I have been writing for years in defense of my fellow Americans. However, the current pandemic has revealed men and women who I cannot support because they are not Americans. They are “Trumpers” who are whiny, selfish, and spoiled.

“I need a massage:” “I want a haircut:” “I want to go to the beach.” These are just a few of the signs I see at the ridiculous protests complaining about the orders to stay at home. This is not the America I remember when I was growing up.

There have been few occasions in our nation when our entire country faced a crisis. We have never been forced to face famine as have the people of Africa. No American can imagine the terror experienced by the citizens of London during the nightly bombings during WWII. The poorest nations in the world are hungry, and face genocide for their religious beliefs. In 2010 more than 316,000 Haitians lost their lives after an earthquake; tens of thousands continue to suffer today.

There are many more real disasters throughout history. Being forced to stay in a nice comfortable home for three months or less is not punishment. Americans expect to be treated as unique. The truth is, we are lucky to have been born in the richest nation in the world; we have become a nation of whiny, spoiled, brats, who are ruled by a child who is the schoolyard bully. When times such as this require a tiny bit of sacrifice for our fellow Americans, that is not asking very much. If you are too self-centered to care for the welfare of your friends and neighbors, you are not an American.

A final fact: this shame which is happening in America today is another part of the “Trump Effect.” Trump is the leader of his cult, and he has no concern for anyone else other than himself. It is no surprise that the members of his cult share this same attitude of entitlement and privilege.

For the first time in my life I am ashamed to be an American.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Photo courtesy of Lorie Shaull

My eight novels are available onAmazon