America was founded by those who ran from Europe. They escaped religious, political, and social persecution. America was also founded by those who had to leave all behind in order to pursue dreams of better economic opportunities. Those pioneers poured the concrete of the foundation of the greatest country ever built in human history. This country, the United States of America, was built on a simple idea: the idea that all men are created equal and should be given equal opportunity, regardless of their origin, gender, religion, or political views. This idea was backed by a great financial system.
And this great yet simple idea drew in the best of brains, best of talent, and best of humanitarians. Without them, America could not have become the great America that we have experienced. The list of these immigrants is pages long. It will be a historic mistake for America to close its working visa programs out of fear and and protectionism of local workers. It is anti-American to bash and not welcome immigrants.
{mosads}I came to America and started as a dishwasher. And I thank America for the opportunity it gave me to become who I am today. As a result, I made it my life’s purpose to close the gaps between cultures and build bridges among people.
I have been losing sleep since the rise of the Trump phenomena. It makes me fear for the future of America, especially for the safety of the Jews in America.
Trump opened a sealed door, the sealed door against discrimination. The very simple idea of anti-discrimination is the very simple idea that has made America so great. In the name of freedom of speech, he discriminates against Latinos and Muslims and bashes women, the obese, the handicapped, war prisoners, blacks, politicians, the Pope, the President of the United States, judges, and the list goes on.
Now the door is wide open, the dam has been broken, and we have no protection from the tsunami to come. Discrimination and hatred, and harnessing fear and incitement, has become a topic of discussion and entertainment for the media. And for the politicians, it has become a matter of Democrats versus Republicans. They have all forgotten that this is a matter of the life or death of the American idea. This is the most important value that America is built on and what has made America so great.
And as for the Jews, I am not afraid of the current Trump. For the Jews, I fear the next Trump to rise, backed by recession. Who is going to protect the Jews when their turn comes? Led by the next Trump image, this can hit America in much greater force since it has always been easy to blame the Jews for all issues.
I am not afraid of what a President Trump will do. I am much more afraid of what he says and the poisonous messages he will send. I am afraid of all of this dark energy, all of the sleepy hating forces so deeply embedded and hidden in the body of America, waiting to rise out and destroy the great fabric of our society.
In the last 100 years, we have experienced the Trump phenomena in different shades. Leaders who knew how to harness anger, fear, and dreams. And they used this ability to bring on the world’s biggest disasters. Hitler, Mussolini, Chavez, Castro, Milocevic of Serbia, and many others have each had the ability to portray themselves as saviors or as the closest thing to God. People loved and worshipped them and those who opposed them were branded traitors. They promised empty fields of dreams to their fellow citizens- Trump has a long history of empty promises, bankruptcies, lawsuits, and thousands of people who were robbed by his business practices and stripped of their own dreams.
I am a person who has built many businesses- local, national, and global businesses, I have been able to build from an idea, businesses that I am proud of and that employ thousands of people. I did not have to resort to bankruptcies or empty promises. I did not have to cheat vendors, banks, or employees. A good businessman is a good person who can succeed without using Trump practices. In fact, one would do better if one is an honorable man. Life is not about winning. Winning is not a purpose. Winning is only a means to a purpose.
We have to ask ourselves, winning at what price? And how much do we need to compromise?
Mana is an Israeli-born billionaire who first came into the spotlight after his company ‘Moishe’s Movers’ became the largest private moving company in the New York City area. He has since founded the MILK Studios and Mana Contemporary. Mana is the largest land owner in the popular Wynwood arts, culture and entertainment district in South Florida.