Shady And A Rock

 

I received a notification from YouTube where someone responded to a comment I had left over a year ago regarding the schism in this country between MAGA and the sane people. The vlogger said their can never be a peace offering given to the MAGA base and I agreed. I still agree with that assessment. I don't know if he has changed his mind. Most people have not. The responder to my comment wrote that we can never heal if we remain enemies, we need to work together. For me that's like saying if this had been during Nazi Germany I should forgive and forget the Germans who snitched on their neighbors or the soldiers who shot children in the head or marched them to the gas chambers. I won't, but obviously Germany has managed to become a decent country where people eat schnitzel and drink beer during Octoberfest with iffy friends who don't talk about the war. Maybe it's because the Jews were either murdered or decided to live elsewhere. Maybe that's why all is well in Germany and everyone can get along. Pssst, don't talk about the war.* And how does one heal after we have witnessed such depravity?

Back here, in the 21st century, all is not well. We are getting a small taste of what it was like for people during a war where a madman was in charge and people were eager and proud to follow a despicable deplorable. That is until he offed himself and things weren't looking so rosy. We should be so lucky. Hitler had some self awareness. Trump is hollow. He was born with zero human traits, except one- the need to survive at all costs. 

So, I can't seem to understand how it is possible for someone who claims they want everyone to be treated fairly, with decency and respect, be friends with a MAGA. In this case I'm thinking of Eminem and his long time friendship with Kid Rock. Looking at me you would never guess I used to listen to Eminem's album, 'The Eminem Show,' all the time. I drove the hour long slog to work and and back home rapping along with Slim Shady about his shitty past. I absolutely loved the power in his lyrics. This is a man who put everything into his songs and you felt it. I don't know what Kid Rock was like growing up, but Marshall Mathers had a hardscrabble life. He's no angel but never claimed to be one. He has seen what poverty and a lack to financial and educational assistance does to people. He is anti- Trump and has voted for Harris and Obama. 

He defends his friendship with Rock, stating they made a pact years ago to never let politics interfere in their collaborations or friendship. 

But, to me, this isn't about politics. It's about standing with a man who has no moral decency. I could be here for days writing everything that is wrong with Donald J Trump, but we all are aware because we live the nightmare every day. So how can you be friends with anyone who supports Trump? How? 

It truly makes me sad to know Eminem can shut off the reality in order to create music, in this case, a religious song about healing, with Rock. You can't sing about loving God and trying to be a good Christian when you support a human who has raped women. How do you justify being friends with someone who supports a man who is responsible for the deaths of Ukrainians, Palestinians, immigrants in our country and people who stood up to his regime?

I'm trying to understand it. My sister has a friend who supports Trump. She talks about her to me and tells me what a funny person she is. She constantly sends me pictures of her friend's beautiful garden and shares stories about their time together. I nod my head and remain silent. 

So far, as civilians, most of us have managed to quell the fires. That could change in November. The next years could be worse than we have ever imagined. What happens after he's gone? Do we simply forgive and forget, lick our wounds and try to cover the shit with a blanket? Will people laugh with their MAGA neighbors and skim over the years where they thought about physically harming each other?

Again, I go back in time and imagine the war has ended in Germany. Hitler is dead. People are coming home. Soldiers who tossed children into pits will hug their own children and life will go on. You wave to the neighbor who you suspect hid Jews in their home, but this is another day, another time. 

Forgive.

Forget. 

I'm not sure I ever will. 

*I thought this skit with John Cleese as Basil Fawlty was brilliant. I still do. Cleese is another person who broke my heart.