The ugliness of abusive Americans does not make US great in the eyes of the rest of us.
Even if the lies he told had been true (Trump's lies are not true), the build-up to January 6th was based in hate and violence, all the things God says God hates, and yet the religious symbols and religious communities connected with Trump and MAGA continue to be ubiquitous.
It is a useful exercise to look at how we are seen by others, whether we do that as individuals from time to time as a growth exercise, or as a nation, so we can grow together and heal as a community. A healthy person can take truthful feedback.
As someone who watches foreign news' sources as much as, and perhaps more than, American news' organizations, I have had a very different experience of the aftermath of January 6th, because I am not just involved as an American, I am seeing what we look like.
Image is not the point in growth: facing reality is very important, and a reputation does matter. If we turn towards barbarism and regressive misogyny, we cannot compete in a world where liberty, equality and solidarity are values we once sought to emulate, and have even preached. Other nations will step up to the plate of greatness, and Americans will pass into this stupidly bickering abyss of nihilism we have been living in of late.
United we thrive, divided we fall, but how can we unite with people who are fine with a significant proportion of US being violently subjugated or murdered, and who gaslight US about it by calling themselves Pro Life or Liberty?
Words do have objective meanings, and many Europeans see what is happening here much more clearly than Americans, because they had no option to be isolationist during the second world war. Americans have had the luxury of fighting their wars on other peoples' lands, and this has allowed many Americans to remain ignorant and petty little narcissists.
They might not hate on their neighbors and call it life or love, if they understood the history we have had.
Must it come to that again, before Americans are humble enough to learn?
Comments