Donald has left the building

The title, of course, is derived from “Elvis Has Left the Building,” an announcement often made at the end of Elvis Presley concerts to disperse crowds who were lingering and hoping for encores. Donald Trump did, indeed, leave the White House early in the morning on January 20, well before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the new President. But many of his devoted fans continue to insist that he won the election and to support an encore from him.

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the Trump era is not what he created but what he revealed and encouraged – the widespread racism in America. Watching gun-toting rednecks waving Confederate flags makes one wonder if we have travelled back in time to the days of the civil war. In one sense, we have travelled back, to a deeply divided nation. Here again, Trump’s every action exploited that division and deepened it, leaving a country on the verge of tearing itself apart.

What is particularly distressing is the closed minds of much of the populace, the unwillingness even to consider other points of view. Social media played a major role in intensifying this polarization, allowing outrageous statements to be posted and shared around the world. Only in recent days have hosts such as Facebook and Twitter taken steps to ban harmful and dangerous sources of information – with the most notable example being Donald Trump. Sadly, far too many people have simply sought other social media outlets which will give them access to extreme and unfounded views. People seem particularly vulnerable to conspiracy theories, no matter how far-fetched.

The peaceful inauguration process was a great relief after the assault on Congress a short time before. The incoming President’s speech was solid, reassuring, and optimistic – rather like Joe Biden himself. He has also served in Congress for much of his life and is widely regarded (even among Republicans) as a man of moderation and decency. In my view, he is the right man for the time – not only for leading the healing process in America but also for finding ways to work with Republicans in Congress.

Although less pronounced, we also have to contend with extreme views that attack, and attempt to divide, Canadians. Our best defense is to inform ourselves, to reflect, and to come to our own conclusions about issues. Thirty years ago, we would not have automatically accepted some comment scrawled on the bathroom stall of a public washroom, so why do we accept uncritically comments posted on the Internet? We need to check on the source and possible validity of any such comments, especially before we share them. We need to consider alternative points of view on the subject in question, judge the merits of the different perspectives, and decide for ourselves what to believe. By so doing, we can help to neutralize the potential danger inherent in the Internet and especially the various forms of social media.