New Zealand Herald cartoonist Rod Emmerson apparently sees a different America from the one that was drawn together by tragedy on September 11, 2001. Today, America seems divided by a crude incivility that looks at our differences rather than our common ground.
A tiki torch seems to have replaced the beacon of light held by lady liberty as we reflect on the events in Charlottesville, children kidnapped from their parents at our southern border and a president double fist pumping at a somber gathering of mourning in Shanksville, PA on 9-11-18.
America is better than this.
Sometimes a picture says more than words ever can.
IVAN,
Yes, you are certainly correct, Ivan. I found the cartoon to be haunting and frightening, especially since the tiki torches happened in my home town,
I think there’s a lot to worry about in the US, but this misses the mark by a wide shot, and about a year in time. Not all unity is good if it papers over fundamental differences or lets “consensus” push a course of action that’s questionable or irrational (see: Iraq). Not all division is bad, for the same reasons (see: Muslim travel ban or immigrant child detention or the WH leakers).
I do worry about US standing in the world being eroded, particularly if it comes at the price of elevating China’s status faster. But they’re really the only other serious contender, and both Obama and DJT have contributed to the decline.
Put another way – I’m 100X more worried about police killing unarmed civilians without repercussion, debt, staggering inequality, and bad economic policy than I am about the presence of loudmouth racists.
I think that the loudmouth racists are more embedded in today’s society than we want to admit. How did we get DJT in office anyway? He didn’t elect himself. Those carrying torches are just the ones with the chutzpah to reveal themselves. What is lurking beneath the surface?
Perhaps we need to wonder what happened to Corey Stewart’s campaign manager. How much is too much when we are referring to someone being a racist?
MoonHowler,
Might be naive, but I don’t think DJT was elected solely because of racism or sexism. Anti-elites of various stripes, including some outright racism and sexism – absolutely. But by and large the election is a binary choice, and for some folks on both sides, there is simply no way to cross the party line, even if it hurts your interests. And third parties can feel like a wasted vote.
Where Trump was absolutely masterful was pointing out the hypocrisy of elites, in a very hamfisted way. Note: a lot of hardworking people probably prefer blunt over polished. He tarred Bill and HRC brilliantly – him for the sexual misconduct allegations and her for the “rules don’t apply to me” behaviors – and ran a ground game in places the HRC campaign stupidly ignored.
I also think the handling of race as a simple binary is a losing strategy for the blue team. Deep south politics hinge on it in a way unique to that region’s history. Other areas are more complex and find common cause with the south for different reasons. Ignoring that or doing the standard Yankee “they’re all racist” thing is counterproductive to progressive aims in the long run. You alienate the middle, and the blue team needs the middle and could actually become their champion.
I didn’t vote for him Simply couldn’t. And won’t. But I understand how some people did without being closet X-ist of any kind.
I can see how people stayed home. I can’t see how anyone of good conscience could vote for him. To do so goes beyond cringe-able.