I’m increasingly embarrassed about how inhumane people can be. Nowhere is this more evident than in the current state of American foreign policy and the short-sighted indulgence of large voting blocs. Every morning the news brings new or continued stories of killings, destruction, war and famine. The awful disregard for human life in Gaza and the Middle East, the wars in Iran and Ukraine, as well as the violence in Africa are kept going by national interests and the personal ambitions of rapacious leaders. And people die and die and die; Ukrainians, Iranians, Russians, Palestinians and unnamed others.
I’ve already voted, still driven by the belief that something might be done to rescue the United States from its complicity in the violence and destruction of democracy, here and abroad. I’ve seen the polls, all with promise for a landslide for Democrats. Increasingly, all around me, friends, news sources, polls, pundits talk of taking back the House and Senate from the bad guys as a fait accompli. I understand the need, the sentiments, the fear and denial, but I just can’t get aboard. Call me a pessimist, but I’ve seen too many times over the years where the current president has done disreputable things, violated tradition and constitutional restraints. He has abused people, cheated and lied and yet, many of my friends and countless others have stood by, enabling him on all fronts. I wish it weren’t so, but large voting blocs of Americans, for partisan and personal reasons, must share the guilt for our present amoral dysfunction and anti-democratic behavior.
For now, I hope that my fellow citizens of all stripes come to their senses and put aside partisanship on November 3rd. My biggest fear is that too many won’t.