Years ago, in the not-distant-enough past, schools used to deal with the problem of bullying thusly: They would call both children into the office, assign equal culpability to the victim and the perpetrator, insist they shake hands, and send them on their way. Problem solved, right?
Except the bully never had to express remorse (fake sincerity was encouraged) and the victim knew that the real bullying had just begun.
A few weeks ago, when I wrote in this space about Joe Biden being the transitional relationship after the abusive one foisted upon this republic by the outgoing White House occupant, I received criticism from someone thinking I was making light of abuse. I wasn’t then, and I certainly am not now.
This country has endured the outright lies of its alleged leader about a rigged or stolen election. He has been aided and abetted by cowardly sycophants in his party and in the media, who thought letting this overgrown toddler erupt in full tantrum mode would keep their “base” fearful, angry, aggrieved — and voting Republican. They traded human decency for greed and power, even as they voted against the well-being of their own constituents.
In true fascist fashion, Donald Trump swept into office with the repugnant racist dog whistles against all the “others,” while actually only helping himself, his family, and people with real money. Because he was good for ratings, this morally bankrupt, sad excuse for a human being was given the loudest bullhorn at the biggest bully pulpit. He bullied everyone in his sphere, fired everyone who raised a modicum of dissent, and all his party could reply was, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”
The man whose level of depravity seemingly has no bottom (we’re way beyond backhoe level by now), just decided everything he said in sending domestic terrorists into battle against their own country was appropriate. He has no remorse because he delighted in the chaos and the carnage.
But guess what? He lied to you. He lied every day of his presidency. He promised to make your lives better by making every Black, brown, immigrant person, and transgender military member’s life worse. Some of you lapped it up. Because not only did you now feel superior to someone, you felt the ugliness inside you was OK, because he legitimized it, even as he picked your pocket by giving tax cuts to billionaires and tried to take away your healthcare.
He purposely ignored early warnings about the COVID-19 virus that is killing 4,000 Americans a day, and told you that the least you can do for yourself — wear a mask — was a sign of weakness. This barely literate man has some wearing their ignorance and lack of critical thinking as a badge of honor. And weeks from now, when some of you are either picked up by the FBI, or come down with the coronavirus, some will still believe that 74,000,000 votes are more than 81,000,000. Clearly, math also isn’t their strong suit.
And against this ridiculous, disgraceful backdrop comes Republicans’ calls for unity. Don’t make me puke.
Where was your call for unity, obstructionist Mitch McConnell, when you decided your most important job was to make President Barack Obama a one-term president? Where were the calls for unity when Joe Biden was duly elected and all you mealy-mouthed sycophants refused to acknowledge the victory, and repeated the lies about rigged voting machines and stolen votes (even those who won on those same ballots)? Where were the calls for unity when you signed on to dispute the election that you knew was fair? In fact, you couldn’t even unify after your own lives were in danger, some returning to the Chamber to resume protesting the election. And like the abused partner who continues to defend the abuser, many continue to stand with this traitor to the United States and the Constitution they all took an oath to defend.
Donald Trump has to go. Just as importantly, so does every single one of those elected officials who embraced his lies and calls for insurrection for their own political gain.
Don’t talk about unity. We can not forgive and forget, let bygones be bygones or any other horse excrement. The terrorists who attacked our country all must be rooted out and brought to justice.
If the confederacy had been brought to face the music for their insurrection, racial inequity and systemic racism may have been able to die on the vine. So until Vanilla ISIS faces the music for taking up arms against the United States, miss me with that unity B.S.
If you want peace, first demand justice.
Cheryl Charles can be reached at [email protected].
