Last week, the redacted version of the Robert Mueller investigation into possible Trump collusion with Russia to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential elections was released, and seemingly all of the U.S. — particularly its media — took the opportunity to find new ways to be aghast, disgusted, horrified by the idea that a foreign government could be involved in dictating our leadership, our way of life.
It’s disturbing, certainly. I’ve been among those enamored with fury, too.
But lately, I’ve instead been thinking back to a conversation I had a few months ago in a bar in Belize.
My Belize City friend, Ian, chuckled then as we shared a glass of wine, talking politics in a small bar in Placencia. At some point the Mueller investigation came up.
“Americans are outraged that Russia helped choose your president,” he mused, “even though it’s what your country has done with leaders of countries all over Central America for decades.”
Despite knowing the history, foggily, the statement hit like a 2×4 block of concrete to the face.
Because, well, let’s face it: as U.S. natives, we don’t like to think of ourselves that way.
