I have in mind two movies that I
believe provide great reference points to what is taking place in our culture,
especially in regards to the current Presidential election.
Years ago Andy Griffith starred in
the movie "A Face in the Crowd". He played a character named
"Lonesome Rhodes". Patricia Neal and Walter Matthew were also in the
movie directed by Elia Kazan. Andy Griffith did an incredible job of acting.
The movie is one of my all time favorites and the years haven't diminished its
relevancy. If anything the message resonates even more. Though technology has
changed how the delivery of an agenda is accomplished the human character
traits remain very much the same. Griffith's character is finally undone by an
open microphone where unbeknownst to him he is sharing his true feelings about
people.
The other relevant movie to the
subject matter of the Presidential election that comes to mind is
"Hammersmith is Out" starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Peter
Ustinov and Beau Bridges
There are considerations that should
be made of those that seek the office of President. What is their measure as a
person? What do they value? What is their history? How does they treat human
beings? Are they considerate? Are they rude? Do their actions live up to their
words? Are they fair? Are they reasonable? The list of what we look for in a
human being can and should be long, keeping in mind that they will fall short
of our expectations. We are all fallible.
Character is important. In regards
to character it's hard to come up with an appropriate descriptive
representation of what Trump as a man embodies. Being an accomplished showman
is perhaps one of his better characteristics. He is a legend in his own mind. Ask
him. He isn’t shy. Though he is less than the sum of his parts he is much more
than a cliché or stereotype. After hearing him speak I feel like I need to take
a mental shower. It's like he has soiled himself intellectually and is darned
proud of it. Trump manages to be a caricature of himself. Money simply makes him a more dangerous
Archie Bunker but not in any way endearing or funny. He is to politics and the
Republican Party what the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is to religion. But
unlike the character played by Griffith he isn't being undone by an open mic. His
is an open mic. His history of abuse to people (rich, poor, average, wives,
workers, women) is not only well documented but Trump revels in it and defends
his questionable actions at every opportunity.
As much as I have enjoyed the Trump
candidacy for President of the United States I've had enough. The stuff that spews out of his mouth is both
repellent yet fascinatingly entertaining at the same time. The truly sad part
is that so many are called to him; that he's telling them what they want to
hear because they already believe his message and are willing recipients. Trump
speaks to that dark side of humanity that exists in all of us. While many
struggle against that darkness others embrace it as their guide. Like the WBC, Trump
speaks to the choir or at least a choir. Only Trump's choir is much larger.
Therein the problem lies.
He is the quintessential schoolyard
bully. No slight, real or imagined, goes unchallenged. Is this a man that
should be Commander In Chief of our armed forces? Is this a man that should be
in charge of our nuclear arsenal?
That so many in the Republican Party
leadership and members would support such a vacuous deadbeat of a man as Trump is truly disheartening. And
according to Mr. Trump not supporting him makes me stupid. He may indeed “win”
the Republican Party but at what cost? He is not capable of winning the office
of President.
We are going to end up with a
choice to make and there isn’t always a “best” choice but rather the choice
that we have before us.