Thread by @AditiJuneja3

People’s response to McCain’s passing and his memorial today shows me that we are very bad at nuance.

John McCain fought for and served his country. He had a life dedicated to serving the public.

He also made a number of racist comments over the years and consistently voted in ways that hurt marginalized people. Also, Sarah Palin.

George Bush got on TV after 9/11 and defended Muslim Americans. My parents were in awe.

He then got us into a nonsensical war that included gross human rights violations. He also presided over economic policies that led to the Great Recession.

Barack Obama is a great orator. He stopped a Great Depression, expanded access to healthcare for millions, and is generally one of the most consequential presidents.

He was also terrible on immigration and greatly expanded the powers of the executive.

People are more than the worst thing they’ve done and they’re more than the best thing they’ve done.

It is fair for us to want our leaders to be true to the ideals they profess. Demanding that of them is the only way it can possibly be real.

What I find challenging, is that we now have a President who does not profess ideals of equality, inclusion, freedom, or democracy.

He peddles in hate, division, and authoritarianism.

He also delivers on it.

So, he’s not a hypocrite. He’s just terrible.

I personally preferred having leaders who professed to care about things that weren’t always borne out in their actions. It made it possible to hold them accountable to something better than what they were delivering.

I also preferred having leaders who thought they were doing what was best for the country. Even with their biases, blind spots and failures.

I preferred having people in power who thought they cared about the country rather than someone who only cares about himself.

Of course, wishing for leaders who claimed lofty ideals that you could push them closer to and who care about the country even when they falll short should be a bare minimum.

The bar is on the floor.

I think it’s good we demand better. I don’t like the incomplete stories.

Which maybe means that I shouldn’t be on Twitter or need to really cull who I follow. Who are the more nuanced twitter accounts you follow that challenge your thinking?

Thanks to everyone for engaging. I appreciate the feedback and want to clarify a few things (that weren’t clear the first time):

1) The good and bad things people have done are not equal. It is fair to judge them.
2) The people mentioned in this thread are not equal in harm. 1/

3) Nuance is a privilege that is afforded in how we understand some people but not others.
4) Rhetoric of positive ideals doesn’t always lead to more accountability in reality, it can also lead to more complacency.

Thanks to all for sharpening my thinking! 2/2