The New, Giant Political Rift Everyone Missed This Week
Although the internet today is supposed to help reinforce our belief systems, I for one spend a lot of time with people from all across the political spectrum, for both professional and personal reasons. I don’t bring up too much about politics with any groups, but I do observe and generally lament everyone talking past each other.
Well in the past few days I have seen something much worse than that, and due to this internet-enabled insulation and other causes I am sure I don’t fully understand, everyone seems to have missed it.
And that is in the aftermath of the worst loss of police life in the US since 9/11, many people brought condolences and casseroles to their local police station. Not just ones in Dallas, not just ones in Texas. Everywhere.
Because a good portion of the population — not evil racists, just people—respect and appreciate law and order above almost all else. Not from fear, tradition, tribalism, or inertia, but as one key part of being a community, and holding together as a group against outsiders who commit any crimes, but most of all murder for political gain.
And these people saw a lot of the public ignoring or repurposing the Dallas attacks. They saw that #BlackLivesMatter protests continued without a single day of mourning, and that some in the leadership made statements that can be read as excusing a police murderer.
They see questioning about the use of force, and where the bad guy got his gun from, and wonder why there is no civil rights investigation when “kill white police” is stated to be the motive by the shooter.
They see police being professional, protecting protestors from gunfire, in cities like Dallas that have been pointed out as bastions of cooperation and transparency, continuing to be attacked as universally racist thugs.
You disagree with their characterization? Fine. You paint them as out of touch racists? That’s taking it too far and is simply adding to the divisiveness. At the very least, people with these opinions are urban immigrants, hispanics, and african-americans, not just suburban/exurban white folks.
Let me conclude with one other observation I have made from how far the law and order segment feels pushed: More than one who previously was going to vote for Clinton for sure has said they are now considering Trump.
Yes, Trump who they still think is a scary fool, but at least he’s less opposed to what they perceive as the progressive movement simply giving up on their perception of a cohesive, shared, safe American society.
Now that’s a worrying trend.
Yes, I am a white suburbanite. You can dismiss me if you wish but if you care: 1) I am reporting, and as much as possible not expressing my opinions 2) We’ve fostered a lot of kids. Black teens included. I have given The Talk on several occasions. 3) I have had to talk to police about teens of color in my care, and I myself have been in handcuffs in police cars for bullshit reasons. I do try to be experienced and usefully empathetic.
