Hope Trumps Fear: Advent Thoughts on the GOP Debate

“Look Daddy! Every time Trump gets ‘booed,’ an angel gets his wings!”

…is the thought I kept having during the debate. Maybe that scene came to mind because Trump IRL reminds me of the movie Mr. Potter. That cinematic caricature of evil; obtuse, antiquated, “a warped, frustrated old man.” Pretty spot on.

More to the point– every time Trump gets “booed,” another candidate gets his wings. Last night just confirmed my suspicion that all the others must be paying him to say these appalling things and make these embarrassing faces and stand there with his RIDICULOUS HAIR–because he just makes them all look so reasonable and safe and normal. I found myself rooting for people that I would never have agreed with, were it not for the blessed relief they offered from the real-world Mr. Potter. Though some them did give him a run for his (considerable) money.

Like, remember that one time when Ben Carson compared killing thousands of children in battle to PERFORMING BRAIN SURGERY? “They may not like me at the time, but they’ll thank me later…” Dear readers–I am often prone to hyperbole, but this is no joke. It’s what he said. He agreed with Trump, that there is no cost too great when it comes to “protecting America.” Even as thoughtful young voters called in, questioning how we would separate ourselves from the terrorists if we become so ruthless and inhumane…

Trump’s response was something to the effect of: “Fake hair, don’t care.”

I was proud of the Senator from my home state who stepped in with a mic drop moment. “Then we’ll have to drop out of this thing called the GENEVA CONVENTION,” said Rand Paul. He also cited the U.S. Constitution, as it pertains to war crimes, and I could not help but notice that neither Trump nor Carson had a response. #fakehair #dontcare

On the whole, Carly summed up the night best… “We are all angry.” She meant it to sound like a call to action, a show of force. But really, it just confirmed the overall tone of the evening. Anger. Misplaced rage and hostile xenophobia.

In other words–Fear. That’s what this whole election is about, and thus far, we have not  heard any answers, other than to turn inward and live fearfully. And when we live fearfully, we live forcefully. Hence the “Ima kill more Muslims than you” shouting match between Trump and Carson. And Cruz, when he and his chin could get a word in edgewise.

But some of the night’s most disturbing conversation happened on the B stage. Otherwise known as the “we still might get VP!” debate. In the context of a heated discussion, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum continually suggested that we need to be monitoring what goes on at mosques in the U.S.. “If the message really is so wonderful, and all about peace, as they say it is,” said Huckabee (with the IF implied in large caps) “then we should be able to go and hear what they have to say.”

That sounds ok–assuming that Huckabee means we go visit neighborhood mosque in the spirit of interfaith dialogue and fellowship. But that was not the tone of the conversation. No, what I heard, and what I suspect many of his supporters heard, was an invitation for vigilante-minded conceal-carry types to go to their local mosques and, you know, just hang out. Just lurk in back and listen for anything that sounds ‘funny.’ It called to mind some pretty dark, Nazi-esque images for me. (Also, he kept talking about their “sermons,” which is a culturally tone deaf understanding of non-Christian worship.) 

In the course of this same conversation, Rick Santorum repeatedly insisted that terrorists are being radicalized in American Mosques. This is a dangerous point of misinformation. 

What Santorum and Huckabee do not seem to know, but need to: Muslim extremists in America aren’t coming from mosques. Terrorists are mostly isolated from the faith community–that’s how they get radicalized. People who practice real Islam go to mosques. To talk about how to prevent radicalism. 
This is an important distinction. 

Mosques are faith communities. Places for worship and relationship and positive social change. Such communities are the antidote to extremism. People from other faith backgrounds need to be supporting and engaging them as the allies that they are, not ‘othering’ them into the margins.

The debate last night truly served to identify the candidates who understand this distinction. I have newfound respect for Republicans who reject anti-Muslim rhetoric, saying that it is counter to American values and identity. If you are a Republican, please identify those in the latter camp and support them. This may be the single most important issue for the future of humanity. No hyperbole here.

To be clear–I’m not a Democratic party loyal. I usually vote that way because of the ideological rhetoric that seems to be the alternative.  But when it comes to the gospel of fear that shapes the current political scene, it runs down both sides of the aisle.

I’ve heard talk from both sides about how “I” will defeat Isis. As if any one person could take on such a global force. What I don’t hear is ANYone acknowledging is that it will take a unified front–an America that can reach across the aisle and coexist on crucial matters of humanitarian interest–to defeat a powerful terrorist cell that grew out of our own botched efforts under past administrations. I have yet to hear a candidate address how they will lead with a unifying presence at home, so that we can address threats abroad. This is a gaping hole in any approach to foreign policy.

It could be that our greatest threat is our own partisan divide.

Yes, we are in the run-up to an election year. But for the love, y’all, it is also ADVENT. Why aren’t faith-based voters talking about the light that shines in the darkness; about the spirit of hope that overcomes fear?

I did hear (a few) hopeful things last night. But I also heard some rhetoric that, if unchecked, will lead to horrific loss of life. Voters who claim to base their lives on the Christian narrative need to do a gut check regarding what is driving their polling numbers. Are we voting our hope? Or our fear?

Know what those wingless angels really want? A better human story. Every time someone rings the bell for inclusion and constructive dialogue; for mercy and compassion; every time someone says “Stop it, you’re scaring the children;” when some voice in the wilderness cries out for less fear and more love, for fewer walls and more bridges… somewhere, an angel gets his/her wings.

A light comes on in a stable.

And that trumps everything.