Profiles in Cowardice: The State of American Politics
In 1956, Senator John Kennedy published "Profiles in Courage." Fifty years later, political courage has become an oxymoron. On the eve of the midterm elections, more than ever, the typical politician is a profile in cowardice.
In 1956, Senator John Kennedy published a collection of biographical essays entitled "Profiles in Courage." The Pulitzer Prize winning book featured a selection of historical figures representing the concept of political courage. Each profile portrayed a political figure who took an unpopular stand to uphold personal conviction.
It is striking that fifty short years ago the concept of "political courage" was not considered an oxymoron. By contrast, in today’s electoral environment, one would be hard-pressed to come up with a single example of political integrity – no less courage.
In an age when Karl Rove is not only admired but practically deified, when massive voter suppression and disenfranchisement are held up as the tools of genius rather than betrayal, when election fraud and electronic vote flipping are considered gamesmanship, and when campaign finance reform is translated into an orgy of spending and a free pass for unlimited character assassination, to muse on profiles in political courage would itself be an exercise in intellectual dishonesty.
We are not living in an age where integrity and courage are desirable traits in a political leader. We are living in an age where mendacity and cowardice are not only tolerated but richly rewarded.
It is fitting then, that we consider the opposite of Senator Kennedy’s theme: Profiles in Political Cowardice.
The profile begins with every politician in Washington who gleefully took dirty money from Jack Abramoff and friends and now speaks out against the scourge of corruption in politics.
It includes every Republican who voted for and shamelessly promoted the war in Iraq but now cries out for a change in course and seeks to scapegoat Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld – as if Rumsfeld set the policy. It includes every Democrat who fell in line with the president’s war plans for as long as the polls reflected an irrational climate of fear and misguided patriotism.
Political cowardice includes all those who stood silently by – particularly those in positions of power and influence – while our nation was hijacked and propelled headlong into a vendetta of fear and loathing.
Cowardice describes every politician of all stripes who actively or passively participated in the shredding of the Bill of Rights, the nullification of habeas corpus, and the official sanctioning of torture at the discretion of the president.
Cowardice is cooperating with gerrymandering as long as the result protects your seat in Congress.
Cowardice is letting some anonymous entity do your dirty work and claiming you do not approve.
Cowardice is repeatedly engaging in the politics of distraction.
Cowardice is exemplified by those political operatives who disingenuously decry victims of degenerative diseases in the name of embryos already marked for discard.
What could be more cowardly than appealing to the basest nature of humankind to demonize the powerless and oppressed in order to carry on the policies of war?
The profile must also include every politician who seeks to exploit the immigration issue for political gain by advocating a wall that will never be built while ignoring the root and cause of the problem: the policies that charade under the name of "free trade."
Some might be tempted to conclude that supporting an unpopular war is an example of political courage. Before we reach that conclusion, consider this: Courage rests on the conviction that upholds it.
It is not courageous to continue supporting an unpopular war if the only conviction left is the conviction not to be held accountable for the deceptions that led to war or the catastrophe that followed.
The worst cowards of all, in this endless parade of cowardly hypocrites, are those who demand that more of our soldiers die to protect our leaders from facing the consequences of their actions.
If anyone in politics does not fit this profile, in all of its varied facets, let them stand and be counted for in their lonely souls the hope of a floundering nation resides.
Jazz.
JACK RANDOM IS THE AUTHOR OF THE JAZZMAN CHRONICLES (CROW DOG PRESS) AND GHOST DANCE INSURRECTION (DRY BONES PRESS). THE CHRONICLES HAVE APPEARED ON DISSIDENT VOICE, THE ALBION MONITOR, BUZZLE, PEACE-EARTH-JUSTICE, THE NATIONAL FREE PRESS, COUNTERPUNCH AND LEFTWARD. SEE RANDOM JACK: WWW.JAZZMANCHRONICLES.BLOGSPOT.COM.
It is striking that fifty short years ago the concept of "political courage" was not considered an oxymoron. By contrast, in today’s electoral environment, one would be hard-pressed to come up with a single example of political integrity – no less courage.
In an age when Karl Rove is not only admired but practically deified, when massive voter suppression and disenfranchisement are held up as the tools of genius rather than betrayal, when election fraud and electronic vote flipping are considered gamesmanship, and when campaign finance reform is translated into an orgy of spending and a free pass for unlimited character assassination, to muse on profiles in political courage would itself be an exercise in intellectual dishonesty.
We are not living in an age where integrity and courage are desirable traits in a political leader. We are living in an age where mendacity and cowardice are not only tolerated but richly rewarded.
It is fitting then, that we consider the opposite of Senator Kennedy’s theme: Profiles in Political Cowardice.
The profile begins with every politician in Washington who gleefully took dirty money from Jack Abramoff and friends and now speaks out against the scourge of corruption in politics.
It includes every Republican who voted for and shamelessly promoted the war in Iraq but now cries out for a change in course and seeks to scapegoat Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld – as if Rumsfeld set the policy. It includes every Democrat who fell in line with the president’s war plans for as long as the polls reflected an irrational climate of fear and misguided patriotism.
Political cowardice includes all those who stood silently by – particularly those in positions of power and influence – while our nation was hijacked and propelled headlong into a vendetta of fear and loathing.
Cowardice describes every politician of all stripes who actively or passively participated in the shredding of the Bill of Rights, the nullification of habeas corpus, and the official sanctioning of torture at the discretion of the president.
Cowardice is cooperating with gerrymandering as long as the result protects your seat in Congress.
Cowardice is letting some anonymous entity do your dirty work and claiming you do not approve.
Cowardice is repeatedly engaging in the politics of distraction.
Cowardice is exemplified by those political operatives who disingenuously decry victims of degenerative diseases in the name of embryos already marked for discard.
What could be more cowardly than appealing to the basest nature of humankind to demonize the powerless and oppressed in order to carry on the policies of war?
The profile must also include every politician who seeks to exploit the immigration issue for political gain by advocating a wall that will never be built while ignoring the root and cause of the problem: the policies that charade under the name of "free trade."
Some might be tempted to conclude that supporting an unpopular war is an example of political courage. Before we reach that conclusion, consider this: Courage rests on the conviction that upholds it.
It is not courageous to continue supporting an unpopular war if the only conviction left is the conviction not to be held accountable for the deceptions that led to war or the catastrophe that followed.
The worst cowards of all, in this endless parade of cowardly hypocrites, are those who demand that more of our soldiers die to protect our leaders from facing the consequences of their actions.
If anyone in politics does not fit this profile, in all of its varied facets, let them stand and be counted for in their lonely souls the hope of a floundering nation resides.
Jazz.
JACK RANDOM IS THE AUTHOR OF THE JAZZMAN CHRONICLES (CROW DOG PRESS) AND GHOST DANCE INSURRECTION (DRY BONES PRESS). THE CHRONICLES HAVE APPEARED ON DISSIDENT VOICE, THE ALBION MONITOR, BUZZLE, PEACE-EARTH-JUSTICE, THE NATIONAL FREE PRESS, COUNTERPUNCH AND LEFTWARD. SEE RANDOM JACK: WWW.JAZZMANCHRONICLES.BLOGSPOT.COM.
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