To the editor:

The only way I can even utter or write the word “hate” is as follows: “I hate hate.” In my daily interactions with fellow Americans, I seem to be constitutionally unable to judge one for being different from me, a white male who has never fathomed the two other words that need much deeper historical scrutiny – “white supremacy.”

Am I naive? Frankly, I don’t believe so. For me the most liberating and joyous heartfelt truth is to discover this wonderfully diverse country we all live in, coast to coast, neighbor to neighbor, anywhere, everywhere.

I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, and no political or religious label can define you without the risk of miring you in ugly, vicious, violent, hateful and self-defeating pseudo-realities that constrict our cognitive and perceptual capacities to no end. We become blind to the ongoing real-life stories in the making, many of them suggestive of the human potential for connection we can truly experience, if indeed we can deconstruct our biases and educate at deeper levels, especially the history of our democracy, glorious and ugly, good and bad.

And what might be “bad?” you might ask. After all, this is America, beacon to the world.

I’ll be frank. When anyone pledges allegiance to a “Big Lie” and glorifies a leader who glorifies himself, one can expect many little lies to follow in its wake. I’m obviously referring to the Trump-branded Republican Party. One consequence is a premium on unquestioning loyalty over intelligence borne of curiosity and a mindful determination to serve all Americans. Then you have heart-frozen zealots spellbound by a demigod who sees no evil except Democrats and anyone who dares to criticize him (even within his own party, ala Lynn Cheney et al). An idiot leader cannot boost the intelligence of his followers.

I believe that many Americans simply yearn to live in a country that delivers on its promises: economic parity and dignity, closing a cruel income divide, striving toward more humanitarian, less militant, measures to solve problems, here and abroad, and depoliticizing legal, judicial, religious, educational and economic systems that benefit far more than a privileged white minority.

If all of the above is asking too much, then future economic downturns, pandemics, education levels, worsening racism, climate crises, gender inequality, religious conflicts, laws and judgements that sidestep justice and corporate malfeasance will blow up in our faces and eventually destroy much of what we hope and strive for – a multicultural integrity, a real beacon to the world.

Must Americans continue to contend with unregenerate politicians who are seemingly incapable of meaningful cross-over dialogue that acts upon our professed ideals?

Remember the words of JFK: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Full stop. The next words he spoke should also be enshrined. “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America can do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

These words of idealism and realism rise far above any egomaniacal Trumpian tweets that have plunged the Republican Party to unimaginable depths.

Although adversity is severely upon us now, I still believe a balance between idealism and realism, ethics and morality, spirituality and religion and law and justice are possible. Humanity can steer toward a Great Transformation, but not if myopic politicians continue to set up countless roadblocks.

Yet more than a vote will be required for such a transformation to begin. Much more.

We can, though, live beyond political pseudo-realities, if we choose to.

Richard Joel Holmes

Hays