THE IRONIC PAIRING OF TEARS AND FISTS

The giant is awakening

Caspar Benson

If it feels to you like the walls are closing in on our democracy, it’s because they are. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to fall. Right now, there’s an awakening going on in America, and the pushback against authoritarianism is intense. Citizens bravely chasing ICE agents out of their neighborhoods. People meeting in large groups to learn how to legally and nonviolently resist. Judges deciding against the President’s unconstitutional orders. Lawmakers standing up - very bravely, I might add - to say “HELL NO.”

People often mention online that a neighbor took down their Trump flag. We have no idea how many Americans - clearly there are many, given the election results a couple of weeks ago - now saying, “Wait, this isn’t what I voted for.”

So the President clearly feels his grip on America slipping, and has decided to respond by tightening it even more. In response to a few Democratic lawmakers - all veterans themselves - reminding military personnel that they do not have to obey illegal orders, the President went out of his mind.

He posted on Truth Social a few times, sounding more like a coke addict than a President:

“It’s called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand — We won’t have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET.”

He followed up with this one: “This is really bad, and Dangerous to our Country. Their words cannot be allowed to stand. SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!! LOCK THEM UP???”

Finally, he dealt the blow that everyone’s talking about: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Even added,“HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”

What a guy.

The man is not well. But then, you knew that.

Unfortunately, to know the President is unhinged - to even feel some compassion for him, which I can honestly say I do - makes him no less dangerous. How very interesting how his tantrums got worse after visiting with MBS. The Crown Prince might have said something like, “You shouldn’t let people get away with things like that! I wouldn’t.” Uh, no shit. And remember when Trump was caught on a hot mic saying he wanted “his people” to treat him like North Koreans treat Kim Jong Un? Which means you’d better jump quick and jump high whenever Dear Leader says to…or else.

He really, really, loves those bad guys. Makes you kinda think he wants to be one of them.

Sardonic asides aside, something extremely dangerous is going on here. The President is clearly on a rampage and the reason he’s warning Democratic Congresspeople not to interfere with his orders to the troops is because he’s gearing up for war in Venezuela. He knows he’s not on a legal footing there. Congress has not declared war, and military lawyers couldn’t come with anything to convince members of Congress that there was a legal justification for a military invasion. Thus his outrage at the Democratic lawmakers reminding soldiers that they do not have to obey illegal orders.

Unlike in his first term, the President has decided he likes playing with his toy soldiers. I call them that because to him, that’s what they are. He sees his entire Presidency as his toy, his piggy bank, his family’s business venture. All the corruption would be funny were it not so horrible. Trump presides over an administration that has no love for the Constitution, no respect for American values, and no concern for the tragedies they’re causing. That includes death, we should remember, given the consequences of the USAID cuts and the disappearances of people who are gone and unaccounted for.

We’re way past the point where anyone should try to reason away, much less justify, what’s happening here. Nor should we minimize the problem. I saw an interesting online comment the other night. “Good thing him and his lackeys are a bunch of failures.” Unfortunately, I disagree.

Let’s not kid ourselves. They’re not failing at what they set out to do. In less than a year they’ve succeeding wildly at shredding the Constitution, traumatizing immigrants, and demolishing government’s functionality. The infuriating fact is, this ridiculous gang does shoot straight. They’re shooting straight at the heart of our democracy.

I heard a lot of people say recently that we were headed for a dangerous time. The dangerous time is here, but it’s a danger we’re equipped to handle. Americans are doing what we can to stop it; it’s a collective effort and we’re making it. None of us are alone in this. We’re becoming the people we need to be in order to do the things we need to do.

And this too matters: We mustn’t let this situation harden us. Let’s get up each day and find beauty where we can. For the good, the true and the beautiful does remain all around us. Do your patriotic resistance and go to pottery class. It’s the counterintuitive nature of the philosophy of non-violence that despite it all, we must cultivate happiness. The joy and pain of life are often intwined.

To my fellow heartsick resisters, I remind you: this is far, far from over. The spirit of America is a like a giant just finding its legs. And I believe in us.