- Moderator
- #81
I certainly agree that chances of success are significantly higher with Biden. Obviously Trump has chosen sides and Biden would probably try to open lines of communication. But I don't think it would start with him. It still has to begin with other people../;l
I still maintain (in the face of everything going in exactly the opposite direction) that the only way we fix this problem, and other problems, is to hold our "sides" accountable for their actions. And those of us -- probably the majority -- who don't see any reason to cling to a "side", we have to just keep fighting for that.
Look at what happens when the Left is pretending to have a serious discussion on race, for example. The entire conversation (and I'm talking about talk shows, forums on CSPAN, all of it) is about what the Right is doing wrong. No honest self-examination or accountability. No admission that perhaps things are being done wrong on their end. And of course, precisely the same thing happens on the other end. The Right absolutely refuses to honestly listen to what minorities are saying.
I can't say I'm not on a side - I am "left" plain and simple. It's hard to take an honest look without just being defensive in the constant barrage of noise and attack directed at us. But I agree. And racial issues are a particularly good point. Rather than listening, we stake out a position on a hill and defend it to the death, repeating "but but the right".
And my guess is that we'll need a few very brave individuals on each end to loudly and clearly say "enough is enough", and urge communication and honesty. Someone has to get the momentum started on this, and it will have to come from people who are willing to take a beating from their "side" to do it.
In terms of the political picture...I do see some possibility of light if Biden gets elected. The fact that there are Republicans supporting him is auspicious. But he will still have to contend with the party's progressive base. The fact that he came straight out and said he isn't for "defunding police" is a positive along with looking at ways of reforming it, such as consent decrees. We can't ignore the fact that both racial minorities AND police are feeling very beleaguered right now.
But as time goes on, I'm becoming less confident this will happen. For the first time, I really am wondering if those who are so committed to separating may get their way. These people are weak, and they are cowards, but they're winning right now.
I am very afraid. Never seen anything like this in my adult life. I'm told the civil rights/vietnam/1960's era was very divisive. But I was a child living overseas then. So I don't really know.
Biden will only have four years if elected. I only see him as a "reset"...what happens after depends on us.