Calling Out These United States

While it would be foolhardy to intentionally solicit rancor and acrimony from a bipartisan group of colleagues, it really does not help us to remain mute on issues that may be ignored by the North Americans we dwell among. Invariably, we could couch our language in dictums and proverbs. But our meaning would eventually become clear, postponing the inevitable. For instance, if you are supposed to learn a lot more when you lose than when you win, then its obvious that the Republican Party is really recalcitrant and thus, doomed. But then we have noted an argument that if the GOP acquiesces on social issues such as abortion or gay marriage, then they may lose their bastion of support amongst the older, whiter and more socially conservative voters. It does not matter, therefore, that more and more Americans are identifying themselves as more liberal than conservative. What remains sacrosanct is that as long as one can garner some support from a group, they really ought to keep the good times coming.

But this is just a lesson in futility. There’s a saying that he who thinks he is leading and has no one following him is only taking a walk. The Republican Party is, obviously, not taking a walk. To this, the Kenyans suggest that he who refuses to obey cannot command. And this is true. How does the GOP expect to get back into the White House if they cannot listen to some of the key issues people want resolved? You cannot see polls that show that Americans want more government, and then suggest that government be killed. You cannot see what Obamacare has done, and continue to deny things. You cannot look at the country’s move towards normal unemployment, and then claim that Obama is a failed leader. Yes – he is not doing as well as he ought to in terms of foreign policy. But it does not help a Republican like Jeb Bush to almost deny that the significant errors in Republican administrations past ought to be corrected before they can, once again, claim the Ultimate Prize. In fact, if you want to see how much hair both Democrats and Republicans split, read a foremost conservative’s criticism of a socialist. Mr. George F. Will simply exposes the reality when he goes out to call out Mr. Sanders.

That’s why we must talk about a Ugandan proverb that suggests that he who fears the sun will not become chief. What does the sun say to us? It says that a new day has begun. That the night has gone. That the past is gone. That the future is here. That new life will come to fruition each time. And that the circle of life cannot be denied. In doing things such as preventing minorities and younger people from exercising their full voting rights, some Republican legislatures – and recently, the Republican-leaning Supreme Court – almost suggested that many do not deserve to vote. In places like Texas – again, leaning Republican – many potential voters are being prevented from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Bureaucrats are telling people that although they have birth certificates and although they have the same social security number, they cannot vote simply because they have changed names. Even if these name changes are because of legitimate reasons like marriage or being adopted. All these things are about fearing the sun – the inevitable and the new. And this is just pathetic. It is also unfair to the voters and the world because it makes it much too easy to despise and dislike the Republican Party.

Lastly, it really never helps anyone to almost go against a religious leader – like the kind who sits in the Vatican. Because he speaks about climate change and also about social issues they are opposed to, some in the GOP are making very dangerous comments about Pope Francis. Woe be tide to them, for they shall rue the day he addresses a joint Congress later this year. Yes – the Democrats have their issues. But Republicans really ought to see that theirs are issues galore.

The Habari Network Editorial Board
Week Ending June 5, 2015