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Author: John Colarusso, Professor of Languages and Linguistics and Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University

Recent surveys suggest that people who do not like Donald Trump as United States president find nothing at all to like.

But, like him or not, Trump has shown us a great deal in his short time on the political stage. For that, we should be grateful. After all, expressing gratitude is the polite and civilized thing to do.

So, how much do we owe Trump? As a U.S.-born linguist, an expert in Caucasian languages and politics, and someone who advised the Bill Clinton White House on Russia at various points in my career, please let me count the ways.

Lesson No. 1 : Disdain for tradition