In 1987 Slobodan Milosevic was a Serbian communist party official sent to Kosovo to quell the unease of the ethnic Serbs living there. Milosevic taking advantage of the situation assured Kosovo's Serbian population that their abuse by the Kosovo government would end. His actions and comments helped fuel the rise of Serbian nationalism.
"At home and abroad, Serbia's enemies are massing against us. We say to them 'We are not afraid'. 'We will not flinch from battle'." Slobodan Milošević, 19 November 1988.
In a private conversation he made this statement:
"We Serbs will act in the interest of Serbia whether we do it in compliance with the constitution or not, whether we do it in compliance in the law or not, whether we do it in compliance with party statutes or not." Slobodan Milošević
Comments such as the one below are often used by politicians as a means to further insight their supporters. As they describe those not like "them" as others.
The loss of national identity is the greatest defeat a nation can know, and it is inevitable under the contemporary form of colonization. Slobodan Milosevic
Today in America similar language is spewing forth, not from a fringe candidate seeking a low level elected office, but the Presidency of the United States. When demagoguery is used to propel one to the highest office violence often becomes part of the discourse with the candidates most ardent supporters willing to inflict bodily harm on those whom they feel threatened by.
When Donald Trump launched his campaign for president last year he made derogatory remarks about Mexico and Mexicans. Accusing the government of Mexico shipping criminals to the U.S. that were rapists, drug dealers and murders. Going further he stated that a wall would be built along America's southern border and he, Donald Trump would force the Mexican government to pay for its construction. Donald Trump wouldn't stop with making derogatory comments about only Mexicans his repertoire would expand to women, the Chinese, the Japanese and Muslims. When in December of last year he proposed banning all Muslim's entrance into the U.S. As these statements and speeches became more profane protesters began showing up at his campaign events. While he would make disparaging remarks about these protesters it wasn't until this last week and half that his remarks would become even more incendiary leading to a series of violent attacks by his supporters egged on by him against those protesting against his run for the presidency.
Here are some quotes from Donald Trump made while speaking at his various campaign events.
"I'd like to punch him in the face," Las Vegas Nevada
"He was a rough guy, and he was punching. And we had some people - some rough guys like we have right in here - and they started punching back," Mr Trump said. "It was a beautiful thing." Fayetteville, North Carolina
Republican frontrunner praises supporters and blames ‘these other people’ for disorder after protests forced him to call off Chicago appearance on Friday Following the cancellation of a campaign event in Chicago
In the above quote he uses the term
these other people to describe the protesters. That's how demagogues incite their followers to violence. Donald Trump is dangerous as he continues to play upon the unfounded fears of his followers about the changing demographics of America, fear of foreigners and minorities in America. If elected would Donald Trump adhere to the U.S. Constitution? Given his authoritarian attitudes it's highly likely that he would suspend the constitution declaring that what America needs is a strong leader unconstrained by the rule of law.
