Dear Mr. Trump,
Congratulations, you're famous again.
You've taken great pains to establish your infamy, and it's working. Since 2016 began, your tall-chinned smirk has begun to show up everywhere. It feels like every other day I hear someone spit out your name like a sour taste in their mouth.
You knew you'd incite outrage when you claimed you'd build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. You knew saying the US should ban Muslim immigration would set lots of hairs on end. You knew what you were doing when you advocated for total deportation of illegal immigrants. All this was no buffoonery on your part. I can see it in that fat-cat grin you pull when the cameras start flashing. You fed these absurd statements to the media like juicy morsels of chicken to hungry dogs.
No doubt you're a successful entrepreneur. Your accomplishments are numerous, enough to incite envy from anyone. It's no lie that you were born into a family with deeper pockets than 99 percent of the world. Because you have an extra-comfy seat at the table, you've had the opportunity to put yourself out there for decades. Playing the political game must feel like yet another promising business venture.
But, based on how you've chosen to spread your message, and based on the sort of fearful, uninformed people who see eye-to-eye with you on that message, if you were to win any position of power at all I firmly believe it would be a big step backwards for us all.
There's a little expression that goes around the internet- gr8 b8 m8. Translated from 'Net-speak, that's great bait, mate. This just means "Nice try, but I'm not falling for it." It's what you say to someone online when they're saying ridiculous, ignorant things only to start an argument- to bait you into reacting. (Sound familiar?)
It's like how children who don't get enough attention at home will compensate by acting up in the classroom. We've all known kids growing up who try and pull any kind of attention out of others, even (especially) if that attention is negative, because it's better than being ignored. The smart teachers recognize this behavior for what they are and deal with the troublemakers quietly and without causing a scene. In the same way, if you're smart online you'll recognize when someone is trying to bait you into a fight. Do not respond to those trolls or else you're letting them steal your time and energy.
But being the skilled businessman you are, you've pushed your way to the front of the race using the same attention-getting devices as children and internet trolls: say or do something outlandish and then watch the fireworks. And millions of Americans took the bait because so many articles, blog posts and funny memes intended to attack or degrade you only assisted in spreading your likeness even further.
Having said all that, it shouldn't be a surprise that as a Left-leaning Millennial who isn't fooled by fear-mongering propaganda, you do not have my support. I do not respond to your cheap attempts to rile me up. I take the crazy things you say with several grains of salt. And I will not waste my energy perpetuating your likeness because there are better things to think about.
I'll tell you what though. More than once when things got fiery during the Primaries, you said "I'm having a lot of fun up here," and I don't doubt that for a second.
Great bait, mate.
-Luke J. Cornwell
