Bending the arc of justice
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| MLK Memorial 0006 - 2012-03-15, by Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 2.0 |
In his first answer to a question by Mr. Melber, Rep. Nadler makes a cogent point: the Declaration of Independence avowed that "all men are created equal". But, of course, the Founders didn't believe that. First, it was "men", not "people". So that excluded women. And then, "men" didn't include black slaves. Or Native Americans. Or, really, unpropertied white men. The "men" envisioned in the Declaration as being "equal" were white men of property. The circle of people whom the Founders felt were able to dispense the duties of citizenship was very limited. As much as we loathe him for other reasons, it wasn't until Andrew Jackson, fifty years after the Declaration, that we achieved universal white male suffrage.
But Rep. Nadler also goes on to make this point: the history of this country has been one of slow expansion of whom is covered by the Declaration's stirring writing. People didn't just knuckle under. They didn't bow down to the elitist assumptions of a planter and burgher class. Decade by decade, the definitions put forth in the Declaration and the Constitutions have been expanded, reinterpreted, to include more and more of our fellow-citizens.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling which extended the employment protections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to the LGBTQ+ community. No longer will members of that community be subject to summary dismissal based on their protected status. Many states already had such protections; but now the protections apply nationwide. The petty man in me looks with glee at an employee for a megachurch coming out as gay, and that church being unable to fire him or her without then being open to a lawsuit and possible forfeiture of its tax-exempt status. If you take this to its logical conclusion, Catholic priests can come out as gay, and their bishops won't be able to discipline them for that, as they are a protected class. The mind reels with the possibilities.
But I don't want to talk about petty matters.
I had a rather amusing interaction with a gentleman who was inveighing against voting for Joe Biden. You can look at my timeline to see the conversation, which consisted of him hurling spittle-flecked invectives against "wimpy Democrats", while I calmly tweeted images of creepy ventriloquists' dummies at him, as that was all I thought his arguments were worth.
But I want to address a larger point. This person felt that our country was a lost cause, and that violence between Left and Right was inevitable. This person felt that Joe Biden won't be able to beat Donald Trump, or even if he does he will sink under the consequent Trumpist rage which will be unleashed. This person saw no hope; he saw no lessons to be drawn from the country's past, and no hope for the future. He rather testily admonished me to enjoy "ten years of right wing violence", followed by a kissy emoji. It was almost as if he welcomed the clarifying fire of violence. (Laughably, he said he'd be out on the streets "fighting the fascists".)
People like this person see our history as one of unmitigated disaster. However, people like me—and I'd bet dollars to donuts that I'm not alone—see our history as one of injustices which are then rectified. I see our history as one of sorrow, but with a march towards the light. The sheer audacity of this person to spit in the face of Black marchers, of gay rights fighters, of those who struggled for women's rights, Latinx rights, Asian rights, Native American rights, is gobsmacking, but not surprising. These people truck in dystopia and despair. By stating that the only future we have before us is one of conflict and violence, he upends our entire history. Progress is slow and fitful, too slow for my tastes. But better progress by centimetres, than a war of all against all. People like this lead empty lives which aren't enriched by the stories of struggle and victory which inform our national discourse. He can't get his free college, or legalized pot, so burn it all down. Those of us from communities have been invaded by "saviors" know his type: they wish to use as as cannon fodder for their anger and failure. No, thank you. I'm not going to be the kindling for your revolution. We have one in full flight as I write this, and it's not one based on violence and chaos, but on peace and determination. And it's inspiring the world.
If your outlook on life is so besotted with pain and violence, but for very little good reason, then don't be surprised that no one follows you, save for others who likewise have a paucity of courage. Burning a cop car in the midst of a mob is easy; it's much harder to walk towards a police line, arms raised to show you're not armed, demanding justice. I know which side I'm on: the side of life.
Bending the arc of justice is not a task for those faint of heart, or quick to eruption. But it is the only task which will preserve this Union, and all her citizens.
Hey everyone!
Since this is a feel-good post, I think it's time for a little fundraising. No, Trevor and I don't do this for the filthy lucre. But now I've turned to schnapps, and schnapps money would be greatly appreciated. Only if you can, you can click on this here link to show your appreciation for what we do. Or, if you can't, that's cool. We'll be here for the duration. Just spread the word about this space to people of like minds, or people whom you think can be persuaded by cogent arguments and empathy.