Remember the old cliche’ used by parents and teachers to “train” a child to control his anger? “Sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me.”
Well, the theory goes that name calling can’t physically hurt you. But is that really true? Ask Jeb Bush if being called “low energy” by Trump doesn’t make him feel physically ill. I heard Jeb speak a year before the Republican primary, and thought he’d make a great president. I wish he’d appropriately retaliated to Trump’s obnoxious words and didn’t let him get away with it. I assume that the entire Bush family will never forgive Trump. I wouldn’t.
How about John McCain? Trump, who never served in the military, likes people who weren’t captured, negating all that McCain suffered and gave to our country. Do you think that the anger inside McCain doesn’t still hurt? Here’s another family who will probably never forgive Trump.
Name calling and devaluing trigger our autonomic nervous system, the place in the brain where Fight or Flight is regulated. Think of the times you were enraged — the burning in your stomach, jaw clenching, sweating, trouble catching your breath… All physical symptoms.
I could go on and on, but let’s consider what this man is now doing to ALL OF US! He names the Russia investigation, Spygate and a Witch Hunt. He’s a genius at name-calling.
What he is not a genius at is being a good human being. If someone disagrees with him, he attacks. He calls himself a counter puncher. I call him a brilliant name caller who hurts a lot of people and is hurting our country.
What is also OBNOXIOUS is that Republicans are afraid. Some heroes scale walls, like in France, to save a child, others can stand up and call Trump out. That hero can save our country.
If you enjoyed reading, Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist, you might also enjoy Dr. Smukler’s novels, Chasing Backwards, a psychological murder mystery, Skin Dance, a mystery, and The Man with a Microphone in his Ear. All are available as paperbacks and eBooks.
Art Smukler, MD - Books & Thoughts 
We all have our weaknesses. I’m far from a Trump supporter, but he reads people well. When he identifies those weaknesses, he uses them to gain the upper hand. Typical of any bully… But given today’s society, “fighting back” is wrong. “Talking” is better. Not to come of as a violent person, but at times talking doesn’t always help and you have to make someone respect you…
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Thank you. Sadly, with people who are very set in their opinions, talking doesn’t do much to get them to accept and respect other points of view.
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How right you are, Art! I’ll never forget my own experience with name calling – the blood draining from my face, the bile that rose in the back of my mouth and my hands balled into fists – when a good friend mocked my athletic ability. “Low energy” pales by comparison. I wish I had had the courage to stand up to him, but like Jeb I was caught flat footed and speechless.
Best wishes
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Thanks Joe! Tennis or Ping Pong?
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Art,
I’m reminded of the old Fleetwood Mac album “Heroes Are Hard To Find”. Other than John McCain, I believe it would be difficult to find few, if any heroes in the GOP in Congress.
My best,
Mike
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True. Thank you!
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