When Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis was unveiled, it wasn’t long before conspiracy theories began to circulate. Not only from our current president’s eldest son, but also from key influencers from the QAnon camp. Our establishments’ reactions to this medical revelation have been starkly skewed, overlooking the humanistic response and aiming straight for their political agendas.
One would expect phrases of sympathy and well-wishes, yet the chorus was more akin to ‘You deceived them!’ spoken by groups with an impressive track record of deceit. It paints a poignant portrait of our times, where every accusation seems more like a self-indictment.
In times like these, we see political influencers’ inclination to construe every action of their rivals as a lie or a cover-up. Claims suggesting Biden’s spouse, who holds a doctorate in education and no formal medical degree, should have detected his illness, hint at a conspiracy. It’s a display of complete disregard for understanding that some sorts of cancer, such as prostate, can remain hidden due to the lack of noticeable symptoms.
There is an unfortunate tendency to pounce on someone who’s just been diagnosed, coupled with allegations of deception. This does not only show a deficiency in understanding of social decorum, but also an inability to empathize. Some even stooped down to claim that Biden was a robot clone, showcasing an outstanding detachment from reality.
Cancer does not discriminate. It doesn’t care if someone is morally good or bad, healthy or not, attentive or dismissive. Its strikes are as random as they are inexplicable. And yet, when it hits someone in the public eye, it becomes a political football, often leveraged to score points with voters.
Strangely enough, this isn’t novel, as we’ve seen illnesses linked to politicians in historical context too. Consider Franklin Roosevelt in his wheelchair, or Reagan grappling with Alzheimer’s and silent about AIDS. Each coped, with dignity, and in their way, advanced significant legislations.
The same ridicule was pointed at Vice President Kamala Harris, whose rise to prominence has unnerved some, going by their narratives. Is it a dread of having a smart, witty, woman of color in the driver’s seat? Even Hollywood’s strong female presidential characters have not been able to persuade the minds of these individuals.
Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario. If Biden had won and then resigned due to illness after two years, Harris, as per the 25th Amendment, would automatically ascend to the presidency. This mere thought seems to be a massive source of disquiet for some, which is disappointingly telling.
The unfounded criticisms of Harris also paint an image of a fear-driven narrative. The fear of change and potential upset to the status quo appears to outweigh the value of progress or an inclusive future. It’s mystifying to see this mindset in the very heart of the nation founded upon the ethos of ‘E pluribus unum’.
Where some have begun to imagine a potential President Harris, a different reality unfolded. The circumstances weren’t fortunate enough for her to ascend to the Presidential office. However, Biden, despite his personal health challenges, took action to pull us back from the brink of chaos wrought by a global pandemic.
Under Biden’s watch, the economy has experienced a boost and unemployment numbers have plummeted. Curiously, these facts are often overlooked by critics, who seem more interested in nurturing their fear-based narratives than addressing true facts. It’s easy to criticize; far harder to make constructive change.
In the face of all his personal loss and the current medical challenges, Biden continues to navigate the ship of the state. Though sentimental, it’s necessary to note that the roadblocks he faces are less about his capabilities and more about the polarized and fear-mongering climate of the political system.
Sincere critique aside, these kinds of constant, unfounded attacks not only reflect poorly on the complainers, but diminish the quality of our political conversation. While all this carries on, cancer silently and indiscriminately continues to affect many around us, a fact that would do well to unite us, rather than divide.
The post Biden: Masking Health Issues with Political Agendas? appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
