Reflections on a MAGA Hat

Are MAGA hats evil?

Recently, Alyssa Milano tweeted that the MAGA hat is now the equivalent of the KKK’s white hood.

Naturally, a lot of people on the political right took exception to that characterization.

But there is no doubt that the image of a MAGA hat evokes a visceral response.

The MAGA hat came to prominence as a simple but admittedly inspired bit of merchandising for Donald Trump’s campaign for President, the bright red ball cap with the white lettering proclaiming “Make America Great Again”. 

“Make America Great Again” is not a new message. Ronald Reagan employed it when he ran for President in 1980. Bill Clinton espoused it as well when he announced his candidacy for President in 1991. 

But no one embraced it more fully and emphatically than Donald Trump, emphasizing it over and over again in his speeches and if you didn’t hear it, there it was to be seen on the front of the red cap he frequently wore: “Make America Great Again”. A red cap available for sales through the campaign website and now through the online White House gift store. 

“Make America Great Again” is a problematic message, especially in the word “again”.

“Make America Great Again” implies that America was great, now it’s not so it needs to be great again. This begs the question: When was America great?

I might pick the mid to late 1990s. The stock market was humming, we weren’t at war with anybody, our national debt was decreasing, “Friends” and “Frasier” were at their peak and the worst thing we had to worry about the President doing was colluding with an intern in the Oval Office.
 

The early 1980s were nice. Ronald Reagan made us feel good about ourselves, compact discs were the ultimate in music presentation which we knew would never ever be replaced and Michael J Fox was getting regular work in the movies. 

I know there is a lot nostalgia for the 1950s. Factories were pumping out cars and refrigerators, there was a job for every white man who wanted one, the women were at home vacuuming the floors in high heels and pearls in between popping out babies so men were getting laid A LOT. 

The thing is, you can find any number of eras in American history where we might could declare as a time when America was great for somebody. But those same eras could also be someone else’s nightmare.

For African Americans, the 1950s were a time of officially sanctioned and socially accepted oppression.

The 1980s saw the gay community devastated by AIDS.

The 1990s were a mine field for women who found glass ceilings and continued sexual misconduct impeding any gains they were making in the workplace and in society. 

Oddly enough, after all these years in the shadow of Trump, we do need to “Make America Great Again”. 

Having the trust and respect of our allies made America great. Our allies neither trust or respect us.

Our enemies no longer fear us.

The poor and oppressed of other nations used to look to America as a symbol of hope and opportunity. Now they’re told to not bother.

All because the message of "Make America Great Again" is making small minded people want to retreat to a time that wasn't as great as they remembered or imagined.  

Let's go back to the question at the start: 

Are MAGA hats evil?

No, maybe not "evil". But the message of "Make America Great Again" is one that is, for better or worse, aligned with a backward and to be blunt, ignorant way of thinking. And anyone to me sporting that bright crimson chapeau is endorsing a message of moving away from a better America, moving away from making us better people.