Requiem for history's forgotten lessons
Is a close call with national divorce or some form of civil war in the US necessary for the reemergence of wisdom to occur ?
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On September 1st 2022, US president Joe Biden delivered a charged and somewhat provocative speech from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. He essentially described an America fighting for its existence as a united nation, where democracy itself (allegedly) is under attack from a faction of the population. During this long exposé that you can read in its entirety here, Biden clearly identified and pointed his finger at the segment of citizens he claims are responsible for all ills.
A position that is shared by many Americans by the way, including his most loyal supporters. But when the president himself utilizes this level of rhetoric, it holds more symbolic significance than if it was coming only from mere partisans.
See the following excerpt from the president’s speech that day which is representative of the tone utilized throughout the address:
“ MAGA1 Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people. They refuse to accept the results of a free election, and they’re working right now as I speak in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.
MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards, backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love. They promote authoritarian leaders, and they fanned the flames of political violence that are a threat to our personal rights, to the pursuit of justice, to the rule of law, to the very soul of this country.”
Joe Biden, 46th president of the United States
These are not weak statements from a man that, must I remind everyone, positioned himself as a unifyer less than two years ago. A man that was touted by many, especially in the international press, as a “real” president following the Trump years in the White House.
The irony here is that many (if not most) of the aforementioned grievances from the speech could easily apply to the Democratic party. The multiple accusations thrown at their opponents, unfortunately for them, feel fake and are akin to some form of psychological projection towards their foe.
It’s never a good idea to take swings at an enemy with a rubber bat, it will invariably come back in your face.
For example, many high ranking officials and representatives inside the party:
did not recognize the 2016 election results
have turned a blind eye to the summer 2020 political violence in many cities
wanted to pack the supreme court
pushed for vaccine mandates during the covid ordeal affecting health privacy of citizens
to name a few…
In these trying times, no political actor or any party can sincerely and genuinely play the purity card. Nobody is blind to the games being played.
While I understand the country is going through some tumultuous years, political acrimony and increasing polarization, from where I stand north of the border, I find it quite distressing that political leaders (in this case from the Democratic party and the sitting president) continue to actively promote internal division within a country already socially fragile and only a couple of significant events away from falling into serious civil strife.
I see a president putting fuel on the fire while denouncing the exact same method from its opponents.
Thus, the main risk I see right now is that if both sides continue to be blinded by their perceived ideological superiority, in the near future, any behaviors or actions can become justified as an ethical duty to perform.
Will such rhetoric end well ?
Republicans and Democrats, Red and Blue states, have been at each others throat for years now and the animosity keeps increasing. As an observer from outside the country looking in, I am definitely not here to take a stand or to pick a side in this “battle”.
I try as always to pull myself away from the noise to gain perspective. Like I did in my September 2021 piece on political polarization:
I often write that our involuntary (and sometimes voluntary) ignorance of history’s most valuable lessons will be made at our own peril. Maybe even in bloodshed. And I sure hope this cycle of violence (both verbal and physical) will not lead to some form of civil war or national divorce that would have long lasting consequences, even on my side of the border.
Maybe I’m just being naive. Maybe no alert or voices of wisdom in the United States can be heard loud enough to prevent the ultimate escalation. After all, don’t we have a common wisdom to the effect that history rhymes or that it tends to repeat itself. Maybe modern humans are just hard-wired, accompanied by the cycling patterns of generations as seen in previous essays, to stumble into such pitfalls.
Any serious student of history will rapidly notice that human societies will all go through similar patterns of growth, social cohesion, spiritual awakening to eventually fall into some form of upheaval, civil disunion and even internal war.
The crescendo of social and political events our societies have witnessed in recent years are certainly reminiscent of other eras in the past. Many have tried to make parallels with a previous crisis era. In their gut, many are on target in identifying The Fourth Turning we are currently living in without naming it outright or explaining the details that characterizes the current mood. But in such a context, the blind spot is that nobody feels they are on the wrong side of history, or on the loosing team.
See below a cultural expression typical of the 2020’s. In this example, a provocative political T-Shirt is worn by George Clooney. George could not make it clearer which “tribe” he defends as he his overtly taking a side, being convinced of the ethical superiority of his position.
In all humility and from where I stand, today’s so-called fascists are not necessarily the ones we commonly point at in the mainstream media and I’m far from convinced that the 3rd loser on the T-shirt will necessarily be the one identified in the end. Political identities and motivations are much more complicated.
I have written about this subject in more detail two essays ago where I stated the following in regards to the Canadian freedom convoy of the winter of 2022 and the tendency back then to identify the actors as right-wing extremists:
“ For starters, fascism clearly implies centralized authority, subordination of individual agency for the greater good of the nation, suppression of the opposition and a collaboration of government entities with the private sector. In retrospect, who between the Trudeau government and the protesters of the Freedom Convoy exemplified this definition ?”
An interpretation that obviously aged badly.
If we take a step back, the big picture remains that we are dangerously approaching some sort of breaking point. In the end, we might avoid the worst scenarios but every sign around us points to a reconfiguration of our current states, institutions and norms.
During his second inauguration speech on March 4th, 1865, Abraham Lincoln said the following to a vast crowd assembled on the muddy streets of Washington:
“On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it - all sought to avert it.
While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war - seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation.
Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.”
Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States
Imagine the level of humility and composure it required, especially in such a moment of polarized politics to utter these words in front of a broken nation by years of war and bloodshed. When so many had suffered, lost lives, lost sons and daughters, even lost faith in a brighter future. Lincoln understood the solemn moment that day represented and elevated himself above the warring factions to deliver a much needed message to the entire nation. (The entire speech can be read in the book referenced below)
We must remember as well that Lincoln refused, even with internal pressures from his own cabinet, to take revenge towards Southern leaders in the aftermath of the war. (Think about that fact for just a few seconds).
The words of Lincoln, through its humility and clarity, should alert us today. They eerily provide a music, a melody that rhymes with contemporary events.
So let’s hope no future president will have to make a similar speech in a similar context where an absence of societal wisdom would have led to the worst of outcomes.
It seems the United States, like so many other countries in the West, are dividing themselves internally. Some have observed that citizens are self-segregating geographically, culturally speaking, amongst people sharing the same worldview.
Is this phenomenon a preparation of what’s to come ? Who knows ?
But by putting Lincoln's message besides Biden's rhetoric, one can only pray that America avoids the dreaded scenario. While individuals can certainly not influence by themselves the fate of a nation, rare leadership, as exemplified by Lincoln in 19th century America, can certainly provide direction and inspiration.
On this subject, below is Edward Achorn’s take and salient reminder on the impact of Lincoln’s assassination in the decades that followed. A tragic event that occurred only weeks after his second inauguration.
“ Booth’s act had replaced the shrewd and careful Lincoln with an impulsive man (Andrew Johnson) far less sympathetic to the plight of black Americans and far less attuned to the difficult work of balancing factions and easing along change.
The result would be political overreaching by congressional Republicans, a fierce reaction by Southern whites, and brutal oppression of African Americans for the next century - a bitter tragedy for the United States after all it sacrificed.
Of all the tragic what-ifs of American history, the loss of Lincoln’s political touch in dealing with the terrible challenges of reconstruction must rank at the top.”
Edward Achorn, Every Drop of Blood, 2020
To the longstanding followers of the The Nomad Historian, you already know that I indirectly encourage my readers to remove themselves from the daily turmoil of the news cycle, to sit down and enjoy long form writing and analysis. By pulling thought provoking quotes from interesting books I’ve read over the years, my hope is that my essays eventually trigger some interest and curiosity to explore the themes addressed even further (like the book referenced just above that I strongly suggest by the way and will be added to my recommendations list on my main Substack page).
In short, I strongly believe that society in general would benefit if more citizens around us would read more books or long analytical essays. That being said, I understand most people do not have the will nor the motivation to do so, especially in our digital era. But regardless of the contemporary context, I will continue to promote the importance of going back to reading as it most certainly adds much needed perspective about the human experience.
Until next time, keep reading on !
MAGA (Make America Great Again), a reference to the die hard Trump supporters.
I agree with the whole premise of this article, it’s fascinating that you can grasp all of this while not living here in the U.S. In my opinion, the American divide is far far greater than politics, it’s as if even core values and basic principles have been lost and we are effectively two different nations with two separate historical perspectives and values.
It will be interesting to see the results of tomorrows midterm elections.
Thank you for this insightful essay, Patrick. I always appreciate observations (and FACTS) from those living outside the country I, somewhat reluctantly as of late, inhabit. It’s hard to watch, let alone be amidst the growing divide. Heavy heart.