There has been a lot to write about this election, and while I would love to delve into every single one of the issues being discussed currently in the race, such as those presented at the last presidential debate, I’m going to focus on a specific one. As I’ve been browsing comment sections of Facebook (1.5/10, would not recommend), one thing that’s said by a lot of Donald Trump supporters is the idea that Trump is “telling it like it is” and isn’t pulling punches, which is somehow a good thing.

Playing the devil’s advocate, it is easy to see why Trump supporters would feel like Trump’s lack of a filter and in some cases blatantly offensive language is a good thing. This language makes Trump appear to be a strong and powerful leader, who isn’t afraid of anything or anyone. “Politically correct” language just doesn’t have the same ear turning catchiness as Trump’s. But here is what some of these supporters misunderstand: this way of communicating isn’t a sign of strength at all. After 8 years leading this nation, I consider Barack Obama to be a leader worth looking up to. While there are many reasons why Obama is a great leader, one is the fact that he is able to speak in a way that is inclusive to all of the people in this nation. He is able to articulate his plans, feelings, and ideas for this country in a reasonable manner that doesn’t demean anyone. He doesn’t become clearly angry when he is challenged or insulted, and instead offers solid reasoning as to why he does what he does. This is the behavior and language of a strong leader. For example, when challenged during a presidential town hall on his refusal to say “radical Islamic terrorism”, Obama explained very clearly how using that wording both validates terrorists in their purpose and encourages the misleading notion that Islam is a terroristic religion. Trump calls this “weakness”, but can you imagine him handling a question like that by “telling it like it is” and offending the Muslim community, whose cooperation we rely on for help in fighting terrorism?

Generally speaking, “telling it like it is” is just plain unproductive and lazy. I can somewhat understand the mindset behind it. When people are told something jolting and potentially insulting, they are supposed to be pushed to improve or fix whatever is being critiqued. I find that logic to be ignorant and just untrue. The example I will use here is Trump’s comments on Miss Universe winner Alicia Machado. Trump has straight up said that that Machado used to “eat like a pig” and he has publicly done even more to shame her for her body after she won the contest. It’s true, Machado put on a lot of weight, but it has since been learned that Machado had bulimia, and that aside anyone with half a brain can understand that telling someone that they are fat and a pig might not be very productive. Most people, such as Donald Trump himself, don’t take criticism well, especially when it comes to their bodies. Now, Machado has said she is starting to relapse back into Bulimia with the increased media coverage and glorification of the man who caused her so much torment. If Trump really wanted to help Machado, he could have supported her and urged her in the right direction, while keeping her confidence intact, instead of brutally attacking her in public. As decent human beings, we have to remember that the presentation of facts is everything, and the same information can be presented to someone, or better yet a whole country, in a respectful and productive way without blurting out “But those are just the facts!”