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(Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle)
Colbert I. King writes today about how the hopeful phrase "that's not who we are" that President Obama (most recently at the memorial for the victims of the Dallas shooting) and others have used to soothe Americans in moments of mayhem stands in sharp contrast to the "national disorder" that truly reflects "who we are" as a nation:
He [Obama] proclaimed us to be a people who won’t be driven apart, who believe in coming together and making our country reflect the good inside us.
No, Mr. President, we are not.
Air Force One had hardly cleared Dallas airspace before the attacks began. “7 Disgusting Things Obama Said While Hijacking Memorial for Slain Dallas Police” read a headline for a piece by the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro. “Opportunistic,” “despicable,” “a moral turd sandwich,” slimed Shapiro.King then shares some disturbing e-mails he's received recently from some =cough= white =cough= people who are far from "coming together and making our country reflect the good inside us," concluding:
They represent an uncomfortable truth: There are hordes of Americans who aren’t about to guard against the prejudice in their heads and hearts or teach their children better. They don’t much care what people who don’t look, speak or pray like them think.
And in a matter of days, a dangerous demagogue who preys on ignorance and racial fears will probably become the Republican nominee for president. Exploiting resentments and stirring up hate, he won more votes in a GOP nominating contest than were won by anyone before. More voters, those who make up who we are, will join his side in November."Who we are" as a nation must allow for the uncomfortable truth that King lays out: we have a lot of people in this country whose dark hearts and simple minds will never be changed, and who at times may have the power to enforce their prejudices upon some or all of us. That's why we have to be watchful and can't be sanguine about the "goodness of the American people" carrying the day. If you were so inclined, you'd have a hard time explaining to us how a neo- fascist ignoramus like Donald "Rump" Trump could be polling at 40 percent or more.
Suffice it to say, at the very least, this presidential election will provide, as John Fugelsang put it, an accurate head count of Americans who are "selfish xenophobic morons." (And lest you think we're succumbing to the same emotions driving others to distraction, we refer you to this oldie but goodie.)
