Thursday, July 9, 2020

Decency, And The Lack Thereof

 

My friend is a rare bird: a true conservative. We disagree on some political issues, though not as strenuously as one might think. After all, until Newt Gingrich emerged like a creature from the swamp, leading inevitably to our current deliberately divisive “president,” liberals and conservatives could get along. Share coffee and the occasional adult beverage.

 

A gun-owner, hunter, NRA member and, like me, a veteran, he believes military-style weapons belong only in military hands. Because he’s a real conservative, my friend didn’t vote for Trump and won’t this time, either. I haven’t convinced him not to throw away his vote on a third party or write-in, but I’m working on it.

 

In these times, I argue, traditional political disagreements take a back seat to preservation of those ideals which, until Trumpism, all Americans have valued, and which are under coordinated attack: The Constitution and its separation of powers, Congressional oversight of the executive, free and fair elections; inquisitive, skeptical, and free press; an informed, un-propagandized electorate. My friend shares those values, but he’s wary of Joe Biden.

 

Whatever else is true of ol’ Joe, I tell him, he’ll surround himself with qualified, smart, non-sycophantic people. Unlike Trump, he’ll listen to advice, welcome disagreement. He’ll read his intelligence briefings. He and his appointees won’t lie more than normal politicians do, which means not outrageously, repetitively, about facts that are obvious, and those that don’t fit on a bumper-sticker. Mid-crisis, he won’t try to lie it away, blame others, or golf. He’ll reregulate pollution, and address the dangers of climate change. He won’t consider the opposition un-American, nor wink at violence against them. He’d never ignore Russian bounties on American troops.

 

My friend recognizes the dangers of another four years of Trump. Like me, he worries about armed uprising that Trump is all but openly encouraging, should he lose. We both hate violence connected to protests; I’ve shown him the evidence that most is being fomented by far-right elements, intended to discredit those trying to effect overdue, positive change. 

 

These are unprecedented, dangerous times. Democracy is, quite literally, on the ballot. Trump’s America is becoming an autocracy. It’s no longer a world leader; not in science, not in dealing with crises, or sacrifice when it’s called for, or standing for human rights. Not, perhaps most importantly, in decency.

 

That’s what November comes down to. Not budgets, or taxes, or guns. Not the size of government. Decency. Simple decency. The choice is between Joe Biden, who, even if you disagree with him, is a decent man; and Trump, who never has been. Not ever. Not in marriage or his family, not in business, or as “president.” It’s between a man calling upon our shared humanity, and one who’s chosen to base reelection on cultivating the worst in us.

 

A definitional sociopath, Trump set dog-whistle aside and, in the shadow of Mt. Rushmore, made it obvious: to maintain power, his campaign will resort to pitting us against each other, playing to bigotry, demonizing the opposition, and lying. Lying about BLM and “antifa,” about Covid-19; about his negative leadership which, along with several like-mindless Republican governors, has made us the only country in which infections -- and hospitalizations! -- are exploding.

 

Without a return to decency, we’ll see more people pulling guns on each other; threatened lynchings; grandmas shouting at BLM protestors, promising to teach their grandchildren to hate them; cars aiming at peaceful demonstrators. Tucker Carlson, Fox “news” most despicable racist, will remain their most popular host. We’ll continue to dismiss people seeking a more just country as, in his words, “America-haters,” and in Trump’s, “…the radical left, the Marxists, the anarchists, the agitators, the looters…” In a decent America, we’ll resume listening to each other, rejecting such malevolence. We’ll see fewer mask-refusing Trumpists deliberately coughing on store employees, and we’ll see less of this. 

It’s plausible some Trump voters aren’t racist or indecent. Yet, by voting for him, they condone those attributes in him: separating and caging children; disgraceful lying; dismissing people demanding racial justice as terrorists. They surrender to his characterizing the many based on the few. Rather than reflecting on the meaning of Confederate symbols to African-Americans, for example, they accept Trump’s laughable pretense about “protecting history.” 

 

Unlike Trump, who isn’t, Joe Biden is decent. Increasingly divided by hate, we need that most of all right now. I’ll keep prodding my friend. He’s a listener.

 

 [Image source]



6 comments:

  1. And, when Americans are hurting and dying, Biden will display genuine empathy, unlike Trump who is thoroughly incapable but won't even make the effort to suggest the appearance of caring.

    ReplyDelete
  2. seeker of wisdom and truthJuly 10, 2020 at 2:13 PM

    Decency and empathy are virtues that Drumpf cultists do not demand from their leadership. He obviously cares little for their lives as evidenced by the number of them he has turned on for purely personal reasons. This tragic flaw in his personality and value system repels most normal people. In truth, we wonder how he can get away with his self-centered egomania and maintain a leadership role in any political system identified as one built on laws that demand justice and equality for all.

    The lure of political power and economic dominance by the wealthy 1% to subjugate the 99% must be controlled and repressed in a free society. Our precious Constitution is designed to insure that ignorant and evil minded demagogues will not prevail in their tyranny.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like you, Sid, I have a few conservative friends that I consider true conservatives. I number many in my extended family and none of them are Drumpf supporters. Many have said they will vote for Biden but the others will not confirm or deny, as is their right. I'll hold out hope they won't throw away their votes.

    I find myself quite despondent today after 70,000 new coronavirus cases yesterday, following days upon days of 50,000-plus cases per day. Also, the commutation of criminal Stone's sentence by this criminal "president" and criminal AG Barr's removal of yet another US Attorney in a critical office. We are under attack from within. I need to do something constructive to channel my anger, frustration, and hatred so I'm going to dig in the dirt and continue making masks. The Providence Mask Brigade has called for child-size masks, and I bought a bunch of cute fabrics for them the other day.

    This has to end, but it has to end with our salvation from the evil forces in our midst.

    I'm never down and blue for long. I'll be back.

    ReplyDelete
  4. One can only hope that when/if Biden wins, he'll reappoint the ousted USAs or appoint ones like them, and that the criminal investigations continue.

    We've become a kleptocracy under Trump, and Barr is making the DOJ look like the KGB.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hear Hear... well-said, Doctor. Regarding the empathy gap, I wrote an open letter to Mr. Trump that has gained some traction with many of my conservative Republican friends, would like to know what you think: https://gortnation.blogspot.com/2020/07/dear-mr-president.html

    Many thanks... keep slicing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your blog "letter" is very well said, Oblio. And I'm glad to have learned some of your life story. Impressive, indeed.

    As I commented on your blog,

    "You laid it all out. He won't read it, of course, and if he did (or had it read to him), he'd dismiss it summarily. He's incapable of that sort of introspection.

    But everything you said is right on."

    ReplyDelete

Comments back, moderated. Preference given for those who stay on topic.

Popular posts