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1/16
We need to talk about what comes after Trump. About justice versus revenge or forgiveness. Justice is about accountability. It is an act of fact-finding and truth-seeking to hold those accountable who have visited wrong on others.
We need to talk about what comes after Trump. About justice versus revenge or forgiveness. Justice is about accountability. It is an act of fact-finding and truth-seeking to hold those accountable who have visited wrong on others.
2/16
Without justice, wrongdoing goes unchallenged and wrongdoers have impunity to continue their bad acts. Without justice, the ground becomes fertile for revenge and unchecked, uncontrolled retribution.
Without justice, wrongdoing goes unchallenged and wrongdoers have impunity to continue their bad acts. Without justice, the ground becomes fertile for revenge and unchecked, uncontrolled retribution.
3/16
Justice is not revenge, it is holding wrongdoers to account. We administer justice far too imperfectly in America. But we still seek it. We seek it because revenge is chaos and hatred and bloodshed, which the majority rejects.
Justice is not revenge, it is holding wrongdoers to account. We administer justice far too imperfectly in America. But we still seek it. We seek it because revenge is chaos and hatred and bloodshed, which the majority rejects.
4/16
Justice is also not forgiveness. Forgiveness is not free. There are prerequisites that wrongdoers must meet: Apology, repentance, amends. Even if those prerequisites are met, it is ultimately up to the aggrieved to decide to forgive.
Justice is also not forgiveness. Forgiveness is not free. There are prerequisites that wrongdoers must meet: Apology, repentance, amends. Even if those prerequisites are met, it is ultimately up to the aggrieved to decide to forgive.
5/16
Wrongdoers must accept that forgiveness may not be forthcoming. Enforced forgiveness is a second wave of victimization. In the absence of justice it is an invitation to further abuse. American history demonstrates this time and again.
Wrongdoers must accept that forgiveness may not be forthcoming. Enforced forgiveness is a second wave of victimization. In the absence of justice it is an invitation to further abuse. American history demonstrates this time and again.
6/16
Reconstruction, Watergate, Iran-Contra, the 9-11 Commission, and the recent impeachment are all failures at securing justice. They begot the Lost Cause, the Unitary Executive, torture, Katrina, Puerto Rico, and the pandemic failure.
Reconstruction, Watergate, Iran-Contra, the 9-11 Commission, and the recent impeachment are all failures at securing justice. They begot the Lost Cause, the Unitary Executive, torture, Katrina, Puerto Rico, and the pandemic failure.
7/16
This lawless administration and complicit Republican party are literally responsible for the deaths of Americans through incompetence, malfeasance, corruption, treason because we as a nation failed to secure justice when it mattered.
This lawless administration and complicit Republican party are literally responsible for the deaths of Americans through incompetence, malfeasance, corruption, treason because we as a nation failed to secure justice when it mattered.
8/16
If we, as Americans, naively forgive such complete, deliberate, and unrepentant betrayal of our country, Constitution, and government, we guarantee this will occur again, perpetrated by people infinitely more clever and lethal.
If we, as Americans, naively forgive such complete, deliberate, and unrepentant betrayal of our country, Constitution, and government, we guarantee this will occur again, perpetrated by people infinitely more clever and lethal.
9/16
And when that happens, and it will, those who survive won't realize what happened until it's too late. So, what must we do?
And when that happens, and it will, those who survive won't realize what happened until it's too late. So, what must we do?
10/16
Examples in American history are poor, other than our administration of the Nuremberg Trials after WWII. We brought the moral authority of democracy and rule of law against a group who committed unspeakable crimes against humanity.
Examples in American history are poor, other than our administration of the Nuremberg Trials after WWII. We brought the moral authority of democracy and rule of law against a group who committed unspeakable crimes against humanity.
11/16
But sitting in judgment of Nazis, against whom we'd just fought a war, is easy to accept. Sitting in judgment of fellow Americans is not something we've had to contemplate since the Civil War. But we must.
But sitting in judgment of Nazis, against whom we'd just fought a war, is easy to accept. Sitting in judgment of fellow Americans is not something we've had to contemplate since the Civil War. But we must.
12/16
As difficult and disturbing as the thought may be, we must hold those to account who acted directly against the nation and indirectly through enablement. We can't be weak-hearted and we can't surrender justice to forgiveness.
As difficult and disturbing as the thought may be, we must hold those to account who acted directly against the nation and indirectly through enablement. We can't be weak-hearted and we can't surrender justice to forgiveness.
13/16
There has been wrongdoing. Egregious wrongdoing. It has cost innocent lives and nearly destroyed our country. This is not a situation that can be hand-waved away in the name of seeking peace and unity.
There has been wrongdoing. Egregious wrongdoing. It has cost innocent lives and nearly destroyed our country. This is not a situation that can be hand-waved away in the name of seeking peace and unity.
14/16
Failure to confront the wrongdoing only promises more wrongdoing, and further, risks future waves of revenge. This is not the country we want to live in.
Failure to confront the wrongdoing only promises more wrongdoing, and further, risks future waves of revenge. This is not the country we want to live in.
15/16
We need truth-seeking and accountability even if it means punishing fellow Americans to the limits of the law. We have no choice if we wish to survive as a democracy with rule by law rather than an autocracy with rule by decree.
We need truth-seeking and accountability even if it means punishing fellow Americans to the limits of the law. We have no choice if we wish to survive as a democracy with rule by law rather than an autocracy with rule by decree.
16/16
We must demand of our elected officials that they hold real, consequential hearings in the model of the Nuremberg Trials. They will balk at the idea unless we demand it. Demand it.
This is what must happen after Trump.
We must demand of our elected officials that they hold real, consequential hearings in the model of the Nuremberg Trials. They will balk at the idea unless we demand it. Demand it.
This is what must happen after Trump.
Addendum: I inadvertently deleted the original posting of this thread. Apologies to all who were kind enough to like and retweet it. Sorry it vanished out from under you.
