To the Editor:
Dennis Warden, in his Nov.18 editorial, has moved beyond his concern of being seen as “spreading seeds of discontent,” and has challenged local Democrats to apologize for grievances he cites on the national scene and over the last four years…before unity and healing should begin!
Overlooking the considerable list of unapologized-for, right-wing misdeeds, if he really wanted genuine remorse he would address the people who committed the wrongs he lists.
What he seems to require is a measure of bowing and scraping so that he can feel validation for what has been an ill-chosen, and now defeated, effort to support the Trump administration.
It’s easy for our club to see what’s going on because, even on our worst days — following highway and campaign signs being stolen, having had trash and insults thrown at us as we collected litter along the road, property vandalized, etc. — we have never once been reluctant to embrace any pathway to healing and unity. These goals are no more partisan issues than mask-wearing or social distancing should have been…everyone stands to win.
The chief benefit of Mr. Warden’s request is that it shows the hold that Trump’s approach has had, and continues to hold, on normally decent, fair-minded people. After WWI, a defeated Germany was suffering economically and in self-esteem and was ripe for being duped by a charismatic leader who would promise both a return to good times and someone to blame (the Jews).
How like that was much of America before Trump’s first campaign as savior/strongman, when many workers had been left behind as the wealth gap grew in America and immigrants and blacks were available as handy scapegoats?
Within their strong ethic of responsibility these blue-collared bread winners felt humiliated, confused and impatient.
This begs the question, “How vulnerable are we still to exploitation by a man who would be king?”
Trump’s hold on his followers’ sense of self worth is a tried and true blueprint for manipulation, especially now with the nation weakened by pandemic and its economic aftermath.
The lasting strength of these factors is shown through the Trump flags, signs, rallies and conspiracy sites still refusing to admit to the election results or court defeats that have labeled Trump defenses as “Frankenstein monsters” of strained legal arguments and lack of evidence.
Survival and self-worth are two of the strongest drives in humans and we all react instinctively when either is threatened.
Everyone is overstressed these days so we should all be willing to recognize defensive measures in our neighbors and wait for them to return to their less reflexive selves. This awareness gives us hope and a sense of patience with one another, and, of course, Mr. Warden.
Let’s all heal and unify together…no strings attached.
Gasconade County Democrat Club
