Looks like it the Syrian refugee crisis was the tipping point from the neo-Confederacy that dared not speak its name to loud, proud all-American fascism.
I and others have called out the Republican Party for being the contemporary embodiment of an American anti-egalitarian tradition that favors domination over democracy, privilege over equality, exclusive “liberties” over inclusive freedom, obedience over justice, exploitation over kindness, and force and fear over rule of law. But not, so far, to its face.
It’s time we called the Republican Party out to its face.
We need to ask every Republican governor, senator and representative, every Republican state legislator, point-blank:
Do you believe that some people are more deserving of dignity and rights than others? Do you believe we have an obligation to act toward all other people in a spirit of brotherhood, or that some people are not deserving of this? Do you think that some people ought to have more or fewer liberties because of their race, their sex, their religion, the language they speak, their political opinions, or how rich or poor they are? Do you believe that there is a divinely ordained way things are supposed to be and that Americans have a right to protect this order against any threat by any means necessary? Do you believe that force and intimidation, on the part of either the state or citizens acting independently, are sometimes necessary to keep certain people in line? Do you believe that torture is sometimes useful or necessary? Do you believe that some criminal suspects should be presumed guilty, even before they are tried in court? Do you believe that certain opinions, convictions or faiths shouldn’t be allowed? Do you believe that some people, because of who they are, don’t really deserve to be happy, healthy or safe? Do you believe that public discourse is threatened by the “politically correct” insistence that people be shown decency no matter who they are?We need to contact them and ask them these questions, every single one. We need to make their answers a matter of public record. We need to collect their answers in one highly visible place. The goal is twofold: to take the answers that affirm the universality of human rights and dignity and use them to move the Overton window of civic values back to a safe and sane place; and to take those that reject human rights and dignity and hold them up to public shame, to shine a cold light on just how inhumane and appalling they are.
The American values of liberty, equality and justice for all aren’t going to defend themselves, and in my lifetime, they’ve never needed defending as badly as they do now.