As I walked around campus today in my orange Clemson shirt I noticed that I wasn’t alone. Perhaps 60% of the students, teachers and workers were wearing the Clemson colors and the bear paw that is iconic of Clemson (Tigers, of course). It was ironic that I would never have been caught dead doing this in California where being branded was not a symbol of pride. But, here I was, a bear paw on my orange emblazoned ‘Go Tigers’ golf shirt.
Of course, I am about 50 years too late on this train. I have eschewed the life of a joiner to my benefit and detriment throughout my life. In high school I was the only person on the prom court to wear a dark suit. Like I said, I have been an idiot a lot in my life.
But, I got to thinking that the reason for this demonstration of orange and purple shirts is to promote solidarity with the school and enhance the experience of working together for common goals. We do this in high school (Yeah Maurauders!), college (Go Spartans!) and subsequently expect people to become a part of the larger experience in life . . support your city, your state, your party, your country, humanity.
I have often wondered why so many people stop along the way at one of the way stations and don’t continue on the the ‘humanity’ part. Think of all our Republican colleagues who have stopped at party and don’t move on to doing the right thing for their country or humanity.
They should be ashamed. I am in askance at the lack of moral values that the current Republican leadership has shown.
I am a Republican and have been one since the days of Barry Goldwater. I believe in independence and boot-strapping, but only so long as you can be independent and have boots to do it with.
But these ‘Republicans’ in Congress . . . it’s clear that as long as they get what they want, they have no moral values. And, this is the one thing that the Republicans in Congress have in common with Donald Trump and the Cosa Nostra.