Last night I watched with interest the Munk Debates featuring Steve Bannon and David Frum arguing the future of populism; a lively and somewhat passionate exchange of two conservative figures in the world of politics and all things right leaning. I say somewhat passionate because I didn't see the kind of fire that comes from liberals when they rail against the latest injustice, real or not, inflicted upon the world. I suspect that is for two reasons a) David Frum is polished and in control, he's not likely to lose his cool in any situation and b) Steve Bannon on the other hand looked like he has been working on keeping his frothing at the mouth in check. He has learned that there is a time and place for his particular brand of rhetoric. Last night was not his time to spew vileness but use carefully chosen catch phrases to help don the cape of acceptability. Watch it for yourself to decide what makes more sense to you.
Unsurprisingly I began watching with my "lefty liberal" mind pre-disposed to throw bricks at Bannon. He is, after all, one of the brains behind the rise of a populist movement that espouses the politics of division, of hate and of fear. To my mind there is no debating that fact, no matter how many times he says Drumph loves everyone. But I watched with an open mind none the less, because I believe in allowing everyone a voice and I wasn't for the notion of cancelling the debate because Bannon is a racist homophobic douche. If you subscribe to the notion that only light can drive out the darkness than you must allow for a voice to be heard from the "other" side; slamming the door on them only breeds more discontent, and we certainly have too much of that already.
So, what did I think? Frum did a good job of painting a picture that acknowledges that yes, we have problems that need to be fixed. Very gracious of him considering he was part of the machinery that threw the world into chaos as a member of the Bush administration. He coined the phrase axis of evil for good ole "W"; think on that for a moment or two. Frum is right wing to the core and he even acknowledges that he was an odd choice arguing for the liberals. But he did address that in such a way that I was impressed with his tight rope walking act. He is not a fool, I may not agree with his politics but I do respect his intelligence and reason.
Further more, Frum, a Canadian by the way, used as his main rebuttal of Bannon the fact that he does agree with Bannon on the fact that there are problems that need to be solved. Too many people are left behind as the gap between the have nots and the haves grows almost exponentially. In the middle there is a wide gap of discontent and fear. Frum contends that using the divisions that are espoused by Drumph and his enablers is only creating a world of us against everyone else. It's not your fault, it's not my fault - it's their fault! Jews, Mexicans, Muslims, Canadians...it doesn't matter.
And of course this gap is where the fascists like Bannon jump head long into. You "deplorables" need to tear down the system and get rid of the "elites". Yeah, how far away are we from concentration camps at this rate - oh wait, we're already there aren't we? Bannon spoke well and addressed his concerns and how he sees the world shaping in the future. Problem is, that for his brand of politics to work someone has to be blamed.
Wedge issues like abortion and health care; the economy of the everyday man and woman that doesn't give a crap about the stock market because they are too busy working three jobs to make ends meet. These are fertile grounds for both sides to stake ground in. How each side portrays this battleground and what they put forward for answers is the difference. Drumph and allies are calling the migrant caravan an invasion and responding with troops massing on the border. Democrats and actual honest to God Republicans (all three of them) are, for the most part, looking to address the issue of border hopping "illegals" in a fair and compassionate way. Same issue, different response. You decide for yourself.
It's easy to be against something; people protested last night because they were against allowing Bannon on the stage. Tiki carrying white nationalists are against tearing down statues honouring Confederate generals that fought for slavery, but really they are just scared and hateful of blacks. It's a lot harder to reach across the table and try and work out the differences that drive us apart. You can respond with hate or you can do the hard work that brings about real change. Do the hard work and do it everyday.
At Scott's funeral I met his namesake and his "brother from another mother", a lovely man named Robert Steele. He was the guy that Scott was talking about near the end because he was doing things to address injustice. When we met at the funeral we did what brothers do when we need each other - we hugged each other tight and shed a tear or two for our dearly departed best friend. And this is just part of his story CBC This is the little guy trying to right a wrong in a world that tells him to sit down. Here in Canada we think it's an American problem, it is not. It's everywhere and so it is everyone's problem.
Hide behind a cause if you will but most of us can see right through your vitriol and hate. Bannon, you spoke well but your message, your views and your actions cannot be ignored. I am confident that the thousand points of light that are the rest of us will slowly but surely bring us back.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King
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