The Golden Calf

Angry white men have a hero, a voice, a golden calf to worship

For decades these men have been sick of women and people of color taking away their privilege. Taking it by being able to vote, to not be discriminated against and to have more job opportunities.

Angry men who have followed laws put in place to protect the land and water, laws to protect humans and other creatures. They feel these laws have taken away their god given right to have dominion over the earth.

Now the golden calf is handing that power back to them. “He says what he thinks”, they say, and feel encouraged by his words and actions.

They are excited and emboldened. Allow the mining of pristine land! Reward fracking deep into the earth! Build a pipeline through nature’s majesty! Pollute the air and water! Money, money, money

The golden calf has awakened their primal need. Their need for dominance, control, and superiority. and they bow to him no matter his transgressions.

Lock up immigrants and send others away. “Back to where they came from” the golden calf says, and the angry white man agrees.

These men have forgotten what they learned in Sunday School “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It seems the golden calf is their god now.

The end of the bible story says the golden calf is destroyed by fire, burnt and ground to powder, scattered on water. But I’m not recommending violence, not at all. I’m recommending the vote, your vote, our votes. Our vote is our voice.

Let your vote be the fire, the fire that destroys the golden calf. make your voice heard, speak with your vote.

Cast your vote as if your life, the lives of your children and grandchildren depend on it. Vote as if the well being of our planet depends on it. Because it does. It does.

Sydney Duke Richey lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. She has two children and two grandchildren. You can follow her on Medium.