I wanted to write about a soup that a friend of mine asked me about over the weekend. Soup is comfort food. Soup brings joy; both to those that create it and those that consume it. Soup can be the ultimate creative outlet or a tried and true classic. Mulligatawny or “pepper water” is such a classic and is certainly worthy of our admiration. Variations of this soup are limitless as it was developed in Southern India and like all culinary creations from this region there is no strict construction methodology. When one makes Mulligatawny, one is only limited by their imagination.
Just like Mulligatawny, world events can ignite our imagination and for some it can be difficult to constrain the runaway train. We witnessed this with great sadness last week as thousands allowed their imagination to get the best of them and thought it appropriate to attack our Government and install a tyrant in the place of the duly elected President. I don’t think anyone alive today has ever seen anything like it. So, once again, I am diverted form my original intent. Perhaps one day soon we can explore the complexities, beauties and profiles of Mulligatawny.
When big events occur in American life, such as Cult 45 trying to violently overthrow the United States Government, it takes a few days for the shock and confusion to settle. Information begins to flood out, more video is distributed and the talking heads begin to dissect, analyze and offer their insights on the occurrence. It can be overwhelming, but finally, we must all draw our own conclusions regarding the subtleties that underlie the obvious. What happened is obvious, why it happened is not so obvious.
What happened and what cannot be denied is that for the first time in my lifetime, we will not have a peaceful transition of power in the Office of the President of the United States. Damage done. Profound sadness.
We have all seen the pictures of the confederate flag in the halls of Congress, the person wearing horns and a bigfoot costume, the citizen with the camp Auschwitz t-shirt and our own local hero now known as “zip tie guy.” Racists, anti-Semites, guys playing dress-up as soldiers and people wearing costumes that say “Look at me, I’m a kook!” Imagination gone wild.
I choose to believe that this is a tiny fraction of the 70 million people that voted for 45 in November; that this is truly and surely the fringe far right. Not one of my Republican friends has told me they support this display of anarchy or that this is the correct response to their perceived grievances. If they do support this, they are at least smart enough not to put on a bigfoot costume and say it out loud.
The big underlying subtlety that I am having difficulty with is the response of the leaders of the Republican Party. Here is brief history lesson.
Prior to the Presidential election of 1984, the Ku Klux Klan proudly endorsed Ronald Reagan for reelection. Unlike 45 who said after the 2017 riots in Charlottesville: “You had some very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people, on both sides.”
Reagan took a different tack. This is his response to the Klan endorsement and I submit it in its entirety.
Letter to the Chairman of the Commission on Civil Rights Concerning the President’s Views on the Ku Klux Klan
April 30, 1984
Dear Morris:
While in China, I have been distressed to learn that some individuals back home have questioned whether my views on the Ku Klux Klan have somehow changed since 1980. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In 1980, I said that I have no tolerance for what the Klan represents, and would have nothing to do with any groups of that type. If anything, my feelings on this subject have only grown stronger. The politics of racial hatred and religious bigotry practiced by the Klan and others have no place in this country, and are destructive of the values for which America has always stood. Those of us in public life can only resent the use of our names by those who seek political recognition for the repugnant doctrines of hate they espouse.
I firmly believe that there is no room for partisanship on this question. Democrats and Republicans alike must be resolute in disassociating ourselves from any group or individual whose political philosophy consists only of racial or religious intolerance, whose arguments are supported only by intimidation or threats of violence.
We must, and will, continue our unified rejection of such elements of hate in our political life, for while there are many issues which divide us, it is fundamental principles such as this which will always draw us together.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan
A conservative President, a conservative icon, a conservative legend, clearly, forcefully and without hesitation or mental reservation, repudiating and rejecting the support of the fringe far right. Ronald Reagan stating that he did not want or need the support of the fringe far right.
We can contrast this with 45 posing on the escalator, stepping off and declaring that Mexicans are murderers and rapists. Recruiting in his very first campaign speech the very people Ronald Reagan so effectively rejected. Any person that cannot get elected without the support of the fringe elements of our society, should not be President of the United States of America. Ronald Reagan understood this. Ronald Reagan wanted nothing to do with people that would overrun the Capitol and attempt to violently take control of the Government of our Country. My, how have times changed.
In his first public comments after the coup attempt, that ridiculous Rose Garden video, 45 spoke to those that would willingly and with malice aforethought, destroy the greatest nation the world has ever known. His message; “You are special, we love you.” WTF!
As sad as his comments were, we really have no reason to expect anything else or anything better from this President; these are his people, they are the first people he invited into his campaign. It is the remainder of his party that is so disappointing.
Where are the leading Republicans that are denouncing these people? Which Republicans are saying we don’t want or need your support? Who in the party is saying there is no place for you in civilized society? Who will bear the torch that Ronald Reagan so bravely lofted in 1984?
The silence is deafening! It is not enough to denounce the actions of the mob; what the mob stands for must also be forcefully repudiated. Hate and intolerance must not be invited into the national discourse; they are not dissenting opinions that must be given consideration, if they are, then the mob already wins.
We all have in our mind our own ideal and perfect world, a world we would like to see built and a world we would love to live in and to leave to our children. Our political decisions are made based on this perfect world we imagine. It is how we work to create it. Yours is different from mine and so we all realize that our own perfect world will never be realized. Still, we don’t give up the dream, we work together in peace.
There are many ways to make a great Mulligatawny, and they all matter, they all have both intrinsic and extrinsic value. If they are made with love and respect, then we are bound to honor them. But don’t put a bowl of canned clam chowder in front of me and tell me its Mulligatawny.
So, I am left to wonder; do any of us really want to live in the world this guy wants to build?
Titan Up!
R. I. P. T. N. L. J. 8119