we need a hero

To be honest, I'm completely disheartened by everything that's going on right now, from the lack of justice for the deaths of black people by the police across the country to the lack of political leadership on the part of Democrats against Trump and the dangerous threat he and what he represents poses to this country, and especially to women, BIPOC, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community.

After Trump suggested getting rid of ballots and having to wait and see what happens, refusing to commit to a peaceful transition if he loses the November election, people are worried about what may happen. Nobody seems to have a plan if Trump decided to stay in power by whatever means necessary. Democrats, who are trying to also prevent another Trump-appointed Supreme Court nomination, aren't even willing to use a government shutdown as a tool, having approved a temporary budget until December. Meanwhile, people are in the streets protesting police brutality and the growing rise of a new breed of fascism in the US. But the right has their hero in Trump, as imperfect as he may be. He's a focal point for their right-wing nationalism and has captured the populist fires burning in the hearts of many working people in America disillusioned by the status quo. And the opposition, well, they seem like they're a deer caught in headlights, better at wringing their hands at the violation of norms and chastising leftists for their direct actions than mounting any actual resistance.

There doesn't seem to be an opposition leader or hero to match Trump, who, as crazy as he is, has mastered the art of having every insane thing he does and says broadcast on every media outlet. I think Democrats made a huge mistake when they picked Biden to be their electoral champion. They did so in large part because didn't want to rock the boat too much and scare away conservative Dems and the mythical moderate Republicans they think they can win over in big enough margins since they've inexplicably decided to battle leftists and progressives with all their might, except it turns out the fucking boat has been hijacked by fascist pirates and what we really need is someone willing to lead the charge to retake the boat and give everyone healthcare. Someone like Bernie would have been a much better option. Not only are his progressive ideas like Medicare for All favoured by a majority of voters, which would help him cross party lines and feed some of that populist hunger, but he was much more focused on organizing and movement building than simply winning the election, something we desperately need at this moment.

Let's face it, Biden excites no one, and he's a piss poor leader in my opinion. Working people are trying to carry on the fight against police brutality and fascism in the streets, but the police and Democratic leaders are making it difficult. Also, labour and spiritual leaders aren't helping organize and lead as much they did in past social justice and civil rights movements. To sustain the kind of mass resistance needed to do what they did in, say, the '60s requires solid organization, people able to inspire and keep morale up when things are their darkest and most violent, and the ability to help support people logistically and legally when they inevitably get arrested (e.g., the NLG). In a lot of areas, it seems they're lacking many of those things. People are out on the streets, yes, but often don't have any real plan or objective besides standing their ground against police for as long as they can. And I think this movement could really use leaders to help focus these protests, organize actions, and get more people to join them for extended periods of time. I definitely think we need more union support out there (also strike actions), more preachers in the vein of MLK and Malcolm X, more political leaders in the streets, and more groups organizing and supporting these protests.

We have BLM and people who are committed anti-fascists, and they're doing amazing work right now, but they're not to the level of SCLC yet in terms of what they did organizationally. Being at these protests, it feels like it's a little too much a leaderless movement at times, often being very chaotic and mainly involving police encounters and not much else (although the collection and distribution of food and supplies for those in need has been one great thing). I think that kind of confrontation is important, especially with the police increasingly suppressing protest movements, but I don't think it's sustainable. We need help and guidance and inspiration as well as our fierce independence and anger. I think that's one reason Occupy fizzled out after the police smashed camps. People didn't know what to do next, and the momentum just wasn't there to regroup or try something different. Most people simply went home. And I fear that may happen here too, unless the police just keep killing black people and getting off, because that's the main fuel for this movement at the moment. But if that calms down, then I think these protests will shrink and fade until the next spark.

There's nothing wrong with having leaderless movements, of course. And Eugene Debs had a good point when he said, "Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out if I could; for if you could be led out, you could be led back again. I would have you make up your minds there is nothing that you cannot do for yourselves." And often times, when the leaders are killed, movements can lose their hope and direction and die with them. But sometimes being leaderless can lead groups to be disorganized, so their actions aren't directed and the momentum is difficult to maintain because so many of those involved aren't on the same page. What good leaders can sometimes help to do is focus and organize movements. That doesn't mean they have to direct everything like a shepherd to sheep, but they can help to keep things going in a certain direction and towards a certain goal. If the people involved agree to an idea or tactic, they can help guide the movement to stay on course when they start to get too off track. I'm not saying every moment or movement needs designated leaders, and I think that many things should be decided by those involved democratically or through consensus. But I do think leaders have their place, whether they're political, spiritual, or involved in labour.

Eugene Debs didn't want to be a Moses, but he was certainly a political and labour leader who inspired and organized hundreds of thousands of people to fight for labour rights and socialism. He was a hero for so many in his own time and beyond. In that sense, it's not so much about hierarchy and authority, but more about helping steer the boat. If the movement isn't already characterized by strong organization, sense of purpose, and direction, such as a bunch of disparate people gathering in the streets every night over a common cause or adversary, then it runs the risk of having too many leaders, with everyone wanting to go in their own direction and trying to lead everyone else along with them, pulling things apart. I saw it with Occupy, at least, and worry the same fate will befall this configuration of mass civil unrest/disobedience.

Right now, Trump is steering the boat towards a rocky reef, threatening to dash it to pieces rather than relinquish control. And the ones in the greatest position to stop him and wrestle away the wheel, the so-called resistance, are hemming and hawing and fighting those on their side who are the most committed to action. And at times like these, I wish we had a hero of our own.