~a column by Colleen O’Brien
“A hero is someone who tries always to do the right thing, even as the walls are closing in.” ~American historian Heather Cox Richardson, 11/10/2024
Trump has yet to “do the right thing.”
What we need is a press that writes about decency as if it is necessary, not repeat lies as if they were of the same importance as truth. We in the press need to flat-out say when a lie is a lie. Journalism of whatever ilk is here to inform the citizenry; I think we need to help define reality, not make-believe.
If the press insists on the truth about everyone they cover, you think we can keep the people together?
The deliberate acts that hurt the people – suppression of the Voting Rights Act, for one; the refusal to accept that we have been racist for four centuries, for another; a president who lied about what he did in office, then lied about what his successor had to fix when he left that office….
And we have to keep remembering that the guy who just got elected, somehow, is the first ever convicted felon to run for the highest office in the land.
Years ago, I wrote a “what if” column about a foreign army taking over Jefferson. I’m writing another, this time made up of real characters led by one: “the enemy within.” He pointed at us – the population that didn’t follow him and called us that. I’m redefining the phrase: “the enemy within” is he; not us. “What if” he took to this presidency, this time, and always told the truth?
The real enemy within is of course him and his lies. As soon as he says what is stirring inside his carousel of a brain, we know it, because his major self-saver is his ability to gallop away with his mouth projecting his every ashamed thought of himself upon whomever he is talking to or about.
He has perfected a way of freeing himself of responsibility for anything. In projecting his thoughts on another, he takes the evil out of himself and places it elsewhere, making himself innocent and forever after positive about who, for example, is the “enemy within.”
He perfects a dead giveaway every time.
Not that the oligarchic press “got it” or that the autocratic press did either. We took him seriously; or as stupid; or as rude; or as an entertainer, a clown. Or we knew exactly who he was and went for the money.
All sides made a lot of money. Even though we were wrong on all counts. Did you ever get the idea that he was merely a frightened old man protecting his hurt heart and sense of inferiority?
Some kids are emotionally hurt as youngsters and take on ways to protect themselves: one way is to hurt others. As adults they may go after those they don’t like or don’t trust. I kind of think that the “enemy within” shows up and becomes really good at getting even … and thrives on it. It becomes a useful habit .
My new “what if” is that this fellow we know and are beginning to fear has reached his apex, and he thinks now is the time to rid the nation of millions he doesn’t want, confine a few to keep them out of the way, or kill some because he likes the word retribution. In his mind, from what he says, this could be all Democrats, anyone who disagrees with him, newspeople in general; comedians who thrive on making fun of him (mostly because he has no sense of humor about himself); intellectuals, the educated; the kind, well-spoken people of goodwill; people of color, unselfish people, people from “shithole countries,” some soldiers and their families, all poor people. Who hasn’t he attacked?
Well, Putin. Maybe the only one he’s afraid of.
The regular press – networks, major-city newspapers – did not keep on top of him and the Far Right, so it turned out that much of what we reported was simply lies repeated. The authoritarians were, unbeknownst to the press, in charge of the press. The Right got to lie about everything, blame the wrong people for what was “wrong,” and wind up with an election that refused a smart, experienced, happy Black woman and rehired a blaming, whining, prevaricating felon.
Because the press did not say the truth about the sneaky things happening on the far right — or the good things happening on the left that Biden did to help the middle class, the populace took what they got from whatever sources. For instance, Trump blaming the high price of eggs on Biden, rather than on the real reasons – interrupted transportation and leftover problems from Trump’s years of COVID, and getting us out of the hole left for Biden that resulted from the ex-president during his first administration giving tax breaks to the wealthy and a pittance to the rest.
We can never survive as a united country when half of it is lying because our news source has told us lies; whether intentionally, out of lackadaisicalness or because of ignorance.
The answer to at least trying to be on the same road lies with the press, in all its many forms in this 21st century. Can we? Can we at least attempt to? I’m all for trying anything that keeps the United States united and happy to be so. It will take goodwill from all of us, especially us in the press.
