Broken Friendships in the Age of Trump
What Jefferson said here sounds good until you put it in the context of what other philosophers have said on friendship, and think about how it applies, or fails to, in our own lives. Aristotle, for example, argued for the cultivation of virtuous friendships built with intention and based on a mutual appreciation of character and goodness, and advised us to terminate relationships in cases when our friends’ character has gone bad.
For better or worse, this is where many of us find ourselves in the world of current-day U.S. politics, which is largely rooted in a massive chasm that has formed between Trump supporters and his opponents; in particular, both groups regard the other as people of poor character. Trump supporters view liberal environmentalists as bleeding heart Marxist idealists who are lacking a practical understanding of life’s hard-core realities. At the same time, you have Hillary Clinton referring to Trump voters as “deplorables.”
Though there appears to be no solid data on the demise of friendships (and romantic relationships) associated with these political opposites, there is a ton of anecdotal evidence (15.1 million Google hits) that these fissures are happening at an unprecedented rate.
From my own perspective, I find it unpleasant to be around people who have absolutely no concern for the welfare of others, as suggested by their indifference to matters of environmental and social justice. Are others repelled by my being so dogmatic on this point? Do some people shun me because they find me snobbish, naive, holier-than-thou, condescending, or arrogant? Absolutely.
I don’t cultivate friends like them, and they don’t want friends like me–all based purely on our perceptions of one anothers’ character. Sorry, Jefferson, but I think Aristotle has you beaten on this one.
Craig,
Hmmm,….that’s a kinda sad statement, made even sadder by your justification of claiming Aristotle as your teacher.
I feel your anger and frustration as you withdraw more and more from your fellow citizens and fellow man, and retreat into an ‘elite’ world where only your views and vision of how things should be, holds any virtue.
You are in danger of becoming exactly the sort of person you once despised.
The danger becomes more apparent when you translate such an attitude to political/ideological action.
Once you consider being dogmatic, snobbish, holier-than-thou, condescending, intolerance and arrogant as virtues, you are on the slippery slope all fanatics reach at some point in their lives.
Shutting yourself off from other influences and associating solely with like minded ‘true believers’ is how cults begin.
I’m reminded of a line from the 1960’s song by Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert, One Tin Soldier.
“Go ahead and hate your neighbor
Go ahead and shun a friend
Do it in the name of Heaven
You can justify it in the end”
As for me, well I don’t adhere to your pursuit for elite virtue, preferring to seek out the good in all men, and like Jefferson forgive, tolerate and even respect the imperfections in others.
I realize my objectivity may prevent me for ever experiencing the heady passion of the crusading evangelist, but it might also prevent me from looking around one day in horror at the world I’ve created, crying “my god, what have I done ?!”