Who Will Save America?, Part 2

It’s been almost three years since my last blog post, entitled “One Big Lie.” If you look for it, you won’t find it, since I took it down some time ago, along with several others of a strong political bent. I didn’t set out to write a political blog, and, frankly, never developed a stomach for it or the adverse ways it impacted some of my friendships. But with nationalism, populism, and authoritarianism rising at the time, I felt a need to speak out. For 2.5+ years, I tried to, with marginal success.

Walking away from the blog felt like a mixture of failure and relief. But the concerns that fueled its political tenor never faded, and in fact have only grown stronger over time. Not long before I stopped, I wrote a blog entitled “Who Will Save America?”, and have asked myself that question nearly every day since, particularly as we’ve approached yet another presidential election. In many ways, this one looks eerily like the last, with unchecked foreign interference, wholesale demagoguery, and mountains upon mountains of lies, some highly treacherous. In other ways, it feels even more dire, with overt attempts to undermine confidence in our election, brazen voter suppression efforts, and a president who refuses to commit to a peaceful transition of power.

It doesn’t take an expert on democracies or authoritarianism to see the potential dangers of what lies ahead in the coming weeks and months (although many of those experts do). The questions are whether America’s democratic institutions can withstand these dangers, and, if not, whether constitutional democracy in America can survive another four years of the current presidential administration. I have grave concerns about whether they can.

These concerns go far beyond political differences, to the very core of our democracy. The president’s open disdain for Constitutional norms, checks and balances, and government oversight are eroding our system of government. His assaults on the independent judiciary and free press have weakened two of the four legs upon which our democracy stands. His politicization of nonpartisan agencies has undermined our government’s credibility and effectiveness. His blatant retaliation against whistleblowers and those who testified in congressional hearings has weakened government oversight. His calls for imprisonment of political enemies and opponents is dictatorial and chilling. His acts of obstruction of justice, conflicts of interest, nepotistic practices, divisive rhetoric, and seemingly endless fabrications are not befitting of a leader of a great democratic nation. Setting policy issues and differences aside — and there are many — the president has been a constitutional crisis-in-the-making since the earliest days of his presidency, and now appears ready to test the most fundamental and sacred of our democratic institutions — our election process. If he succeeds in breaking it, democracy in America as we have known it will be dealt a crushing blow.

These fears aren’t the product of reading dystopian fiction or living in a “fake media” bubble. The above examples have been well documented, widely reported, and/or done blatantly, openly, in broad daylight. They are the president’s own words and actions. To see these dangers requires only a rudimentary grasp of history and a pair of eyes willing to see. For a better summary of what’s at stake, read former GWB speech writer David Frum’s recent piece in the Atlantic, here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/11/last-exit-trump-autocracy/616466/

What’s happening to America under the current president is, sadly, what’s happening in many other countries, including many western democracies, which are under assault by similar nationalist, populist movements with authoritarian, autocratic, and fascist leanings. Most of these movements share similar traits: populist candidates who exploit nativism, nationalism, and majority-ethnic/religious identities; who fear monger and stoke racial and class divisions; who scapegoat minorities and refugees; who attack political enemies, lie and use propaganda, and attack journalists, scientists, academics, and others that contradict them. It has parallels with the rise of fascism in Europe in the years preceding WWII. History tells us that these types of movements do not end well for anyone, even the populist majorities who initially support them. In America’s case, succumbing to these pressures would be all the more tragic, marking the fall of what was once the world’s greatest democracy. And for what? Lies? False promises? A handful of culture war victories on issues largely contrived and exploited for the very purpose of dividing Americans and consolidating political power? A pocket full of magic beans and a sad, shriveled beanstalk to nowhere.

Why am I writing this now? Because I still believe in America and in Western democracy, despite their shortcomings. And I still believe in people, or at least I desperately want to. That includes people I disagree with politically; even most who, for reasons I don’t fully grasp, are attracted to certain populist/nationalist appeals. I frankly believe they’re better than this; that we, as Americans, are better than this.

And because I’m old enough to remember a better time in American politics. A time when our leaders respected our Constitution, norms, and system of government. When White House press conferences were serious affairs, not propagandized infomercials. When it was a big deal when presidents lied to the American people. When, despite often-stark political differences, our elected officials acted largely in good faith, with civility and decorum, reaching across aisles, hammering out compromises, and ultimately doing the people’s business. A time when all Americans would have rallied together against the slightest hint of foreign interference in our elections. When rabid ideologues had no place in national politics, let alone the national media, and ideological extremism existed only along the furthest edges of the extreme political fringe. When demagogues were seen by nearly all of us for precisely what they are.

While America has long fallen short of its promise in certain key respects, the promise of America has nonetheless endured due to our Constitution, which guarantees rights and freedoms to all, not merely some; our three-tiered system of government, which allows for representation, justice, and a balance of powers, and provides mechanisms (and thereby hope and means) for progress, and our free press, which educates our citizens and holds power accountable. It has also depended upon leaders, and a citizenry, who hold these things sacred.

If you’re among the latter, please go out and vote like your country depends on it, because it very well may. Who will save America, if not us?

The Other Men and Women Who Fought and Died for Freedom

The big national debate this past week centered around professional football players taking a knee during the National Anthem in order to protest what they view as systemic inequality in America’s criminal justice system. Many Americans, spurred on by a campaign speech by President Trump and several subsequent presidential “tweets,” expressed outrage at the protest, claiming, among other things, that it disrespects the flag and the men and women of our military who fight and die for our freedom.

Let me be clear up front: I have tremendous respect for members of our military and the sacrifices they and their families routinely make in service to our country. I believe that we, as a nation, owe them both respect and gratitude.

But the respect we rightfully owe members of our military should not be used to conflate all issues surrounding notions of liberty and freedom in this country, particularly when it comes to our civil liberties. To do so does a disservice both to history, as well as a great many everyday people who fought and died in pursuit of liberty.

Lost in the conflation of these issues is an important fact: that the greatest threats to our basic civil liberties have almost always come from within our own borders, not some foreign power or regime. While wars have been fought across the globe, the battle for civil liberties has largely been waged in our streets, along docks, on busses, at lunch counters, and in courtrooms — not distant battlefields. The people who fought and sometimes died in these struggles most often wore everyday clothes, not uniforms, and were seldom buried with honor or distinction. And in fact, in many cases, it was men wearing uniforms who assisted in putting them down. This is far from a uniquely American problem.

[T]he greatest threats to our basic civil liberties have almost always come from within our own borders, not some foreign power or regime.

March 29, 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, USA — Civil Rights activists, flanked by tanks, are blocked by National Guardsmen brandishing bayonets while trying to stage a protest on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. Image by Bettmann/CORBIS

I know a lot of people don’t like to hear this. We like our history whitewashed, scrubbed clean of unpleasant truths, complex realities, and above all, culpability. We prefer an oversimplified mythology, with clearly-defined enemies and heroes in white hats. But such a worldview simply doesn’t reflect reality, and pretending otherwise doesn’t truly honor anyone, including the men and women in our military. Mostly, it does a tremendous disservice to many others who fought and sacrificed in the long and seemingly endless struggle for civil rights here at home.

As always, thanks for reading, and my best to both those who put on a uniform in order to serve and protect, and those willing to take a stand for injustice and inequality.

– T

On the Human Chains that Bind Us

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.  — Mahatma Gandhi

I’ll admit, recent events have tested my faith in humanity. I’d like to believe Gandhi’s words, but it’s difficult — when looking around at the events of today — not to question whether the very ocean of humanity is corrupt and polluted.

I’ve frankly never seen my country less in touch Continue reading On the Human Chains that Bind Us

My Totality

As everyone undoubtedly knows, there was a solar eclipse yesterday. Idaho was fortunate to be in its path, the band of totality beginning about an hour north of Boise, where I live, and ending less than two hours north — a mere fifteen Continue reading My Totality

70 from the ’70’s

This is a sequel to a blog I ran last year entitled “80 from the ’80’s,” here. This time it’s “70 from the ’70’s” — 70 albums from the 1970’s that still sound great today. It’s not intended as a “best of” list; rather, a more personal take on a great decade of music, including some albums and genres that don’t always make these kinds of lists (no offense, Led Zeppelin IV).

This time, I’m stoked to include picks from several guest contributors. They include Continue reading 70 from the ’70’s

Who will save America?: On the Crumbling Pillars of Our Democracy

Trump Fires Comey

This week, Donald Trump fired the Director of the F.B.I., James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, including possible collusion with Russia by the Trump campaign. Continue reading Who will save America?: On the Crumbling Pillars of Our Democracy

On Birds and Words and Metaphors

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Just as I sat down to write this morning — to yet again try to write something meaningful and insightful, that might somehow make a dent in the current wall of confusion — I was startled by a loud “thump” against my window. Continue reading On Birds and Words and Metaphors

“Good Bones” by Maggie Smith


Life is short, though I keep this from my children.

Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine

in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,

a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways

I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least

fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative

estimate, though I keep this from my children.

For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.

For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,

sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world

is at least half terrible, and for every kind

stranger, there is one who would break you,

though I keep this from my children. I am trying

to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,

walking you through a real shithole, chirps on

about good bones: This place could be beautiful,

right? You could make this place beautiful.


Reprinted with gracious permission from the author. Copyright Maggie Smith, all rights reserved.

“Good Bones” first appeared in Waxwing http://waxwingmag.org/items/issue9/28_Smith-Good-Bones.php

There is a beautiful, limited-edition letterpress broadside of the poem available here: https://www.tupelopress.org/product/good-bones-broadside/

Please visit Maggie’s website where you can find more information about her, her poetry, and publications. https://maggiesmithpoet.com

Let’s Have a Conversation About Race

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My best friend’s dad growing up was a cop. He was (and is) a good man, who spent his entire life in public service — first as a soldier, then a police officer. His wife was (and is) a saint, who treated me like part of her own family when I was a kid. I owe both of them a lot.  Continue reading Let’s Have a Conversation About Race