This post is my response to the revolting behavior on Capitol Hill.
One scene in the movie, “Dances with Wolves,” still resonates with me. The US Cavalry had captured and beaten Lt. Dunbar. They believed the Sioux were “hostiles” and should be dealt with accordingly. It was clear to Dunbar that their minds were made up. It seems nothing he could have said would have convinced them to see things differently. When asked to cooperate, Dunbar declared in the Sioux language, “My name is Dances with Wolves” and “you are not worth talking to.”
What did he accomplish? In the long run, nothing. The Sioux were eventually brutalized and robbed of their land. Yet, what I remember from this scene is that sometimes it is pointless to argue with those who think they already have all the answers. We can only choose to preserve an illusion or resist it to the best of our ability, as Dunbar did.
It seems to me some Trump supporters and I don’t have a mere difference of opinion, but a fundamentally different understanding of reality, so much so that there can be no meeting in the middle. Anyone who would vote for such an incompetent, vindictive, small-minded man – twice – probably does not have much in common with me. I’ve been keeping tabs on Mr. Trump since the 1980’s, and I have seen little to indicate that he has either the intellectual competence or strength of character to be President of the United States.
My take on some Trump supporters is that there is nothing anyone could do to shake their faith in their Earthly god. They would rather rationalize and make excuses than accept well-founded criticism. It seems to me these persons have chosen to be complicit in whatever their god says and does.
Trump has used rally after rally to demonize “Democrats” (implying they’re all radicals) and “the deep state” (whatever that means), as well as sow distrust in expertise, the press, and the government (let’s not forget he was the chief executive of that government). For four years he, and most of his party, have set the stage for the recent disturbing behavior in Washington.
We can’t follow both the law according to Trump and the US Constitution, which among other things dictates that states have the right to choose their own electors and run their elections according to their own rules. There is a process, clearly outlined, and it doesn’t include the federal government confirming an alternate slate of electors or decertifying states with results one party doesn’t like, much less taking Congress by force. I hold Trump supporters responsible for following their beloved leader down the rabbit hole of the law according to Trump. We can’t make up the law as we go along, no matter how much we want our side to win. Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, Al Gore, and Hillary Clinton graciously conceded. They respected the constitution. Trump apparently does not.
I have been a Republican all my voting life. I consider myself a moderate. I am fiscally conservative, but fair-minded and liberal on many social issues. I tend to vote a split ticket, because I want a functioning government – not too big, not too small. I abhor what Trump and his allies have done to the GOP and conservatism in general. However, I’m not suggesting that Democrats have all the answers to our problems. They don’t. And some of them are just as nutty as some Trump supporters. But, I’m tired of talking points masquerading as proof, and being implicitly accused of being a socialist or a baby killer because I don’t support Trump. If I were forced to choose between atheism and the brand of “Christianity” that believes Trump is “God’s man” while all others belong to Satan, I would choose atheism. At least all the atheists I know believe in being nice to people and don’t accuse them of being “evil” whenever they happen to disagree.
I’m sure some will call my remarks, “divisive.” “What do you hope to accomplish?” some might ask. I know I don’t want to alienate people, yet I feel some have already alienated me. And I don’t think I can change anyone’s opinion. I suppose all I can accomplish is to put a few people on notice that I can’t in good conscience pretend that our connection is based on anything meaningful. I don’t expect agreement, just a willingness to find common ground. I don’t want others to believe what I believe, but I do expect my friends to be willing to alter their beliefs when presented with facts and rational arguments. I want the burden of proof to fall on the person making the claim, with bigger claims requiring greater evidence. I value expertise over punditry. I think science should count more than “alternative facts,” superstition, or the uninformed opinions of a president. I will continue to resist flat-earth, anti-vax, 5G, and Q-Anon-style conspiracy theories. These fantasies are based on ignorance and furthered by accusations against people who are trying to do the right thing.
When I was a boy, the principal of my school asked me, “who do you want to be associated with?” He had just made the point that we are known by the company we keep. I want to be associated with people who share my interest in the truth and are willing to use rationality and evidence to search for it. While I believe in forgiveness and second chances, I can understand when a business chooses not to be associated with bigots or others whose behavior might damage their brand. If I ran a company, I would be wary of hiring or promoting any of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6. I would want to employ persons with better critical thinking skills.
I’m desperately trying to be charitable. These self-styled “patriots” were after all following the lead of the man who claimed, “I alone can fix it.” No doubt, many of their hearts were in the right place, even if many of their minds were misinformed or misled. The one man who alone could have averted the assault on our republic and its institutions, who could have assured a peaceful transition of power, repeatedly chose not to. Nevertheless, I must ask, should I waste time with people who want to remain ignorant, intolerant, or just plain hateful? Should I waste energy on those who have chosen to reject decency and common sense? I am in an untenable position. In a world where connections are difficult to find, and often harder to maintain, why would I want to isolate people and in so doing further isolate myself? I understand a certain amount of interaction is necessary and beneficial, but I must consider the possibility that some people are “not worth talking to.”
MurrayWorks 