I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE WORLD ASHAMED

    All week long we've heard politicians cry "THIS is not who we are! These actions are more akin to those undertaken in a Banana Republic." As others have pointed out this is exactly who we are. To use the term "Banana Republic" comes out of a purposeful historical amnesia, ignoring exactly how the term came about. When both politicians and pundits invoke the south of the border pejorative, they unknowingly indict themselves. Dictatorial violence surrounding elections, denying the peaceful transfer of power in the southern hemisphere has almost always been fomented and financed by the United States. WE invented both the practice and term. To condemn the Banana Republic is to condemn ourselves.

    We have exported coups, sedition, insurrection and assassination across the globe since the birth of the Republic. But we controlled the body politic within our borders through democracy and capitalism. Within the homeland the peaceful transfer of power was a source of political and economic pride. It worked, even in the lead up to the Civil War. Only within the last week have we seen blood in the streets directly associated with the election process. As Malcolm X adroitly pointed out after JFK's assassination, "The chickens have come home to roost."

    Republicans now call for a united front, a healing, "a time to come together." I agree. They could all agree to remove Trump. That would be a great indication of the collective resolve to clean the wound, before stitching it up. The BLM movement of the Spring brought so much into focus. Trump's insurrectionist movement of denial and ignorance has sharpened that focus. Hand in hand, singing Kum buy ya, we should come together. We should all admit our culpability in a violent, murderous, sadistic history of genocide and slavery. Let's do it together, UNITED IN GUILT.