Less hate, more substance
Donald Trump supporters resent being characterized as racists or cultists. Fair enough. As a proud left-center liberal, I resent being labeled as a socialist or Communist. After the intensity of this election seasonwanes, we all would be wise to calm the rhetoric, swear off defining people of other political persuasions as Satan’s spawn and be about the business of solving problems.
To begin, let’s remember that governing a huge, diverse, divided country with any degree of effectiveness will require a return to the idea of compromise. We all give a little to get a little on legislative issues. For instance, enforcing vigorous immigration laws is one thing. Separating families and demonizing refugees is a whole other bag of cruelty. Scorched earth, my-way-or-the-highway thinking will bring us right back to wherewe are now: despising the “other side.”
Weaning ourselves from rabid obsession with political personalitieswould also lower the tem
perature of discourse and speed the tempo of progress. A cultist bellows that “our great leader” can do no wrong, nomatter what he or she says or does. Howdangerous and mind-numbing. Of course, a personal response to a candidate is always part of the mix in a healthy democracy. But we need an emotional reset, away to refocus on policies and ideas.
What are the president and Congress going to do, legislatively, administratively? Are their initiatives lawful, enlightened and genuinely helpful to the majority of Americans? Dowe have to be reflexively frightened of new ideas and new demographics? (Decades ago, Medicarewas often portrayed as the looming end of democracy. Social Security, same thing. The republic is still with us!)
And while social media connect us in profoundways, they also open the door to information charlatans and people who make a lot of money by ginning up our angers, resentments, and primal biases. To truly “get our country back,” we need to heal our growing addiction to evidence-free conspiracy hucksters.
Let us return to the promise of our better angels. Love our neighbor as ourselves. Lift up the brokenhearted. We might not be united, butwe can be better, don’t you think?
— JaneArtabasy, Glencoe