Living in a Time of Extreme Hate
I try to avoid the nasty politics of this era on these pages. I focus on creativity and what our species can achieve at his or her best. Yet, I grew up with hate in South Carolina, have written and reported about it, studied it and seen it wear different disguises over the years. It is often hard to ignore.
Mendacity — as Tennessee Williams so perfectly described it — constantly generates new disguises and wears many masks as those who practice it try to hide it. Mendacity is and always will be a fog of lies that allows humans to try to hide what is real in their lives and avoid facing it. The facade fractures and blows up occasionally, just as it has during the pandemic and post-Trump era.
As sad as it is, we must face the harsh fact that a large chunk of the American population is feeding this mendacity. The attack on Salman Rushdie last week was especially heinous. It seems to be getting worse and never ends.
We remain a split nation. It has been caused by several things, including misinformation via an increasingly fragmented internet and a core of despicable people, led by a disgraced former president, who feeds it. The remnants of this toxic time still hangs in the air.
Racism has always been ugly. The last few years have given many permission to take off their masks. It has happened for all to see on television. All we see is rage, insanity and violence. Trump’s defeat at the polls last year does not make it instantly go away.
Shakespeare told us about these traits many years ago. Some of us learned what he wrote. But the current lack of education and jobs, coupled with extreme poverty and ignorance, has taken a huge toll. As a country, we have to dig our way out of it or we will cease to exist as a nation. It is a major and severe challenge ahead.
I doubt it will happen in my lifetime. That’s why I find solace in the creative arts. For me, the arts are the best way to enjoy life in a time of 24/7 chaos and despair. It’s all I know to do. Each of us must deal with it in our own way. But none of us should ever accept it. That would be the greatest tragedy of all.
Frank Beacham
Above photo by Edu Bayer