A Bernie Keller Poem

You knew

but you voted

anyway.

 

You heard

but you voted

anyway.

 

You saw

but you voted

anyway.

 

He fomented

division

dissension

separation

polarization

hatred

and destruction-

 

and you voted

anyway.

GUYS, PLEASE STOP BEING JERKS

Just stop! You are making it terrible for the rest of us. Why do we feel like we will be spending the rest of our lives wincing at your actions? From the President to Alabama Senate candidates, to celebrity pricks, internet idiots, cable cocks, and street stupid guys, there is no hiding from beef-jerkiness. What are the rest of us to do? Not all of us are jerks.

Americans still stereotype.  Many racially profile, objectify women, are homophobic and nativist. This is beef-jerky activity, yet as we try to back off those stereotypes we have increased stere-bro-typing because it has become well deserved. Examples abound. Start at the top. Nary a week goes by without reading presidential tweets and quotes that make us wince.

The “Brommander in chief” routinely is quoted saying things like “I know the details of taxes better than anybody. Better than the greatest C.P.A. I know the details of health care better than most, better than most.”

And then there is this:

“Another reason that I’m going to win another four years is because newspapers, television, all forms of media will tank if I’m not there because without me, their ratings are going down the tubes.Without me, The New York Times will indeed be not the failing New York Times, but the failed New York Times.”

“So, they basically have to let me win. And eventually, probably six months before the election, they’ll be loving me because they’re saying, ‘Please, please, don’t lose Donald Trump.’ O.K.”

What do you say to that? What a braggart?  What an egomaniac? What a Jerk? Or what a guy…?

Why are we still dealing with how jerks treat women and African Americans? It’s been 50 years since the women’s movement of the 60’s. It’s been over 60 since Rosa Parks and MLK.

Who leads the continued assault on them? Jerks. Wealthy powerful ones as well as general jerks on the street. Trump. Weinstein. O’ Reilly. NFL owners. The list goes on forever.

In 1968 women protested the Miss America Pageant condemning objectification of women. It still goes on. In 2016 more women in Pussy Hats marched against the Jerk-in-Chief than there were people at his inauguration.

In 1968 Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised fists at the Olympics. They were suspended and only academically accepted as civil rights heroes 2 decades later and 2 decades before Colin Kaepernick took a knee and was blackballed from playing.

Perhaps the biggest example of male beef-jerkiness is Congress. Stubborn? Yes. Know it all? Yes? My way or the highway? Yes. Paternalist? Certainly. Yes, there are obviously female members but the overriding mentality and behavior is male boorishness.

Americans say they want better health care? “So what”, says Congress. Americans don’t want the Ryan-McConnell tax cut plan? “We do.” Congress says. “We know what’s for your own good.” What Jerks!

I can go on, but so can you all. I am tired of it all. I am an older white guy, and I am angry. My anger is NOT against Women, Latinos, African Americans, or Immigrants. It is NOT against activists and protestors truly trying to create change. In fact, I am one. I am angry at those who rush to judge ALL men as jerks.

Mostly though, I am MOST ANGRY at those men whose actions lead people to think of us all as jerks.

So, to them I say ….

WILL YOU GUYS PLEASE STOP BEING JERKS???