Sacrifice for Power
In imperial China, the Emperor, his family and his closest political associates lived in the Forbidden City. The public was excluded from the Emperor’s insular life. To gain Imperial access a servant was required to do one act: emasculation. Those surrounding the Emperor and his family were Eunuchs, required to give up their sex organs to serve. Their “manhood” was preserved, pickled in a jar. The Eunuchs believed that if they were buried with the jar, then they would become “intact;” made whole again in the afterlife.
This sounds like an ancient, barbaric practice, and it was. But the use of Eunuchs in the imperial palace continued well into the twentieth century. The last Eunuch to serve the Emperor died in 1996. Why would men subject themselves to this?
Access to the Emperor might mean styling his hair, helping him bathe, or dress. But it also gave access to the Emperor’s ears. The quiet suggestions made by the Eunuchs became Chinese policy. Having the “ear” of the Emperor gave them political power, despite what they had to give up.
Political Eunuchs
Here in the United States today, we have a new form of political “Eunuchdom.” No one is asked to physically mutilate himself. Instead, they are asked to give up their “courage” and ability to determine right and wrong. They’ve place that “manhood” in the custody of Donald Trump. He demands blinding loyalty, such that his devotees claim day is night today, and night is day tomorrow.
We hear it quietly, over and over again, from reporters, friends, and former colleagues. Republicans cannot stand Donald Trump; they worry about what he’s doing to the country. They “oppose” his style, and his actions. Republicans believe that President Trump is chaotic, impulsive, and manipulated. It comes out from different sources: former Cabinet Secretaries, aides, and allies; but all seem to say the same thing.
“A Warning,” soon to be published and already a bestseller, exposes the dangers of the Trump White House. It tells of chaos and deceit, of “high minded” aides trying to steer the country away from the dangers that President Trump risks. But “A Warning” is written anonymously, the author not daring to put their job and reputation on the line. They want to be an unofficial “whistleblower,” protected from the wrath not just of the President, but also of his “base” of diehard supporters.
Duty to Protect
United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley “outed” Secretary of State Tillerson and Chief of Staff Kelly in her new book this week, claiming they asked her to join in plotting to control Trump. They are all “formers,” and Haley is certainly angling to gain advantage for her next political move. But she does make a point: if Tillerson and Kelly were so worried about Trump’s governing the nation, why didn’t they speak out? Where was their courage to stand up, say what was wrong, and resign? While Haley didn’t speak out, she did resign. Whether it was in some form of internal protest, or to pursue different career options, we don’t know.
Former Secretary of Defense, General Jim Mattis resigned, and made it clear why he was doing so. But he has said little more than his disagreement with policy in the Middle East. Mattis isn’t talking about chaos or dysfunction, and refuses to be drawn into a discussion of Trump’s leadership. He sees an even greater concern: if the military leaders of the United States openly express a lack of confidence in the Commander-in-Chief, it will put us at even greater risk in the world. So he remains quiet, as does his fellow Generals McMasters and Dunford.
What else would we expect from our Generals? The military knows their role in our Democracy, and that role is to stay far away from politics. Even though Mattis and McMasters moved into the political world, their shoulder stars stayed with them. Not quite so true with John Kelly, who moved into the most political job in any White House, the Chief of Staff. So it shouldn’t surprise us that he is less circumscribed by military protocol.
Constitutional Responsibility
But the Republican members of Congress aren’t bound by protocol. They are sworn to an oath to defend the Constitution, and have a clear role in that process. Why are they so willing to ignore the obvious, and defend the President regardless of his abuses of power?
They have allowed their political futures to be placed in Trump’s jar. Rather than risk the wrath of the Trump base, they are willing to risk the future of our nation. Even in the face of clear impeachable offenses, those Republicans are allowing Trump to continue, secretly wishing for a Democrat to win in 2020, but unwilling to stand up and be counted.
They have lost their courage, if they had any to begin with.
In the Oval Office of the White House is the “Resolute Desk.” Built from the timbers of the HMS Resolute, a British Arctic exploration vessel, it was given as a gift from Queen Victoria to President Hayes. It has been used by Presidents ever since.
Congressmen need to find their courage to protect our nation. For now, they have ceded it to Donald Trump, hoping to somehow become “intact” after he leaves office. Like the jars of Imperial China, they might as well have their courage stored in the drawer of the “Resolute Desk.”
