For the past week, the lack of D.C. civility has again dominated news cycles. Thanks should be offered to the Markle Family dysfunction for giving us a break.
A White House aide made a lousy, though for that group typical remark, about Senator John McCain, who is suffering though an aggressive form of brain cancer. The aide’s comment was immediately leaked. Everyone feigned outrage. The administration was pissy that it had leaked, while the growing industry of social arbiters demanded an official White House apology. The aide allegedly called McCain’s wife to say she was sorry, but that was, and remains, the extent of any walk-back.
It was, at best, an incredibly insensitive remark. At worst, another example of the bile and hatred cherished within this administration, a group that is angry, mostly white, and out to enrich themselves while destroying anything that resembles decency, good will or honest brokering. The volatile President plays to crowds of even angrier sycophantic followers, mostly scared, aging and fed-up white people who don’t care what is done in their name, as long as it’s done to someone they feel has maligned or slighted them over the years. Lack of broad focus and missing common sense aren’t helping.
(Full Disclosure – MaxTheWarrior is an aging white guy.)
The current toxic climate, along with movements like MeToo – as needed and overdue as it may be – make it too easy to climb on politically correct high horses.
No one is better at this than Americans. Partaking in mind-numbing rituals, sipping latte’s and thumbing through countless phone apps, while silently spinning themselves into states of medicated and narcissistic self-deception. Despite what older generations like to peddle, it’s not just millennials who are entitled. With apologies to Carly Simon, no one does it better, or so we tell ourselves because we are Americans. This kind of thinking offers a pass for rigorous mental and physical pursuits. Instead, it’s another scone, or chunk of lemon pound cake, while texting anyone who offers any sort of connection. And these are supposed to be the more enlightened. (Elitist – for you red hats.)
We wish we were more shocked, or outraged, by what we hear and what we see. If there was any reality, most of these types, ON ALL SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE, would have been subjected to a few more humbling experiences. Bullies aren’t born. A few ass kickings might have straightened out some perceptions.
And enough already, with the constant and shrill debate over moral high ground. It doesn’t exist.