It’s the Christmas season; a time for love and gift giving. These two go together. Children enjoy Christmas because they associate it with unearned presents. Whether they are good or bad, toys show up under the tree. This largesse is an affirmation that someone cares about them—just because of whom they are.
For Christians, the holiday is also a reminder of Christ’s birth. They celebrate what amounts to the greatest gift of all. Their Savior brought the possibility of eternal life. For those who believe in him and/or lead an honorable life, on judgment day they will be raised from the dead to spend eternity in heaven.
But what about the here and now? Can we adults expect many gifts in this coming year? I am sorry to report that this is unlikely. Civic love has become so scarce in this time of partisan strife that at least in the public arena hostility will prevail.
Once children looked forward to a stocking full of goodies hanging from the fireplace. If they were lucky, this would include an orange. When this fruit was an exotic luxury, it was a treat. If they were bad, however, a lump of coal would appear in its place.
It looks as if their will be lots of coal in our collective stockings. The war between the liberals and conservatives is not over. Indeed, it is likely to intensify, with each side doing its best to wound the other. There will be no love—and few gifts—because the goal is political annihilation.
The Democrats have already tipped their hand. Having taken control of the House of Representatives, they will use their augmented power to impeach the president. The findings of the Mueller investigation will be employed to argue that Trump is guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors.
These angry liberals do not care whether the charges are valid. They are so furious that they are concerned only with supplanting their enemy. If, in the process, they harm our democratic traditions, they are unmoved. Love of their fellow countrymen will not soften their hearts.
They are also going to hold hearings where the deck is stacked against their foes. We had a foretaste of what is to come during the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Once more a presumption of innocence will be thrown to the winds.
As for the Republicans, they will retaliate when they can. Having maintained control of the Senate, it will be used to get even. The right wing senators will hold hearings designed to embarrass liberals. Don’t be surprised if Hillary’s server comes up or if rogue FBI agents are endlessly grilled.
Furthermore, if the Republicans are able to confirm a new Attorney General, he may issue a slew of indictments. When it came to convicting felonious behavior, Democrats protected their own. The tables could turn if conservatives feel under sufficient pressure.
Nor will this anti-love fest be confined to the Washington swamp. Antifa will not go away. Its masked marauders will continue to beat those who oppose their socialist agenda. They may even provoke right wing bullies to fight violence with violence.
But perhaps the strangest development of all may be the PC war against heterosexual love. Not long ago it was deemed enough to protect gays from bigotry. Their jobs were to be safeguarded and their ability to express homosexual love defended.
This battle having been won, some gays and feminists were emboldened to attack their former oppressors. A prime example of their strategy is to remove songs like Baby It’s Cold Outsidefrom the marketplace. This lighthearted peon to heterosexual seduction is equated with rape and therefore condemned.
PC has become so pervasive that most of us have to walk on eggshells lest we offend someone with a thin skin. Leftists have appropriated the right to castigate anyone who disagrees with their racial or sexual policies. This is not love; it is not tolerance. The gift here is one of oppression and conformity.
Would that we could return to a genuine Christmas spirit. It would be nice if we were able to offer each other the gift of forgiveness. That, however, is not in the cards. It is thus a good thing that coal production is increasing because we will need a lot of it to fill the many, many stockings of those who forgot what love is.
Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Kennesaw State University
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