OPINION/BUSINESS
Fauquier Times | www.fauquier.com | December 9, 2020
15
GUEST COLUMN
‘It’s gone too far’ Exploiting cultural fissures is unraveling our social fabric By Bob Lewis Don’t imagine for a second that electing a new president is going to close or salve the open wounds and raw nerves that the 2020 political campaigns exposed. Not even close. Passions have not cooled from President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Donald Trump last month. That’s clear from Trump’s own tweets and statements alleging massive fraud — something officials in all 50 states and now his own loyalist attorney general dispute. It’s also clear from the death threats his followers have made against election officials. “It’s gone too far. All of it,” Gabriel Sterling, a senior Georgia GOP election official, said during an emotional news conference last week. Nor are we immune from the anger unleashed by this widening societal chasm, even in our own neighborhoods. Recently, my wife and I were out for a Sunday afternoon walk when we heard the horn blasts of a car braking in the middle of the street in front of a house sporting Biden and “Black Lives Matter” signs. The driver, a 40-ish fellow with a crew cut, stopped in front of us and began shrieking. “All lives matter! What’s wrong with people? Alll liiives matterrrrr!” he bellowed out
his window at two bewildered people. So much for a relaxing Sunday stroll. Clearly this was no ally of the BLM movement and, I strongly suspect, he did not vote for Biden. Perhaps his unprovoked behavior evidenced a cry for professional help. Or maybe it’s just years of pent-up grievance nurtured by a steady diet of social media and cable news. The critical takeaway is this: America is profoundly riven by forces far deeper and personally held than anything one election can cause or can fix. In fact, if that encounter is any indication, the election and its continuing recriminations may have only exacerbated it. Our politics has turned far more caustic than we could have imagined during the ’70s or even as late as President Ronald Reagan’s two terms. Though he was an unflinching conservative who Democrats swore would end the world, Reagan established a sunny sense of comity, civility and shared purpose that trickled down through American society. Ideological rifts have widened between the two parties during the past 25 years over policy positions, especially immigration, race-based inequity and public aid to those in need, according to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center. In 1994, only 15 points split the opinions of those leaning toward the two major parties. By 2017, another poll found the margin had widened to 36 points. More telling were the subsets of partisans expressing very unfavorable views of their rivals: The number more than doubled among Democrats and nearly tripled among Republicans. Most of the resentment was in place before Trump, but feelings have intensified under his
watch. Underlying it all is “identity politics” and a worsening culture war. It’s as though each side not only abhors the other’s politics, it believes their rivals are intrinsically malignant people. In another era, before the demise of trusted information sources and the unchecked dissemination of conspiracies, it was easier to keep the fabric of society from unraveling. Maybe that’s why Reagan could bring in a transformative brand of conservatism in 1980 and have the nation, including Democrats, respect his victory and afford him the benefit of the doubt. After eight years, the two sides were still on speaking terms, America’s essential institutions were healthy, and the Soviet Union was in hospice. But it’s also because Reagan was Reagan and he set the tone. He never labeled other Americans “enemies of the people” or instructed a violent right-wing group to “stand back and stand by.” He left office encouraging Americans to view their nation as “a shining city upon a hill,” not dreading a dark and uncertain winter of disease, death and discord. At its heart, this isn’t a Democrats vs. Republicans problem, nor is it a liberals vs. conservatives dilemma. The problem is we’ve become a people predisposed — and actively prodded — to think the worst of one another and to act on those feelings, even on a street in a sleepy neighborhood on a peaceful Sunday afternoon. Lewis covered Virginia government for 20 years for The Associated Press. This column first appeared in the Virginia Mercury and has been edited for length. Reach him at blewis@ virginiamercury.com. To see the full editorial, see fauquier.com.
BUSINESS
Purple Pumpkin offers gifts for kids, from infants to teen By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
Marylou Embrey and her business partner – her daughter, Alicia Ford – made the brave choice to open their children’s shop during a pandemic. The Purple Pumpkin, which sells clothing, accessories and toys for children from infants to teens, is at 92 Main St., Suite 101, in Warrenton. “We were going to open in April, but postposed it until July … It’s been slow,” said Embrey, “fewer people are out shopping.” But the Purple Pumpkin is one of two places that Gumdrop Square visitors can visit after chatting with Santa, which should expose the shop to new potential customers. And the store is full of under-thetree-worthy gifts and lots of stocking stuffers. Many of the shop’s offerings are unique, handmade accessories, brightly colored and carefully made. Infant-sized bibs are one example of the homemade wares, as are warm hats and hair accessories – headbands and bows -- that cover the wall behind the Plexiglas-protected cash register. A pile of kids’ journals with original artwork on the covers wait to inspire young writers. Handmade dolls have already sold out. Embrey
TIMES STAFF PHOTOS/ROBIN EARL
The Purple Pumpkin has stocked lots of wooden toys and puzzles for the holidays. has recently added a display of classic wooden toys and puzzles as well. Embrey said that her slowly growing cadre of regular customers appreciates the quality of the clothing she sells and that the prices in her shop are lower than in children’s “boutiques.” The shop is geared toward younger boys and girls, but she does have some items for older kids – like a very cool denim jacket for a size 16 boy. A collection of earrings and other jewelry aims to capture the attention of tween and teen girls.
Christmas pajamas? Check. The shop has an online component as well. Customers can shop online at https://thepurplepumpkinva.square.site. Embrey said that Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday were bustling. Ford and Embrey will be dressed as elves for Gumdrop Square visitors. “The kids will have more than a dozen choices of gifts to choose from. They’ll pick one out and we’ll give them a wrapped version to take home.” For the holiday season, the Purple Pumpkin will have extended shopping hours. The store will be closed on
TIMES STAFF PHOTO/COY FERRELL
Marylou Embrey, along with her daughter Alicia Ford, opened the Purple Pumpkin on Main Street, Warrenton, in July. Mondays (or call for an appointment), and will be open Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. On Thursday, Dec. 3, Embrey said she was waiting on one last holiday special item to arrive that was truly a sign of the times – Christmas face masks. Reach Robin Earl at rearl@fauquier.com
