Cultural Rapids

Given the right conditions, even the most placid stream can transform into a raging torrent.

President Trump is a unique person in many ways, but one stands above the other. He is the example of what happens when the full force of government, the Deep State, the media, and an entire political party fires every gun they have. His existence offends them. As they find him still standing after the smoke clears from every salvo, their anger and desperation grows.

What they are doing to him is what they will do to America - if given the opportunity.

Andrew Breitbart, God rest his soul, said that politics are downstream from culture.

Our politics are so corrupt because our culture produces corrupt people, people comfortable with satisfying themselves and their agenda even if that means putting this nation, one that has been the most fair, equitable, prosperous, free – and I would argue the one that has done the most good -  of any contemporary nation for hundreds of years, on a path to destruction.

We are being swept downstream toward barbarity.

And make no mistake, when law is indistinguishable from lawlessness, barbarity is where this expedition ends.

People say it is time for a choice but what are we to do when, as is often the case in life, you can go right, or you can go left - and neither is the right decision. My own decisions were not enough to trap me here. It took the combined actions of millions of us to create the cultural trap we currently occupy.

If the current of culture, like that of a river, flows in a direction opposite your desired destination, it will be difficult to get there – and if it is strong enough, it can overwhelm you. If it does, your main objective shifts from reaching a particular destination to simple survival until you can get to any exit point – no matter where that point is. In self-defense (or defense of our agenda), we adopt whatever paddle, oar, or swimming stroke gets us out of the rapids and to the riverbank.

Many people have asked, and continue to ask, “What can we do?”

There is no single answer – but there are answers. Thomas Jefferson’s 1816 letter to Samuel Kercheval reveals at least part of the answer. Jefferson wrote:

“A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of the society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery, and to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering.”

Departing from principle begins the cascade of error. Add to that this 1798 notion of John Adams that should the people of America assume:

 “…the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Candour frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World.”

So, what the hell, right? Where do we draw the line?

Unfortunately, we are condemned to live with the current culture and even so, must hold the line by any means necessary – and that means supporting a president with whom many have a personal issue. If you believe Andrew Breitbart, we must change the culture to change the politics - and that’s going to take a movement to accomplish in a time where every single institution has been co-opted by a progressive ideology that prefers “mostly peaceful” rioting, looting and arson over justice, honor, moderation, candor, and sincerity.

Perhaps we have had better people than Donald Trump as president over my lifetime, but the culture was much different…and those “good” people have often produced less than optimal (or sometimes disastrous) results.

Maybe a second President Trump buys us enough time to get to shore.

To the surprise of many, President Trump proved himself fully capable of holding the line – and even pushing back – but our focus should not be solely on Trump today but what comes after Trump.

It is the long game that matters most. The culture must change.

Maybe we can change the culture before the current sweeps us away, maybe not, but there is one thing I know for sure - everything in life is time limited. The only assurance is that the world isn’t going to stop and wait for you to decide.

The pull of the current is always present.