It’s Just Us, Part I
Dear Friends: Let’s not beat around the bush. Democracy in the United States and around the world is in real trouble. After a lifetime of teaching and studying the history of this nation, I have never been more concerned about its future.
I get it. After all we have been through for the past few years, those of us who see this crisis for what it is are exhausted and discouraged. We would rather post pictures of puppies and vacations on our social media feeds instead of expressing our opinions. We have busy, sometimes stressful lives to lead, and political turmoil only adds to our collective despair. In an environment like this, there is a powerful temptation to turn inward and accept whatever may come, however horrifying it may be.
But it is long past time to face the fact that this is exactly how authoritarianism wins. I have yet to study any successful totalitarian triumph, fascist or otherwise, that has not benefited from the disarray, divisions, and disillusionment plaguing the forces of democracy. Do not take my word for it–read up on the history of Italy, Russia, Germany, or Spain from 1917–1939, for example.
Shortly after Trump’s inauguration in 2017, my wife and I joined millions of other Americans in one of the many Women’s Marches that took place all over our nation. I was so heartened by the earnest, peaceful resolve of our fellow marchers, and by the massive demonstrations throughout the United States. I remember thinking– “Maybe we’ll be okay…maybe we’ll get through this…democratic impulses remain strong.”
I still want to believe that. But I fear that our collective fatigue has led to apathy and defeatism, and we simply cannot afford that now, especially if we wish to pass on the blessings of liberty to a deeply deserving younger generation. Young Americans are counting on us to give them a decent shot at a free and fair future.
The media cannot save us. Nor can the Justice Department, the president, Congress, the Supreme Court, or the American legal system in general. Institutional guard rails are still there, but they are severely strained. The evidence is all around us, and it is overwhelming.
So it is up to us. I am convinced that we can preserve American freedom through countless acts of local resolve–writing letters to the editor, getting our friends and family members registered to vote, canvassing, speaking out, peacefully protesting, and above all, voting en masse, despite whatever obstacles would-be authoritarians might put in our way.
In this space I hope to present some ideas for how the sum total of local actions by decent, freedom-loving citizens of varied backgrounds might come together to defend the principles our founders constructed, and for which so many Americans have fought and died. Even those of us who might profoundly disagree on policy issues, but who respect the Constitution and the rule of law might set aside those differences in the service of what Lincoln referred to as “the last best hope of Earth.”
To begin with, I am including a series of emails I wrote to two local news outlets in response to a blasé, ho-hum headline and news story about an upcoming Trump rally in Rock Hill, SC (“Trump to Campaign at Winthrop Before SC Primary. Here’s When and How to Go”). My point is that mainstream news media’s normalization of authoritarianism masquerading as routine political activity is irresponsible and un-journalistic. So I felt I had to respond, and thought that this might serve as a template to others for how to set aside some regular “time to defend democracy” in the months ahead.
I do not expect my little protest to amount to much, if anything. But I do believe more Americans believe in truth and freedom than those who do not. And if we all act, we will prevail. By the way, it felt good to do something, however small.
If you have read this far, I hope you will do something too. Thank you for your time and attention.
–Mike
My emails below:
Ms. Cash: I am contacting you in your capacity as Editor in Chief at the Charlotte Observer, to which I am a subscriber. Below is an email I sent to Andrew Dys, reporter for the Rock Hill Herald. The Observer ran his story under the following headline: "Trump Coming to Rock Hill before SC Primary. Here's When and How to Go." I have also written a letter to the editor regarding this story and the headline choice.
After all this nation has been through in recent years and the threat to democracy posed by the prospect of another Trump presidency, I am deeply concerned about such a blasé headline and story lacking sufficient context about what these rallies represent. I am certain that if we lose our democracy, one contributing factor will be lazy journalism masquerading as "both sides objectivity." I am sorry to put it that way, because I am sure you take your job as a journalist seriously. But if we are to maintain our republic, mainstream media outlets like the Observer must do better. Despite my disappointment, I will continue to subscribe, because I believe supporting local news outlets is a responsibility of citizenship. Thank you for hearing my concerns, and please find my message to Mr. Dys below.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Weiss
Charlotte
Mr. Dys: Your story on the upcoming Trump campaign rally in Rock Hill this upcoming Friday caught my eye ("Trump Coming to Rock Hill before SC Republican Primary"), because it was published in the Charlotte Observer, to which I subscribe. I was particularly struck by the headline, which included information on "Here's when and how to go."
I understand that these are difficult times for political journalists. That does not change the fact that normalization by mainstream media sources of a former president under multiple indictments, convicted by a jury of sexual assault, and who led a nearly- successful violent insurrection against our Constitution, continues to imperil our republic.
Treating Donald Trump's candidacy as a routine event and instructing people how to attend one of his rallies, which regularly feature lies, threats of violence against his political opponents, praise for the world’s worst dictators, and Hitlerian phraseology, without including this vital information, is journalistic malpractice. Unfortunately this seems to be an ongoing pattern in mainstream media sources such as the Rock Hill Herald and Charlotte Observer.
I am also appalled that a reputable public university such as Winthrop would agree to host such an event, which also seems newsworthy and unreported in the story.
As I'm sure you know, a free press is vital to a democratic society. There are many factors which could cause us to lose our democracy in the near future. Normalizing fascism in the interest of "both sides" objectivity seems likely to be one of them, and will be noted by future historians (If there are any.).
I offer this critique with the full understanding that you are simply trying to do your job and may be subject to the whims of your editors and the paper's ownership, which are in business to make money. This highlights another one of the problems plaguing our fragile democracy. I am copying your editor, Cliff Harrington, on this email, and will also write to the editors of the Charlotte Observer, which ran the story.
Thank you for hearing my concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Weiss
Charlotte