Dear Maria Eugenia,
These last days have been astoundingly sad for our nation. During forty years as college faculty, I constantly encouraged students develop an appreciation for the privilege of living in the United States. I related my 1980 conversation with a Chilean tourist who told me, “You Americans have too many freedoms.”
Then there was my conversation with four Spanish attorneys and a bank officer in Madrid. They welcomed me and demonstrated admiration for the United States as a bastion of strength and a living example of a free people. But the bank officer asked how we ever allowed the likes of Donald Trump to sit as president. He reiterated his country’s history of 36 years under dictator Francisco Franco, who executed civilian political prisoners from 1929 until 1971. Franco died in 1975 and Spain has endeavored to remove all public monuments to this evil person, disinterring him last year from a monumental tomb in front of the altar of a cathedral built by the slave labor of his political prisoners.
The banker expressed concern for the United States, using the term “impericidio,” or national death to emphasize his fear for America’s future. I spoke of the significance of the Declaration of Independence, that the Bill of Rights demonstrates to the world how a truly democratic republic functions, how it was written to guide its people by laws and legal institutions. I stated the principle that “freedom is not free,” that citizens must actively participate to ensure rule of the majority regulates our freedoms by voting and that citizens’ votes are respected. Ours is an experiment that is still in progress.
The world has looked up to the United States, and lately Donald Trump caused embarrassment among our allies and elicited mockery from our foes. Rule of the majority does not mean pleasing all citizens, but that human worth of all individuals is respected and we have protected rights to improve our lives and those of others, that Americans pursue happiness while respecting all citizens’ rights. A country is defined by how well it provides security for its residents, including the most disadvantaged.
The philosophy of ancient Greeks, Romans, and the European Enlightenment guided the Founding Fathers to ensure our Constitutional government is the most fair and just method to guide our nation. Changes are made through civil discourse, representative’s deliberation and free elections, not by violent rioting mobs. Society evolves and changes constantly as population grows and diversifies, as new technologies and scientific discoveries improve our lives; we test these, discard the useless and proceed with what is best for humanity.
Each generation’s need differs from the last, and the Constitution is amended accordingly. The senseless and imbecilic assault on our Capitol, the hallowed edifice where our freely elected representatives conduct governance of our nation, is retrogressive and stultifies what two and a half centuries of struggle have wrought – the richest, strongest, and freest nation in the world.
Our experiment in democracy requires a delicate balance of respect for the individual and rule of law. What Wednesday’s rioters blindly desire is tribalistic rule, a false sense that they are the “threatened” majority and anyone who doesn’t agree with them, like their false idol Donald Trump promotes, is automatically an enemy. They riot like ancient Romans burning buildings and killing Christians when Emperor Nero lied and blamed this minority sect for Rome’s social ills. Trump cultists hide under the label of “patriot”, wrapping themselves in the flag, anyone different is not a true American. These rioters were not “patriotic;” they are violent insurrectionists, grossly mistaken with idiotic views that deny of what America really is – the Land of the Free.
Most Americans don’t read books. Released in 2017, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump,” edited by Yale School of Medicine Bandy X. Lee MD, presented over 470 pages of testimonials from twenty-seven practicing psychiatrists and clinical psychologists who felt the public must be warned that Donald Trump was mad, ba,d or both and questioned his ability to govern the United States. This ignorant man knows nothing of history, geography, sociology, or diplomacy and lacks any semblance of morality or decency, yet was conniving enough to influence large numbers of credulous followers to believe his non-stop lying. Josef Goebbels, Adolph Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda, stated that people can become fanatically nationalistic when a lie, repeated enough times, is eventually perceived as truth. George Orwell called such propaganda “double speak,” where war is good and peace is bad. Trump’s “double speak” created large numbers of “useful idiots,” like the Trump Truck Paraders and the criminals who vandalized the Capitol January 6. Such nit-wits, when asked why they follow Trump reply “Biden will take all our guns away!” They bandy about terms like “socialist, elitist, communist, and liberal” as insults, imitating their numbskull dear leader’s name-calling instead of offering sensible debatable topics related to administrative policy. One rioter called “Antifa” fascist, not realizing that Antifa title means “Anti-fascist. Their ignorance is boundless, hollow people who, like lemmings, are willing to follow their ilk over a cliff.
Trump followers display confirmation bias, absorbing just enough data to confirm their beliefs and refusing to accept facts that contradict their comfort zone, much like the Laredo Republican who said “All I need is my church and Fox News.” They prefer to socialize with those of similar beliefs, echo chambers that keep repeating their biases. Theirs is wishful thinking, much like followers of televangelist conmen. Convinced they’ve been deprived of control of their lives; they express their fears by joining like thinkers who promulgate hate. This worsens as they listen to their “dear leader” lie and incite violence. Trump is evil and cares nothing about our country and citizens as long as others are committing atrocities at his bidding, paying off porn stars, scamming contractors, enriching his family’s holdings, then cowardly denying any responsibility. Stating “I know more than the generals” when he never served the military and received five draft deferments for “heel spurs,” and then couldn’t even remember which foot ailed.
Trump further lied about the spread of COVID-19, publicly attempting to quell any concern about its deadly spread and continuously blaming China, his favorite “go-to” whipping boy. He blocked scientists’ expert analyses and recommendations concerning public health. He stated he knows more than experts, even suggesting that bleach or antiseptic spray can be introduced into people’s lungs or veins. This is one of the most stupendously and deeply stupid public statements he’s made among his hundreds of lies. Why people blindly believe is beyond any sensibility. Trump unabashedly shows he believes most Americans are stupid and gullible enough to do so.
His recent public rally in which he, together with family and Rudy Giuliani, openly incited the assault of our National Capitol is nothing if not criminal and traitorous. Laredoans who blindly sided with him fully know Trump’s vile amoral behavior and are complicit enablers, especially a local banker soliciting money for Trump’s futile lawsuits to overturn the election and the GOP leader who stated that Democratic victory in Georgia is “… a step in the wrong direction for the country.” One has to be willfully blind to not see the evil divisiveness Trump has caused to the nation. President Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris already stated, just like the new Democratic Senators from Georgia, that they will work for ALL AMERICANS. Why does the local GOP leader want to sow doubt instead of working towards unity and what is best for the nation? Trump is a definite detriment for America; we see that every day. He could care less about the country as he alienated allies and kissed up to strongman dictators. Laredo’s Republican “leader” wants to jump out of the frying pan into the fire, stating “I think (Trump) really has a chance of running again in 2024.” Why would he want evil to befall his fellow citizens? Is he denying the existence of a democratic republic where ALL AMERICANS are represented and civil and human rights are respected? Where would he lead, to what end would he desire evil upon fellow citizens?
Like Sam Cooke sang, “It’s been a long time coming, but I feel a change is gonna come.” It’ll be difficult, what with the spreading COVID pandemic and the backwards movement of our country under Donald Trump, but we have to unite and cooperate, sit at the table and debate. Willful blindness, intimidation, tribalization, and criminal violence go against the very principles that Americans have lived, toiled and died to preserve. Compromise, open civil discourse, active participation, and an educated public will allow our country to remain the Land of the Free.
Peace to all, evil to none,
Carlos Valle Jr.
Excellent, Carlos. Many have expressed similar thoughts this week, but few so clearly and persuasively expressed. Many of the things you list at the end, “Compromise, open civil discourse, active participation, and an educated public” (especially the last!) will take a long time to be realized. We may not live to see them, but there is wisdom in planting trees whose fruits we will not live long enough to harvest. Thank you. Laredo Proud. Dan
Mr. Clouse, I read your writings of growing up in Laredo with gusto, as they bring back my memories as well. I vividly recall the sound of T-28 Trojans revving up at LAFB back in the 1950s, among other memories.
NB, y’all: (1) The years of Francisco Franco’s Spanish dictatorship were 1939 to 1975. He jailed, enslaved and executed political (civilian) citizens from 1939, the last recorded execution was 1971.
(2) The phrase concerning Trump’s alleged “heel spurs” is grammatically not a complete sentence. My Ursuline Sister/St. Joseph Marist Brother teachers would be wincing and correcting my wordiness as well!