Is it the Beginning of the End?

It is difficult to know where to start in today’s posting.  America is on fire both literally and figuratively.

This weekend is filled with stories and examples that illustrate the fabric of democracy is being ripped to shreds.  For every positive moment that shows a modicum of decency and hope still exists, such as the police in cities such as Miami, FL, Camden, NJ and Santa Cruz, CA kneeling in unity with the protesters, asking for forgiveness and healing, there are hundreds of examples of violence and strife.

The main problem as I see it is that Trump continues to fail a country which is desperately in need of a leader to draw us together, finding common ground and providing peaceful solutions.  Instead he continuously tweets out insults and blame; casting aspersions, creating fear, and, most certainly, driving a wedge wherever he can that will inspire his base into further isolation from truth while providing them scapegoats to blame and fuel for their hate and rage. 

“The Lamestream Media is doing everything within their power to foment hatred and anarchy. As long as everybody understands what they are doing, that they ARE FAKE NEWS and truly bad people with a sick agenda, we can easily work through them to GREATNESS!”

There many other examples of this over the weekend including a tweet that laid all the blame for the violence a leftist group called ANTIFA which stands for Anti-Fascist, where he says “The United States of America will be designating ANTIFA as a Terrorist Organization.”  For the record there are two things to bear in mind: 1) Right-wing White Supremacist groups have been blamed in many instances for trying to elevate the level of violence and destruction in order to stimulate a race war and 2) Trump and Barr do not have the authority to designate any organization a “terrorist organization.”  This designation can only be created by Congressional action and it is to be used for foreign groups who pose a threat to the United States. 

Trumps efforts were designed as a clear communication to his base to create fear and to galvanize them against Democrats, people of color, and the Press.  

But this was all based on national stories.  The real problem is that the cancer of hatred was evident throughout the country spreading its vile into the smallest of bergs in middle class America.  This is not just a big city problem.  Its poison exists everywhere that news and social media can reach.  It is infesting the heart and soul of every American citizen.

My own small village of 8,000 people in suburban New Mexico can serve as an example.

Corrales, New Mexico is a small village nestled along the Rio Grande River between the state’s two largest cities, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.  In many ways, the Village is isolated from big city problems even though the cities are just a stone’s throw away.  In an idyllic setting along the Rio Grande River Bosque that teems with birds and wildlife you find a combination of active farms that were first settled over 300 years ago, a flourishing artisan community ripe with paintings, sculptures and jewelry, and a close-knit community of retirees, professionals and families.  We love and support our restaurants and small businesses and celebrate regularly with parades and other social events.  Yes, there is a flourish of political activism for both parties but generally performed in ways that friendships are not strained and community spirit is not dampened.  It is a great place to live.

At least it was until this weekend revealed a growing chasm that threatens the peace and loving-kindness we have worked hard to develop throughout the history of the village since Spanish explorers first entered the area in 1540, bringing with them settlers and farmers in search of a better life.

Many of you have probably heard of a group that made national news recently called Cowboys for Trump.  The group is organized in a rural community in Otero County located in southeastern New Mexico about 250 miles from Corrales.  The leader of this group is the Otero County Commissioner, Couy Griffin, who has become known for naming two Democratic Governors traitors deserving of the death penalty for their efforts to curb the COVID-19 virus.  He was quoted to have said, “You get to pick your poison: You either go before a firing squad, or you get the end of the rope.” 

And then there were these quotes: “It might be a lead up to a civil war,” Griffin said in the video. “And if we do have a civil war over this, maybe that’s gonna be the uniforms. Maybe one of the uniforms will have masks on and the other ones won’t.” and “The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.”

Now Mr. Griffin has indicated that these statements were taken out of context and he was only speaking figuratively, but his intent has always been to use fiery, political rhetoric to stir and rile up his listeners.  One listener got the message and celebrated Griffin’s notoriety in a tweet from the President:  President Trump Tweet on May 27th

How this concerns Corrales is that yesterday, Sunday, May 31^st, a local business sponsored a Republican rally in front of their store.  It is a popular store that has been in business for over 44 years but recently changed ownership. Political rallies by both parties in Corrales are common, un-newsworthy events. As I said, many of us are politically active.  However, this event was different because invited to be a key draw to the event were the Cowboys for Trump.  Anger that this highly controversial group that calls for the death of Democrats, (or the death of the Democratic Party depending on who you want to believe), erupted throughout the Village.  First, there was a strong reaction on Facebook as Democrats, who naturally have vilified this group, came to learn of the event and then, by Republicans who angrily retaliated to the Democratic outrage. The anger on both sides was virulent and venomous. It revealed and enlarged a chasm that had previously been left unopened – at least in public view.  

Here is an example of one exchange I had on Facebook to illustrate:

Gary Sims:  44 years of great community support destroyed in one moment of partisan showmanship by hosting a political group who made their name calling for the death of democrats. Showing support for your candidate of choice is good politics but by aligning yourself with a hate group you've gone way beyond what is acceptable. Thousands of Democrats in Corrales will boycott your store I can assure you

Trump Supporter 1: to Gary Sims – You sir are the epitome of being a dirtbag.  We will support our community businesses no matter what.

Gary Sims: to Supporter 1 – I did not call for the death of anyone like Cowboys 4 Trump did.  I said hosting an event in favor of your candidate is good politics.  Supporting a hate group that calls for the death of anyone is WRONG!

Supporter 1: you’re not that smart.  Your simple mind is easily swayed. I use to be a Democrat, but my Party was hijacked by commie leftists.  I am now a proud Republican Constitutionalist.  Those comments were speaking of Democrats politically.  I am a dead Democrat, but a living Republican.

Supporter 2: to Gary Sims – if you actually took the time to hear the whole uncut version, you would know that he was talking about the political death of the Democrat party who by the way have no problem killing babies up til 9 months.  So your argument is hypocritical!

Gary Sims: to Supporter 2 – Death is death.  I really don’t care, it is wrong, hurtful, and has created a lot of fear in people’s minds.  Anyway, I want to apologize for saying anything while I was angry and upset.  It was wrong of me to add fuel to the fire that is consuming our country.  I do not like seeing our country being torn apart and I desperately want to find ways to stop the destruction.  What I did was to add to the divisions that are pulling the country apart.  If you look at the reactions throughout Facebook you will see that your rally caused a lot of strong reactions. I think it was insensitive to the community but I had no right to spout off.  I’ll try to do better next time.

Supporter 1: there was support from the community. The lefties were the only one’s triggered. Your neighbors and business owners are conservative and Republicans so learn to live with it.

Since this exchange I have been struggling with my role which may have created the anger and a strong fear that the hatefulness which is tearing our country apart now is alive and flourishing inside my “peaceful” village.  I can spout a litany of all things I find wrong it the hate-speech listed above by the Republican side as, I am sure, they can do in illustrating the wrongs I made.  But what good does that do?

A chasm exists in our country that is getting wider every day.  Where will it lead?  Is the civil unrest that includes rioting over the George Floyd event the end of it, or is there a violent civil war on the horizon?  Personally, I do not see anything that brings hope into this situation.  As I said, the chasm that pulls us apart is getting wider every day and it is being fueled with each tweet and exchange like the one above.  All I can suggest is that each of us needs to carefully watch our words and our actions.  Yes, it is time to stand up for what is right.  We need to defend our democracy, but we need to try and do so with unifying words of understanding.  Yes, the chasm seems large yet, there are many things that draw us together.  Let’s find those things and build a bridge.  If not, there is no telling how bad it may get.