After watching the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden I watched myself becoming embarrassed, ashamed, saddened and fearful.
Embarrassed that two adult men, particularly Donald Trump, chose to interrupt, chastise and blame “the left” as well as validate his income tax loopholes, etc. Embarrassed, too, that any of our young generation watching this “debate” would see these modeled behaviors as a way and means to approach conflicting issues via name-calling and anger.
Ashamed, that the rest of the world would see our “debate” issues interrupted with undisciplined impulsivity and rage from our president. And, also, responses from provoked Joe Biden, “It’s hard to get a word in from this clown.”
Saddened, when almost everything I read and/or watch on TV, etc., seems to be politically and party oriented: “a critical mass of politicians put party before country, when responsible people, or seemingly responsible people, think that they can bend or break the rules … and that the system won’t break” (“Trump Sent a Warning. Let’s Take It Seriously,” The New York Times, Sept. 29).
And last, I am fearful about all of the above, interconnected with the power that social media continues to distort the pillars of our American democracy — truth and trust under the umbrella of factual openness.
