Four Days In: Disturbance
- At November 12, 2016
- By drynick
- In Reflections
0
Four days into the reality of Trump’s victory, I thought I was doing better. After all, this is not the Weimar Republic of the 1930’s. We live in a country with strong democratic traditions. We have a government and social institutions of checks and balances to guard us against authoritarian takeovers. A vote for Trump was a protest vote from the many who feel the country is already broken and needs to go in a new direction. Trump may chose to surround himself with people who bring a wisdom and consideration to issues that he himself has not exhibited to date.
Then, last night, a friend alerted me to the news that Trump has appointed Myron Ebell a ‘climate change skeptic’ to oversee the transition in the Environmental Protection Agency. Ebell’s job will be to oversee the necessary steps toward Trump’s stated goal of removing as many environmental regulations as possible.
This is how the Washington Post described the new appointee: “Ebell, who is not a scientist, has long questioned the overwhelming scientific consensus that human activity is fueling unprecedented global warming. He also has staunchly opposed what he calls energy rationing, instead arguing that the United States should unleash the full power of coal, oil and gas to fuel economic growth and job creation.”*
This news terrified and disheartened me – though it is just what Trump promised he would do.
Then, even worse, last night I dreamt I was a young man in Austria in 1938. I was in the army. I was scared and confused—was trying to find a way of obeying orders and doing no harm. I knew what was going on wasn’t right, but didn’t know what I could do.
In the dream, I was attracted to a young Jewish woman who wasn’t allowed to go anywhere or do anything. She too was trying to follow the rules and not get into trouble. I knew I was dreaming but I couldn’t find a way out. And then I had to tell another young woman that she was going to be sent away. I was ashamed of myself and terrified.
Now awake, I am still scared and ashamed.
I had thought I was doing better. I was thinking that, after getting over the initial shock, we could perhaps go back to a smoothly running, mostly benign country. But with Trump beginning to act on some of his destructive policies I see this is not so. And even in my dreams, not only are we back in Weimar Germany with Jews and women being singled out for violence, but I’m sitting on the fence still trying to be a good boy.
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