I'm Embarrassed

We live in an age of protest. An age of outrage. Of righteous indignation.

That's not news. I've said it before, and even then it was common knowledge. But the media have no compunctions about repeating themselves when they think it's to their political advantage, or when it pleases readers, so I'll do the same.

What prompted this rant? An article from the New York Times entitled “Does Trump Embarrass You?” which is a couple of months old but just sent me by a friend. The author, Neil Gross, concludes that most Americans would answer that question affirmatively. I know I would. The President appears to be impulsive, not fully aware of the details of international politics and of his office, and self-absorbed. But he is our president.

And I am equally, or perhaps more, embarrassed by those who glory in any fault they can find in America and use it for political advantage while ignoring similar activities that don't support their cause; people who are eager to advertise whatever will embarrass America. They claim to love their country, but they display outrage when it suits their purposes. They're the professional provocateurs and their useful idiots. They tend to be a small, but very vocal, group. And though a tiny minority of all citizens, they usually greatly outnumber those they are trying to intimidate and silence. They get more press that way.

I said “silence” and that's what I meant. Those of whom I speak claim they're only exercising their right of free speech but meanwhile they silence others trying to do the same. They do it in the hallowed halls of ivy and on the streets. They're protecting all of us from the vile speech of those they oppose, while crying wolf about their own rights. That's the current fashion – mark the opposition as a band of evil tyrants while you are the protectors of American values. But they do it primarily for political and public relations purposes. It's simply an extension of negative campaigning when you have no accomplishments of your own. And those protesting rely on the belief of the public that it's heartfelt and patriotic, rather than political, vindictive, and hypocritical. (They take pride in their “humility” and want everybody to know it.)

I meant that too. It's hypocrisy. Those who protest in the name of American values and patriotism didn't see a need to protest when fellow citizens burned American flags and their draft cards before fleeing to Canada. They applauded their pardons when they returned later at a time there was no risk for their fellows, although others had died to defend their rights. I am embarrassed by those who silence others as they demand free speech for themselves. They talk of nazi-ism now while they didn't protest Skokie but applauded the Supreme Court's decision that the march of Nazis through a neighborhood of survivors was only an expression of First Amendment rights. And I'm saddened by those who decry the violence of their opponents while never acknowledging that of their supporters.

I'm appalled by their indignation over the death of one black by police, while uninterested in the assassinations of numerous police officers, black and white and I'm troubled that they are outraged by the death of one protester in Charlottesville while there were no marches to protest the murders of hundreds in Chicago and elsewhere. And while protesters bemoaned the death of one of them by automobile, I am not aware of their protests of similar incidents in France, England, Spain, and Israel, although many more were killed. Are they only concerned about problems in their own country? Do their compassion and sensitivity not extend beyond our borders?

The most recent issue concerns the complaints that President Trump visited Texas too soon after Hurricane Harvey. “It was all political.” President Bush had been faulted for visiting Louisiana too late, although there were only a few days' difference between the timing of the two trips. It suggests that the protesters are simply looking for issues, and that their outrage is selective.

Also recent – though starting before Harvey – is the expression of sensitivity over Confederate War monuments. The Civil War ended over one hundred and fifty years ago and there have been many gains since, even while the monuments stood. But suddenly we discover that any reference to the confederacy, especially statues, must be expunged because it inhibits progress. Recently (and continuing now) there has been a rash of removals of names from institutions and buildings for reasons of sensitivity to the perceived evils of those who had donated the funds necessary for the institutions' existence, and, hence, the renamings, as well as the destruction of our heritage, good or bad. It is more suggestive of “1984” or Soviet practices than a tribute to American history. And now Columbus is on their chopping block.

America has faults. It isn't perfect. But, in my opinion, it's closer to the ideal than almost any nation, now or in the past. The illegal immigrants about whom the protesters are so concerned chose to come here rather than stay in their own countries because of the United States' positive features. They demonstrated that those who are truly unhappy about where they live, and can afford to move, do so. And if they decide to stay it is to improve their country, not to prove that it is imperfect.

Yes, I am embarrassed by President Trump for whom I did not vote. But I'm more embarrassed by those who demean their country in the hope of national and international political gain. It all boils down to the acts of blindered ideologues and fanatics.

September 1, 2017