I recall from pre-Fox, pre-Limbaugh days that I could talk with Republicans about what they valued and their view for legislative policies and social programs. We could find common ground within some issues. We were both thoughtful and willing to listen to each other.
While I supported the Kennedy and McGovern campaigns and I was thoughtful in my opposition to the Vietnam War, I did not need to vilify or scapegoat conservatives while I protested. Perhaps I was naive, but I did not think they wanted to end democracy, reinterpret the constitution into nonexistence and install white nationalist authoritarian rule. At least I thought most did not.
I hope there are a lot of Republican voters who are very concerned and disappointed in what the Trump administration and the billionaires are doing. Perhaps they feel betrayed by the lies and anti-social actions. I hope so. But they are not speaking out very much …
Because so much of what passes for political conversation these days is performative outrage, reciting lies and distorting others, there is almost no room to be levelheaded, to agree on basic facts, and to allow another’s views the space to breathe. However, if there was ever a time to speak up, it is now.
We may lose the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Rule of Law, Habeas Corpus, fairness, justice and equality. We now find ourselves ruled by the pathologically greedy, ignorant and arrogant, impulsive and careless. The time to speak loudly against this is now.
Steve Self
Durango
