Last week, our nation was rocked by a series of terrorist activities- from the synagogue shooting to the string of failed pipe bombs sent to prominent liberals.
Naturally, as these things go, the conversation almost immediately went to a debate over who deserves the blame for these attacks. Liberals blamed President Trump and his rhetoric, especially at rallies, and noted that they often take on violent dimensions. Conservatives blamed the media for not being held accountable for their own violent rhetoric.
Ultimately, though, the blame should fall 100% on the shoulders of the terrorists who carry out those attacks. They, alone, are responsible for their actions, and I deplore anyone who suggests, otherwise.
However, it is still incumbent upon the president to take the first step to truly attempt to unite and heal this nation. Our nation is too polarized- not just ideologically, but culturally and socially. Trump did not create these divisions, but he has exploited him to degrees that are harmful to our nation’s health.
Trump and his conservative allies have, predictably, placed the blame on the media for fostering their own flames of public discontent. And sure, the media do share some of the blame for their reactions and spins that sometimes cross the line into violent rhetoric.
Trump, however, has a far more powerful microphone than any of them have. The presidency is a bully pulpit that commands a truly unique position within the system of American politics. The president, alone, speaks as the nationally-elected representative of the American people, but more importantly, the president functions as the “First Citizen” of our republic. This concept, a foundational pillar of classical republicanism, is woven into the very fabric of our Constitution (see the Federalist essays on the presidency) and was brought to life by the presidency of George Washington. This idea is that the president is the first among a nation of equals, and as such, he must serve as a role model who transcends the bitter and petty disputes that are natural to any free and fair system of government. The president must be judicious, cautious, and cognizant of the weight of his words. He must be a figure who can unify the nation and be the model of civility that other politicians and figures in the media generally fail to be.
President Trump, however, is anything but the nation’s “First Citizen.” Instead of the republican virtue exemplified by George Washington, Trump is the model of vile demagoguery that the Founders feared above all else. Whereas Washington prudently thought through everything he was going to say before uttering any words to the public, Trump Tweets with reckless abandon on a dizzying array of topics. The Tweets are often conspiratorial or insulting in nature, and sometimes even jeopardize national security and international relations. But he reserves his worst behavior for the media. In addition to Tweets he should never make about the media, Trump also directs his audience to boo, harass, and curse at the media at just about every rally. The ritualistic jeering is eerily reminiscent of the “Two Minute Hate” ritual in George Orwell’s classic, 1984. To say that the President should not be encouraging such behavior at rallies should seem self-evident to anyone who has had even the most cursory look at the formation of the office and the conduct of its subsequent officeholders, but alas, it is a behavior that Republicans and conservative media figures are more than willing to defend.
Again, the fault for terrorism should always fall squarely on the terrorist. For example, we do not blame the Beatles for Charles Manson’s attempts to start a race war. Nonetheless, President Trump should do some honest reflections on how he has contributed to an overly-hostile national political environment. Perhaps some media outlets should, as well, but Trump needs to step up and, at the very least, cease with the demagogic red meat he throws to his base. That means quitting the ritualistic hate sessions at his rallies that he directs at the media. That means not labeling the press as the "Enemy of the People," a phrase that is among the most demagogic a politician can utter. That means thinking before he Tweets and not Tweeting things that are unhelpful or dangerous to the health of our political environment. That means not whining all the time. He is our Commander in Chief and the First Citizen of our nation, and he should act like it. Even if the media do not start covering him in the manner he would like (which I imagine would be akin to Sean Hannity’s endlessly-glowing praise of him), he still has the responsibility to be the role model and example who can heal the nation.
Naturally, as these things go, the conversation almost immediately went to a debate over who deserves the blame for these attacks. Liberals blamed President Trump and his rhetoric, especially at rallies, and noted that they often take on violent dimensions. Conservatives blamed the media for not being held accountable for their own violent rhetoric.
Ultimately, though, the blame should fall 100% on the shoulders of the terrorists who carry out those attacks. They, alone, are responsible for their actions, and I deplore anyone who suggests, otherwise.
However, it is still incumbent upon the president to take the first step to truly attempt to unite and heal this nation. Our nation is too polarized- not just ideologically, but culturally and socially. Trump did not create these divisions, but he has exploited him to degrees that are harmful to our nation’s health.
Trump and his conservative allies have, predictably, placed the blame on the media for fostering their own flames of public discontent. And sure, the media do share some of the blame for their reactions and spins that sometimes cross the line into violent rhetoric.
Trump, however, has a far more powerful microphone than any of them have. The presidency is a bully pulpit that commands a truly unique position within the system of American politics. The president, alone, speaks as the nationally-elected representative of the American people, but more importantly, the president functions as the “First Citizen” of our republic. This concept, a foundational pillar of classical republicanism, is woven into the very fabric of our Constitution (see the Federalist essays on the presidency) and was brought to life by the presidency of George Washington. This idea is that the president is the first among a nation of equals, and as such, he must serve as a role model who transcends the bitter and petty disputes that are natural to any free and fair system of government. The president must be judicious, cautious, and cognizant of the weight of his words. He must be a figure who can unify the nation and be the model of civility that other politicians and figures in the media generally fail to be.
President Trump, however, is anything but the nation’s “First Citizen.” Instead of the republican virtue exemplified by George Washington, Trump is the model of vile demagoguery that the Founders feared above all else. Whereas Washington prudently thought through everything he was going to say before uttering any words to the public, Trump Tweets with reckless abandon on a dizzying array of topics. The Tweets are often conspiratorial or insulting in nature, and sometimes even jeopardize national security and international relations. But he reserves his worst behavior for the media. In addition to Tweets he should never make about the media, Trump also directs his audience to boo, harass, and curse at the media at just about every rally. The ritualistic jeering is eerily reminiscent of the “Two Minute Hate” ritual in George Orwell’s classic, 1984. To say that the President should not be encouraging such behavior at rallies should seem self-evident to anyone who has had even the most cursory look at the formation of the office and the conduct of its subsequent officeholders, but alas, it is a behavior that Republicans and conservative media figures are more than willing to defend.
Again, the fault for terrorism should always fall squarely on the terrorist. For example, we do not blame the Beatles for Charles Manson’s attempts to start a race war. Nonetheless, President Trump should do some honest reflections on how he has contributed to an overly-hostile national political environment. Perhaps some media outlets should, as well, but Trump needs to step up and, at the very least, cease with the demagogic red meat he throws to his base. That means quitting the ritualistic hate sessions at his rallies that he directs at the media. That means not labeling the press as the "Enemy of the People," a phrase that is among the most demagogic a politician can utter. That means thinking before he Tweets and not Tweeting things that are unhelpful or dangerous to the health of our political environment. That means not whining all the time. He is our Commander in Chief and the First Citizen of our nation, and he should act like it. Even if the media do not start covering him in the manner he would like (which I imagine would be akin to Sean Hannity’s endlessly-glowing praise of him), he still has the responsibility to be the role model and example who can heal the nation.
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