Editor:
Three observations in reply to Kathryn Corbett’s letter in your Thursday, Nov. 28 issue (Mailbox).
A) How Long, Oh Lord?: Corbett enjoins us to “engage in … recognition of each other as fellow human[s] … and Americans.” Just what does she think we’ve been doing for the last 60 years? How long are we supposed to see the human in self-righteous fascists who reject the humanity of anyone different from themselves?
B) America Is Mississippi Now: The MAGA voices are identical to the voices raised 60 years ago in Mississippi. When an all-white jury ruled him innocent, a governor shook the hand of the man who murdered Medgar Evers. A sheriff (Lawrence Rainey) murdered four in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and bragged about it. The wannabe Baptist preachers at Mississippi College chortled in delight over the murder of JFK. Many Mississippians claimed to be Christians, to «believe in» Jesus. «Believe in» is a lie. «Believe in» is the mouth. Believe is what you do. I judge, as the New Testament urges, according to behavior.
C) Civil War: Every citizen should learn to think, to distinguish the sound of lies from the sound of truth. If you refuse that duty, you do not deserve the vote. Which group advocates violating the Constitution and the freedoms of press, assembly and religion? Sincerity is no defense. Past a certain point, it doesn’t matter how “nice” you are personally. If you accept lies because they say what you want to hear, you’ve cast your lot with liars, and you must lie down with them. I will no longer break bread with you, or trust you, or ever forgive, or ever forget.
Jack Butler, Eureka
This article appears in Flash Fiction 2024.
Jack Butler makes it abundantly clear that a radical new approach is needed to counter the moral devolution of this country. When we engage with deviants we allow them the space on a debate stage that was never designed for the levels of mendacity, neurosis and nihilism they exhibit.
I hear good people saying that there is some “common ground’ to be shared. There is not.
They should be shamed, shunned and shouted down.