As a person on the just to the left-of-center position on the political spectrum, I am often assailed by the right as a “bleeding heart” and a “libtard,” yet also accused by those further left as being “too compromising,” “uncommitted,” or my favorite, a “sell-out.” To be clear, my positions run the gamut depending on the issue, but when taken altogether, I fall moderately to the left of center. And I know from experience and a general sense of decency that most people across the racial and socio-economic spectrum in America don’t hold radical political views.
These days people on the far-right and far-left dominate most political conversation, but still react with wonder when moderate candidates still seem to win nominations, especially within the Democratic party in statewide and national elections. There is a reason for that – most people (i.e. voters) do fall somewhere in the middle, they just aren’t out shouting their positions in social circles or on social media. Why? Because it’s too exhausting and both personally and professionally perilous to constantly have to defend yourself from a two-front assault from both the left and right, especially as you are spending all your time trying to keep yourself and your family afloat in times of uncertainty or crisis. So, most moderates stay largely silent, and often ignore invitations to participate in political polls, preferring instead to speak anonymously with their votes. Hence the surprise from those on the political fringes at the results of elections with a more broad-based electorate, because they don’t understand the message and power of silence wielded by those who are weary of constant discord.
But the brutal, cruel death caught on video of George Floyd at the knee of an entitled Minneapolis police officer calls for moderates to end their silence and speak out against excessive force, police and criminal justice reform, and systemic racism. And the ensuing burning of our cities – particularly in Minneapolis, not far from where I went to college and increasingly proven to be largely instigated by political fringe outsiders – requires that moderates speak up even louder:
In support of our communities of color, in support of our urban business owners, and also in support of our good and dutiful law enforcement personnel who do try to serve and protect all residents every day and are undermined and endangered by bad cops like Derek Chauvin and non-Minnesotan riot agitators that have infiltrated the ranks of our grieving protesters.
Silence is no longer an option, folks. It appears that the radical right and the radical left have dominated the conversation and activity to the point of violence and chaos. It’s time to take back the conversation and silence the radical fringes for a change so that true and lasting systemic change has a chance to be enacted and actually stick this time.
The Silent Majority Must Speak Up For Unity and Justice
