Definitions of “Paradox” according to Wordnik.com:
“1. A statement that seems to contradict itself but may nonetheless be true.
2. A person, thing, or situation that exhibits inexplicable or contradictory aspects.
3. A statement that is self-contradictory or logically untenable, though based on a valid deduction from acceptable premises.”
At least three paradoxes were revealed in the Courier-Herald in the last two weeks.
Several people contacted Editor Ray Miller-Still asking or demanding that I be fired as columnist. These demands come from conservative readers who say they believe in the doctrine of freedom in all aspects of their lives, especially in regard to mask mandates and COVID-19 vaccinations. Apparently, that freedom does not refer to the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and press when it contradicts their views. This is the first paradox.
On two occasions, letters-to-the-editor have clearly and strongly stated that since Enumclaw is a conservative town, “liberal” views should be excluded. For some conservatives, anyone to their left is a leftist, Marxist socialist. I consider myself a moderate who favors and supports opinions from both ends of the political spectrum. Neither side has all the truth, and civil debate makes for a healthy society.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that any of these individuals who criticize me can accurately define the terms Marxist or socialist. If they could, they would know that I am a strong advocate of regulated capitalism, not Marxism, a 19th century political theory discredited by the collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Socialism, according to its definition, applies to police, fire, roads, the military, and public schools since all are governmentally regulated and financed. I’m in favor of all of them and the taxes levied to support them.
The second paradox occurred in the column I wrote last week about Senators McConnell, Romney, and Representative Kevin McCarthy punching holes in GOP National Chairwoman’s (Ronna McDaniel) description of the Jan. 6, 2021 riot as “legitimate political discourse”. These GOP leaders called it a “violent insurrection”. Since I agreed with them, doesn’t that make me a conservative?
My purpose for that column was to let Republicans know that there is a civil war currently raging in the Republican Party between McConnell and former President Trump and his supporters. I’m guessing that many conservatives are unaware of this GOP rupture, and as a teacher, I think it is important to inform my readers of this fact. It’s good for representative democracy to have political leaders telling their constituents the truth instead of lies that, as Republican Senator Romney noted, make those who support the GOP look stupid.
While I agree with McConnell and McCarthy’s assessments of the Jan. 6 “violent insurrection”, I don’t believe they defined it in that manner because McConnell desires to leave a more positive legacy to his time in the Senate (as a more idealistic associate suggested to me) or that he is any kind of “hero of the moment”. All McConnell cares about is power. Many wealthy elites on the right have grown tired of Trump because they can’t control him. McConnell wants to keep that money flowing into GOP coffers for candidates who will return him to control of the U.S. Senate after the 2022 midyear elections. That constitutes the third paradox.
Let me conclude this column by thanking my editor, Ray Miller-Still, for refusing to bow to a small group of readers who seem to be afraid of information that contradicts the lies that have been foisted on this nation over the last couple of decades. While Ray is more progressive than I am, he exhibits respect for the foundations of our Constitution as expressed in the rights promulgated in the First Amendment.
Integrity that comes from any side of the political spectrum is deeply appreciated in this age of fear and stress, even when the motives for saying the right thing may be suspect as in the case of the GOP leadership.
