Not sure where to begin on this one.
During and following the Trump administration, I’ve penned many scathing critiques of what I’ve called “hate speech.” On several occasions, Trump took the podium and attempted to convince his followers that, basically, anyone who doesn’t support him is a threat to this country. I’ll offer as example/proof some words from his January 6th magnum opus:
“Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore…”
“We’re gathered together in the heart of our nation’s capital for one very, very basic and simple reason: To save our democracy”
“…our country will be destroyed and we’re not going to stand for that.”
“…you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”
“Our country has been under siege for a long time.”
“They want to indoctrinate your children. It’s all part of the comprehensive assault on our democracy.”
“They’re ruthless and it’s time that somebody did something about it.”
“…if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
Technically, none of that is hate speech; it’s not aimed at a particular race, religion, gender expression, etc. But the content is there. If you simply change the target, nobody would argue that these words qualify as completely inappropriate. At the least, we can call it “political hate speech,” and because of the way it’s still being deployed by the Trump machine, nobody should be wondering why our nation is more divided than it’s been in our lifetime.
If you’re the leader of a country who’s first name is “United,” political hate speech should be avoided at all costs.
I shouldn’t have to say that.
Sadly, a few days ago, Joe Biden followed suit, warning America of the MAGA crowd, accusing them of many things unbecoming a patriot. Before I unpack why I think his speech is completely inappropriate, I’ll say that I’m not a fan of the MAGA mob either. They’re angry and segregated, struggling to understand the difference between what America needs most and what will continue to tear us apart.
Sure, beyond sheer volume, there are some differences between Biden’s speech and Trump’s; Biden attempted to level his critique at the specifically “extreme MAGA” people, who allegedly make up a small percentage of republican America. But then he went on to say that republican America is dominated by MAGA thinking. Which one is it?
Regardless, the reader is left thinking that the MAGA crowd is huge, and dangerous.
I know some of these people. A relatively small percentage of them have completely lost their minds, maybe characterizing them as dangerous is spot on. But most of them are good people trying to make sense of a world that has gotten extremely complicated. Sure, I rip on them constantly about how they’ve segregated themselves, and I’ve challenged them many times on the various ways that political segregation saps the life out of political objectivity. Few have listened, but I’m not ready to call them the biggest threat to our democracy.
The biggest threat to democracy is division, and bullshit speeches like Biden’s September 1st address are driving it like nothing else. We shouldn’t put up with this, although I’m not sure what action to take.
If you’re a conservative Trump supporter, before you say “Amen!” you’re compelled to consider the similarly divisive speeches uttered from the MAGA king, and why you’ve been silent about it. If Biden has sinned here, so has Trump, only much more frequently.
Since Trump was elected, I promised to be as critical of liberals as I am of conservatives. I’ll admit that I’m much more likely to rip on the people who don’t think like I do, and I struggle with objectivity like everyone else does, but political segregation and political hate speech are the sins that I’m most concerned with.
We can critique each other. We can even accuse and blame if we have some data to back our position. But once we move from specific actions into characterizing a large group of people as evil, we’ve crossed a line that no politican should cross.
Joe Biden crossed a line.
Let us be reminded, especially us Christian folk, that political division doesn’t work. Any leader, influencer, media outlet, or mega-mouthpiece that peddles it should know better, and immediately repent. Sadly, Biden’s speech is further evidence that we’re simply going to travel further down this road.
To my conservative brothers and sisters, I love y’all. I appreciate our years-long friendship and all the ways that being Christian in both liberal and conservative churches has helped me to find the life I’m looking for. I can’t say that I’m not frustrated with your Trump support, but I don’t consider you to be some scourge on our country.
To the president of the UNITED States, get your shit together, bro.
Photo by Brandon Mowinkel on Unsplash
Please consider your Christian witness. Such language! Christians should help people to see the difference between the world and Christians and between right and wrong. There ought to be a notable difference and it does not break down neatly between Dems and republicans. In this dark time, Christians should be the ones bringing the light.
Always. Re the language, the people I witness don’t mind.
Sorry to say but the US Constitution does not agree with that line of thinking. The state was to make no official religion. So no in these dark times those that call themselves “Good men” must make a stand or see the US fall to footnotes in the journal of history.
As much as I hate to see what the US is becoming I agree with the Quote “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept”. Fascist ideologies must be called out at all cost. We as a society must not accept that type of poison to fester. Yes, Biden could have spoken differently but think of it as back burning to stop a fire i.e. fight fire with fire. It is the line in the sand that we all must make a choice we can no longer waddle and dally on the fence. Will this help push people in one direction or another? This is what we must ask ourselves. If we end on the side of Maga then we are as bad as many people in the US before WW2 who sided with the Nazi’s. Now I am making a distinct difference between Fascism and Nazism. I don’t think it wins any points when we call someone a Nazi. In fact it does anything but call that person to think about their actions.
But we must remember that remember that most of those who follow Trump are under educated and feel a disconnection to the current state of the world. Trump and his minions played on this and will continue to do so until he is stopped. Even after he is stopped they will only change if someone lifts the US the way Truman and Eisenhower during and after WW2. Once this is done a new age for the US will happen but if that fails then the US is going to continue its downward spiral into the footnotes of history.
I agree with most of what you’re saying, but we can do all of that by simply calling out the behavior rather than making some attempt at vilifying Trump’s supporters. You and I see their misdeeds under the same light, but it does no good to imply that they’re all evil, or stupid, or a threat. Again, division is the threat at this point.