[December 18, 2017] In late 2010, I was out of the country so my wife sent me news that she thought would be interesting. We lived in Brooklyn, New York so I thought to myself; what the heck, I’ll read it. In August of 2010, NYC Muslims were embroiled in a controversy to build a mosque near Ground Zero.1 Some of my neighbors said it was a needless poke in the eye2 to the people of New York.
My wife was writing to say New Yorkers were insulted by such an affront and vowed to have the approval withdrawn. Now, I know what you’re thinking … New Yorkers deserve what they get because they elect some really bad politicians. On the other hand, Big Apple folks can be straightforward; prejudices and all.
A few years later, then-candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton entangled themselves in unnecessary controversy by poking people in the eye through insults. Trump called all his Republican running-mates simpleton names while Clinton referred to potential Trump voters as deplorables. Both were speaking truth to their thoughts and although Clinton walked-back her comments, Trump doubled down on his. Trump, as history records, was elected.
Regardless, in the long run it is not a good idea to needlessly poke folks in the eye; in other words, needlessly insult others. Trump is having some minor political difficulties with Senator Marco Rubio (he called him “Little Marco”) from his own party while trying to pass tax reform. However, his insults were truly aimed at his political opponents; Crazy Bernie, Goofy Elizabeth Warren, Crooked Hillary Clinton, etc.3 Some call it bullying but that would be an insulting the intelligence of those on the receiving end.
Although it worked for now-President Trump, most leaders had best take heed to avoid it. Those I knew in the military who were quick to insult (poke in the eye) were also immature and rarely lasted long unless they changed their behavior. A life lesson for the ignorant, as my grandmother would call it.
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- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/23/charlie-brooker-ground-zero-mosque
- Poke in the Eye is used as a metaphorical version of the physical action it describes. In other words, it refers to any action designed to annoy or insult the recipient of the poke.
- https://www.alternet.org/election-2016/donald-trump-bullying-his-way-presidency