Voices in My Head
No, Just Being Crazy Won’t Do!
“Fire and fury.” “Lock and Loaded.” I’ve become immune to the crazy words that spew from DJT to the point that I don’t know how to assess his current bluster about war. He vomits threats like he’s in a school playground threatening the other children around him that he’ll kick anyone’s ass because he can. This is a person who has used bully tactics all his life, through the campaign, and even now in the body politic of Washington. This is New York macho talk and Roy Cohn-speak. DJT only knows sharp tones of raised voices and schoolyard threats. There are no soft diplomatic strategies nor the surgical precision that comes with gathering alliances to stand with us. No one likes him. He’s not a good person who understands that loyalty is a two-way street and that friendship must be earned. This is American history at its DNA core. We have always thought that we could just tell people and countries to kneel or else. Anyone who would take the time to study history and listen to the real experts (not the right-wing pundits who couldn’t tell you where North Korea is) knows that this is more complicated than a bumper sticker slogan. The North Korean regime wants to survive. It wants assurances that the regime will last a thousand years. That and probably a steady stream of hard currency for food and weapons programs. Well, they’re not going to get the latter. They know that and I know that but it’s the dance for image and honor that is equally important to them. There is always a path back from the edge. Leadership is knowing not only when to speak softly and carry a big stick but also how. When your enemy is loud, you let them scream all they want. You must assure them that you got this but you are not crazier than them. You must assure your friends (the ones you have left) that you are not pushing their futures closer to hell. Do we think that raining conventional or nuclear weapons down on North Korea does not have consequences beyond your ego satisfaction? “Yeah, take that you f’ing MF.” (We won’t even mention the only times we’ve used nukes have been against non-white people). A million or more people could die in a conflagration that would consume not only the Korean peninsula but also Japan and most probably China. What do you think they’re going to do? Just sit his one out? Or how about Russia which is close by and where do you think Alaska is or haven’t you bothered to look at a map lately? Yes, I’m bothered and concerned about man in the White House who doesn’t understand the nuances of language and speaking. More importantly, I’m deeply worried about a man who talks like he’s still at one of his campaign rallies where he can threaten to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and no one would care. This is no campaign rally and I do care. So, should all of us.
