The hateful and discriminatory language and conduct encouraged by our president has been so pervasive it’s difficult to grasp the effect it is having on society. It was never been clearer than Trump’s address to congress this past week. In his attack on transgender individuals, he said the government would recognize only males and females. His lackeys cheered. This has infected our political discourse in the very chamber where Trump spewed his venom. It was at a meeting of the European Subcommittee this week. The subcommittee chairman Republican Keith Self of Texas called on Delaware Representative Democrat Sarah McBride a transgender woman. He called her “Mr. McBride”. McBride shot back, “Thank you, Madam Chair.”
Someone finally stood up. Representative William Keating, Democrat from Massachusetts, interrupted and asked Self to repeat his introduction. Self again referred to McBride as “Mister” saying the there was a standard set on the House floor. Keating asked, “What is that standard?” Will you repeat what you just said when you introduced a duly elected representative from the United States of America please?” Self said it again. Keating said “Mr. Chairman, you’re out of order. “Mr. Chairman, have you no decency? You will not continue this hearing with me unless you introduce a duly elected representative from the United States of America the right way.” Self banged his gavel and said, “This hearing is adjourned.” Self defended himself later in an interview saying he served twenty-five years on active duty defending his right (McBride) to live life as he chooses. But I don’t have to participate in his fantasy.”
This was a stunning moment in a place that has not shown any courage in years.It doesn’t matter how you feel about transgender people. They have a right to their own lives and should be address as they wish. Not degraded. But they are a tiny minority and an easy target for bigots and self-rigorous Christian right extremists who do nothing but preach about what Jesus would do. I hope Jesus would be more respectful to someone who has surly struggled and made the most difficult decision in their life. It’s none of our damn business.
Keating standing up to a bully brings back a day in June, 1954. Boston lawyer Joe Welsh was defending the US Army from Senator Joe McCarthy’s claims that lax security had allowed Communists to infiltrate and gain access to top secret information. During the course of questioning of Welsh, McCarthy brought up the name of a lawyer in Welsh’s firm Fred Fisher. Welsh learned Fisher had belonged to the National Lawyers Guild some considered a left-wing association. Welsh decided not to use Fisher on the case calling his membership in the guild a youthful indiscretion. Without warning, McCarthy named Fisher while questioning Welsh and embarrass him and Fisher. Welsh had had enough. He shot back at McCarthy, “Have you no sense of decency, sir at long last?” That one act of standing up turned the country against McCarthy. He was censured by congress and died three years later a broken man.
Keating and Welsh stood up to powerful forces. We need to see more of it in this time of national trauma. If we lose our sense of decency, much more will be lost.
Leave a Reply