Tomorrow night is the first debate between the presidential candidates of America’s two most prominent parties. The Libertarian and Green Party candidates will not be included.
Hillary Clinton will try to convince us she is honest. Donald Trump will try to convince us he is presidential. Let me humbly assert that the bar for this debate thus seems pretty low. As an American, I expect any who serve in said capacity to be unquestionably both of the above.
But knowing we are a diverse nation — and knowing some of you love the Donald or love the Hillary — knowing some of you fear the Donald or fear the Hillary — and knowing even more are far less enthused for any — let me share one challenging aspect…
Right now there is growing unrest in our country in regard to racial reconciliation. This is not a “sided issue,” friends. Sorry, but “sided” implies we either come at something from the left or the right — and we assume if a person isn’t coming from “my” side, they are coming from the other. We are being seduced into believing that there exist only two possible sides to a problem.
Last week I had lunch with a group of wise thinking adults. We were discussing this issue and there were all sorts of angles and opinions shared at the table. There were comments of “black lives matter,” “blue lives matter,” “all lives matter,” and many more without any expressed mattering. But there was no dissing nor shutting down of opinion; there was no perceived arrogance. There were questions and comments and lots of “help me understand what you’re thinking” expressions. There was also ample admission by many that “I don’t think that way.” But there was no “because you don’t think like me, you are wrong.”
Obviously, the challenge here is that there is no simple fix.
There are racist attitudes that many of us have unknowingly adopted, growing up with them, having no idea we’ve allowed such to sink into our thinking. There are racist attitudes many of us have unknowingly adopted, embracing them as an adults, defending various people, political, and professional groups. And there are racist attitudes, within all ethnicities, which we have sadly, actually, knowingly adopted.
Here, no less, is why the presidential campaigns are relevant…
The current state of our political climate makes it impossible to solve the racial tension. (Yes, I did say the word “impossible.”)
For months, we have heard from our candidates how one is superior to the other. For months, we’ve heard each speak about how their opponent is entirely inferior.
Racism, by definition, is “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”
While Clinton and Trump are not distinguished by their race, they each have actively promoted the idea that they and their party are far superior to the other. They have each, also, denigrated entire people groups, intentionally targeting the other’s supporters.
How can two people — and all the questionable “honest” and “presidential” candidates on their coattails — attempt to bring us together and solve this problem? How can two people who themselves claim superiority — and themselves identify others as inferior (and not just on specific policy disagreements) — how can they be credible and effective in any racial reconciliation? Our country’s current, vicious political climate thus seems a microcosm of the same problem — just not based on skin color.
In tomorrow night’s debate, both candidates will be jockeying to find the right words and right tone. How do we balance the rights of each person with the needs of each community? How do we discriminate against no one and simultaneously honor and respect law enforcement?
I just wish each candidate’s words would have thus far been wiser.
Respectfully…
AR