There is a time in many civilizations, past and present, when it becomes a practical, moral necessity to speak “truth to power.” This was done by the group of colonies which became the United States, in first complaining to King George III of England’s ministers about unjust taxes, then taking determined, sustained arms against what was perceived as tyranny.
It took eight years to create a liveable result – freedom, which has lasted for 250 years and may last longer if the ship of state can course-correct as has been done in dire situations before.
We are in one of these, right now. A former national chief executive has continued to affirm his right to challenge a federal election’s result with which he disagreed, because its verdict was to retire him from power.
He encouraged, though he denies this, armed insurrection against the stated will of a majority of citizens of our nation, believing – correctly – that a cadre of extremists then in his administration and in parts of the U.S. would support him. They did and continue to do so. Innocent people died needlessly because of his action, for which the former President has never accepted responsibility, nor has it been required of him.
Those are objective facts. In the current, close presidential election this November, I believe that reason and sanity will prevail and the right candidate will be chosen as our new President, “right” meaning balanced, sane, ethical and decisive. Most voters have by now decided firmly which candidate they will support. ‘Nuff said.
The rest is denouement, and I do not believe, contrary to some dire predictions, that “civil war” will result if the national will does not produce a result preferred by an extremist minority which will be unsatisfied with any outcome other than dictatorship.
This drama is not new in the world, nor is it unique to the U.S. After demonstrating, many years ago, that his brown shirt thugs were up to violence and riot targeting a working minority of citizens by race and religion, Adolf Hitler, handed a short jail sentence, rose to protracted supreme power in Germany, voted in TWICE to national leadership by at least 90% of the German electorate: this in a modern, mechanized, civilized and educated society which promoted philosophy, religion and social good.
The majority of the people WANTED Hitler there, loved his making the trains run on time, and backed him throughout a world war which decimated and nearly eradicated their civil existence.
This inexplicable mass belief obtains in Russia today, though the former Soviet populace is in few ways comparable to a western European post-royal nation, except that both Germany and Russia were governed for centuries by tyrants with the title of “emperor.”
After that, one supposes that something else would be preferred, but not so. In Russia today, we see the continued occupancy of near-supreme power in the Kremlin by a short, plain and scheming minor espionage apparatchik who found ways to manipulate colleagues and officials into trusting that he – Vladimir Putin – would advance the public good in Mother Russia and could be relied upon to keep her steady at the helm in a changing international climate.
His predecessor, Yeltsin, in an uneasy post-Communist environment, dying from liver disease and alcoholism, lighted upon Putin as a potential savior of the Russian state and people, following his own imminent demise.
Anointed into power, Putin played it to the hilt, using his command of German and glad-hands to entrance western politicians and make a sitting U.S. President believe he might work with him.
Evil may display disarming charm, and Putin’s success was a downfunding of the U.S. defense budget during a subsequent administration, such that Pentagon secretariat offices were scrambling for staples. Warships were retired, and new armaments delayed by pork-barrel demands that production be sited in powerful Congressmens’ districts.
Looking at Russia head-on: the people WANT PUTIN THERE, with a 70%+ approval rating hardly dented by the Ukrainian Kursk incursion. Responsibility for the Russian-Ukraine war is theirs, entirely: Putin is a creation of national will, as was Hitler. Few of the total percent of Russians are rich, educated or conceive of real freedom. Fear of it keeps Putin in power; many allow themselves to be lied to and “taken care of.” Perhaps the mounting body count at the front will change some minds.
Linda Berry is a Northsider.
