Hint: It’s not me.
Oct 31, 2018
The thing that makes me the angriest about our most recent slide towards fascism is that even when I know what’s happening, I still question my sanity from time to time. I suspect I’m not the only one.
Most of us are unprepared for this. We have been conditioned to believe that people don’t knowingly lie or perpetuate falsehoods — certainly not our national leaders — so when confronted with the manufactured delusions of a propaganda machine, it can make even the sanest person doubt themselves. You look around and think “clearly, either the Trumpsters are crazy or I am, because we can’t be living in the same reality.”
When I have those doubts, I come back to what I know is really real. And just in case you question your sanity from time to time, I’ll tell you what I know in my bones to be true and ask you what is true for you.
Here’s what I know in my bones:
1) Facts exist. Some are subtle, most are not. Science and journalism are techniques that we have developed over generations to get a better handle on what is real and what is true and, while not perfect, they are far less fallible than any one person’s word on the matter (or even one Book).
And when someone attacks the truth — when they call into question the BBC or photographic evidence or 97% of the scientific community — they are up to no good. So, here’s a rule to live by: immediately distrust anyone who demands that you take their word, and only their word, for it. The technical term for such a person is “conman” and it means they want something you have.
2) Fear is a dangerous drug. No one thinks clearly when overwhelmed by fear. They do crazy, self-destructive things. Fearful people turn on their friends and neighbors and lash out unpredictably. They are a danger to themselves and to others. But they are easy to manipulate: fearful people will do anything if you tell them it will make them feel safe.
Of course, because I know that facts exist, I also know the facts are that crime is down in America and terrorism here is more likely to come from radicalized Christians and white supremacists than ISIL, and that bathtubs are more dangerous than either. I know that immigrants, even undocumented ones, actually grow the economy and don’t take any jobs that Americans are willing to do. And I know that 40 years of trickle down economics has hurt everyone but the 1% and that’s never going to change. It’s not ideology. It’s data.
Realistically, statistically, we should be most afraid of rich, radicalized Christians.
But some people know how easy fear is to misdirect, and have no problems using it for their own greedy purposes. The framers of American democracy knew this too. That’s why they built the balance of powers into the Constitution, to make it that much harder for a petty tyrant to whip up people’s fears to steal power away from the people. But, alas, if you make something idiot proof, someone just invents a better idiot.
3) Actions have consequences. We recognize other people’s human rights — the inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — and the importance of due process and the rule of law not because they are noble goals or morally right or politically correct, but because we know that when we deprive others of these rights, sooner or later it will bite US on the ass. Either you will become one of “them,” caught on the wrong side of injustice, or those deprived of their rights will find a way to rise up and take what is rightfully theirs.
If these rights don’t apply to ALL people — regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, culture, or even country — then before you know it, they don’t apply to anyone.
4) There is no one true religion, but there are countless false prophets. Throughout human history, we have all asked ourselves about our place in the universe and the purpose and meaning of our lives. Look through religion, philosophy, science and art throughout time and culture and we find similar answers emerging again and again: love, courage, forgiveness, connection, humility, generosity, acceptance. These messages arise time and again as the highest and best that we can strive for.
But these same traditions consistently warn of evil — of virtue corrupted and purpose perverted. And the warnings, too are consistent: hate, arrogance, division, greed, cruelty, indifference. These are the signs of the false prophets. These are the wolves in sheep’s clothing who tempt the fearful with power, and the shamed with revenge.
True insanity denies the truth of reality. It pretends that facts don’t exist, and attacks those that deal in them. It fantasizes about actions that have no consequences and blames all their problems on scapegoats. Unfounded paranoia and small minded parochialism, cruelty, stinginess, violence and anger — these are the signs of insanity.
As we move forward, the truth will be twisted and distorted. They will try to rip the truth from you, because the truth provokes them, causes them to face their insanity. You must hold on to it as a precious gift that can only be surrendered; never taken. Don’t surrender your truth. Practice it every day. Write it down. Write down what you know in your bones right now. Write it down every day. Learn it like a mantra and remember, someone here is crazy, and it’s not you.