Joe Biden’s calls for “unity” might sound reassuring, but political harmony is usually an ugly, authoritarian goal that undermines the entire purpose of a free nation and “democracy.” Other than occasional moments of national tragedy or exultation, we don’t need it. Unity is for dictatorships. In an ideologically, culturally, and religiously diverse country, we just need Americans to accept that their neighbors are going to disagree with them.
And, yes, appeals to “unity” have historically been little more than euphemistic calls to accept left-wing cultural mores. One never achieves “unity” in American politics by respecting socially conservative values. One does so by finally opening his closed mind and soul to ever-evolving progressive standards.
Recall the pseudo-patriotic “unity” sloganeering and accompanying hero worship surrounding Barack Obama. When the late Rush Limbaugh — on whom Democrats had once blamed the Oklahoma City bombing — had the audacity to say he wanted Obama to “fail,” it became a national story. Then came the wave of feigned anger about his lack of patriotism. Because Democrats would be, of course, clamoring for Donald Trump to succeed, right?
Many of us wanted Obama to fail because his ideas undermined the constitutional order and important norms in America. Why would anyone unify around the idea that we need to “change” our foundational principles? To be fair, those on the left don’t really view their positions as being partisan. It’s all just good, moral common sense.
Anyway, when you get old enough, you start noticing that whenever Democrats win an election, Americans are called to unify and heal the moral fabric of a nation that endured a Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush or Donald Trump. Obama was all about healing. When Biden vanquished the Orange Dragon, the country again needed mending. Remember that Time magazine cover featuring Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with the words “A Time To Heal”? It reflected the tone of coverage across the media.
This time around, the call for unity came on the heels of eight years of hysterics, conspiracizing, hyper-smearing of opponents — and only after an assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate. The president who now wants unity was not long ago pounding on the podium in front of a crimson background accusing half the country of being semi-fascists. No thanks.
Unlike many on the right, I view the “threat to democracy” stuff, in and of itself, as relatively normal hyperbole. I mean, I believe Biden’s a threat to “democracy.” The problem is that it’s paired up with the paranoiac “Trump is Hitler” stuff and the “Trump is going to put our kids in concentration camps” stuff and the “Trump is going to execute reporters” stuff and the “Trump is a clandestine asset for a foreign adversary” stuff.
Biden says, “We’re neighbors or friends, coworkers, citizens. Most importantly, we are fellow Americans, we must stand together.” Sure. Outside of the political arena. Most of my neighbors seem OK, I guess, but I definitely don’t “stand with them,” because a bunch of them subscribe to insane notions about the world.
The only political unity we have is an agreement over shared rights and protections — the right to speak freely; to worship freely; to defend ourselves, our family, and property; and to rely on due process and equal protection. And I’m unhappy to report that progressives aren’t on board. I have zero interest in standing in unity with “democratic” socialists, for example, who want to dismantle everything that makes this country special.
And why would Democrats want to unify with fascists who use The Handmaid’s Tale as a blueprint? Perplexing. Unless the left doesn’t really believe its rhetoric.
Whatever the case, keep your unity and just stop calling everyone a fascist.
Or don’t.