There has been much discussion in this election cycle about this most recent spawn of the “Republican” party that has hijacked the pulpit of American public discourse in recent years. A particularly hideous sub-section of America is spewing what amounts to pure evil and hatred into the microphone, a message that is somehow justifying unapologetic greed, blatant xenophobia, and in some cases outright fascism.
Here at Daily Kos, like many progressive corners of our political discourse, we sit around shaking our heads and whispering to one another about what they’re going to do next. We try out talking points, confrontation strategies, moral justifications.
We equivocate.
We give the bullies of this world so much of their power, with each moment we spend fearing them, talking incessantly about them, or perseverating on their deplorable tactics or toxic legacies. And all the while, they are winning, or at least faring much better than they should. Because we are giving them our power. We are standing by idly as they commandeer the microphones and elbow their way to the front of the room— over and over and over again —while we stand by helplessly whispering about how horrible they are.. wondering why they keep getting elected class president when everybody is disgusted by them.
But there’s an answer to this, and it’s not the media, or conspiracies of the power elite, or any number of forces we would claim are victimizing us. Rather, it’s because somebody is coming in and filling a void that we won’t, or don’t believe we can.
The masses — those people who aren’t quite sure what to think — they gravitate towards those who can lead them through their own fears, because long ago somewhat taught them that they could not be justified in their own power. So, they follow the leader- the loudest, most confident, most powerful leader they can find. And they’ll tune in and watch anyone who is broadcasting that concept of “leadership”. That projected power makes them powerful, and when you’re powerful you don’t have to be afraid anymore.
Because their power doesn’t come from within — it comes, they believe, by attaching themselves to people they perceive as having power, people many of us would call a bully. People like Donald Trump.
And so, we keep talking about them. We keep lamenting the influence of their cynical, self-serving, and dangerous ideas in our lives. We keep amplifying their dying ideology with our attention, however dissonant and contemptuous that attention might be. And so we remain on the defensive, and all the while, they are counting on us to lose hope and let them win.
I wonder, though…
I wonder what will happen when we have the courage to commandeer the microphones.
I wonder what would happen if more people were brave enough to lead.
I wounder what would happen if more of us said “to hell with being polite”, and stuck out our elbows, grabbed the microphone, and projected our own bold convictions in the world, by running for office, writing letters to the editor, or simply volunteering to get out the vote.
I wonder whether such boldness would be dismissed as disempowering and disrespectful to other people’s points of view, or such boldness would change the world.
It’s time to go on offense. Something new is happening here, and I truly believe, in my heart, to be among those who will imagine the vast possibilities of what is next, and have the courage to advocate for that future.
If enough of us step to that pulpit, I promise that microphone will not malfunction, and America will be listening with baited breath..