All Americans Really Want Is the Next Shiny Object, and There Is No Rule Saying that It Has To Be Ignorance and Hate
Maybe it’s a good time for us Americans to ask ourselves: What are we good at?
As suggested by the pic here, basic competence doesn’t seem to be a defensible response to that question.
One answer that pops immediately to mind, of course, is blowing stuff up. A recent survey of people from nations around the world included the question: “What would you say is the greatest threat to world peace?” The number one answer–and it dwarfed all the others–was “The United States.” Yet that’s hardly a surprise, given that we’re talking about a nation with the planet’s largest military budget–that’s larger that then next 14 countries combined–and is currently deploying that terrifying might in wars in 134 countries globally.
But let’s look past that. Here’s another key feature of life here in the U.S.: impermanence/transience. Ferrets have longer attention spans than Americans.
That’s going to come in handy here, where the Trump phenomenon has swept in and come to dominate our lives with all its unlovely peripheral attachments: bigotry, sexism, environmental destruction, the constant alienation of our allies, the pathological level of lying, the trashing of the free press, wanton cruelty to the poor, the undermining of rule of law, etc.
All this can be swept out as quickly and easily as it slithered in, since there’s nothing anvhoring all this ignorance and hatred to the ground. Not a single piece of all this garbage is an intrinsic part of what it means to be an American; every bit of it can blow out to sea with the next stiff breeze.
So let’s keep this in mind as we move into the new year. We create our own future. Something new and different will be dominating the news a week from now, and it’s up to you and me to determine what it will be.
Let’s think good thoughts, do good work, and make it happen.
Donald Trump may be merely the most obvious and distasteful aspect of a decaying and morally bankrupt order flailing out in a desperate last gasp. I hope so.
However, the continuing plight of African Americans plainly illustrates the risks of waiting quietly on the whims of fate.
Serious and enduring political change usually occurs only when there is palpable opposition that effectively threatens the status quo with enough interference to prevent business as usual.
Cameron,
Now here’s a thought you might take a moment to consider.
Instead of your gleeful condemnation of exaggerated shortcomings in others (personified by the President) why not consider the effect such inaccurate vilification, hatred,self righteous hypocrisy and feigned outrage by the President’s opponents might contribute to the current malaise ?
Hate breeds hate. No one is excused by saying, “oh, I’m not hateful, I’m only responding to hate by upping the ante!
Good grief Cameron, are you really saying that if someone uses a derogatory term towards such appalling societies as Haiti, Albania, African nations etc with long histories of brutal regimes, vicious tribal conflict, poverty,total abasement of humans right and adherence to backward customs and religious practices, must be “racist” ?
The President’s observation may not be very politically correct, but it’s honest and candid ! It’s also very obvious the Democrat politicians present were far more interested in political point scoring than achieving a negotiated settlement on behalf of constituents.
The expression ” it takes two to tango” is very apt. US African American citizens are in no danger from President Trump . In fact, the overwhelming majority have the same opinion of Haiti as the President !
The President is a New York builder and developer. He speaks like a working Joe. He represents a great many ordinary Americans for whom you display only contempt and disregard. This problem has been growing for decades.
Sanctimonious Political correctness has been a weapon used by the elite left to beat down the ordinary American. Such sanctimony and self righteous arrogance from a leftist elite has brought about a massive divide.
Hatred breeds counter-hatred. The growth of a vocal and activist obnoxious extreme right is largely a reaction to an equally activist extreme left. Both sides are egged on by the media to ramp up conflict and find new causes to further the divide.
Society isn’t improved by demanding the extinction of only one side, and crushing all dissent.
Martin Luther King Jr taught understanding, forbearance and tolerance. His message was based on love and understanding, not sanctimonious outrage.
In the paraphrased words of McCartney and Lennon;
” Life is very short, and there’s no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend
Think of what you’re saying
You can get it wrong and still you think that it’s alright
Think of what I’m saying
We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night
You accuse me of “gleeful condemnation of exaggerated shortcomings,” and I’m curious where you find that within my comment.
You say, “Society isn’t improved by demanding the extinction of only one side.” With that, I absolutely agree, which is why I find GOP efforts to establish permanent one party rule so damning.
Do you tolerate intolerance? Martin Luther King wisely observed that you can love a racist, while fiercely objecting to racism.
I have always very much appreciated honesty and candor by racists. For example, I think people who want to display the confederate flag should be encouraged to do so. Such openness is useful to rational folks, making racists easier to identify and isolate.
While I see your point, displaying a racist symbol is more than an expression of hate; it’s a threat of violence, which is (and should always be) unlawful.