Why do I write when so few will read? Maybe it will make a difference, but probably
not. Not enough to motivate those readers
or change anything, in any event. But
still I will write.
Our country and society have lost their vision, their sense
of self, and their purpose. We are
rapidly degenerating into a sort of self-defined tribalism.
The extremists of the left condemn everyone who disagrees
with them as they impose more and more restrictions on our freedom. Taxes go up as government proliferates. Politicians become rich while gaining
prestige and gratitude for redistributing the assets they have confiscated by
using tax law as a weapon to impose their will on society. They restrict our ability to say what we want
to say for fear of offending someone, anyone, making a mockery of the First
Amendment which guarantees freedom of expression and religion. The most intolerant of all the major players
in our tragedy, they do this in the name of tolerance. Hypocrisy is their defining characteristic.
The extremists of the right base their world-view on anger
and paranoia. They rant against
immigration, characterizing foreigners as criminals. The accuse others of an “entitlement
mentality” while maintaining just such as entitlement mentality themselves,
claiming our nation has a continuing right to profound wealth and power in the
world merely because our forefathers did a good job of accumulating wealth and
power in generations past. They vilify
those of other political opinions, caring for nothing except themselves and their
own kind. Despite their denials they are
largely racist, xenophobic, and most of all, selfish.
The libertarian faction stands for individual freedom, a
noble cause. But in practice they tend
to be as intolerant of diversity of opinion as any of the left, and as selfish
as any of the right. As a group, they do
not have the maturity to become more inclusive, nor the good common sense to
see that some government is necessary for the maintenance of a free society.
Nationalists revere the founding document of our republic,
the Declaration of Independence, and extol the affirmation that we are endowed
with inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. But they render that affirmation
powerless by failing to affirm that it is universal in application. They are guilty of the same offense that
inspired the American Revolution itself, that of claiming rights for one’s own group
while denying them to others.
One faction claims the people do not have the right to do or
say anything which is deemed offensive… provided of course that the offended
party is part of their own political tribe.
They claim that government has the right to confiscate by means of
legislation whatever they choose for the purpose of growing government, redistributing
wealth, and enriching themselves. Another
faction claims the right to accumulate as much wealth and power as possible,
regulations and the masses be damned.
They blast those they deem unworthy with accusations, childish nicknames
and ridicule.
All the major groups fill the public conversation with vindictive,
aspersions, vile hatred masquerading as oratory, demagoguery pretending to be
statesmanship.
We are a nation being run by leaders who maintain power by
accusing, denying responsibility, stoking the fires of conflict and
consolidating their power bases by means of fear of the common enemy. We are being led by mental pygmies, adolescent
mentalities fueled by drama, aimed at increasing personal power and wealth at
the expense of the masses.
Our top elected leader is most offensive, attempting to lead
by lies and intimidation. He seems to
have missed the point made by another great leader of his own political party,
completely convoluting Theodore Roosevelt’s concept of the “bully pulpit.” He contradicts himself repeatedly, expecting
everyone to accept his latest without question.
Sadly, many do. He has found
willing followers among those who deny the evidence of their eyes and ears
because they see him as strong and capable of consolidating the power of their
own tribal group. In truth, he cares
nothing for the people, not even his supporters. But they refuse to see that because they want
a champion and he seems to fit the bill.
The top leader of the opposition party is to intelligence
what the president is to civility. She
makes outlandish comments and proclamations which would be comical if they weren’t
so dangerous. She, too, expects the
people to believe whatever inane things find their way out of her mouth, and
those of her own political tribe do so.
Both these persons in positions of authority are completely
lacking in the skills that make a good leader.
Neither is civil, neither is honest, neither is intelligent (except as
you count the ability to maintain power a function of intelligence). Both are self-serving tribalists lacking any
coherent ethical framework. But consider
this. We the people elected them. What does that say about us?
The biblical book of First Samuel recounts the story of the
ancient Israelites in the years when their government consisted of judges who
ruled well and equitably for many years.
At some point, though, the people decided they wanted a king
instead. The prophet Samuel cautioned
the people that a king would claim many rights and take away many of their
freedoms. He warned them, “… you will
cry out for relief from the king you have chosen.” Nevertheless they persisted, and Samuel anointed
a king. Never again were they as free as
they had been under the benign judges, as wars proliferated and conflict became
the way of life from that time forward.
Like the ancient Israelites, we seem to have decided that we
want a king, someone who will champion our causes and rule us. To this end we have begun to marginalize the
Constitution that has kept us together and free for two centuries. We have begun to ignore the principles
expressed in the Declaration of Independence, and the rights enumerated in the
Bill of Rights. We seem to want a
king. The only qualification for most of
us is that we want the king to be of like mind with our political faction, of our
own tribe. We seem to want kings, so we
have begun to elect them. As happened in
ancient Israel, we will cry out for relief.
It looks like the process of the decline of America has
begun. America has been great, but may
not be so for much longer. Ironic, isn’t
it? Obvious irony aside though, this is
a process that has been underway far longer than the current administration, or
the last. It is hard to watch, and
harder yet to understand. Why don’t we
choose leaders who are competent and worthy of the office? Why do we no longer value humility, that
which reformer Martin Luther called the greatest virtue? Why don’t we understand anymore that the greatest
leader must be a servant. Why? I don’t know.
But the era of self-aggrandizing leadership in America has begun. Our role model is no longer Lincoln, but
Mussolini.
I don’t know. Maybe
it isn’t too late to turn back. If enough
people would understand the perversity of our government and its leadership as
it currently exists. Elections still work,
in theory anyway. If we would stop the
angry recrimination and be honest enough to take an objective look at what we’re
becoming. If we would choose to begin
talking across tribal lines, and really listen. If we would stop and say, “Enough!” We have the power to reject arrogance as the
defining characteristic of our leaders, to reaffirm the inherent dignity of
humility. I don’t know if we have the
intelligence, the will, or (most of all) the self-control to let go of our
tribal angst and make a change.
Maybe someday, in a century or two, people will look back on
these years as pivotal in the stream of human history. What will they think of us? Will they consider these years
laughable? Tragic? Or will they (least likely but not out of the
question) see this as a time when we turned back from the disastrous course we
were on and resumed our march toward freedom, dignity, and hope for the
future. They will give us credit for the
choices we have made, and those we are about to make. I pray they will be grateful rather than bitter.
Why am I still writing?
Because it’s bad, but the story’s not over. I still have some residual hope, some faith
in my people, some tiny inkling that we might yet do the right thing. That is my prayer.
- Gryphem
