In his April 4 column, “Get On With the Nation’s Work,” Dan Simpson made a valiant attempt at cataloging the elements that constitute the inanities of the Donald Trump presidency. He painted a picture of a beautiful, struggling country in the hands of a complete jerk. This is a classic example of what the late Albert Camus, French novelist/thinker, might refer to as “the absurd.”
Mr. Trump has awesome power, and we of limited influence are challenged to deal with it and make the best of an absurd situation. But we have the use of reason and therefore the means to decide what to do when faced with “absurdity.” And this is where I must respectfully depart from Mr. Simpson and his response, i.e., to simply “ignore Mr. Trump.”
Camus suggested two options in the face of existential absurdities (such as those that the Trump persona and leadership represent): suicide or rebellion/resistance. Suicide, as a possibility, is simply selfish and solves the problem only for one’s self. Camus chose resistance. He illustrated this by the example of Sisyphus, of ancient myth, who was condemned by the gods to a meaningless existence of continually pushing an immense boulder back up the hill after it has rolled down. He likened modern man to this anti-hero, whom Camus imagined as happy, in the struggle itself.
To “ignore” Donald Trump is to normalize him, to capitulate—a form of suicide. We, who have the measure of this fraud, must continue to think, write, speak, march and rebel against the absurdity that Mr. Trump and his sycophants represent. Then “vote them out,” as Mr. Simpson concludes.
ROBERT JEDRZEJEWSKI
Tarentum
Note from KBJ: Donald Trump is driving people crazy. Literally. Reading letters such as this one bring great joy to me.
