Introduction to Manifest Destiny
The Department of Homeland Security’s social media team has been publishing content that can be described as racist and divisive, revealing the administration’s true stance on issues of heritage and homeland. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, the team has shared grainy, distorted mug shots of immigrants, links to Fox News stories, and paeans to "heritage" and "homeland" that are reminiscent of Nazi propaganda.
The Racist Id of the Administration
The content shared by DHS has a purpose – it’s meant to reveal the racist id of the administration in real time. In June, DHS shared a poster originally created by the white-power scene, urging Americans to "report all foreign invaders" by calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The poster was a clear example of the administration’s stance on immigration and its willingness to use racist rhetoric to further its agenda.
The Pioneer Painting and the Trump Administration’s Trollish Social Media Strategy
In July, DHS shared a painting of a young white couple cradling a baby in a covered wagon on the Great Plains, with the caption "Remember your Homeland’s Heritage." When asked about the painting and the administration’s social media strategy, a White House spokesperson asked the reporter to "explain how deporting illegal aliens is racist," adding that haters should "stay mad." The response was a clear example of the administration’s defiance and willingness to use racist rhetoric to further its agenda.
The Latest DHS Salvo: "American Progress"
The latest DHS salvo is a July 23 X post of a 19th-century painting by John Gast titled "American Progress." The painting depicts a blond white woman robed in white, with a gold star just above her forehead, floating in the center. She holds a book in her right hand and a loop of telegraph wire that her left hand trails across poles. Below her on the right side are miners, hunters, farmers, loggers, a stagecoach, and trains, all rushing westward, illuminated by puffy clouds and the soft glow of dawn. The angelic woman is Columbia, the historic female personification of the United States, guiding everyone forward, toward Native Americans who are fleeing in terror.
The Significance of "American Progress"
The painting "American Progress" is a significant example of the administration’s stance on heritage and homeland. It depicts the white settlers as the true Americans, while the Native Americans are shrouded in the dusky, murky side of the painting. The caption "A Heritage to be proud of, a Homeland worth Defending" is a clear example of the administration’s willingness to use racist rhetoric to further its agenda.
The Heritage American Movement
The Heritage American movement, now bleeding into the conservative mainstream from its far-right beginnings, maintains that Americans whose ancestors have been here for generations are more deserving of this nation’s riches than those whose families came over within living memory. The movement’s adherents believe that American values should be based on the customs and traditions established by Anglo Protestants before mass immigration forever changed this country’s demographics.
Vice President JD Vance and the Heritage American Movement
Vice President JD Vance is a key figure in the Heritage American movement. In a speech to the Claremont Institute, Vance outlined his vision of what an American is, stating that "America is not just an idea" but a "particular place, with a particular people, and a particular set of beliefs and way of life." Vance’s statement is a clear example of the movement’s stance on heritage and homeland, and its willingness to use racist rhetoric to further its agenda.
The Irony of Elevating So-Called Heritage Americans
The irony of elevating so-called Heritage Americans is that many in Trumpworld would seem to be excluded. First Lady Melania Trump was born in what’s now Slovenia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the child of Cuban immigrants, and Vance’s wife’s parents came here from India. The Jewish immigrant ancestor of Trump’s deportation mastermind, Stephen Miller, wouldn’t be allowed in these days, after arriving at Ellis Island from czarist Russia with $8 to his name.
Conclusion
The Department of Homeland Security’s social media team has been publishing content that reveals the administration’s true stance on issues of heritage and homeland. The content is racist and divisive, and it’s meant to further the administration’s agenda. The Heritage American movement is a key part of this agenda, and it’s based on the idea that Americans whose ancestors have been here for generations are more deserving of this nation’s riches than those whose families came over within living memory.
FAQs
Q: What is the significance of the painting "American Progress"?
A: The painting "American Progress" is a significant example of the administration’s stance on heritage and homeland. It depicts the white settlers as the true Americans, while the Native Americans are shrouded in the dusky, murky side of the painting.
Q: What is the Heritage American movement?
A: The Heritage American movement maintains that Americans whose ancestors have been here for generations are more deserving of this nation’s riches than those whose families came over within living memory.
Q: Who is Vice President JD Vance and what is his stance on heritage and homeland?
A: Vice President JD Vance is a key figure in the Heritage American movement. He believes that America is not just an idea but a "particular place, with a particular people, and a particular set of beliefs and way of life."
Q: What is the irony of elevating so-called Heritage Americans?
A: The irony of elevating so-called Heritage Americans is that many in Trumpworld would seem to be excluded, including First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vance’s wife’s parents.
