Photo byHasan Almasi
I want you to think about Trump’s Mug Shot as a variation of a twist on a Rorschach Test. This is a psychological test in which the subjects’ perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning.
The person may look at the inkblots and see a flower which means that they are at peace or they may see a blood spill and conclude the patient is angry. The twist that I would suggest is find Trump’s Mug Shot online and what is your reaction to what you see. Choose the first thing that comes to your mind which will make this free association exercise more helpful to you.
I am sure that one of his followers would see a victim while others may see him as a courageous fighter for first amendment rights. I saw his attempt at an intimating look as a tough guy who isn’t really tough. He thrives on attention as a narcissist whether it is good or bad attention. I see him as someone who isn’t a tough guy, but someone who has been coddled all of his life, never did real work any day of his life, and someone who has never been held accountable for his actions. Spoiled brat comes quickly to mind as well as a bully. But what memory does this photo produce in you?
It took me immediately to my public high school days and an important moment that I didn’t see coming. It didn’t occur in the classroom or on the athletic field. It occurred in a gym class taught by Mr. Donofrio. He would die early of cancer and the town recreation center would be named after him. But on this fateful day he would do something different in our class. We didn’t have wrestling at my school, but there were mats placed in the middle of the gym when we arrived. He commented that we would be paired up and go after our opponent with everything we had but no punching. In those days and in my community, you could get away with this.
As the fate or Holy Spirit would have it, I was paired with the class bully. Another football teammate and I were the smallest people on the team. I knew that I couldn’t do anything about my height and weight which were five ten and one hundred twenty pounds. I figured out a way to get around those limitations by lifting weights on a regular basis. Later in life my father would lift those same weights recovering from a crippling stroke.
As my opponent stood across from me with a smirk on his face, classmates circled the mat including a few people who were part of his bullying operation. When Mr. Donofrio blew his whistle, I attacked him with a vengeance that surprised him and me. Punches were not allowed but I beat him handily throwing him down, letting him get up, and attacking him again until Mr. Donofrio blew that whistle again.
There was no shaking of hands but he did get in front of me and said that he would see me after school. That appointment never happened. But that victory on behalf of me and my friends was short lived for like Trump’s bullying, my opponent kept up his actions, however, reduced they were. Real tough guys don’t call people names or belittle others as predicted responses when they are confronted like Trump does. I must confess that there are times in idyll moments when I think of Trump growing up where I did. Suffice it to say, a smile comes across my face.
People think that boxer, Mike Tyson, was a bully. He was not! I have watched many videos of his knock out punches in the ring. Tyson was a boxer who knew what he was doing. I watched fights where he fought against heavier, taller, guys with more of reach than he had. He was successful with all comers.
I was struck that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were going to physically fight it out at event in Italy. All of a sudden Musk now has a back problem. That is almost as bad as Trump’s bone spurs.
I have an idea. Let’s have Trump and Biden have a go at it. Trump couldn’t use his golf cart to get around the ring. Biden is in shape. I would bet the ranch on Biden particularly if he had a few lessons!
Every time of think of that legendary tough bully media guy, Tucker Carlson, I picture the video that I have posted below. No surprise at his being giddy and fearful as his reaction when he is confronted outside of the safety of his studio. When he realizes that a video camera is on him, he tries to save any integrity he has as he moves away from the confrontation still giddy and harmless.
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