Metaphoric Madness

Metaphors are powerful. They help to convey ideas by directly linking an artifact to other artifacts, symbols, indicators, etc. They can communicate a grand message in just a few words. Although there are many ways to rhetorically analyze artifacts, I will be using a metaphor approach to analyze some of Donald Trump's comments concerning immigrants and people of color.

First, the video I am analyzing is titled, Donald Trump's Comments on Immigrants: They're Rapists. They All Have Aids." by MSNBC. There are several statements throughout the video that have metaphoric interest. Trump references rapists, aids, Pocahontas, and hell. I will address these statements in order.

To begin, Trump said that Mexican immigrants are rapists, but said he "assumes" some are good people. This is notable, because rapists are criminals and are regarded in a very bad light. Rape is a violent, unforgivable act. This is essentially taking Mexicans, as a whole, depersonalizing them, and branding them as illegal, violent, and ill-intentioned people that are a danger to society. Trump even goes further to say he assumes that some are good people, further leaving their quality of character up for question.

Next, when speaking on Haitians, Trump said they all have aids. This is of interest, because he is again generalizing an entire group, and associating all of them to be victims of a deadly medical disease. This victimizes Haitians and strips them of power. It makes the audience think of them as sick and helpless, even though Trump is certainly not a health professional.

To continue, Trump, while honoring Navajo code talkers, made a comment toward senator, Elizabeth Warren. He said, to a Native American, that Warren has been a representative of Congress for so long that some "call her Pocahontas." This is using metaphor to compare Warren to a historic figure in Native American History. This was seen as disrespectful by many, because it is comparing a white woman to a Native American woman who had much historical impact and represents a group that has, throughout history, been diminished and disempowered by white people, such as Trump and Warren.

Additionally, when speaking about African American and Hispanic people, Trump said they are "living in hell" because their lives are dangerous, and they can't even walk down the street without getting shot. When using metaphor to compare these people of color to inhabitants of hell, Trump is essentially labeling millions of American citizens as immoral, corrupt, damaged, and doomed. Hell is commonly known as a place of afterlife for dead, evil spirits; this perhaps questions people of color's right to live. He further uses reference of shooting to instill a sense of fear and violence in association with people of color.

Finally, metaphors are found within many forms of rhetoric and have great impact. Trump use several metaphors in this one artifact alone. They shaped his arguments, protected his reasonings, and left a lasting impression with his audience. Using metaphors can ultimately affect how certain things, people, places, etc. are perceived and handled; that is why it is important to recognize and be aware of them in any rhetoric that one is exposed to.