How often have I quoted the lines of the Yeats poem the worst are full of passionate intensity, because the most violent, conspiracy theorists have entered the mainstream of the Republican Party, outrageous attacks have been leveled at principled representatives right down to school board members defending the curriculum achieved by consensus among their teachers.
Fred Upton, R-Mich has regularly received death threats for voting for the infra-structure bill, and yesterday released a profanity-ridden phone call making threats on his life.
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at a House Rules Committee meeting. An aide told Fox News his office has been getting death threats after voting for the infrastructure bill. (AP)
President Trump led the way by referring to the 13 Congress-people who voted for the infra-structure bill, as “Rinos” (“Republicans in name only”). Trump is a significant enemy of bi-partisanship in Washington. He tried relentlessly to initiate a similar infra-structure bill under his own administration, and yet he sought to undermine the completion of this one. He is a significant destructive force in national politics.
Below the opening lines of Yeats’ poem, The Second Coming, which seem prophetic for this time in history:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
(W.B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”)
President Trump could have been the falconer in the Yeats poem, but he has chosen to break with the leadership of a democratic government, including President Biden, Reps. Lynn Cheney, Lindsay Graham (who voted for the bill) and even Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who spoke in favor of the infra-structure bill. As Trump can not hear the “falconer,” the above voices of reason and bi-partisanship, Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.
The ceremony of innocence is drowned. These ceremonies include the electoral college confirmation of a new President, the passing of the infra-structure bill, the defeat of merely allowing debate on the Voting Rights bill. These are the basic ceremonies of democratic governing, not partisan celebrations. The attacks on these “ceremonies” have come from within the government, from elected representatives, not only crazed citizens. The center cannot hold.
The best lack all conviction. The falling aside of prominent moderates, now refusing to run for re-election, signifies the best who “lack all conviction.” The moderates jumping the sinking ship include: Pat Toomey, R- Pa, Rob Portman, R-OH, Roy Blunt, R-MO, Richard Burr, R-NC, and Adam Kinsinger, R- IL. The undertow of struggling against the blood-dimmed tide has become too powerful for courageous Senators and Congressmen. It may be unfair to say they “lack all conviction,” but to the casual observer, they represent an ominous trend, a brain drain on the U.S. Congress. We needed them most when they decided to retire.
Even the sitting President, the falconer-in-chief, has a muted voice, trying to unite instead of lead. His intentions are good, but the consequences have made the Yeats prophecy more threatening still: mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, and the pronouncements of an ex-President get more attention than the present one. And since the ex-President is only intent on breaking down the world order, it leaves the “Build Back Better” message in tatters. At this point the inclusion of the Minority Party has run amuck. Therefore the Majority Party needs a strong voice of leadership, a falconer who can speak above the “mere anarchy.”
These are the final lines of the Yeats poem.
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
They seem to predict a redemption and a political savior, nothing like the biblical one. “Slouching toward Bethlehem” describes the progress of redemption so well. We are long-suffering for the leader, the coalition, the new voice to arise and speak truth with authority. You need more than a popular election or celebrity to assume this role. Your hour must “come round at last.”
God willing, this hour will be soon.
