Last night, I attended my first meeting of my neighborhood association’s Board, as a newly elected Board member. The President, who is also my friend, laid out the rules, called the meeting to order, and led us through a long list of agenda items, on which we duly commented, debated, and voted. It was democracy in action, writ small.
*****
I suppose you know where this is going. I’m not even really surprised by today’s events, though I am really, really sad. Really sad. I can go all day if anyone wants to debate about Trump. I can easily point out that the President was pretty quick to condemn violent protests last summer, and that he seems quite a bit less interested in “law and order” now that it’s his supporters who are breaking the law. And I can drop a cheap shot as well as the next person, notably that it’s manifestly clear now why Trump loves Confederate generals so much, because they are losers and traitors just like he is. But what does that help? What good does it do?
*****
Our association Board meets once a month. Sometimes, members of the community attend the meeting and share comments about matters of concern. Most of the time, these concerns are non-controversial--someone thinks that the tennis courts need to be resurfaced, or that we need to open another lap lane in the pool. Sometimes, comments address more serious matters, and things get contentious. That’s politics, I guess. It’s contentious. It’s a constant struggle, each side making arguments and counterarguments and hoping to convince just enough people that their position will prevail.
That’s how it started today in the House chamber, too; contentious debate between two sides arguing opposite positions, and then the armed insurgents stormed the barricades and put an end to the debate. But only for now. According to NBC News, the Senate will reconvene in a minute or so. Democracy in action, writ large; at least, I hope so. I hope so. I'm praying for our country. I'm praying for all of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment