NEWFANE — It is hard to know where to start with this long op-ed piece by Dan DeWalt.
He starts off asking about how people can believe certain things and not accept facts. What facts, I wonder? The facts he believes? Are we not able to have our own beliefs?
Then he says that beliefs that are contrary to his are “incomprehensible to most Americans.” Actually, that isn't true. Rasmussen polling shows about a 50/50 split in our country and 56 percent of Americans think that split is getting worse. He continues by calling our beliefs “the latest preferred fiction.” That is arrogant and condescending.
Then he details past injustice to Native Americans and Black people. Most Americans of all political stripes acknowledge our sins of the past.
He talks a lot about wars. If he is looking for an argument, I won't give him one on the main point -that wars are often fueled by lies, greed, and the quest for power. Of the 46 presidents we have had in this country, all except 16 presided over a war or conflict. Those Presidents were from both parties.
He talks about media lies. Again, I totally agree. I do find it quite rich that he implies that one side buys the lies and one side does not. Hmm … I wonder which is which?
You see, it is all about our beliefs, our life experiences, and our desire for the future. There is room in this great land for all different views. At least, that's what I believe. I'm not feeling it from the other side.
He talks about our “collective trauma.” I'd be interested about numbers of people who feel “traumatized” and who they are. While I may feel disillusioned, disappointed, and discouraged, I do not feel traumatized, nor do the people I know.
I didn't feel traumatized over the riots on the West Coast. I was angry over the lack of response.
I didn't feel traumatized over the impeachment trials. I was angry over the not-so-hidden agenda.
I was not traumatized over the horrendous number of shootings in Chicago. I was angry about the lack of control over the safety and security of our cities.
I was not traumatized over the results of the 2020 election. I was angry about the shenanigans.
And the list goes on.
There are lots of people with whom I disagree on issues and solutions - some are very close to me. I am able to understand that they are coming from their personal experiences, social contacts, and ideas about where we are, how we got here, and where we should try to go. I can't emphasize enough that it is not necessary for us to agree in order to care about each other. The differences do not traumatize me.
I wonder when Dan talks about rewiring our miserable collective psyche, does he really mean all of us or just those that he feels need rewiring?