you meet in your travels.No hero story is more compelling than that of Pfc Mensah.Let us dim the glare of floodlights on Washington and the White House and shine the bright spotlight on a true American hero.We have no way to thank him for his bravery but to remember his deeds and to try harder to uphold the American ideal.
40
Thank you for this column and the recognition for Pfc. Mensah's sacrifice. Thank you too for offering positive actions we can take to improve our country.
30
Kristof is obsessed with the US help people on the other side of the world. But for Americans the biggest problems in this country are education, jobs, and health care.
3
None of those domestic problems are being addressed by this administration. Since we seem unwilling to learn facts, we can't get jobs for know-nothings, and we are tossing out healthcare, we might as well help others who are willing to strive to better themselves. We may be a hopeless case; we are certainly no longer a beacon to the rest of the world. Norway, they will be coming to you.
5
I think the u.s. as well as the world benefits from our help to foriegn countries. A prosperous, sustainable world would reduce the need for desperate people to seek better prospects in other countries. As there are billions of these potential immigrants now and we can't take them all here, it's in everybody's interest to improve thier lives.
4
Lots of reporters out there cover the things you mention. Why trash Mr. Kristof for the amazing, thorough, compassionate and yes, important work he does? I treasure learning about the plights and successes of people I will never meet or know from places I will never see. And I traveled a lot in my youth, but there is never a time to say I know enough about the world!
If your own "obsessions" are the problems you mention, why not devote your energy to bettering them and not to the negative effort it took you to say something mean about Kristof? Kindness works in person, but also in making comments online.
1
Thank you for sharing this story. I also love the image of your father buying the Sunday Times to learn English.
59
It is people like Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah, who make America great. A true hero, and a selfless act.
132
God bless Pfc. Mensah. This story brought tears to my eyes: Tears for this brave young man, and tears for what our presidency has become, at least temporarily.
92
Trump and his followers see themselves as the last bastion of hope for white American against what he considers the horrific tide of little brown, black and yellow people who threaten to become an American majority. By contrast, the Canadian city of Toronto with a combined population of city and suburbs of 6.2 million souls, now has 51% of their population that can be classified incorrectly as minorities, because the white population is now less than half of the population at 49%. This is an exciting, progressive and growing metropolis of peoples of positive energy generated by the strength of diverse cultures, skills, and bonded by acceptance and inclusivity. What Trump doesn't understand is that by limiting equal pay and women's rights, and by denying diverse cultures and skills of educated immigrants of all colors, he is limited the very future of America in a highly competitive and diverse world where China, South Korea, India, and South East Asia are becoming major forces of economic and sociopolitical power. I can personally tell you that I had spent 6 years as an International Executive of a major multi-national company and have seen the advances in these countries first hand. America has the advantage of a large economy and a well trained and dedicated workforce but will come up short over the long run with Trump's policy of America First, his jingoism and his myopic vision when it comes the strength of any nation, their people, both country born and immigrant alike.
85
Carl, you are WRONG about a lot of Trump supporters ! I am NOT a racist, and treat all people the same, no mater their COLOR. However, President Trump is CORRECT about many of these people coming into the country. There are an unbelievable amount of GANGS in El Salvador for instance, and it is one of the most violent countries out there. Do I want those problems to come to America ? The answer is a resounding NO ! He wants educated people to come to this country to add value, NOT people bringing major problems, and Terrorism !
Carl, you didn't mention Canada's stringently selective immigration policies. Why not?
Yes. They talk of "merit" based immigration as if only white people had merit. It is all racism.
Trump really is a racist but white supremacist ideas are incidental to it but not really the basis of it. He identifies himself as a member of an elite, a super wealth person who inherited so much wealth that his self image is all bound up in being rich, that he was destined to be rich. His racism is something he seems to have acquired without really thinking about it. He discriminates against non-whites but he also discriminates against the majority of white people who are not rich, too. He has lived life inside a protected world in which he obtains all that he wants by just asking for it, and he really has no idea about how most of the things he enjoys are obtained, and he does not care. He does not depend upon having to assure that people who work for him are kept down to assure that he can be rich, like the planters of the slave holding states and agricultural concerns of the Jim Crow South did. He can simply hire cheap foreign labor, ignoring poor Americans. In today's world, most businesses which depend upon cheap labor can find it without the old systems that relied upon white supremacy to keep a force of cheap labor available, they hire undocumented and contracted foreign labor and move operations to foreign countries. So when he disparages people and countries in a racially discriminatory way, it's not to promote white supremacy, it's just Trump being ignorant or playing on the ignorant attitudes of part of his base.
13
This i a very poor apologetic for Trump's racism. Trump is an active and pro-racist person. Just study his history.
To apply the term for Trump's self-image from his German homeland: Ubermensch. He is not.
Thank you Mr. Kristof. I just made a $25 donation to Innovating Health International. And you can be sure I will vote Democratic this November.
46
The only thing incorrect and it might be tongue in cheek is calling his treatment of Melania's immigration transgressions as compassion. It's clear that the rules of anything from common decency to fairness to abiding by the law do not apply to Trump, himself and not to his friends or supporters. They only apply to people who don't benefit him.
31
Your words give a voice to my seeming helplessness in the face of the appalling words that come from the mouth of the blind-to-all-but-himself- president of my country. I'm disgusted and embarrassed and ashamed and wonder what I can do ? Thanks for your forthright words and practical suggestions. May there be a gigantic groundswell of indignation that refuses to be silent....
42
Pfc. Mensah through his recent training was familiar and ready to follow orders. He did not receive an order to try rescuing residents because he was doing something reflexive. He didn't need one. How do these reflexes compare to the president's?
62
Empathy, kindness and intelligent thought are clearly missing in Trump. If he can go to Puerto Rico and proceed to throw rolls of paper towels to folk who are hungry, cold and homeless, then clearly, he lacks common humanity for people who have lost everything. Trump's a hopeless case.
He probably would not even try and save his own family. First, he's too scared and second, all he cares about is himself.
A large chunk of the soul of this nation is black. It is a crucial and essential part. We are them and they are us, we are one soul together. When we deny the vibrant humanity of so much of who we are, we damage the fabric of the whole of us. We need instead to celebrate that whole to fully reach our potential, to create a fully functioning identity.
37
Thank you, Mr. Kristof, for your powerful and eloquently stated column!
I also thank you for your endorsement of Partners in Health. I am not associated with the organization in any way except as a modest donor, but their work in Haiti has been extraordinary. PIH has not simply provided aid in major emergencies. They have STAYED to help and have been a constant presence in Haiti for nearly 30 years. They now operate clinics and hospitals, including a national teaching hospital, at 12 locations across the country, and are the largest nongovernment health care provider in the country. I wholeheartedly agree that assisting PIH in saving lives IS a practical response to racism!
Thank you again!
33
Can you imagine any male Trumps rushing towards danger, to save the lives of others? No, neither can I. Emmanuel Mensah who, had he lived, would have been demeaned by Donald Trump’s infamous words yesterday, was made of better stuff. Thank you Mr. Kristof, for reminding us hero’s come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and from all countries. Mr. Mensah was a true hero, and I, for one, am proud he chose this country as his own.
69
Can't imagine it either. But the Trumps have better ways to be heroes such as gunning down big animals in Africa. I mean, didn't God create Africa especially as a place for the Trumps to display their bravery and to show off their big-than-yours guns?
Mr. Trump is not fit to lick Emmanuel Mensah's boots. I doubt he even understands the magnitude of Mr. Mensah's heroism, the character of a person who risked and ultimately lost his own life trying to save those of others.
Mr. Trump's opinions would amount to little were he a private citizen. But as long as he holds the office of the presidency of the United States, his racism is a danger to all of us.
We have worked long and hard in this country to bring about equal rights for minorities. We still have a long way to go in many respects. We don't need a president who denigrates people from backgrounds not very different from that of his ancestors--and sometimes, in terms of character, a whole lot better.
49
Agree, but I doubt Trump is even aware of Emmanuel Mensah. The story wasn't about him so why would he care?
Lovely article, and the report on the brave selfless Ghanian American who gave his life to save his neighbors made me cry. That is the immigrant community I am proud to be part of.
And to speak up, speak out and even criticize when needed, with pride and accuracy, when people expect you, in the name of assimilation and/or gratitude, to grovel ; be compliant or subservient...is courage too!
And thanks for sharing a bit of your father's story too,
Many Texans have forgotten there immigrant history. Kindly come to Texas and do a lovely piece on Texan Anglo boys and their immigrant history...even among Republicans.
Thank you!
14
There is an African-American spiritual that says in part:
Walk together children
Don't you ever get weary
Come on and walk together children
Don't you ever get weary
There's a great camp meeting going on in the promised land.
The promised land is not heaven in the sky bye n bye when you die.
The promised land is the beloved community that it is our responsibility to create on this earth at this time.
Great story! I'm always appreciative of contextualizing narratives. Trump's has been so clear for so long until I'm not quite sure why we're shocked and outraged. What his aberrant/offensive/disgusting/vile statement lacks is the historical context that America's wealth (and most of European wealth) is directly related to the exploitation of Africa and the free labor of African peoples. So, this makes the behaviors even worse. I wonder how the mental health professionals would deal with this conundrum. Is his (and others) despicable behaviors a megasized effort to continue to erase or deny this history in much the same way as they are attempting to deny the brilliance and moral superiority of President Obama? "Truth crushed to the earth will rise again."
18
Thank you for sharing the story of brave Pfc Emmanuel Mensah of Ghana.
Agree that supporting organizations on the ground in Haiti is the best antidote to the awful racism and ugliness of Donald Trump. He diminishes the office he sits in -- and we all owe it to Private Mensah and other brave immigrants to speak up.
16
Thank you once again Mr. Kristoff. A sad but inspiring narrative about an Ghanaian immigrant; a narrative about a German immigrant that should be (but probably won't be) humbling for the person who claims to be the President.
This country still has many good and some courageously great people. You remind us of that and we must take action at the polls soon.
18
I object to the word Trump used to describe Haiti. But Haiti is a poor country with a history of dictatorial rule and corruption. Bemoaning the fact that there are a lot of immigrants from Haiti, and few from Norway, contrasts an extremely poor country with bad government to an extremely wealthy country with good government. This may be a racist statement or it may not be. To find Trump guilty of a racial slur, you should be certain that that's what it is. Trump said nothing about race in his statement. Whether it was a racist slur or not remains ambiguous. Those who decide all uncertainties against Trump are probably right half the time.
3
Labels are not the issue. The President regularly demeans people, immigrants or not, in favor of himself. There are ways to deal with security without labeling whole groups of people. As for Haiti, yes, it has been poor and has had some bad government. The reasons are complex, but the United States has been, historically, part of the history of countries like Haiti to keep them in their place. We keep repeating the errors of the past in this regard. On the other hand, some of our attitudes about people who are different, have advanced and this should be encouraged. The shame is that the current President represents in so many ways, the worst of these attitudes, and seems to take pride in his ignorance.
Except Norwegians are not lining up to come here. Why would they? They live better lives there than the average person does here. Actually the opposite is happening, I know Americans who are immigrating to Europe. So Europeans are gaining from our loss.
"But Haiti is a poor country with a history of dictatorial rule and corruption." So is Russia.
" This may be a racist statement or it may not be." It's racist. He's said stuff like this before, many times. He's a racist.
Our immigration policy is a mess...both parties share the blame for allowing it to get to this point. Reform is needed because our current policies undermine our national and economic security. In addition, without reform Americans will surely turn against immigration in principle. We’ve instituted an insane visa lottery program to supposedly diversify our immigrant pool, where new immigrants are literally selected at random. This isn't working and will be a disaster going forward. Chain migration isn't sustainable either. Obviously it's wrong to discriminate between immigration applicants based on characteristics such as race. But it is not wrong to discriminate based on other criteria such as literacy, education level, and other skills. To claim otherwise is to advocate open borders, or at least a first-come, first-served immigration policy. The simplest and most effective solution to all of this controversy would be to move to an immigration system like Canada’s — a points-based system that prioritizes applicants based on merit alone. Tomorrows jobs will require more education, more high skilled workers. Technology/robotics/AI will decrease the demand for low skilled workers. Lets acknowledge that. If we don't then we are being complete hypocrites and will only make our immigration dilemma worse if that's possible. We have to start to making intelligent choices. Common sense and the federal government has to have a serious relationship while there's still time.
4
Well you to are ill informed about the lottery system. CNN had a great education program on this am that pointed out the Trump lies about this program. Everything he said about the program is incorrect so please find out the real truth about the program.
And the only way to discuss immigration rationally is to get racism out of it. That is why Republicans have done nothing but obstruct.
I'm glad that the Army and the state of New York have recognized the valor of Emmanuel Mensah. His heroism makes me proud to be a citizen of this state, and to have had the honor of wearing the uniform that he honored so well. I dearly wish that I could say similar things about the draft dodger in the Oval Office.
22
Thank you, Nick Kristof, for another right on column. Thank you for sharing Pfc Mensah's sad and noble story. Our disaffected, injured, confused co-citizens who voted for this dishonorable dissembler in chief need to PAY ATTENTION to Mensah's story, and redeem themselves in November and 2010.
10
Donald Trump's grandfather had gone to school and was a trained hairdresser. The renowned German vocational training system did work even back then, since it's roots date back to about the 13th century. So, the boy was by no means completely uneducated! His family was rich enough to provide him with some pocket money, and to buy his passage to America where his sister, who supported him in the beginning had lived for some years already. So, he was not that poor either! The German immigrant community was big in 1885 and still speaking mostly German. Cutting hair is a job that can be done silently. So, his language problems were also not that defining! Just like most of today's immigrants, he came primarily for the opportunities America offered and Germany back then did not - at least not in abundance. He did not expect any gifts, but just the opportunity to make the most from his skills, and his labour. In America he could cut hair for 16 hours a day, seven days a week, and hadn't it been for the fact that he had to sleep, eat, drink, digest, and wash himself now and then, he could have extended this to 24 hours, since there was no shortage of heads requiring a haircut. He wasn't handed any charities, but he got the chance to earn a lot. That's what provided him with seed money for his later - somewhat dubious - ventures. For his grandson and people of his ilk however, the boys most important feature was that he was white!
8
You write, "For his grandson and people of his ilk however, the boys most important feature was that he was white!"
Have you considered that the most important feature of Trump's ability to come become an American was his ability to earn a living? To not be a burden to the taxpayers?
Have you considered that during President Clinton's first term, his Chair of the Commission on Immigration Reform, Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (D-TX) said: "Deportation is crucial. Credibility in immigration policy can be summed up in one sentence: Those who should get in, get in; those who should be kept out, are kept out; and those who should not be here will be required to leave. The top priorities for detention and removal, of course, are criminal aliens. But for the system to be credible, people actually have to be deported at the end of the process.
The commission finds no national interest in continuing to import lesser-skilled and unskilled workers to compete in the most vulnerable parts of our labor force. Many American workers do not have adequate job prospects. We should make their task easier to find employment, not harder."
Ms. Jordan wrote this in 1994. If it was made by Jeff Sessions today, he would be called racist. No one called Ms. Jordan racist....and rightly so. Barbara Jordan was both brilliant and black. She was aware of the negative impact of legal and illegal immigration on poor black and white Americans.
I don't expect this to be printed.....
The evidence you present for Trump's racism is quite compelling. Nonetheless, whether Trump is a genuine racist or merely plays one on reality TV is immaterial: He continues to give aid and comfort to the genuine racists in our society, leaving them more emboldened than they have been since the 1960s.
12
Sad to say, but we won't witness a turning in the tide of Trump followers until they soon witness the handful of peanuts in their paychecks resulting from the largest tax cut in the history of this or any other universe. Racism is one thing but money in the pocket is an entirely different matter. Many have heard him state that the average cut will be $4000, without understanding anything about income distributions. Who knows, he might actually be telling the truth in this one instance, but almost all of it is going to the top .1%. You people out in the boonies got played.
7
Excellent article. In listening to the debate over what a 'desirable' immigrant is (answer from Trump: White, already educated and ready to go to work on Wall Street...) I was reminded of one of my favorite soliloquies from Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol.' Though not religious, and subject to the human frailty of not always checking my own pre-conceived assumptions and prejudices- I am moved by this every Christmas. (My favorite version features George C. Scott as Scrooge!) Spoken by the Spirit of Christmas present, after confronting Scrooge regarding his comments about the worth of the poor.
"Man, if man you be in heart, forbear that wicked can't. Will you decide what men shall live and die? It may be that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child." Trump- take note!
9
Please, one mess at a time. No sooner than I had read this op-ed piece, I hear that Trump's lawyer paid off a porn star to keep quiet just before the election.
Normally, I would take such a story with a grain of salt, but it was reported first by the Wall Street Journal -- hardly the Huffington Post when it comes to coverage of Mr. Trump and his "business deals."
One refreshing note: My friends and I have spent the day discussing our family origins, where our ancestors lived before coming to America, and what drove them to leave their native soil.
It's been a marvelous mix of opportunity and oppression that caused them to collect only the belongings they could carry and get on a boat. It reinforces the idea that we are a nation of immigrants and native peoples, and however flawed or messy our own history might be, our home is still a destination for those who face oppression, or see opportunity, or both.
3
I´m moved. Emmanuel is a true hero.
Great reporting.
10
Thank you much, Mr. Kristof, for a superlative column that reached into many pertinent and moving places. Particularly, thank you for the deeply tragic but heroic story of Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah. It reminded me of Captain Khan's similar selfless act in the Middle East for which he, too, made the ultimate sacrifice. Of course, we remember how this Fake President of ours callously mocked his Gold Star parents.
I'm anxiously awaiting, like millions of Americans I suspect, for the responses by "Trump's Generals", Kelly, Mattis, and McMaster, to his racist, xenophobic remarks this week, considering the wide racial and national composition of the troops that were under their commands. Do they have the "right stuff" to speak truth forcefully to such a revolting abuse of power, or will they maintain the silence of cowardly enablers? My hopes are not great for the former.
11
My heartfelt prayers for the family of Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah for the grief and sorrow they are feeling at the loss of the loved one because he truly was a great hero, but more importantly a selfless beautiful person who would not allow anyone to perish in that fire. That type of bravery is rarely seen. If I had money, I would absolutely give it to his family to help them through this very difficult and stressful time and find them a new place to live. But since I can't do that without money, I will pray for their pain to begin to lessen and they will get through life despite their terrible loss. God bless you all.
Trump could never know Emmanuel Mensah because Trump has no heart and could never see his bravery and hero no ympathy. He is mean, cruel and evil so he could never know the traits of Emmanuel. Trump is the 'loser'.
11
This most recent episode is only the "tip of the iceberg" of the evil of this man and his remaining following. His continued support by Republican members of Congress is beyond despicable. I hope that if he goes to the Super Bowl he is taunted with his own words, the fans do not respond to officials' demand to be quiet, and they stick with it until he is forced to leave. That should be his treatment wherever he goes.
6
Mr. Kristof badly misinterprets Donald Trump’s immigration policies. They are neither xenophobic nor racist. They are entirely pragmatic. By blocking competition at the border, Trump’s approach preserves the worst jobs for our acutely under-qualified workforce. Doing anything less would require us to educate our people to a 21st century Western standard like our competitors do. That would only feed elitist tendencies like self-improvement, competitiveness, and understanding things. Training our own people to do today’s jobs is expensive and breaks with our rugged individualist traditions. Other countries can do that spending, and then send us their best-educated to do “immigrant jobs” like medicine, education, engineering and technology, thus freeing Americans to empty trash, make beds, pick vegetables, and dig coal, just like their grandfathers and grandmothers did when they were immigrants.
5
Nice satire.
Thank you for this article. I do not understand why so many people who I love and admire don't see and understand the seriousness of Mr. Trump's behaviors.
31
I am deeply moved and grateful not only for what you write here but also for your careful review all of Trump's race-related history and the 1,021 pages of legal documents detailing racial discrimination suits. Unfortunately, the stain of madness and bigotry that characterizes this man will be writ large in his time in office but hopefully we can still clean and heal this country and he will only become a forgotten footnote.
24
Thank you, Mr. Kristof, for exemplifying true humanity.
47
We bear some responsibility for the hellhole that is today's El Salvador. Rather than just pushing refugees back or taking in an unlimited number of them (so that the current regime can unload its surplus population on us and continue its current ways), we should also look for ways to help them fix their country so they have the choice of building a decent life there instead of just here. The same is true of Syria, Iraq, or the Coptic Christians of Egypt.
22
Well said. We also bear a responsibility as nation that ships billions of dollars worth of weapons to other countries every year. The deal that gave Saudi Arabia its fighter jets and other expensive weapons turned them into instruments of terror and destruction for Yemen, when Saudi Arabia reigned bombs down on the country. So this too is America's legacy and one we must work hard and diligently to overturn.
19
While I personally agree with you, the US has no credibility with nation building anywhere in the world. Our help is not welcome (except when accompanied by planeloads of $100 bills). Yes, on a micro level, some programs (e.g. Peace Corps) add value in communities. Countries have come to learn that help from the US is only self-serving and designed to strip the subject country of something.
2
When we give endless money to some countries to 'help', those dollars more often than not end up in off-shore bank accounts of their leaders. Almost all aid to Africa does not go to the populations of the hungry or under served.
How do we make sure that our support doesn't end up in Switzerland, Bermuda or the Isle of Mann?
2
What a horrible loss of a brave, wonderful young man. My heart ached to read this yet again.
Thank you, Nicholas, for reminding everyone of the heart of this country. The people who live here and work and care for one another. The salt of the earth folks who make this country the great place that it still is. No one can tarnish that. We still stand proud.
The world is bigger than this vacuous presidency.
65
Mr. Kristof,
Let's get real. As you pointed out, there was plenty of evidence that Trump was racist before he even got elected. Didn't matter. Charlottesville didn't matter. Why should some offensive comments about Haiti and Africa change anything? Is this really the straw that we needed to break the camel's back?
Besides, Trump's voters liked him precisely because he didn't give them some high minded rhetoric about immigrants. He told them he was going to take care of them first. They LIKE the fact that he doesn't care what his critics think. He voices their frustrations and discontents and he knows that when you criticize him, they take it as criticism against them.
Melania didn't need Trump's compassion, she was a successful model moving in an elite crowd. Trump is a bully who likes attractive people and winners. He has embraced the Republican ethos that America needs to stop rewarding the "losers" in society. Instead of trying to appeal to the better angels of Trump's nature, which don't exist, you'd be better off trying to explain to his voters why THEY are going to lose out from Trump's and the Republicans efforts to shred the safety net here at home. Worrying about immigrants is a luxury many Americans don't feel they have.
34
Interesting points. But let's keep drilling down. Fearful or angry or suffering people still have morals, and still have brains. Even though our President is racist, people who voted for him may have just disliked Hillary more. Some people who voted for him may have come to regret their choice. Some may yet regret their choice. If I were an unrepentant Trump voter, your simplistic description of that group of people comes off as conceited and elitist, and would offend me.
4
Jake, the point is that there were ample manifestations of Trump's racism and ignorance prior to this, so why should one more example change anything?
Personally, I think it is somewhat elitist and patronizing to suggest to Trump voters that they just didn't understand Trump, and voted for him in the mistaken belief that he didn't mean what he said about immigration.
I don't think it's elitist to suggest that people voted for him because they thought he was going to address their concerns and needs. Charity begins at home, and I think until Kristof is willing to express outrage at the many ways Republicans are planning to shred the safety net here at home, and call out people on that, he has no grounds for asking people to feel charitable towards strangers.
I don't suppose it's occurred to Trump that there are people who think America is not a great country to live in either.
What I find disturbing about Trump's comments is how thoughtless they are. People with TPS in America are not here because they overstayed a visa. They are here because their home country became a dangerous place to live whether that was due to an earthquake, a civil war, a combination of natural and manmade disasters, or worse. The people here are paying taxes and contributing to our country with their labor. Ending this and sending them back home to countries that cannot support them is wrong and inhumane. The only reason I can see for Trump doing this is so he can set them up as undocumented immigrants and beat that horse some more.
In case Trump has forgotten, we were once a backwater country. We were not a world power until the 20th century. And if we keep on electing fools like Trump into important governmental positions we'll stop being a world power before this century is out. Trump gives a face and a name to the pejorative that Europeans used to attach to American tourists, "Ugly American". His crass disregard for the feelings Haitians or Salvadorans, or any other citizens of countries that are part of the developing world is a horrible reflection on us as a country.
We are rich because we're lucky. America was not destroyed in 2 world wars. We were not subject to genocide from outside forces. We have not had to rebuild ourselves.
148
It's depressing to have to react repeatedly to our racist-in-chief. It's even more depressing that so many of his party make excuses or remain silent. Let's be clear: propping up a racist makes you a racist, however much you may deny it.
Talk about about selling your soul for thirty pieces of silver.
157
Yes, McConnell and Ryan are despicable in their absence of outrage. Maybe Mitch is trying to protect his wife's job but there is no excuse for these low-lifers to be in Congress.
2
This is explosive. Trump is an octaroon! Hilarious, and not surprising in an opportunist racist like Trump.
24
Nicholas, thank you for your eloquence on this whole miserable story. I follow your columns regularly and know of your intense commitment to the cause of immigration and its many benefits to this country.
I was also sad, yet still heartened to read of the bravery of that fine young man from Ghana who selflessly gave his life to save others—may the memory of his generosity stand in direct contrast to the callousness of our selfish and racist president.
I also thank you for the names of organizations where we can donate to assist people who Donald Trump so disparages.
It’s a small but hopefully useful way to take a personal stand against this national nightmare we’re living every day.
146
Thank you, Mr. Kristof. What a beautifully composed and much-needed piece.
103
A hotelier notorious for running a house of prostitution and two generations later a president notorious for pimping the White House. Making money off the backs of others may be in Trump's genes. Thanks Mr. Kristoff.
We come to the tragedy of Emmanuel Mensah, a true African American hero, and we don't want those awful hustlers named on the same page.
The GOP will excuse Trump, aiding and abetting in the race to the bottom while they fleece America. Tom Cotton. McConnell. Ryan. et al. They cannot hide behind their fake piety and fake patriotism. Not after Trump.
168
"Who better embodies our nation’s values? A politician with a history of racist comments who took five deferments to escape military duty in the Vietnam War, including one for heel spurs? Or a heroic Ghanaian immigrant and soldier who dies in a fire while rescuing others?"
Put his question to most Trump supporters and they'll come back with a diatribe about the Clintons. That's all they've got.
I just heard a professor at Morgan State describe Trump support as akin to religion. No matter the outrage, they believe. What does that say about them?
124
It says that they are americans. That should explain all.
I've been living and working in Ghana for the past 2 1/2 years now, and private Mensah's actions are hardly surprising to me. Ghanaians are above all welcoming, caring, respectful and eager to help. Yes, this is a third world country and I am often impatient with the traffic, the poverty, things not working, and the enormous differences between this culture and my own.
But the differences are best summed up by a friend of mine - he is a black man who was born and raised in England and came to Ghana several years ago to live. He recently returned from a visit to London and when I asked how it went he replied, "You know, at first it was such a relief to get back to where the streetlights work perfectly, the houses are nice and neat and all in a row, everything works as it should - but then I stepped onto the tube and here were dozens of people jammed into the car and no one was talking or even looking at one another. When I got back here to my home, people were high-fiving me everywhere, smiling, happy to see me. What a difference!"
Nick, thanks for the reminder of what a blessing it is to be living here among my Ghanaian friends and colleagues, and learning that there is so much more to life than a new house in a gated community, or a Starbucks on every street corner.
555
I lived and traveled in Ghana more than forty years ago and my memories are of kind, generous people.
78
I lived in Kumasi for a year and a half after completing two years of Peace Corps work in nearby Mali, and have travelled extensively in West Africa during 4 years in the region. The way you have described Ghanaians is not only true of them but of just about every person I met throughout West Africa-- the most kind, generous people I have ever known.
Mr. Trump, and many of his supporters, would be wise to open their hearts and minds to the idea that the world is full of beautiful, kind souls-- even in countries stricken with poverty and lacking in infrastructure and development..... and to travel to some of these places to see for themselves.
I hope you continue to enjoy your time in Ghana. It's a country and people that I miss a lot-- my memories of Ghana and the region will always be close to my heart.
76
Thank you for sharing your experiences in Ghana. From visiting Ghana and knowing Ghanaians, I would say Ghana is an economically developing country. Many experts find the term "third world" to be outdated and inaccurate.
14
Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah is the definition of a true HERO. Thank you Mr. Kristof for bringing his heroic action to the attention of people who otherwise would have not know about him.
441
In a similar circumstance there is only one person Trump would save.
And we all know it would be Himself.
And more likely he would expect someone to do it for him out of loyalty.
175
"Then Mensah dashed toward the flames again and reached the fourth floor in a desperate effort to save a fifth person."
Had Trump been down on the street, he undoubtedly would have raced up the floors with Mensah, side by side. But then again, those nasty bone spurs can really set back a hero-to-be.
As Bill Parcells always said, "you are what your record says you are". Given that, Mr. Kristof's piece is completely accurate and logical on the record of the President, while at the same time sadly heartbreaking, given the description of Emmanuel Mensah's selfless heroism. I had made a New Year's resolution to not get into politics on line as I felt it always ended up becoming a a firestorm of nasty words. That said, this is not about politics at all. It's about human decency, and the common belief that we are a nation of immigrants. To attack one or more of those groups in my mind is to attack us all. To see this done by the President of the United States shakes me to my core. Without being too maudlin, today while I remember my late father barely out of high school in Brooklyn carrying and shooting a gun across Europe in 1944-45, and contrast that with the image of an 18 year old from Queens named Donald Trump lamely avoiding the same fate because of pain in his heels, I am no longer shaken. I am angry.
361
Heel spurs are a radiological finding and don' t necessarily confirm pain. This is a spurious diagnosis with the intended effect of excusing Mr. Trump from service. A probable " white " lie on the part of his physician.
2
I wonder how did the other people in he room when President Trump made his statement? Did they shout NO NO? Did they look away? Did they nod in agreement? or did they say nothing until it came to light and then they said something when a microphone was near?
Who were the other people in the room? multicultural? different races? all genders? Or were they the fairly common mix surrounding the President?
130
All white men. Lindsay Graham said he made his views clear to Trump at the time but we don't know what those views were. He did confirm, however, that what Dick Durban related of the conversation was accurate. Two other GOP Senators said they "couldn't remember" what had been said just a few hours before (yeah, right) and the other two GOP attendees have been silent.
Gentlemen, silence is complicity. It is not protection or defense, as the Nuremberg trials established.
2
Agree. Would love to know these details.
They were and are soft-bellied sycophants, who are self serving, and would not ruffle the feathers which they need to nest their personal interests, and power,
such is the state of this country.
Nicholas Kristof is a man of high moral fibre, it is people like him and we know that there are numerous people that ilk is the US, who can save the country.
We have to believe that this will come to an end .
2
Thank you. I've been waiting for someone in the national press to hold Emmanuel Mensah up as the example that disproves everything Trump says about immigration. Not just an immigrant from Ghana, but one who got here thanks to chain migration, no doubt. Mr Mensah was as brave and loyal as any American who has ever lived. As a New Yorker I meet everyday hard working immigrants (documented and not) who make our city livable. Everyone of the a better human than Donald Trump could ever hope to be.
285
Thank you for sharing your experiences. One caution on the use of terms. Please don't adopt Republican, fictional terms like "chain migration." Republicans want the public to replace the legally correct term, "family reunification," with a negative-sounding term that does not appear in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
9
Thank you, Mr. Kristof, for telling the story of Pfc. Mensah's selfless heroism. I immediately recalled a contrasting story about Trump's own voluntary inaction when presented with the opportunity to assist a fellow human being. Some leader.
https://www.gq.com/story/donald-trump-howard-stern-story
Thank you also for identifying organizations that can help convert our outrage into constructive action. If we all had to witness Trump's incessant inhumanity absent our own counter-measures, living through his (it can't be short-lived enough) tenure would be even more insufferable.
76
Thank you for regularly offering organizations to support, that are helping people suffering with the cruel policies, conditions & beliefs you describe. It’s part of the wisdom you offer us....when we can, take action against suffering & injustice.
59
Thank you, Nick, for all the good you accomplish with your words and your selflessness. And thanks to the Times for spreading your words worldwide.
76
We need to remember that GOP policy is shaped by a very small group of billionaires and millionaires. Murdoch, the Kochs, the Mercers, Adelson, etc. These people fly from place to place in private jets and helicoptors, surrounded by small armies of armed security. They can go wherever they want, whenever they want, and pretty much do whatever they want. There are no challenges left for them in life, but to gather more riches and power. They are not trying to make the world a better place for Americans. They are trying to make the world a better place for THEM.
264
It may be that GOP policy is made by billionaires, but it is strongly supported by a very large number of Americans. It is easy to blame Murdoch, Adelson, and the Koch brothers but no one gets elected with a handful of votes; 62, 979, 636 Americans voted for Trump.
1
Could not have been stated better. People should copy and paste and send to their republican "representative". Let them know we are not stupid.
Emmanuel Mensah demonstrated the selfless courage and sacrifice that typifies the American spirit, something indeed foreign to this president. An immigrant from Ghana, Emmanuel saved many lives that would have been lost if he had been barred from US shores. How many lives have you ever saved, Mr. President?
166
Good comparison, silver. Trump has such an absurdly inflated sense of self that he compared his supposedly tremendous "sacrifices" (namely, operating his enterprise) to that of the Khan family, who lost their son in service to this nation.
Such immigrants do much more for the US than Trump ever could.
Thanks, as always, for writing.
9
The better question might be: how many lives has he, and continues to, diminish, demean and endanger in his time on Earth? Of course, neither question, yours not mine, would ever cross this nasty and cruel person's mind.
3
This is spot-on. While his language is vile and is clear evidence of racism, Trump’s attitudes are, alas, all too typical. Embedded in the American psyche is fear of the “other,” of anyone we perceive as different. Just look at our history: taking away the land of the Indians, the only truly American people; slavery; the conquest of the Philippines, where we first used water boarding; Japanese internment camps during WWII; systematic prejudice against LGBTQ people; anti-Semitism; Jim Crow laws; anti-Muslim bigotry, among other examples. Yes, we are a wonderful country with good, generous, welcoming people. But we have a dark side, of which Trump is just the latest, awful instance. Until we truly confront this darkness, there is no way we can hope to get beyond it. The best way out, as Robert Frost once said, is through.
88
I suppose what's shocking for many is that our faces are tuned into this dark side of the American psyche on an almost daily basis.
1
Thank you for a thoughtful article. Like many others, I have no idea how we can get rid of Trump now, excepting very frequent non violent civil disobedience.
I can't imagine that it feels like to have Trump's wrath bear down on me, e.g., if I were a DACA child or someone more elderly and sickly and poor. I am so tired of day after day hearing about something Trumps has done-one's spirit becomes eroded.
Again, thanks for the article.
56
Thank you Nicholas Kristof, for another powerful column. It's unfortunate that you had to write the words "So I apologize to the people of Haiti and Africa for our president's comments."
An apology should come directly from Trump, but that will never happen.
67
Stunning piece, Mr. Kristof. The family of Emmanuel Mensah must be both heartbroken and proud of a son who is everything Trump isn't.
And thank you for reminding us of the president's personal connection to immigrants. Of course they say that two out of his three wives were immigrants, because there are still some jobs American women won't do.
212
Yes, two out of three of Trump's wives were immigrants, and the current one, Melania, broke some laws and was never held to account, according to the AP. But I also wonder about Melania's family. Trump wants to get rid of chain migration, the policy of an immigrant being able to bring family to this country. To some, it's known as being able to keep a family together. But isn't chain migration how Melania was able to bring her parents, sister, etc. to this country? Very trumpian to benefit from something that you would not want anyone else to benefit from.
4
Your last sentence gave me a belly laugh--big time. Our president is so--well, you know: everything everyone keeps saying about him - no need to repeat. It is so nice to get a big laugh in the middle of my on-going "Trump-is-the-president" depression, that I felt a need to thank you.
2
A well written and well argued work, nice job,Nicholas.
30
Racism is not personal. If it were it would not be racism.
Racism makes blanket statements about groups of people then if you seem to belong to that group you become a target.
Mr. Kristof's inspiring story about a Ghanian hero makes clear that we should never generalize people, but see them as individuals worthy of respect. Even to lump Trump in with other racists is improper as our attention must not be drawn away from the despicable words and actions as an individual. Trump is a man without ethical compass or moral center. that we elected such a man tells us a lot about ourselves.
53
As a Son of the American Revolution, and well, just a human being, I have been in varying states of depression and disbelief about the state of America since November 2016.
Today has been a low point, until I read this piece about Pfc. Mensah.
He has honored the Army, our country, and ALL its citizens by coming to this country from Ghana, and is exactly the type of person who made this country great.
And sadly our President is not fit to lick the bottom of his boots.
245
Mr. Kristof, you needn’t apologize for the sins of another. As for the “president,” he hadn’t the decency to remember a soldier’s name who lost his life, serving America in one of those very African countries that he so gratuitously demeaned yesterday. Of all of his mis-steps, faults, flaws, etc., and they’re legion, perhaps his categorization of sub-Saharan countries was the lowest, certainly the foulest.
The soldier in the Bronx fire deserves special recognition because he died horribly, his life given over to saving others. The virtues of service far transcend its sometimes fearful costs, yet the soldier on leave never hesitated. It’s difficult for me to imagine a stranger braving an inferno to rescue others. That’s the highest form of sacrifice and service .
This over-used word hardly applies to the 45th president. He raced away from danger in the jungles of Southeast Asia when a young man, citing bad heels. Or maybe his application for five deferments read “heals,” but I digress. When he announced for the presidency, he never mentioned service. He emphasized separation and segregation and denial and expelling people and “making America great again.” He is as far removed from dignity and nobility and sacrifice and aid and comfort to the afflicted as it is possible to be. A young man is dead this day because he put the lives of others first.
I’ll wager my doughnut to your diamonds that our hero learned his virtues in Ghana, a nation unworthy of this president’s notice.
88
Mr. Kristof,
This is a beautiful article. I could not agree more about the incredible work of Partners In Health in Haiti. Another fantastic organization is GHESKIO - the Haitian Group for the Study of Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections. GHESKIO is a Haitian NGO - founded, led, and entirely staffed by Haitians. Our Haitian colleagues at PIH and GHESKIO are treating HIV with outcomes that rival those of the best treatment centers in the United States. And it is likely that Haiti will end HIV before the United States.
16
red sox: That was a wonderful post. I re-read it several times and each reading made me appreciate it even more. Thanx for it.
8
Thank you for this piece, Mr. Kristof! My family immigrated from Haiti after fleeing the repressive Duvalier regime. They came to this country for the opportunity to improve their lives and ensure their safety only to meet racial abuse in Brooklyn (it was the 80's and the CDC said we all had AIDS). And yet still, my grandmother, who never learned how to read or write in Haiti, ensured that all of her children received an education and made something of themselves in this country. I wish it were enough to say that we, as Haitian Americans, are all human and worthy of respect, but too often white Americans require people of color to qualify/justify their desire and right to the opportunity to live normal and healthy lives.
So for the record, my immigrant mother, aunts and uncles went on to become nurses, CNA's, respiratory therapists, and teachers. The second generation of these immigrants from a "s-thole" country went on to pursue careers in medicine, law, finance, and have even proudly served this country in the Armed Forces (2 in the Army, 1 in the Navy, and 1 in the Marine Corp. to be exact!).
The Republicans (including "Call Me Mia, not Ludmya because my name is too ethnic for Utah" Love) can save their fake outrage. The draft-dodging 45 has shown us his true colors over and over again. Sadly, his latest attempt to diminish and dismiss the contributions to this country from BLACK immigrants are the latest in a saga of embarrassments for our highest office.
197
Preach, fellow Haitian-American! You are so right that recent immigrants and people of African descent don't need, but are often asked, to justify their worth through providing proof of contributions to and sacrifices for the United States. I'm not accusing this column of this attitude, but it is an attitude that pervades US political debate. Of course Pfc. Mensah's loved ones probably appreciate the love being expressed for their deceased, but his worth is because he is a human being and it would have been a great shame if they had to cite his National Guard service and superhuman sacrifice in order to justify their family's migration to the US.
10
I am desensitized to sad stories, but I got teary-eyed a few weeks back when I read about what Emmanuel Mensah did in the recent Bronx fire. Thank you for tying Trump's vile words yesterday to courageous acts by immigrants like Mr. Mensah.
I too don't think we can have open borders, and am not naïve to think that every immigrant who comes here will be the next Jan Koum (WhatsApp founder) or Elon Musk. However, the xenophobia and racism displayed by Trump and his supporters is far worse.
Another constructive way to respond is to register to vote so that in 2018 and 2020, America can learn its lesson: elections have consequences, and voting will help correct the mistake that is Donald Trump and the modern GOP.
66
We DO have open borders or what the HECK are 800,000 "Dreamers"? what are 200,000 TPS recipients from El Salvador -- who pumped our 197,000 anchor babies in only 17 years?
Do you realize how foreigners laugh us, how stupid we are -- to take in the worst, lowest skilled, uneducated illiterates in the world? while Canada and Australia demand the strictest "points" systems? a system most AMERICANS could never qualify for?
In a recent fawning article on TPS recipients, the NYT could not find THREE OF THEM who all spoke ENGLISH -- after 17 years!
1
A beautiful, factual, and absolutely "on target' column. Thank you Mr. Kristof.
And to the rest of the world: I and millions of United States citizens, apologize from the bottom of our hearts for our disgraceful president. We disavow what he says and hope the world will forgive us for our gross error in electing him.
59
Trump speaks for millions who voted for his election. He speaks for millions more who are racist in beliefs if not actions. The civil rights laws, along with environmental and regulatory laws, are under attack. Trump lauds those attacks as consistent with our capitalistic system. All the legal protections that generations of American political leadership have built are being undermined on a daily basis by a coterie of Trump appointees who view government as a meddlesome interference with their right to do as they wish. They work in government office to destroy government. And we will all pay the price in liberty and equality of opportunity.
38
The President's words were disgraceful, but I don't see why we should give preferential immigration treatment to any country, whether it be Haiti or Norway.
7
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
35
Have we? Where's your proof? How many Norwegians were turned away?
1
But if Emmanuel Mensah had not come to the U.S., 4 people would be dead.
1
I applaud you Mr Kristof. I have worked in a clinic in Cite Soleil for over ten years. We employ Haitian dentists and physicians in two walk in clinics with special emphasis on prenatal care, women's problems, hypertension and community health care. We welcome support from you and your readers.
Find us at Haiticlinic.org.
Neil Heskel, MD
50
Thank you for sharing - it looks like a great organization, doing a lot of good in Haiti.
3
Thank you Mr. Kristof for your positive and practical suggestions on how ordinary people can contribute to the difficult challenges immigrants to this country often face.
But mostly, thanks for doing what journalists, and all Americans who care about our national values and the place our nation holds in the world, must do: admit and say publicly that the President of the United States is a racist.
We must all tag him with that tarnish. At every instance possible. And we must make sure it never rubs off. Then in the next two upcoming elections, we can decide who we are, and what we want.
Specifically, do we want a racist as president?
We need to make this part of the math when the other math, the math of the economy, is considered. Thanks to President Obama, and the courageous decisions he and his team made, Donald Trump inherited an economy with momentum. The anticipation of some good old GOP tax cuts added fuel to the energy that was already there. So it's quiet likely the GOP will have some good numbers to claim as their own come this November and in 2020. That's fine. They can do that.
But if we all do our best to keep that truth top of mind, that our president, the leader of the world's most consequential nation, the once indispensable nation, is a racist, then maybe the traditional notion that people always vote their wallets will be yet another norm we can say Donald Trump upended.
345
Many thanks to Mr. Kristof for this story. We all know what Donald Trump is (even if some of us still refuse to admit it) but I, like many others, had no previous knowledge of Pfc. Mensah. One of these men was an American of courage, integrity and compassion for his fellow man. The other is our president. Mr. Mensah now resides with the angels and will spend eternity never having to see The Donald's face again.
214
Emmanuel Mensah was a wonderful human being. But he has nothing whatsoever to do with Trump. On top of that, he was a LEGAL immigrant.
Surely you know the difference between LEGAL and ILLEGAL?
1
Mr. Kristof left out an interesting part of the story.
Trump's grandfather at one point became disenchanted with the United States and decided to return to Germany. When he arrived, however, he was told he was considered persona non grata. Why? Because he had failed to notify the authorities when he left Germany in 1885; further, he had failed to do his mandatory military service. His attempt at repatriation was rejected by the German government and he was told to get out of Germany and stay out.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Trump got five deferments to avoid service in Vietnam.
713
No Trump has ever served in the military. Grandfather,father stayed home in WW2 and made millions building gov't housing and even was under investigation by congress for inflating the costs and profiteering. Trump himself got five deferments. None of his brothers or his two grown sons have ever served their country. Maybe if he did serve he might have learned that people that are different can be great friends. I was stationed in Puerto Rico for two years and never spent a Christmas alone.Always invited into a Puerto Rican's home. Me,my father,brother and all five of my uncles served and my son will be leaving in a few weeks for his second trip to Haiti in six months to help the people there. Eric and Junior like Africa though, they go there to kill elephants and other animals at a cost of 50G's a trip.
2
Vesuviano: Great point! And the U.S. needs to tell Trump to get out of the White House and stay out.
1
Interesting story and it appears to be time to tell grandson to get out and stay out.
There is a bit of a movement afoot to find "common ground" with those of different "views" on what is going on. What is the point in doing that when the most egregious of statements from Trump go largely unchallenged, and often times lauded or defended, by his supporters? There is no common ground and, in my view, there is no hope of finding common ground on any issue of real import or substance. We are fractured - and any healing that is to happen I fear will be painful and not quick in coming.
96
I don't think Trump's overt racism represents the views of the majority of Americans. Maybe for Trump's steadfast base, perhaps 35% of us. It is difficult to come to terms with that. But we can begin to set things right in November, and I think we will do that.
19
To Blue Moon: I hope you are right. What haunts me, though, is that trump's steadfast base is, give or take a couple of percent, about the same as the Nazi vote in the last free German election before Hitler consolidated his power. I'm not predicting a parallel outcome, but I do fear that whatever the outcome of future elections, the steadfast base will remain a potent force and do its damnedest to make our country ungovernable for years to come. The trumpistas own the GOP now, and only a massive rout of the party in 2018 and 2020 will avert the worst.
15
Pfc. Emmanuel Mensah - forever an American hero who saved lives.
Our Toilet-In-Chief, Donald Trump - forever an American disgrace story who destroys lives and his nation's reputation.
Once again, a giant of an African-American man and patriot outshines one of the phoniest, lowest, racist white men this nation has ever produced.
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” - MLK
807
If America survives to the year 2100, it may very well be because Donald Trump made sure we had enough soldiers - like this one Nicholas Kristof had never heard of before - defending our country.
But we WON'T say we survived until 2100 because of Barack Obama, who put America in more danger from the power-hungry tyrants than we have been in since WWII. Airmen and soldiers died needlessly because Obama neglected his role of making sure we gave our military people had the best guidance and equipment.
As fiercely as the had left misses Mr. Obama, America is much better off and safer because of Donald Trump, your President.
4
L'ossobucco: So how many American airmen and soldiers died on Barack Obama's watch? Any guesses? And have they stopped dying during these past 12 months? Anyway, it's not just the had (sic) left that misses Mr. Obama; anyone who recalls a time when this nation's elected leader had both a heart and a brain can easily spot the difference. Not that you would know from your perch in fair Veona (sic). Come visit us on Earth at some point; our President will be happy to let you in provided that you're the right color.
64
The commenter laying his fair scene - whatever - provides no evidence for his jabs at Obama, and, worse, neglects to mention the thousands of US soldiers who died needlessly at the hands of Republicans, who lied us into Iraq, and who balked at providing the soldiers proper body armor. Rumsfeld resigned in disgrace. Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians were killed, as well.
Trump is not my president, and he never will be. Get over it. Meanwhile, I’ll take immigrants far and wide from everywhere over some Americans any day.
8
As citizens we are being called to make clear to the world that we are working to save our democracy. I agree with Sen Sanders description of the "moral inadequacy" in the administration.
The Women's March 2018 is Saturday, January 20. Check online for your local events.
The world needs to see us, our bodies and our signs, that We The People stand for Human Dignity.
215
Wow.
This brought tears to my eyes and I write this as a member of an American Indian Tribe who has ambiguous feelings about the arrival of the first "boat people", the Pilgrims of the Mayflower.
368
Helena, I felt the same way.
19
I find a common thread that runs through most people like Trump, whether they be privileged, or just think they are. And that is, what is good for me is not good for you. In other words, there are rules, laws, and norms but you must follow them - but not me. Or, as I am well accustomed to seeing in my neck of the woods, I'll follow the rules/laws/norms until I don't want to - but you better not! I will go even further and state that I see this most common with conservatives and those who proclaim to be christians. It is very frustrating trying to get them to see someone else's lot in life and have some empathy, but when it doesn't affect them directly or their family members, then it doesn't exist. Has there ever been a study done on the personality traits between those who are like Trump and the rest of us?
169
I call it willful dissociation. The people you describe have taken it further than the common liar/con man and are hiding things from themselves on a level that is not quite conscious. Religion helps in this as it teaches them how to not let themselves follow thoughts that might lead to confusing things or information that might contradict the comfortable assumptions that they base what they say and do on.
I think there must be some kind of psychology paper on this.
20
Good point Diana. Some people, notably those that lobbied for the recent changes in the U.S. tax system, see life as a zero sum game: what's yours isn't mine, and what's mine isn't yours, and if I want more I have to take it from you.
Others recognize what economists teach, that a growing economy is good for everyone, rich and poor; and that the law needs to apply to everyone to be effective.
23
Tears of sadness for this brave hero an our nation - we are poorer for this dishonorable president
1
Powerful story, Nicholas, thanks. I don't think you meant it as an appeal to the President's better nature, since we know by now that he has none.
He is not going to change, but more worrisome is the fact that apparently his followers won't either. A recent poll showed a high point in Trump's support among Republicans at 87%. They believe that Russian collusion and a career of gangster-like behavior are fake news. When AOL features him on their homepage every day, and Fox News says that Hillary is actually the culprit, they believe it. Racist remarks against countries that send immigrants are neither questioned nor greeted with abhorrence by his supporters, and even now Trump denies that he used those words.
Sure we can giggle at the uninformed, but let's attack the creators of this ignorance instead. A few generations ago, voters in states like Oklahoma and Tennessee supported President Roosevelt, especially when he railed against the banks who had seized their farms. Now, the Bible Belt has drifted into fascism, complete with obedience to the fuhrer and his media accomplices. And 40% support = power, as in 1933 Germany.
Respectable media outlets rarely get to the root of our problem: fear of corporate advertisers, which lean toward products like Koch produced toilet paper, big trucks, predatory banks, and the rest of it.
We need a fearless and well funded media company that says the things we only find here in The Guardian and LeMonde. Then things might change.
454
We already have some fearless media companies that do their best to report as professional journalists should, at least a handful and they're not small or just local. The problem seems to be that the Trump voters/supporters will never listen or read any of it, and if they do, they only do so to scream "fake" or call the other side names. How will we ever learn to talk to each other again? I don't know.
6
The next round of polls will tell us a bit more about trump but an awful lot more about the American people.
1
A nearly 4 BILLION dollar proposed deal by SINCLAIR BROADCASTING, the conservative giant, to create a nationwide TV powerhouse by acquiring 42 station TRIBUNE Broadcasting Co. seems to be favored by the FCC chairman. Sinclair broadcasts conservative tabloid stuff, real propaganda, rivaling FOX.
So much for the "fearless and well funded media company" we really need. If FOX and SINCLAIR own the majority of the airwaves, what's next?
If you have a chance to protest this acquisition by SINCLAIR, please do!
5