History

Eight years ago, I published what I considered to be a stirring post-election manifesto.  Partly it critiqued racism and sexism.  A chunk of urged readers  to support those who face bigger obstacles than straight, white, middle class men like myself.  Mostly it was a rallying cry about how to move forward in the face of Donald Trump’s victory. But early on, the piece also alluded to a 2,500 word screed I’d decided not to publish.  That one was way more critical.  Specifically, I lambasted white people: middle class liberals and Trump voters.  Both barrels blazing.  But I did not publish it because I thought it might be a bit too harsh. Eight years ago, we didn’t know what to expect, so I didn’t want to lay it on too thick.  Now we know exactly what to expect.  Eight years ago, Donald Trump was inexperienced and probably intimidated by the presidency, so he agreed to keep people around him whose purpose was to restrain him.  And to some degree they did.  This time he will face no constraints.  Eight years ago, Democrats were able to hold up large parts of Trump’s agenda.  But with the GOP about to control both houses of Congress, the only tool the Democrats will have is a Senate filibuster, and Trump will get more of what he wants, as will Republican congressional leaders.  Eight years ago, the Supreme Court was still salvageable.  No more.  Trump will likely replace two justices.  SCOTUS will continue to be a retrograde institution for at least a generation to come.  Perhaps longer. So fuck it.  I hereby present the post-election screed I wrote in November, 2016.  It is in its original form.  Eight years later, there are a couple of things I might write differently now, but for the most part, I still stand by it, and present here unedited except for tyopos.  And maybe I should have published it eight years ago.  But I didn’t.  This isn’t eight years ago, but what needs to be said still needs to be said.

And 33 since the first Gulf War. What was it all about?

American democracy hangs in the balance while dogmatic centrists complain about extremism on “both sides.”

The U.S. has a long history of electoral corruption. But the last half-century has seen mostly clean elections. Are we about to return to the bad old days?

If even the Mormon Church can’t convince more than a third of its loyal followers to get the vaccine or mask up, you no something bigger is going on.

White Americans get a lot of things wrong about race.  And I’m not just talking about white supremacists.  Or people bitter about the supposedly undue attention, sympathy, and “breaks” that minorities receive, insisting “real” racism was a problem only in the past, because Civil Rights “fixed” it and anyone complaining about racism is just looking for an unfair edge in America’s level, color-blind playing field.  Or even those who simply minimize and downplay the existence racism. Rather, I’m talking about the small majority of whites who recognize that racism remains a big problem in America.  They often get it wrong.  How? Many of them think that race is primarily about black and brown people.  It’s not.  The fact is, racism is primarily about white people. Minorities suffer the effects of racism, and we must acknowledge and work to end that; however, you cannot cure an infection by simply placing a band-aid over the sore.  You must clean out the wound thoroughly, surgically if need be, disinfect it, and then attack the infection at its root with antibiotics.  In the old days it might have meant cutting off an appendage or limb.  Similarly, racism won’t end or even be substantially reduced by strictly focusing on the suffering of its victims and making amends.  Those are important and necessary first steps, but they don’t get at the core of the problem.  Minority suffering is racism’s result, but racism is caused by what white people think and do. Yes, white people should empathizing with black and brown people (with all human beings, really) and it is vitally important that whites listen to minority voices.  However, ending or substantially reducing racism will not come about until white people talk to each other and sort themselves out.  Because racism is a white problem.

Planned to publish this essay on Monday, but changed my mind at the last minute. So much for prophecy. Here’s my essay about the U.S. coming apart under Trump, as I wrote it before the Capitol riot, only one line added since.