Anger and perspective
For a little while now, it’s been hard not to notice that the likes of Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers or John Oliver, all late night talk show hosts whose job it normally is to make jokes about the news of the world, have been anything but jokey. Meyers and Oliver, specifically, have become increasingly brutal in their critique of the current US administration, to the point that they now appear radical in their own way. Let it also be said that the most striking exception to that rule is Trevor Noah, whose handling of confinement, working from home and rising racial tensions has been incredibly smart and eloquent, and whose voice has consequently had a significant impact on the social discourse.
Now back to those angry white men. Oliver’s latest show ends with the host no longer even attempting to be funny, instead half imploring for change, half insulting the Trump team who spoke at last week’s Republican National Convention, as the Jacob Blake tragedy was unfolding in Kenosha. Oliver’s overall sentiment is:
a) absolutely understandable — the current climate in US politics is historically tense, a direct consequence of the Trump administration trying to control the situation ahead of the upcoming presidential election, and looking ready to support anyone or anything that will help make that happen. Many positions and actions taken by the current administration are not only unlawful, they are immoral and often despicable.
b) quite timely — again, the presidential election is in 2 months, i.e. right down the corner, so now is the time to rally the troops and make sure everything is being done to prevent a second Trump mandate. While that is arguably a little late — voter suppression, gerrymandering and other attempts at limiting access to the voting booth have long been implemented — whatever favors a Biden administration come November is welcome, in the humble opinion of yours truly.
The timing issue, however, is a larger, critical one. Indeed, the prospect of Trump getting reelected is dreadful. Indeed, tensions between pro-Trump vigilantes, conspiracy theorists and religious extremists on the one hand and liberal, moderate, progressive groups on the other haven’t been that bad in a long time. Indeed, this election is key if we want to see (positive) change happen in the US — soon. Let us not however forget that this is not the first time right wing groups effectively play with American democracy: it happened way back when in 2000, with Al Gore winning the popular vote but not the general election due to the likes of Roger Stone rigging the Florida recount process (see any similarities?), it almost happened in 2008, with the Tea party profoundly influencing the Republican agenda… and it most importantly happened in 2016, when an obvious Democratic favorite, former Secretary of State and first-rate politician Hillary Clinton, still lost to a supposedly unelectable Trump.
Let us not forget how then-Senator Al Franken sat on Seth Meyers’ couch weeks prior to the election and very calmly said: “while it seems that Trump probably won’t win […] it is absolutely essential that you get out and vote”, therefore undermining the very point he was trying to make by implying that Trump just couldn’t possibly win. Then the FBI reopened Hillary’s emails case, Russian hackers did their thing with the help of Mercer/Bannon-backed Cambridge Analytica, sexism did its (very real) part… and Bob was your uncle, if Bob was actually called Donald and was a racist senior citizen with his hand placed right above the nuclear button (which Donald presumably thought actually existed).
The point is this: while it is perfectly understandable — and preferable — to be angry right now, let us not lose track of the bigger picture here: the political problem started when no one was looking, and it will not stop even after Biden — hopefully — gets elected. African-Americans got shot at by police for no valid reason before this, and it will not stop overnight. Let us therefore make sure that our anger is constructive, pointed — and long-lasting.