The Art of Managing Passions
Or how to prevent civil war.
By JOHN LEAKE
Yesterday I (John Leake) posted an essay titled Trump: Hero, Villain, Scapegoat in which I reflected on “America’s greatest obsession,” as I call the former president. This morning I woke up and noticed that the essay had garnered more comments than likes, which is always a sign that a post has generated debate. As I read through the comments, I wondered if many of the commentators had read a different essay than the one that I remembered writing.
Most surprising to me were the comments asserting that I was clearly AGAINST Trump, or others stating that I was clearly FOR him. I thought that most of the essay was a presentation of facts about the Trump phenomenon and how different people react to it differently. I concluded the essay with the following:
To me, it seems obvious that Trump is an infinitely more desirable candidate than the braindead Joe Biden, but I have to recognize that half the country does not share my perceptions. The true challenge Trump faces now is not how to win the election, but how to heal the enormous divide that runs through the soul of this country—a divide amplified by white hot passions.
America’s greatest political thinker, James Madison, spent innumerable hours thinking about the ruinous effect of passions on public life, and the practical question of how to subordinate them to reason. He believed that managing public passions was the single greatest challenge that faced an elected leader, and he frequently expressed skepticism that it was possible. Alas, I fear that—as funny as I find him—Trump is not up for this challenge.
Please note the wording of my final sentence: “Alas, I fear that—as funny as I find him—Trump is not up for this challenge [of managing public passions].”
Judging by the passionate commentary, it seems that I too am not up for the challenge of managing public passions. One reader this morning expressed that opinion that I am clearly not outraged enough by the current administration.
As our Founding Fathers observed, while moral outrage is a natural response to injustice, it can (like all powerful emotions) be hijacked by unscrupulous party or factional leaders and inflamed for the purpose of sewing division and impelling oppression of rival factions. As President Washington observed of faction:
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge … has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.
In their efforts to found a new republic, Washington and Madison concerned themselves with the question of how to mollify the passions, NOT to inflame them and thereby stoke the spirit of revenge. As I concluded my essay about Trump, I fear that he is not up for this challenge.
In the larger sense, I suggest that the people of this country start thinking about how to prevent a civil war from erupting. I sense there are agents who are working very hard to foment one.
In 1860, William Sherman was a professor at the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy. During this time he was appalled by talk of the desirability of settling the country’s regional differences on the battle field. As he understood it, war is a terrible thing, and none of the young blades who expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of it knew what they were talking about. A few years later, on his notorious March to the Sea, he illustrated his point.
It seems to me that we Americans have become addicted to passionate feelings about public affairs. The greatest sin of the mainstream media is that it is constantly stoking the flames of tribalism and hatred of the opposing faction, thereby making viewers addicted to watching and rooting for their favorite commentators.
Responsible leaders endeavor to moderate these passions and to encourage reason and restraint. If Trump wins the next election, I hope he’ll prove my fear unfounded and do a better job at managing public passions.
Good thought piece. I believe, like some others, that you greatly misunderstand the nature of the divide and the associated passions. This divide and the inflamed passions are not simply a natural phenomenon emerging out of the social milieu. The divide and the passions have been created intentionally, with a purpose. (And not by Trump,) Trump has shined a light on those who would foment evil and slavery in this world. The howl you hear is simply the Deceiver protesting the light.
Well said. And as for your original post, President Trump could have correctly identified a rose as red, and for sure, it would have been disputed. So sad our country.