This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
July 19, 2019, marked a dark day in American history when the House of Representatives passed a resolution citing the nation's immigrant heritage, yet only four Republicans voted in favor.
President Trump's subsequent tweet, aimed at people of color, was a textbook definition of racism. The tweet was not directed at the writer, an Irish-American, nor at Vice President Mike Pence, who is also of Irish descent.
Trump's hate-filled message was a stark reminder of the country's shameful slide into racism. The writer recalls a conversation with an Irish friend, who wondered how any immigrant could vote for Trump. The writer also heard similar sentiments during a visit to Ireland, where people expressed dismay at the American president's divisive rhetoric.
As the writer notes, 'This is how low Trump has taken us. We are a debased nation fighting over the scraps of our former principles.' The writer concludes that America's descent into racism is a stark contrast to the values of the country's immigrant heritage.
