There are Neo-Nazis parading in Charlottesville, Virginia. Young mostly, male mostly, and all white. They’re convinced, probably radicalized online, that (1) they are the master race; (2) they are victims; and (3) they are ‘free’ to display their hatred and bigotry in public spaces. They are the Great White Whine.
And the man in the White House is silent.
If they weren’t white and they decided to conduct a march with burning tiki torches they’d probably find out what ‘oppression’ feels like. If they weren’t white and decided to show up for their rally armed, then they’d probably find out what ‘oppression’ looks like. If they weren’t white, and they showed up calling for “Power” they’d assuredly find out what ‘oppression’ sounds like.
And the man in the White House is silent.
A thug, and these are thugs, don’t necessarily have to wear hoodies and jeans; they can just as easily be clad in khaki trousers and golf shirts. If the Neo-Nazis proved nothing else today they’ve at least provided proof of this truth. Interesting isn’t it, that African Americans, some 13% of the American population, honor Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, fly the Stars and Stripes with pride, and make up 17% of our active duty military. People of Hispanic heritage constitute about 18% of our population, and make up 12% of our active duty military — three times their number in 1980. The Neo-Nazis gathered in Virginia waved the Stars and Bars, the battle flag of treason and traitors to the Union instead of the Stars and Stripes. It takes a major amount of chutzpah for them to declare themselves “Patriots.”
And the man in the White House is silent.
Thus far the only comment from the White House came from the First Lady, herself an immigrant, to say: “Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence.” Granted this isn’t a full throated denunciation of Neo-Nazism, but it’s more than any other White House figure has ventured.
And, still the man in the White House is silent.
And, his silence is a grave danger to the Republican Party. Ordinarily I’d not spend much thought on how the Republican Party should position itself for success in this country, but this is serious. I do believe in a two party system, I do believe there is a place and purpose for conservative policy arguments — I don’t have to agree with them, but that “free speech” part is important. If the current administration continues to be associated with Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, and other thugs then the human propensity to append guilt by association will engage. If David Duke marches with his fellow Neo-Nazi White Supremacist thugs, and the administration make no official (and stern) condemnation, then the guilt by association will have more potential traction.
And still the man in the White House is silent.
The man in the White House has yet to condemn the attack on the Bloomington, MN mosque — indeed, one of his spokespersons opined it might have been a “fake hate crime.” He’s not apologized in any way, shape, or form for comments about immigrants from Mexico and Central American countries being “bad hombres.” He’s not offered any solace for African Americans who are searching for ways to attract attention to their efforts to bring their communities and their local law enforcement personnel closer toward the goal of better, and more cooperative, relationships. Therefore, we ought not be surprised that…
The man in the White House is silent.
His followers declare that President Obama’s politics were divisive. Perhaps because he heard the complaints of the African American communities, as Trump’s followers do not? Perhaps because he understood the economic and cultural contributions of immigrants to this country, as Trump’s followers do not? Perhaps because he appreciated the humanity and worth of members of the LBGT community, as followers of Trump do not? An individual’s failure to recognize the humanity and worth of those who are unlike himself isn’t the fault of any politician — it is seated in the insecurity of that individual himself, by himself, selfishly for himself.
And the man in the White House is silent.
Silent as the thugs align with his political party, emboldened to march without hoods and masks, to wave their flags alongside his banner, inviting the notion that to be a Republican is to be a Neo-Nazi, a White Supremacist, and an intolerant bigot. Or, that to join the Party is to align oneself with the Neo-Nazis, the White Supremacists, and the bigots. What I hope for the Republican Party is…
A man in the White House who will not remain silent, who will banish from his administration those who harbor Neo-Nazi, White Supremacist, bigoted, intolerant views. Republican members of Congress who will condemn the Neo-Nazis, the bigots and the intolerant. Republican Party leaders at the national, state, and local levels who will vehemently assert that the Republicans today decry intolerance, bigotry, and racism, and will not associate themselves with it. I hope to see Republicans with the courage to say, we can do perfectly well in our elections without the staining of our honor with your bigotry, racism, Neo-Nazism, and White Supremacy. sil
The man in the White House is silently leading the Party to a narrow and dark place. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Desert Beacon 