By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Democrats’ calls for unity and civility in the wake of Trump’s victory are misguided and ultimately futile. This approach ignores the reality that Republicans, especially under Trump’s leadership, are driven by fear and paranoia, fueled by a constant stream of manufactured enemies. Their notion of “unity” is simply conformity, demanding that those deemed different silence themselves or disappear. This approach not only fails to understand the nature of fascism but also inadvertently enables it by falsely suggesting that Trump and his supporters can be reasoned with. The only solution is for people to recognize the inherent danger of this hate-mongering and refuse to reward it with power.
Read the original article here
President Biden has repeatedly called for Americans to “bring down the temperature” of political discourse, urging us to see each other not as adversaries, but as fellow citizens. But this plea for unity seems to fall on deaf ears within the MAGA movement. Conversations with Republican voters reveal a profound disconnect between their understanding of unity and the call for civility coming from the Biden administration.
MAGA supporters see unity not as a shared commitment to common values, but as conformity to their own rigid vision of what America should be. Their idea of unity hinges on a complete erasure of difference, demanding that minorities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and anyone who doesn’t fit their idealized archetype simply “shut up” and submit. This desire for a monolithic, homogenous society reflects the core tenets of fascism: a shrinking circle of “us” and an ever-expanding population of “them.”
Many of these conversations echo the sentiment that unity is impossible with a group who appears to be driven by anger, hatred, and a fear of contagion. The fear that simply seeing LGBTQ+ people in public could somehow lead to a “spread” of their identity highlights the irrationality and prejudice fueling this movement.
The frustration of many Democrats boils over in these conversations. They see Biden’s calls for unity as a continuation of the same failed strategy that allowed the MAGA movement to gain so much power in the first place. They argue that the “Boomer approach” of trying to appease and negotiate with the uncivilized has only emboldened those who want to dismantle democratic norms.
Instead, they call for a more assertive response, arguing that the Democrats need to stand their ground and fight back against the onslaught of misinformation, bigotry, and threats. They feel that Biden’s reluctance to confront the extremism of the MAGA movement will only lead to further erosion of democratic institutions and values.
Many express a deep sense of disillusionment with the political landscape, seeing the country increasingly divided along tribal lines. The “conservative” movement, they argue, no longer seeks to conserve traditional values, but to maintain the supremacy of a white, patriarchal society.
This sentiment reflects a growing recognition that the GOP’s appeal lies not in policy, but in its appeal to the darkest instincts of a significant portion of the electorate. The success of Trump, despite his blatant lies, broken promises, and disregard for democratic norms, proves that character and competence have become secondary to a sense of grievance and a willingness to embrace a dangerous ideology.
The conversations paint a bleak picture of a country teetering on the brink of a fundamental divide. The MAGA movement seems intent on tearing down the fabric of society, and the response from many Democrats reflects a growing sense of urgency and anger. The calls for unity, while well-intentioned, seem to be falling on deaf ears, and the question remains: can the country bridge this chasm, or are we destined to spiral further into a future defined by conflict and distrust?