When it became evident that Trump lost the election, many of his followers began calling for understanding and empathy regarding their feelings, despite having shown little compassion for those who opposed him back in 2016. President Joe Biden frequently emphasizes the importance of unity and collective progress for our nation, and while some people are embracing this message, many—particularly those from marginalized communities—are not. After enduring years of disrespect, we have no obligation to pursue unity forced upon us, and we should not feel guilty for rejecting the idea that we need to come together. We shouldn’t have to be accommodating to those who don’t regard us as equals and who often legislate against our basic human rights.
It is Biden’s responsibility as president to seek bipartisanship; the nation is in a precarious situation. The cooperation of right-wing conservatives is essential for progress, which is why Biden must reach out to them, at least to some extent. He must navigate this political landscape to achieve meaningful policy changes, even though Democrats hold a majority in both the Senate and House, Republicans remain vocally opposed to progressive initiatives. Therefore, Biden and Harris may have to feign listening to the right in hopes of enacting necessary reforms.
However, as private citizens, we are not bound by the same rules as politicians. There is no obligation to play fair with those who fundamentally disagree with us. From the outset, many Republicans, particularly Trump supporters, have shown that they prioritize their own interests above all else. What leads us to believe they would suddenly act fairly? The likelihood of that occurring is nearly nonexistent. Their current calls for “peace” are merely tactics to gaslight us. Their true intentions are power and supremacy. If Trump were still in office, they wouldn’t be advocating for unity; they would still be rallying for their divisive agenda.
Consider the Capitol insurrection. The individuals who stormed the building were not protesting economic disparity or racial injustice; they were responding to the orders of a president who was enraged over losing an election. This violent mob attacked law enforcement and endangered countless lives, driven by a misguided loyalty to a leader who refused to accept the outcome. The election was lost largely because of the turnout from BIPOC voters who sought to remove him from power. If Republicans genuinely wanted unity, they would have prioritized the voices of those marginalized communities that were desperately calling for Trump’s ousting.
How can we expect Black individuals and other marginalized groups to unify with those who oppose our right to exist equally? There is no shared ground when they view our advocacy for basic human rights as radical. Is it unreasonable to expect a living wage, access to housing, affordable healthcare, and equal education? Wanting to be treated with dignity and not face violence due to our skin color is not extreme. The very notion that we should be cordial with those who reject our humanity is absurd. There can be no equity with a group that refuses to acknowledge the existence of inequity.
When it comes to equity, many conservatives are not interested, no matter how often they claim otherwise. While some may buy into their rhetoric, most people recognize the truth. It’s futile to reason with individuals whose allegiance is so clearly defined. The moment someone outside of their demographic gains even a fraction of opportunity, they react with outrage. Throughout his presidency, Trump incited a base of gullible, bigoted individuals, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about immigrants and people of color. He instigated policies like the Muslim ban and rolled back protections for the LGBTQ+ community, all motivated by a fear of equality for marginalized groups. They fell for his divisive tactics.
In what world is it realistic to seek common ground with such individuals? Their actions reveal a self-serving agenda that disregards our humanity. They will attempt to portray a desire for collaboration now that their previous methods have failed, but what they truly want is to regain their power while throwing us under the bus again. This narrative is as old as time, and we refuse to be deceived.
Those on the far-right asking for unity are not sincere. They threw a tantrum because they lost, and now they want us to ignore the events of the past four years. They engage in disingenuous calls for togetherness while making hypocritical statements like “kindness 2020” and “agree to disagree.” We cannot simply forget their actions.
While some may be willing to forgive for the sake of moving forward, that may no longer be feasible. To effect genuine change, we cannot continue to ignore past grievances in the name of unity. Such an approach is merely for show, and we need to abandon the idea that it is easier to welcome them back without holding them accountable. No more.
If they genuinely desire unity, they must confront the consequences of their actions. Words alone will not suffice; we need to see substantial efforts to promote equity and remove those who do not share these values. However, it is unlikely they will take these steps, so we must halt this conversation before further time and resources are wasted. Many of us from marginalized communities refuse to be cordial with those who deny our rights. Why should we be kind to individuals who have spent years belittling us with terms like “libtard,” “snowflake,” and other racial slurs? These are not the type of people who genuinely seek unity. They simply want to evade accountability for their actions. We, especially those of us from marginalized backgrounds, owe them nothing.
Search Queries:
- How to achieve unity in a divided country?
- The impact of political division on marginalized communities.
- Understanding calls for bipartisanship.
- Why unity is hard for BIPOC communities.
- Addressing accountability in political discourse.
Summary:
The article discusses the hypocrisy of right-wing calls for unity following Trump’s election loss, emphasizing that marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC, have no obligation to unify with those who have historically disrespected their rights. It criticizes the Republicans’ self-serving nature and highlights the violence and division perpetuated by Trump supporters. The author argues that true unity can only be achieved through accountability and meaningful changes, which are unlikely to occur as conservatives continue to prioritize power over equity. The piece concludes that marginalized individuals should not feel pressured to be conciliatory towards those who deny their humanity.