I just saw a meme that I will describe and not share.
On the left is a young man, marked “Democrats,” holding tightly to the arm of a young woman, with scratches on her face, on the right, identified as “America.” He says to her, “C’mon, man, I’m sorry you made me angry. Let’s unite.”
A note by the poster said, “Gaslighting culture.”
I am now on “unfollow” with this soul.
I don’t think this person realizes that some people would put the name of the incumbent on the young man.
I just think such a meme is not at all helpful - NOR IS IT ACCURATE.
But I now learned something about what some people are feeling, and it is not based in reality. It’s based on everything this person has taken in and believed, including the claim that Rep. Matt Goetz made about “antifa” being at the Capitol on Wednesday, when we are getting a stream of identifications of known right-wing extremists who were there, with some subsequent arrests.
When someone posts a meme like this, sadly, I see no path for discussion or engagement.
As Shabbat begins to arrive, quite soon, what I do hope is the our rhetoric will calm down, our memes will be humorous and poignant rather than caustic and untrue, and that discourse among citizens and among legislators will be respectful, even if heated, conversation about ideas and policy, in a way that DOES NOT DENIGRATE ANYONE’S HUMANITY, or in a way the precludes friendships.
But a few ground rules:
No denigrating ridicule.
No xenophobia.
No fomenting of fear.
No questioning of who is a citizen and who gets to be an aspiring citizen.
No - or, please, God, a radical decrease in - racism.
No voter suppression.
No promotion of inequality to sustain an oligarchy.
Wide support of people in need of jobs, food, and assistance.
Strong encouragement of health care heroes.
Offering a steady flow of condolences to family members of those who have died of COVID-19
Looking out for each other’s well-being.
Doing our best to think the best of each other.
Keeping knowledge, understanding, and peace as our goals for our nation and the world.
Shabbat Shalom, everyone.
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