My heart breaks for many of my neighbors afflicted with Trump Delusion Syndrome. It takes a lot of Matt 5:44 to not hate them. Their faithful but deluded devotion has facilitated the most damaging regime of my lifetime. The sad irony is that despite this regime being so antithetical to their actual values, their cognitive dissonance makes it almost impossible for most of them to admit their role in this disaster, let alone even see the disaster through their lenses so tinted by the vile orchestra pit model of journalism that has succeeded in capturing their attention.
It would be ironic if it wasn’t so tragic; the truth is the vast majority of them are responding to the very same crises of oligarchy and plutocracy as my opposing tribe. They want things to be better, they care, but they have just been sold poisonous snake oil that they honestly believe will make things better for themselves and the people they love. Sure there is a basket of deplorables, extremists with dangerous ideas, but this basket comprises a small minority and indeed every faction has a similar basket. Funnily, many of the more deserving among this cohort have chosen it as their ingroup precisely in opposition to the deplorable basket in our tribe.
I’m convinced the way forward requires that we muster compassion for them. They are our fellow citizens, and for all our nation’s flaws, it is a grand experiment in self governance, and they are unquestionably among we the people of this United States of America who are ultimately tasked with that governance. Let us step back from the difficult issues that have become polar rallying cries and step forward onto the common ground of the issues we share: prosperity and affordability, safety and security for the common people over the ruling class. Compassion for each other’s fear and pain can let us step up to each other with grace and consideration for the plights we share, first agreeing to work together to solve them without immediately clashing over the opposing solutions we might favor.
Whatever troubles you, surely enlisting the help of your fellow citizens in its remedy is preferable to raging against them. They are suffering as well, lift them, and they will lift you.
On this second Holly Day, we consider Compassion. I sincerely hope your day is filled with joy and love, but if not so much, trust that I care and will do what I can to help alleviate your suffering.
HOLLY DAYS 