In the wake of US President Donald Trump’s latest outburst, US Christian leaders MARIANN EDGAR BUDDE, RANDOLPH MARSHALL HOLLERITH, and KELLY BROWN DOUGLAS – who all serve at Washington’s National Cathedral, wonder, in an article published by Religion News Service, when Americans have had enough…
Via RNS
The escalation of racialised rhetoric from the President of the United States has evoked responses from all sides of the political spectrum. On one side, African American leaders have led the way in rightfully expressing outrage. On the other, those aligned with the President seek to downplay the racial overtones of his attacks or remain silent.
As faith leaders who serve at Washington National Cathedral – the sacred space where America gathers at moments of national significance – we feel compelled to ask: After two years of President Trump’s words and actions, when will Americans have enough?
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before departing for an event to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first representative assembly at Jamestown, on the South Lawn of the White House, on 30th July, in Washington. PICTURE: AP Photo/Evan Vucci.
“We have come to accept a level of insult and abuse in political discourse that violates each person’s sacred identity as a child of God. We have come to accept as normal a steady stream of language and accusations coming from the highest office in the land that plays to racist elements in society.”
As Americans, we have had such moments before, and as a people, we have acted. Events of the last week call to mind a similarly dark period in our history: “Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness…You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?”
That was US Army attorney Joseph Welch on 9th June, 1954, when he confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy before a live television audience, effectively ending McCarthy’s notorious hold on the nation. Until then, under the guise of ridding the country of Communist infiltration, McCarthy had free rein to say and do whatever he wished. With unbridled speech, he stoked the fears of an anxious nation with lies; destroyed the careers of countless Americans; and bullied into submissive silence anyone who dared criticise him.
In retrospect, it’s clear that Welch’s question was directed less toward McCarthy and more to the nation as a whole. Had Americans had enough? Where was our sense of decency?
We have come to accept a level of insult and abuse in political discourse that violates each person’s sacred identity as a child of God. We have come to accept as normal a steady stream of language and accusations coming from the highest office in the land that plays to racist elements in society.
This week, President Trump crossed another threshold. Not only did he insult a leader in the fight for racial justice and equality for all persons; not only did he savage the nations from which immigrants to this country have come; but now he has condemned the residents of an entire American city. Where will he go from here?
Make no mistake about it, words matter. And Mr Trump’s words are dangerous.
These words are more than a “dog whistle.”
When such violent dehumanising words come from the President of the United States, they are a clarion call, and give cover, to white supremacists who consider people of colour a subhuman “infestation” in America. They serve as a call to action from those people to keep America great by ridding it of such infestation. Violent words lead to violent actions.
When does silence become complicity? What will it take for us all to say, with one voice, that we have had enough? The question is less about the President’s sense of decency, but of ours.
As leaders of faith who believe in the sacredness of every single human being, we proclaim that the time for silence is over. We must boldly stand witness against the bigotry, hatred, intolerance and xenophobia that is hurled at us, especially when it comes from the highest offices of this nation. We must say that this will not be tolerated. To stay silent in the face of such rhetoric is for us to tacitly condone the violence of these words. We are compelled to take every opportunity to oppose the indecency and dehumanization that is racism, whether it comes to us through words or actions.
There is another moment in our history worth recalling. On 21st January, 2017, Washington National Cathedral hosted an interfaith national prayer service, a sacred tradition to honor the peaceful transfer of political power. We prayed for the president and his young administration to have “wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties that they may serve all people of this nation, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person”.
That remains our prayer today for us all.
Rt Rev Mariann Edgar Budde is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Very Rev Randolph Marshall Hollerith is dean of Washington National Cathedral. Rev Canon Kelly Brown Douglas is canon theologian of Washington National Cathedral. This commentary originally appeared at Cathedral.org.
