Marjorie Taylor Greene's apology for adding to the 'toxicity' of our politics has brought up some old feelings I've held for those that enabled Trumpism and are now profiting off of it.
I agree as well, and I wrestle with these feelings too. Something that just popped in my head as I read this was the 12 steps of AA, a few of which seem very relevant right now.
"4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
There's a lot more in there, but like I say, these are the ones that stand out to me. Are we seeing the people you describe do anything close to these? If not, I think it's only healthy to be skeptical if their conversion is genuine. If we don't see something like this from them, I can't help but wonder if we're only seeing another performance, you know?
This performance from those that went along to get along (which it is unless and until we see actual accountability in the form of actual good governance) is exactly why no one trusts politicians and why so many people don’t vote. Nihilism seeps in, and the only thing we can do to combat it is to focus forward to do what we can do to help our communities and stay positive. We can accept the help of the opportunists without giving them our trust. The sacrifices you and others like you made don’t compare to those in it for the graft, Mike. Take heart in knowing that at least we know. And we can’t thank you enough for being on the right side of history.
Thank you, Mike, for discussing this question. I have struggled with it. A pardon doesn't redeem the people. I don’t purchase the books or listen to the “Forgive Me” tours. Prayer does not equate to forgiveness. God may forgive them.
That is a good question. She has been one of the biggest voices of division in US politics in the last five years. She has championed some awful stuff and causes. And still does.
And she is still very much MAGA. And by that I mean she's still is a true believer. She legit believes this stuff. She has not changed in this regard. She's only "in the doghouse" because she believes that MAGA is something more than a cult for one man, and that man can't have this movement be more than that.
I guess the first step towards forgiveness is apologize, to want forgiveness. But that has to be backed by action and change. I don't think she is going to change much, but I hope I am wrong.
I tend to break problems, including this problem, down into component parts. Then, we can categorize and analyze the problem to work methodically to a solution. If one applies this to the specific example of MTG, I would separate politics from personal relationships and feelings. I would separate actions from intentions. And finally, I would decline to get so involved in the inner lives of others. Just let God sort them out. MTG has to look within her own conscience. She has to confront a lot of difficult facts about her behavior and motivations. That's on her. I am not going to help her do that. As Ann Richards is purported to have said once about someone in the political arena, "I didn't take them on to raise". Meaning, they were an adult and she expected them to accept the consequences of their actions.
Then, there is the discrete act of defying Trump and weakening him politically. I will take the political benefits of this problematic individual despite the fact I doubt I could ever tolerate her in my personal life. I would condemn MTG in my heart for all her bad intentions prior to this particular issue. I would provide very limited and specific support for the political effect on MAGA and Trump she has catalyzed in this moment. It would stop there for me because we have reason to question her intentions. This one positive political development out of her doesn't erase the past nor does it exempt future shenanigans.
What we have with MTG is a parasocial relationship. She is a character in our on-going media soap opera, not a family member or friend. If the media wants to make her into a hero, they do it for their own profit purposes. We don't have to buy what they are selling. As far as I am concerned, no human is a hero. Many in the past and many in the future will engage in heroic actions that save the day, but intrinsic heroism doesn't exist in fallible humans. A hero is a literary device, not a human being.
Two things are true about MTG. She did something helpful by wounding Trump. She will bear watching in the future because her history of doing things destructive to democracy in the past. WE should not forget that she could very well do so again. She's on probation for the duration.
Cynthia - very well written, very well thought through. I like your observation on our media soap opera. New plot twist: bad character turns over new leaf? Just so, we need more episodes to see if this is for real, and how far she’ll go in changing her heart. Maybe next season she’ll put on a different mask or go back to her old one.
I am not going to embrace MAGA Marge into the tent yet, but was struck by her direct apology. In today’s Republican politics, it is not nothing. I would also say while MTG is terrifying, at least she is a true believer. That makes her a bit less cynical than Rubio, Graham, Ben Shapiro or Megyn Kelly. The outcome may be the same but she is not as much of a phony. Only time will tell if she is even more cynical than this bunch by playing 3 dimensional chess.
Making amends requires action…and humility. It requires looking squarely at the harm you have caused and taking responsibility without making excuses, and instead working to repair what you destroyed every day afterwards. I agree, Mike. Thanks for writing, as always
It'll never be enough as long as opportunism is the driving force behind the apologies. Forgiveness of this magnitude needs to be earned and folks like MTG have not earned it. The serenity prayer comes in handy when conflicts like this exist. One of the 12 Steps of AA talks about having to make amends to those we have harmed. Perhaps, for someone like MTG, IMHO, stepping off the damn stage as penance for all the wrongs she has done to this democracy, would be a good start. Then she could work on making amends to those individuals like, David Hogg, whom she disgustingly stalked after he survived a mass shooting at his high school. That's just one instance. There's many more. Each and every one of these MAGA's who enabled the downfall of this democracy need to be weeded out for the poison they brought to all of us, much of it being racial hatred. I have trouble with this one because racism has wrought so much horrendous and tragic pain in our history.
Forgiveness means, "I forgive you. Now I'm done with you." Forgiveness isn't forgetting. It is accepting the things we cannot change and moving on, not with resentment. Rather, with a full heart and peace of mind. Maybe we all struggle with it on different levels.
I do believe MTG is sincere when she talks about the Epstein victims. And maybe that's the main reason the MAGA spell is broken, but I honestly don't think it matters. I don't care if she a good or bad person, or if she really is sorry. I reserve those internal, emotional conflicts for personal relationships, and not waste them on public figures.
I will just look at each of her actions in the future and call balls and strikes.
An apology is one thing but without actions it’s just empty words. Not just actions for the Epstein victims but actions as to how she treated Parkland victims of a school shooting especially David Hogg. Actions for following the big lie of his in 2020 and a part of egging on an insurrection and lawsuits against the people’s voices in voting for Biden. All of it needs actions.. No book deal, no payment on podcasts being an Ex-MAGA cult members.. Forgiveness is not a given it requires work to receive. Forgetting is a whole other aspect…
Excellent point- she is a model that allows others to change their mind, even if her motives are questionable. If it wakes anyone up, it is worth it. At least she is affecting MAGA. Some of the other opportunists speak only to anti-Trump factions, not moving the needle with MAGA at all- that is much worse, much more of a money grab.
Yes! The fact that MTG has changed her mind after seeing the Trump Administration’s actions will cut through the MAGA media bubble and reach people that we will never reach. Her words took courage. Who am I to judge her?
I don't pretend to know what it feels like to pay the price you have paid on a very personal level for standing up for what you know is right. But I can understand why watching the lately "repentant" seeming to get off with a simple apology, is a difficult pill to swallow. You have every right to feel this way, and I don't think it is anyone's right to say you should feel otherwise.
For myself, on a personal level as someone who has not paid such a price, all I can speak to is how I feel about friends and acquaintances who have supported Trump and voted for him all three times. The fever has broken with a few of these friends, and part of me wants to dress them down with the "...I've been telling you so for the past 8 years..." accusatory rant ... but I don't. Why ... mainly because it won't accomplish anything. So instead I try to not stand in judgement. It is not always easy. I can understand how it must be harder for you.
I agree as well, and I wrestle with these feelings too. Something that just popped in my head as I read this was the 12 steps of AA, a few of which seem very relevant right now.
Here's the full list: https://www.aa.org/the-twelve-steps
But I found these especially enlightening:
"4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
There's a lot more in there, but like I say, these are the ones that stand out to me. Are we seeing the people you describe do anything close to these? If not, I think it's only healthy to be skeptical if their conversion is genuine. If we don't see something like this from them, I can't help but wonder if we're only seeing another performance, you know?
This performance from those that went along to get along (which it is unless and until we see actual accountability in the form of actual good governance) is exactly why no one trusts politicians and why so many people don’t vote. Nihilism seeps in, and the only thing we can do to combat it is to focus forward to do what we can do to help our communities and stay positive. We can accept the help of the opportunists without giving them our trust. The sacrifices you and others like you made don’t compare to those in it for the graft, Mike. Take heart in knowing that at least we know. And we can’t thank you enough for being on the right side of history.
Thank you, Mike, for discussing this question. I have struggled with it. A pardon doesn't redeem the people. I don’t purchase the books or listen to the “Forgive Me” tours. Prayer does not equate to forgiveness. God may forgive them.
"Is saying sorry enough"?
That is a good question. She has been one of the biggest voices of division in US politics in the last five years. She has championed some awful stuff and causes. And still does.
And she is still very much MAGA. And by that I mean she's still is a true believer. She legit believes this stuff. She has not changed in this regard. She's only "in the doghouse" because she believes that MAGA is something more than a cult for one man, and that man can't have this movement be more than that.
I guess the first step towards forgiveness is apologize, to want forgiveness. But that has to be backed by action and change. I don't think she is going to change much, but I hope I am wrong.
I tend to break problems, including this problem, down into component parts. Then, we can categorize and analyze the problem to work methodically to a solution. If one applies this to the specific example of MTG, I would separate politics from personal relationships and feelings. I would separate actions from intentions. And finally, I would decline to get so involved in the inner lives of others. Just let God sort them out. MTG has to look within her own conscience. She has to confront a lot of difficult facts about her behavior and motivations. That's on her. I am not going to help her do that. As Ann Richards is purported to have said once about someone in the political arena, "I didn't take them on to raise". Meaning, they were an adult and she expected them to accept the consequences of their actions.
Then, there is the discrete act of defying Trump and weakening him politically. I will take the political benefits of this problematic individual despite the fact I doubt I could ever tolerate her in my personal life. I would condemn MTG in my heart for all her bad intentions prior to this particular issue. I would provide very limited and specific support for the political effect on MAGA and Trump she has catalyzed in this moment. It would stop there for me because we have reason to question her intentions. This one positive political development out of her doesn't erase the past nor does it exempt future shenanigans.
What we have with MTG is a parasocial relationship. She is a character in our on-going media soap opera, not a family member or friend. If the media wants to make her into a hero, they do it for their own profit purposes. We don't have to buy what they are selling. As far as I am concerned, no human is a hero. Many in the past and many in the future will engage in heroic actions that save the day, but intrinsic heroism doesn't exist in fallible humans. A hero is a literary device, not a human being.
Two things are true about MTG. She did something helpful by wounding Trump. She will bear watching in the future because her history of doing things destructive to democracy in the past. WE should not forget that she could very well do so again. She's on probation for the duration.
Cynthia - very well written, very well thought through. I like your observation on our media soap opera. New plot twist: bad character turns over new leaf? Just so, we need more episodes to see if this is for real, and how far she’ll go in changing her heart. Maybe next season she’ll put on a different mask or go back to her old one.
I am not going to embrace MAGA Marge into the tent yet, but was struck by her direct apology. In today’s Republican politics, it is not nothing. I would also say while MTG is terrifying, at least she is a true believer. That makes her a bit less cynical than Rubio, Graham, Ben Shapiro or Megyn Kelly. The outcome may be the same but she is not as much of a phony. Only time will tell if she is even more cynical than this bunch by playing 3 dimensional chess.
Making amends requires action…and humility. It requires looking squarely at the harm you have caused and taking responsibility without making excuses, and instead working to repair what you destroyed every day afterwards. I agree, Mike. Thanks for writing, as always
I read somewhere “To err is human, to forgive divine. I’m not divine.”
It'll never be enough as long as opportunism is the driving force behind the apologies. Forgiveness of this magnitude needs to be earned and folks like MTG have not earned it. The serenity prayer comes in handy when conflicts like this exist. One of the 12 Steps of AA talks about having to make amends to those we have harmed. Perhaps, for someone like MTG, IMHO, stepping off the damn stage as penance for all the wrongs she has done to this democracy, would be a good start. Then she could work on making amends to those individuals like, David Hogg, whom she disgustingly stalked after he survived a mass shooting at his high school. That's just one instance. There's many more. Each and every one of these MAGA's who enabled the downfall of this democracy need to be weeded out for the poison they brought to all of us, much of it being racial hatred. I have trouble with this one because racism has wrought so much horrendous and tragic pain in our history.
Forgiveness means, "I forgive you. Now I'm done with you." Forgiveness isn't forgetting. It is accepting the things we cannot change and moving on, not with resentment. Rather, with a full heart and peace of mind. Maybe we all struggle with it on different levels.
Good read Mike.
I’m struggling as well. Especially with someone who was touting “National divorce” five minutes ago.
I do believe MTG is sincere when she talks about the Epstein victims. And maybe that's the main reason the MAGA spell is broken, but I honestly don't think it matters. I don't care if she a good or bad person, or if she really is sorry. I reserve those internal, emotional conflicts for personal relationships, and not waste them on public figures.
I will just look at each of her actions in the future and call balls and strikes.
An apology is one thing but without actions it’s just empty words. Not just actions for the Epstein victims but actions as to how she treated Parkland victims of a school shooting especially David Hogg. Actions for following the big lie of his in 2020 and a part of egging on an insurrection and lawsuits against the people’s voices in voting for Biden. All of it needs actions.. No book deal, no payment on podcasts being an Ex-MAGA cult members.. Forgiveness is not a given it requires work to receive. Forgetting is a whole other aspect…
Agree.
Woah woah woah. Be the better Christian. Support her *conversion* without necessarily supporting her, nor engaging with her past.
She's a model for every confused conservative in the country to reckon with where we need to be as a people and a nation.
Focus on this. Project this. Promote this.
Excellent point- she is a model that allows others to change their mind, even if her motives are questionable. If it wakes anyone up, it is worth it. At least she is affecting MAGA. Some of the other opportunists speak only to anti-Trump factions, not moving the needle with MAGA at all- that is much worse, much more of a money grab.
Yes! The fact that MTG has changed her mind after seeing the Trump Administration’s actions will cut through the MAGA media bubble and reach people that we will never reach. Her words took courage. Who am I to judge her?
Agree. And I'm not Catholic.
Not unless there's actual actions behind it. Otherwise, it's a snow job or potentially gas lighting
I don't pretend to know what it feels like to pay the price you have paid on a very personal level for standing up for what you know is right. But I can understand why watching the lately "repentant" seeming to get off with a simple apology, is a difficult pill to swallow. You have every right to feel this way, and I don't think it is anyone's right to say you should feel otherwise.
For myself, on a personal level as someone who has not paid such a price, all I can speak to is how I feel about friends and acquaintances who have supported Trump and voted for him all three times. The fever has broken with a few of these friends, and part of me wants to dress them down with the "...I've been telling you so for the past 8 years..." accusatory rant ... but I don't. Why ... mainly because it won't accomplish anything. So instead I try to not stand in judgement. It is not always easy. I can understand how it must be harder for you.