Those of you who have followed my writing exploits know that I am a big fan of nostalgic TV. I have often quoted Perry Mason’s favorite judge, Learned Hand. For a black man growing up in America, some might describe my affection for wistful, primarily white TV shows, that had no real bearing on my life, as perverse. I loved the Andy Griffith show. Having grown up without my father, I guess it was really weird that a little black boy from urban America felt that Sheriff Andrew Jackson Taylor, from rural North Carolina, was the perfect dad. The Andy Griffith show was a spin-off of the old Make Room for Daddy TV show starring Danny Thomas. Griffith’s show, in turn, spun off Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. starring the late Jim Nabors.
A circuitous route…
For those of you wondering why I took that long and winding peek into the past, it was to set up a singular line from Gomer Pyle’s grandma Pyle,” fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” This morning I was reminded of that by comic Sarah Silverman’s guest appearance on The View. Silverman is traveling the country making her own very funny effort to bridge the divide between red and blue country, starring in I love you America. One of the things she said this morning stuck in my mind, “…I distinguish between the liars and the lied to…” At first, I thought, how Leave it to Beaver quaint, but then I imagined grandma Pyle’s voice once again in my head, “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
I applaud Ms. Silverman for getting out there in the midst of the Trump faithful but I am not so generous. When you know someone is lying to you and you choose to follow and mimic their asinine ramblings and knowingly defend their lies, I no longer distinguish between the liar and the lied to, because the lied to then become complicit. I am so bored with hearing we cannot write off these people. Yes--we can, because they have asked us to over and over. They have said, we want to be kept devoid of truth because we prefer fantasy and lies; we want to deny science; we want to be racist and bigots and most of all we yearn to turn over the control of our lives and integrity to a foolish braggart.
Mr. Trump is out casting doubt on the hard work of the California forestry department’s effort along with firefighters from all over the country to save the burning homes and lives of its residents. He even invoked the name of the Finnish President Sauli Niinistöwhom he said told him the forest fire problems are small in Finland because they “rake.” Of course, the Finnish President denies this because, of course… He has been confronted with undeniable truth, from the intelligence agencies under his command, that the Saudi Crown Prince ordered the brutal murder of a legal resident [ Jamal Khashoggi] of the United States of America and his response when questioned by his own propaganda wing, friendly Fox News’ Chris Wallace was, he told me “five times” he did not do it. He followed up that statement with a question, “Well, will anybody really know?” Yes, Mr. President, you do. So, Sarah, I applaud your effort but I cannot buy what you are selling. I do wish you luck in trying to disentangle yourself from the web of lies you have so bravely entered.
Vote in 2020 for Truth.
