Beware the Strongman

                Across the globe, we’re seeing growing numbers of people attracted to the idea of a “strongman” as leader. It’s taking place in Europe and here in the United States as well. People seem to be attracted to a leader who will “fight for us.” Such a vision is taking hold even within Christianity, where we are seeing the creation of a new Christology in which Jesus is armed to the teeth, ready to fight the battle. Now, I will admit that imagery like this can be extrapolated from Revelation, but we have to be careful with apocalyptic visions. But, in the place of the strongman Jesus, many are looking for human counterparts.

                So, consider Fox’s Tucker Carlson, who has been broadcasting from Hungary. During his visit, he has offered Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban as a model leader for the United States. Now, Orban rules with near-dictatorial powers with a platform that is nationalist, anti-gay, and anti-immigrant. The message is Hungary for Hungarians. Orban calls this “illiberal democracy” (this seems to be an oxymoron to me). This is the vision that some leading right-wing pundits like Carlson are offering to us as Americans. Now, I wonder how this fits with Constitutional protections (other than, perhaps the Second Amendment, which has become the holy grail for the right).

                 Let’s consider that Orban has stifled dissent and attempted to take over the media so that it can no longer criticize him. Does that sound familiar. He has also taken steps to keep himself in office long-term. We’re seeing the same thing in Turkey with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Of course, there is Vladimir Putin in Russia. That’s just to name a few. Besides them, there are Right Wing partisans throughout Europe who are seeking power but have yet to get the reins.

                Now, for the United States. Donald Trump has demonstrated his admiration of all of these leaders and he sought to emulate them here as President. While he was voted out of office (Trump is not nearly as successful as Orban), he has yet to admit defeat and continues to rally his supporters, who embrace his vision of the Strongman. They are intent on putting him back in office, no matter what it takes (witness January 6, where supporters sought to interfere with the certification of elections, and which his supporters have downplayed as nothing more than a walk through the capitol by tourists).

                So, could we be vulnerable to the rise of a strongman? Until recently I didn’t think so. Unfortunately, there are worrisome trends that have become more pronounced since the November election. Some of these trends include a growing distrust of the traditional press. There is the embrace of “alternative truths.” Then there are the efforts to undermine the credibility of our elections by suggesting that the presidential election was stolen (witness the farce in Arizona). If we can’t trust our elections, which is foundational to our existence as a democracy (we elect our leaders) then we are more vulnerable to a Strongman. Of course, there is a growing number of conspiracy theories, led by those spread by Qanon and embraced now by persons elected to Congress. These are combined with a growing anti-immigrant movement (Tucker Carlson backs the idea of ending immigration into the United States lest traditional Americans—read White Christians—be replaced by persons of other backgrounds).

                As I contemplate these current realities, I’ve been reading the recent biography of Karl Barth by Christiane Tietz, which describes Barth’s resistance to the Nazification of the church and Germany. While I don’t think that Trump is Hitler, the growing acceptance/openness to the rule of the Strongman has parallels to what was happening in Germany in the late 1920s and 1930s. It fed off anger and frustration. Hitler came along and promised to fight for the people of Germany against its foes. Trump came along and promised to fight for his followers to make American great again. While the situations are different, the elements are similar. This concerns me, especially since one of the attractions that Trump has for many of his supporters is his bombastic demeanor, which they consider a sign of strength. Compassion, grace, and mercy are all deemed signs of weak. This is true even for Christians who have re-envisioned Jesus as a John Wayne-like character.

So, I issue this warning to my fellow Americans, reminding us that we are by definition an Constituitional democracy: Beware the Strongman!