The main political division in our nation today is between those who oppose the dark and dangerous fascist force that’s come to power in America and those who –deliberately or out of ignorance—give that force their support.
But you’d never know that from how much of the energy on the liberal-left is devoted rather to disputing the differences among their factions. How much is the fascist problem to be understood as embodied specifically in this Bushite regime and how much as embedded in the American political system generally? How much are the Bushite evils a departure from the general pattern of American history and how much an extension of it? Should the Democratic Party be seen as an essential tool for defeating this fascist evil and how much as an inseparable part of it?
Judging from the amount of energy some people devote to these quarrels, one would think it is those issues that define the most important political divisions in today’s America. If asked whether those quarrels can be set aside in order to make common cause for the common purpose of defeating a common enemy, some of these people will declare that they cannot. If we disagree on such fundamental issues, they declare, there’s no way we could unite on a shared political message.
I think that’s wrong.
Can we not all agree that we want a president who does not use American power like a bully?
Can we not all agree that we want an administration that does not practice torture?
Can we not all say with moral passion and sincerity:
We want a president who does not run roughshod over the Constitution and the law!
We want a president who does not lie continually to the American people!
We want a president who uses his power to help the weaker victims of injustice rather than the mightier perpetrators of such injustice!
We want a president who respects honest inquiry and the understanding that research and knowledge can provide!
We want a president who does not love war, and who is not drawn to create conflict and division!
We want a president who cares about the health of the earth, and about future generations!
We want a president, and a Congress, that takes seriously and honors their oaths of office!
(This is a list that could be expanded.)
Do we not all agree on these things? Do we not agree that these are declarations that need to be heard more prominently in America today?
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