A BEFUDDLED PEOPLE

By Edwin Cooney

When I was growing up in the 50s, 60s and 70s, many people asserted that there were three topics one should avoid discussing: race, religion, and politics. That admonition was advice I happily and totally rejected. After all, how could one resolve issues without writing and talking about them? These three topics were always an aspect of human relationships, but neither Democrats nor Republicans had a monopoly when it came to coping with the emotional components of race, religion, or the wise application of politics.

Last week, I wrote that since 2000, Americans have been bombarded as never before with crises that in one way or another reflected on our wisdom or well-being as a people. The wisdom or sincerity of lawyers and politicians has always been suspect, but the genuineness of educators, physicians, and even the clergy have, over recent decades, been dulled and even poisoned by their increasing connection with political parties and controversial social conflicts. Political divides have become personal.

Political talk show hosts of the left, right, and of the “Trumpian cult” appear to have more influence than Twentieth Century spiritual leaders.

Even more disheartening is the degree of person to person animosity among people who just awhile ago would have been tolerant of one another. Many who are straight resent the marriage and parental privileges that gays and lesbians have been granted. People resent the sympathies of legal immigrants’ support for other immigrants fleeing from terror in their native countries. Whites fear the almost inevitable majority status of Blacks. Law enforcement resists and resents efforts to monitor their behavior. “Black lives matter” to some and don't matter enough to others.

The 2024 elephant in the room is the electability of former President Donald Trump. His appeal lies in his decisiveness and his willingness to destroy all lawful and even constitutional impediments that would obstruct his agenda. He says that his enemies are “corrupt politicians” while he and his supporters are “American patriots,” pure and simple. The question is: would a reasonable and rational people elect Mr. Trump as our 47th president in 2024?

The answer to that question is that as unlikely as it ought to be, they might! However, the fact that they might doesn't mean that they will.

In his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln asserted that no government worthy of its purpose would allow for its destruction. He established our ultimate Union by characterizing the upcoming conflict as a “rebellion” rather than a war. Thus, the Congress never declared war against the Confederacy.

Sadly, Donald Trump's political availability via the voting booth, means the people may overthrow their government if they so choose.

Freedom, vital as it is, does not guarantee wisdom. Freedom is only about freedom. Freedom doesn't require either morality or wisdom. Freedom is merely dependent on both! 

Therein lies freedom's greatest challenge to a befuddled people!

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY