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It was a terrible, terrible experiment.
Friends, Americans have just been through something truly horrible: four years with an unscrupulous president, backed by a courageous party, and reinforced by an unscrupulous network. They spewed out unfounded conspiracy theories, all fueled by a relentless pandemic.
It is surprising how the American system did not explode, as the country really began to look like a huge superheated steam engine. We even saw its latches and hinges begin to break on Capitol Hill. Donald Trump’s departure from the White House and the decline in power of those who pleased him in the Senate are not at all premature. Like the opening of Joe Biden. However, the latter will have to work hard. After all, it is even difficult to imagine how great the destruction that he wrought on Twitter and Facebook, Trump, using the presidential rostrum and the cowardice of many who could have prevented him, inflicted on the American public, institutions and cognitive immunity.
It was a terrible, terrible experiment. Which does not mean that Trump has done nothing good. It just doesn’t come close to what has made Americans more divided and sick, and more conspiracy theorists, than ever before in modern history. Now they need to meet, reschedule, refocus and calm down at the same time. It is time for the whole country to go on a retreat so that people remember who they are and what ties bind them, or once they bind them.
I sincerely believe that Americans are capable of being the best version of themselves again, but that depends on themselves. Why then?
In my opinion, one of the most striking characteristics of the Trump presidency was that year after year it continued to surprise unpleasantly. Year after year, it sank lower and lower, breaking the rules, lying, and tarnishing the reputation of everyone in its orbit. And at the same time, it was never noticed by a good deed, self-criticism or an attempt to establish contact with opponents.
Folks, Americans just went through something really scary.
His character was his destiny, he also became an American. But I have good news. You can bounce back if everyone (politicians, media, activists) decides to do something Trump never did: be pleasantly surprised.
Pleasant surprises are a greatly underrated force in politics and diplomacy. They break the chains of pessimism and push the limits of what we believe is possible. They remind us that the future is not our destiny, but a choice: let the past bury the future or the future bury the past.
I still remember where he was when Anwar al-Sadat arrived in Israel, surprising everyone with his willingness to make amends. This delighted and gave the Middle East new opportunities.
By the way, I surprised even Trump once. I always agreed with him if he did something, in my opinion, correct. So when he and Jared Kushner reached an agreement to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, I wrote a column in which I appreciated it. A few days later, my phone rang. It was President Trump. His first words were: “I can’t believe The New York Times allowed you to write something good.”
Of course, the post didn’t tell me what to write, so she was surprised that I did it on my own. This made him see differently, even for a second, who The New York Times and I were. This is the effect of surprise. If Trump ever acted in an unusual way on some large and complex issue that challenges his constituency, for example the weather or immigration, and was pleasantly surprised, he would also be commended. But he never did something like that.
And it’s a shame, because as journalists and citizens, we expect pleasant surprises from our leaders.
I watched as Mitt Romney repeatedly took his oath to uphold the Constitution above personal and party political interests. During this time we met. We do not agree on everything, but there is mutual respect. Romney recently invited me to give a virtual speech to the bipartisan Climate Coalition in Utah. This surprised some and may have allowed them to see the issue differently. It is surprising what can happen when we give a pleasant surprise.
I was pleasantly impressed by Liz Cheney last week when she put the country and the Constitution above party and personal ambition by voting to impeach Trump. I met her when she was working on democracy in the Middle East. Makes you think about resuming communication. (…).
So, I have two requests for every American: Give Joe Biden a chance to pleasantly surprise you, and test yourself by surprising him.
American companies should surprise us by telling Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch that their network fueled a big lie that led to the assault on the Capitol, so there will be no more ads on shows spreading conspiracy theories. The best news I’ve heard this week is that My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell is a staunch Trump supporter and Fox advertiser spreading disproved claims that the 2020 election was rigged, said Kohl, Bed Bath & Beyond , Wayfair and other distributors reject their merchandise. Well done.
Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg may surprise us by stopping once and for all by stopping the positive, for-profit news that divides and annoys us in favor of more authoritative and balanced media.
On the left, there is no equivalent of the right-wing white supremacists and other extremists who recently stormed the Capitol. Even close. But liberals could surprise many on the right, and perhaps thus persuade them to support Biden, if they spoke out against political correctness, cracked down on dissent, and spoke out not only about police violence, a high priority, but also about the sources of violence in the areas where they live. National minorities terrorize residents of different colors to the same extent. I see this every day in my hometown of Minneapolis.
And now that Trump is no longer a threat, it’s time for everyone in the news to separate news from opinion again. America needs more places where citizens of all political views can feel that their news is delivered accurately, without anger, without an attempt to divide it, or without excessive political correctness.
Before we trash Biden, how about we give him a few months to be pleasantly surprised? Give him the opportunity to put the country above the party and fulfill the oath you made when he took office.
Perhaps when I take the presidential oath before the Capitol to do just that, why shouldn’t all Americans (myself, readers, their children, and parents) take the oath at home: “I solemnly swear that I will … to the greatest extent possible. my power to support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. “
Maybe if all Americans do that, they can give Joe a chance to pleasantly surprise them. And for that «Take down the terrible political fever that gripped America along with COVID-19. It would be a pleasant surprise, right?
Nevada has the exclusive right to translate and publish Thomas Friedman’s columns. Reproduction of the full text is prohibited.
Original published in The New York Times
Published column in HB magazine… Reproduction of the full version is prohibited.
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