The American Conundrum

2021 has started. In a world still grappling with the COVID pandemic and its effect on the economy, what happened this week in the US  (or has been happening) – a seating President of a democratic nation (that too one with such sound bites on democracy) refusing to concede, inciting violence, several members of elected bodies defiantly supporting un-democratic lies (using polished processes), and ultimately, a culmination of this all into the storming of the US capitol - might not seem significant. But it is. There are both political and human learnings out of these worth understanding.

The first thing is on understanding the US. It has been over 15 years that I have been living in the US. My move to the US was driven by personal motivations. Some of the things I assumed moving to here included limiting beliefs about human behaviors and national systems. I believed that quite a few things which are called out as despicable (yet continues anyways) - say politicians lying, violent inciting of mobs and riots following, common men and women used as disposable assets, vandalism, corruption, elections which are steered by arm power – are unique to nations lacking infrastructure and access to education for the masses. As I have written in a few previous posts, I am immensely grateful to the US for showing an idealist like me what an equalizer human greed is. Especially eye-opening was the realization that both sides of any argument can be bull shit-ed with polish if one knows how to do so (both in corporate and political domains), and that most lies can be peddled with graciousness to folks willing to believe. Economic status, education, nationality – is immaterial for the most part. So, I am not in the club that is going the ‘my god how can this happen in America’ route. Despite that, the last four years especially – and the last two months those culminated into – are worth breaking down and taking a good look at with further granularity.

It is important to know that the United states politics has been long motivated by money. Voter suppression (especially suppression of socio-economically disadvantaged segments) through clever paper play is rampant here. Cultural and racial blindspots dominate jurisprudence here (the reason the capitol guards didn’t react as strongly against a primarily white crowd and black men get shot in situations white men wouldn’t be even looked at for is this). US today is also divided – and a historically privileged yet currently quite disadvantaged segment worried about the ongoing diversification of the nation which they blame for their reducing control is just one modulator in this. The US is divided because of conflicting ideologies coming to a clash. Everything that is happening in the US is therefore expected, but profound.

It is important for all those who drink the nationalism cool-aid to note that no nation is as high and mighty as they make themselves out to be. India and the US have often been put into the same category – both noted as big brothers in their respective spheres of influence, meddling in the affairs of others. And although some of these interferences are critical – sometimes a matter of life and death for scores - noble interests (establishing democracy, supporting the people, fighting a specific ideology, bringing progress) headlines with economic and political motivations in the sub-text. Ego - personal ego and corporate liaisons – are of course additional motivators. Yet we believe our nations to be fighting the good fight and find all human costs acceptable prices to pay. The United State's failure in being able to uphold the confidence of its people in democracy (70 million voted for Trump who pardoned criminals and corrupt officials left and right and openly defied laws) shows that what we believe to be good for a nation – any nation – is not based on a global principle of justice and order, but on short-term personal concerns. Nations are made of humans. National behavior is how humans who are put in charge behave.

Second, the matter of turning a blind eye. As aforementioned, what happened in the US is not surprising or sudden. I initially couldn’t believe that Republican politicians were knowingly and publicly ignoring facts (on election fraud or rather lack thereof) and are fanning the fire lit by a narcissist instead. What I read as justification was that ‘there’s no harm in going along - there are only gains to be made with a certain base (the latter specifically for politicians like Cruz and Howley, the recent faces of this chaos). Similarly, when I asked quite a few of my acquaintances about their decision of voting for Trump (given his rampant and public corruption, peddling money to his own interests, mere incompetency, and most importantly, his conduct towards women), I heard about tax cuts and policies. Yes, he is bad and useless – but I would like those tax cuts for my business, year-end bank balance, etc. I heard from Indians: he will be tougher on China. This is not unprecedented and will happen in the future too. Democracy, justice, law, and order – sounds good in principle to most of us – but is less personal and immediate than our bank balance. Like a climate disaster too far out for us to witness, damage to these are secondary. Like riots on minorities as long as there’s economic progress. Like the holocaust happening, but it is ok if you aren't a jew. Like genocides and internal affairs in other nations not worth meddling in unless they are planning to drop a bomb on us. Like violation of women's and human rights in powerful nations who are needed as allies. It's tough to see the impact and the connection to us because it's less immediate and hidden. It’s a cost that builds up over time.

I know I escalated fast here – extrapolating from personal choices to national positions – but if you think about it, it’s the same principle operating at different levels. Our willingness to be tolerant comes from several places (including what we consider normal) but it is mostly driven by how threatened we feel.

An NPR segment I heard put the US tolerance to what was building up as an inability to connect the dots. Particularly, it spoke on the connection of hate speech to violence. That the connection has not been historically as prominent in the US as in some other nations (like Germany). I don't know if I can believe that. In India, we know how riots get incited – how places of worship get demolished – how lynching happens. In the US, the climbing of capitol hill, punching of journalists, driving of trucks into pedestrians, and overall increase in hate crimes because of language that Trump and his band used are not difficult dots to connect.  So, to me, it’s more a case of denial and tolerance. Or rather, denial to justify tolerance than lack of understanding. A prime example, excuses are coming out already for the rioters, the republican leaders, and even for Trump. We badly want to believe.

Human lives are disposable to societies and personas in power. Just like the politicians back in India don’t care if thousands die in stampede or riots, get run over by trains for causes they convinced the poor souls to fight for – just like dictators don’t care if the foot soldiers die – Trump doesn’t care about the people who spent money to storm the Capitol at his calling and are now getting terminated from their jobs and arrested. Predictably, he threw them under the bus as the pressure rose on him – distancing himself from their acts. So, the last point is on telling of fact from fiction and our willingness to stick diehard to our beliefs (or belief systems) once we have formed them.

 For the sake of comfort – to avoid shame – to justify ourselves to ourselves – we find and make facts as we want them to be. As the saying goes, it’s easier to fool someone than to convince them that they have been fooled. This is exploited by entities that thrive through extreme narratives and strongholds. The US and Trump phenomena show that worshipping Mayawati or Laloo Prasad Jadhav (or even Salman Khan) – raising them to the statures of God – is not a national shortcoming. If Hitler is reborn today, he will find followers who will flock and believe. Some call this cult mindset. I call it human nature underlying in all of us.

So, why am I making these points? Merely summarizing what we all know to write a timely post? No.  these nuggets are shortcomings of us as humans no matter who or where we are and they hold the key to social justice. US democracy has suffered a serious blow according to some. Several national dictators (and politicians in India) emboldened by this – can and will possibly try stunts that will be harmful to the principles I listed above. However, the attempted insurrection failed in the US, and although by a slim margin, consequences are being dealt out. That is because of legislation and processes in place, and people who despite baser human shortcomings, did make the connection of human principles to long-term socio-economic cost. Otherwise, there would have been further wastage – of human lives, resources, efficiencies, and global progress.

In summary, national positions are questionable, changeable, and manipulated – they are not worth obsessing over or getting manipulated for.  This doesn't mean there shouldn't be national pride. But nationalism and patriotism are overrated pillars on which strongmen and political parties build their thrones at the expense of commoners. Human principles – the value of life, equality, and quality of life should be beacons to fight for.  It is extremely difficult to do so in face of human tendencies, so strong legislation, checks and balances, and a relentless reminder of why human principles matter is the only way to save us from ourselves.

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