Here's the dividing line in our uncivil war
Stephen H. Provost
We’re not in a civil war, we’re in an UN-civil war. A civil war would require a clear geographic divide with significant military firepower on both sides.
We don’t have that.
The rural and urban divide between red and blue is more pronounced in some states than others, but it’s a nationwide phenomenon. Plus, whoever holds the government controls the most powerful military in the world. Not exactly a fair fight.
It’s not really a cold war, because everyone’s hot under the collar. In fact, it’s patently uncivil, with plenty of shouting, accusations, and name-calling.
You might say it’s a war between Republicans and Democrats, or conservatives and liberals, and in large measure, that’s true. But at the heart of it, it’s a war between reality and denial. Nearly half the country has been sold a bill of goods by Donald Trump and his cronies. But they don’t want to admit they’ve been swindled — because it would involve admitting they’re the worst thing in Trumpworld: losers and suckers.
This isn’t to say that liberals haven’t been in denial from time to time themselves. They’ve refused to accept Hillary Clinton’s high negatives (in much the same way Trumpists refuse to accept their champion’s bad approval ratings). They’ve been largely unaware of how pervasive racism still is in the United States. They’ve taken certain states for granted and oversimplified their approach to some demographics.
But when it comes to denial these days, Trump is doing his best to corner the market. Here are just a few “inconvenient truths” that Trump and his supporters insist on denying — and not just denying, but lashing out at anyone who dares to stand up for them.
The threat of COVID-19
Climate change
Trump’s own lack of civility
His incompetence
His schemes to enrich himself using taxpayer dollars
The results of the 2020 election
The results of the 2016 popular vote
Barack Obama’s birth certificate
Attendance at the 2016 inauguration
The efficacy (or lack thereof) of hydroxychloroquine
Trump’s attempt to smear Joe Biden by blackmailing a foreign leader
The implications of the Access Hollywood tape
Stormy Daniels
Trump University
Doctors
Scientists
Our international allies
Pennsylvania voters
United States of America v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management, Inc.
Police brutality
Systemic racism
Masks (they work)
Social distancing (it works, too)
The expertise of career public servants
Trump’s fake machismo
John McCain’s civility
Mitt Romney’s ethics
Rudy Giuliani’s competence
Roger Stone’s dignity
Paul Manafort’s integrity
Steve Bannon’s virtue
Joe Biden’s...
Decency
Dedication
Empathy
Perseverance
Kamala Harris’s...
Intelligence
Relatability
Charisma
Commitment
The threat of Russia
Nepotism
Why the Confederate flag is offensive
Why monuments to racist traitors are intolerable
The real message of athletes who kneel
Superspreader events
Impeachment
The fact that Robert Mueller “did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President’s conduct regarding obstruction charges
Equality
I’m sure I’ve missed a whole lot more, but you get the picture.