Letter to the Editor - Why our obsession

Editor,

I have listened to this question at least twice asked on a show I listen to from someone from the current American right: “Why are you Democrats so obsessed with Donald Trump?”

The short answer is in a quote below from the founder of Buddhism:

“If a viper lives in your room and you wish to have a peaceful sleep, you must first chase it out.” — Gautama Buddha (possibly 6th to 5th century BCE)

Donald Trump was made by the media, and there seems to be a media obsession with him, clearly displayed in the years 2015 to the current time. There is a profit motive hidden here, but if the media is truly on the side of American democracy, then there is some forgiveness for this obsession.

We on the left, who value American democracy, are forced to pay attention to the other side’s addiction to this man. If it was another man threatening our country, we would need to be obsessed with that man. This obsession can lead to further division and chaos, so indeed we must be careful in our handling of the open assault on our actual, important constitutional freedoms.

In all measures taken to dispense with democracy in favor of minority rule - sowing division and chaos within the population is a winning strategy. So indeed if one overacts to what one clearly sees as a threat to our way of life of over 240 years, then indeed the obsession can lead to more division and chaos to amplify the deterioration of which we wish to fight against. So the obsession question has perhaps more importance than seen on the surface. Dialog, not insults, nor name calling, nor threats are needed for American democratic — small “d” — consensus.

Erwin Curry

Missoula