I would like to share today some thoughts about social and political identity under the Trump administration.  We hear the claim that “we” are “a Christian nation.”  That was prominent in the Christmas messages of the Trump administration according to a very good article in the New York Times by Ashley Ahn. 

Pete Hegseth, for instance, offered this. 

“Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” “May His light bring peace, hope, and joy to you and your families.”

And Marco Rubio, this:

“The joyous message of Christmas is the hope of Eternal Life through Christ,”

And this from the Department of Homeland Security.

“We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior,” 

There was also a  video that featured images including the American flag, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, President Trump and a Nativity scene, along with the words “Remember the miracle of Christ’s birth.”

In February, Mr. Trump created a task force at the Justice Department to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society” and “move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.” 

In May, he established the Religious Liberty Commission in the Justice Department.  The website of that Commission lists seven tasks they are interested in.  Here are five of them.

• The First Amendment rights of teachers, students, military chaplains, service members, employers, and employees
• Conscience protections in the health care field and concerning vaccine mandates
• Parents’ authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children, including the right to choose a religious education
• Permitting time for voluntary prayer and religious instruction at public schools; Government displays with religious imagery
• The right of all Americans to freely exercise their faith without fear or Government censorship or retaliation

Anyone with a clear memory of recent controversies will see conservative “resolutions” in the first four.  “First Amendment rights for specific categories of people”. Only? 

“Conscience” rather than, say, “law” as protections? 

“Parents’ authority” rather than, say the school board.

“Voluntary prayer and religious instruction,” in a setting where those practices have been set aside in light of the reprisals against those who did not “voluntarily” take part. 

And then that last one, which sounds very general, except that there are no protections for people who, by their own self-identification, have no religious faith at all.

Anyone, I say, who remembers these controversies will see in the Commission’s “tasks” a revolution of practices in favor of the Christian minority.

Then there is the question of “we.”  I offer here an old joke about the Lone Ranger and Tonto, but I want you to remember that this is about what “we’ means in the sentiment “we” are a Christian nation.

The story goes that the Lone Ranger and Tonto are riding somewhere in the wild west and are being pursued by hostile Indians.  The Lone Ranger consults Tonto, “What will we do, Tonto?”  Tonto, who always knows the right answer, responds, “We head west, Kemo Sabe.” [2]. To the west, they encounter more hostile Indians.  The pattern repeats, “What will we do, Tonto?”

In the final stage, there is an impassible canyon in front of them and bands of hostile Indians everywhere else.  The Lone Ranger turns for the final time to his companion and says, “What will we do, Tonto?”  This Tonto responds, “What you mean ‘we,’ Kemo Sabe?”

No story I have ever heard establishes the crucial nature of “we” as well as that one.  It establishes also the consequences of the shift in the reference of the term.  “We” has always before meant the two of them. Now, it instantly draws the line between Indians—of which Tonto is one—and white men, of which the Lone Ranger is one.  “We” has always been what saved them; now it is the certain destruction of one of them and therefore the destruction of that “we.”

“We” are a Christian nation.” What then are the rest of us?  Clearly, we are not part of the “we.”  That makes us part of “them.”  The political rights of “them” are precarious to begin with and internal problems of any sort—inflation, low employment, or racial animosity, for instance—play on that precariousness and bad things happen.

“We” and “They” are a fire hazard.  It wouldn’t take an administration in full courtship of the evangelical right to do it, but that is certainly a tried and true method.

It’s a dicey move on the part of the Trump administration.  I think I will begin now to dread what they might do for Valentine’s Day.

[1] Ms. White-Cain is described as the longtime personal pastor of Mr. Trump.  She takes communion in the office every day.

[2]. A substantial amount of research has gone into determining the source of the title, “Kemo Sabe,” but there has not as yet been agreement among the linguists who are pursuing the question.