Did Pope Francis Talk Some Sense Into Donald Trump's Head?
When Donald Trump met Pope Francis at the Vatican on his first trip abroad, we were hopeful the Pontiff might be able to get into Trump's head. Perhaps he could find a way to open Trump's mind. Perhaps he could entice Trump to broaden his world view. Or better yet, give Donald Trump something else to think about other than Donald Trump. Reportedly, the two very different men spent 30 minutes in a private meeting chatting about the most troubling issues facing the world. So naturally, we were wondering how a conversation between the face of humanity and the face of the inhumane went. If you're wondering too, why don't we wonder together?
Knowing how Pope Francis feels about the dangers of climate change and knowing Donald Trump feels climate change is a hoax, begs us to wonder if the Pope could make "The Donald" see "The Light." Could he get Trump to understand the importance of the Paris Agreement? We wondered if the Pope tried to explain to Trump, defunding the EPA, opening up protected public land to private development and reenergizing the coal industry was unhealthy for the planet. Was an effort made to help Trump see his actions would only embolden other climate change deniers and would be at odds with international efforts to embrace the idea of cooperating with the environment, as opposed to exploiting it. We wondered if the Pope was able to impress upon Donald Trump that the long term health of the planet was worth far more than short term profits for investors? Okay, that one would've taken a miracle.
Knowing how Pope Francis feels about building bridges to bring people closer together during troubling times and knowing how Donald Trump feels about building walls to keep people apart, one has to wonder if the Pope could enlighten Donald Trump to the value of reaching out. We wondered if the Pope used the opportunity to challenge Trump's views on banning Muslims, the inhumanity of mass deportations and denying the world's refugees a safe space in America. We wondered if Pope Francis tried to influence or alter Trump's thinking on sanctuary cities and other entities providing aid and comfort to undocumented children and families with no place to go or hide when ICE is hunting them down.
Knowing how the Pope feels about helping the sick and feeding the poor and knowing how Donald Trump's latest budget proposal will cut funding for Medicaid, job training, food stamps, public housing, medical research, children's health insurance and services to aid and protect seniors, we wanted to know if the Pope had any chance of talking Trump out of robbing the poor to enrich the already rich. We wondered if Trump could be made to understand what it means to be jobless, homeless and hungry. Okay, this too would take a miracle.
Knowing how the Pope feels about the world at war and knowing how Donald Trump is arming the world to fight itself endlessly, we wondered if the Pope tried to get Donald Trump to reconsider his ten year $350 billion weapons deal with Saudi Arabia. Did Pope Francis try to make clear the consequences of arming the most violent, vicious and volatile region on the planet? Could Donald Trump be persuaded to consider diplomacy, dialogue and human rights as more than just words on a TelePrompTer, to be pronounced properly when instructed to read them? Again, this would probably require another miracle.
Bottom line: Knowing how Pope Francis has traveled the world washing the feet of the poor and knowing how Donald Trump has traveled the world wiping his feet in the faces of the poor, we wondered if "The Donald" even gives a damn about Pope Francis' feelings concerning the most troubling issues facing the world. Podcast below.
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