A classmate spat those words at me. It was when my family lived in Victor, a gold-mining town near Cripple Creek, high in the Colorado mountains. It was on the playground at school during recess. He clearly meant it as an insult, a put-down.
It baffled me then, and for a long time afterward. I didn’t see a problem. I was brought up to live by the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would want them to do to you. Believe the best about others because you want and believe you can expect them to believe the best about you.
It’s set up to be a mutually respectful, win-win arrangement, making for living and working in harmony. In other words, it is judging others by yourself, in a positive, healthy way. It’s how true community grows and is sustained.
Psychology calls this “projection,” and it can have good outcomes. But if you look for ways to condemn and attack others, individually or as a group, odds are good that it’s negative projection at work: “I assume you’re up to no good because everyone knows it’s a dog-eat-dog world; everyone and anyone is out for themselves, every time. So you can’t fool me! I’ll do everything and anything to end up the winner, every time.” That’s negative, or neurotic, projection. It’s a win-lose way to think and, sadly, to act.
So look at our present situation in this country. With his blizzard of executive orders, Trump exercises illegal, illegitimate, one-man power, all while he and his lackeys accuse federal judges, who are using their legal authority responsibly, of being one-person, illegitimate, and even unconstitutional flunkies — corrupt and left-leaning.
That’s where “don’t judge others by yourself” really fits, and bites. The MAGA crowd, from the very top down, are projecting their motives and actions on honorable and faithful guardians of our democracy as a tactic to deflect attention and legitimate blame away from their ugly actions.
It has led to the nakedly transactional, destructive world Trump, Musk, and their fear-ridden minions are visiting on us, the American citizens, in so many ways, day after wretched day, and seeking to extend it anywhere in the world where our economic and/or military might can prevail. So what if it’s a win-lose “deal”?
All of us who want to live in a country and a world where mutuality, respect, and cooperation are the norm need to name the disease and use every means at our disposal to reclaim the vision of our founders.
Time is short. Action is required. Ours. Together. For the life and health of our world.
Fred Reklau
Oak Park