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When a nation doesn’t process its pain it suffers for it.
Difficult decisions get pushed back, essential conversations are not had.
Here in America, it’s taken forever to address fully the issue of racism, though we have got started on it, with much work lying ahead, particularly in the area of educating and training the poor.
The predominantly White political Right we have today is a sign of unmanaged pain.
The assault on Capitol Hill on January 6th was a largely White effort.
Trump’s base is overwhelmingly White and will remain so even though there’s no chance that his movement can offer any healing to our country.
I hear the group’s anguished cry, ‘Why aren’t we number one?’
I hear the lament, ‘Finally we have got our champion, Donald Trump, the knight in shining armor, willing to slay dragons to redeem us.’
Trump is good at stirring the lament and stoking the fears but not good at sitting down with the other side and saying, ‘I understand that I can’t get as large a size of the pie as I’d like, so I’m willing to compromise and let’s get on with it.’
And then go back to his supporters and manage the pain. Yes, manage the pain.
“Folks, the world has changed. I know, it’s hard to believe, but America is turning brown.’
Howlings of pain from the audience.
‘I hear you… I do… but the task is to adapt to our changing world… and I promise that you will not be left behind… like no American should.’
That’s what good…
