UNKIND, UNNECESSARY AND UNTRUE

I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year’s fashions, even though I long ago came to the conclusion that I was not a political person and could have no comfortable place in any political group.- Lillian Hellman 

Ms. Hellman was writing during the era of the Red Scare, in a time she branded “Scoundrel Time.” Back then artists and writers were being hauled before a Committee of Congress called the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and having their loyalty to America questioned in a public witch hunt. Many were ruined for life for their associations. 

Thanks to the magic of Facebook and other forms of social media, we live in an era where private citizens can be exposed to an online inquisition without being before a committee. Guilt by association was once said to be dead and gone. It isn't. 

I've grown accustomed to reading comments like this one, "Noel Kevin Breen I notice your recent defense of the mayor-not always have you felt this way that I've seen." One example was the day the spouse of one of my wife's political enemies confronted me at a driving range over the same petty drivel. 'How's Matt", he screamed, purple with rage. 

Until now, my choice was to consider the source, with the belief that whom my harasser was looking at each morning was punishment enough. But upon reflection, I've decided to write a few words. 

The normal impulse in a smaller community is to embrace the concept of comity with fellow residents long before considering your neighbor's politics on local matters. In the Carlsbad of 2020, the concept of "guilt by association" is alive and well. As an example, months after the last election, my choices in my private social life continue to be in the public domain. 

I'm sympathetic to those questioning ill-advised developments, but my concerns have always been driven by issues of human rights. When out of town racists came to town to advance their agenda, several of those seeking to label me a quasi-Republican sat on their hands and said nothing. Hours later their leaders invaded the local Democratic club to ensure that nothing was said about the morality of the hatred, for fear it would harm their candidate's ambitions. 

It was not until I shamed them on Facebook that a few speakers appeared (weeks later) at a City Council meeting to voice narrow legalistic arguments against those moments of shame. It is very apparent that decency and human rights are much less important to these "activists" than stopping an alleged airport expansion or securing a publicly funded park for millionaires in South Carlsbad. 

Those thoroughly indoctrinated ultimately are trusted to spread the seeds of wisdom via YouTube testimonials and social media advocacy. At the same time, others are entrusted with the task of creating the image of popular acclaim with the creation of deceptive shell groups, often populated by a handful of people and a keyboard. designed to mask the fact that power was achieved through a systemic fluke, and not via the will of a voting majority. 

Those not paying close attention are led to believe that each and every word and deed of their hero is animated by some higher moral power. They are convinced that even the most toxic and destructive of comments can be weaponized and spun as “kind, necessary, and true.” Language is bent in an Orwellian manner, where “collaboration” means the refusal to speak to a majority of residents.

Attacks over a lack of "transparency", provide an excuse to deflect and dodge the disclosure of conflicts. The term "engagement" becomes the politics of personal destruction, of attacking volunteers and charities. Ultimately anger and fear, selfishness and resentment, are marshalled in the service of blind political ambition and uniquely as therapy for existential unhappiness afflicting both leaders and adherents. 

Those questioning the hatred are often bludgeoned to virtual death on Facebook or subject to a social shunning only rivalled by religious cults. It's disturbing to see this mentality played out in national elections by the denizens of Russian "troll farms", and utterly tragic to see it going down in a small community. 

Though not quite in the league of Arendt's "banality of evil" or the White House of today, the willingness of people to bend the truth in service to a cause or one person's ambitions is both breathtaking and frightening. 

The very fact that an insular group can get away with making a public and political issue of personal friendships, by going online and ridiculing others for being unwilling to join in the politics of personal destruction, should scare and offend us all. As an old saying states, only heaven can help the congregation where the needs of the pastors outweigh those of an unsuspecting flock.

MANY BLESSINGS- NOEL