Fresno-area leader must apologize for promoting a sexist slur about VP Kamala Harris | Opinion

Our American culture is littered daily with examples of elected officials using social media like X — formerly Twitter — Facebook and Instagram to slam those they disagree with in completely inappropriate ways.

Who is the leading offender? None other than Donald Trump. He often is racist and derogatory, like when he calls Vice President Kamala Harris “dumb.” (Never mind that Trump is increasingly unable to speak in coherent sentences.)

In August Trump reposted on his Truth Social platform an image purporting that Harris used sex to get ahead in her political career.

And now Chowchilla City Councilmember John Chavez has reposted to Facebook a meme that used a derogatory slang word directed at women. :

Harris, of course, is running as the Democratic party’s nominee for president against Trump, the Republican candidate.

Bee staff writer Erik Galicia asked Chavez about reposting the meme to his Facebook page last month, and he confirmed that he had put it on his social media. He disagreed that it used sexually vulgar language, and he would not comment on whether it was appropriate to share such a post.

Clearly, Chavez suffers from a lack of courage along with a lack of judgment and emotional maturity.

Chavez should know better, but clearly, he doesn’t.

It’s not like he is new to politics. Chavez has been on the council since 2004, and in that time has been mayor on three occasions. He’s nearly 60 years and yet, here he is — acting the fool.

Unfair to Harris

A Chowchilla resident who reacted to Chavez’s posting was Brad Conner, who referred to Chavez as a fellow Catholic. In his review of Chavez’s Facebook page, Galicia found the councilmember frequently shares religious content.

What would Pope Francis say to Chavez’s reposting? It is not hard to guess.

The Harris meme is not the first time Chavez posted offensive content. Galicia’s review found he had posted crude memes attacking a transgender person and another going after Michelle Obama.

Such social media use cheapens political discourse and ultimately cheapens Chavez — a reality he does not grasp — to say anything about what it does to women and trans people.

Apology needed

Chavez’s social media use is part of the larger problem in politics, that of degrading opponents simply because they are in the competing party.

Fresno State philosophy Professor Andrew Fiala, who writes a column for The Bee, discussed this in his most recent analysis that bears relevance to Chavez’s Facebook page. “The great German thinker Immanuel Kant explained that enlightenment demands that we overcome immaturity, cowardice, laziness and irrationality. It is easy to do what comes naturally and say whatever pops into your head. It is more difficult to restrain your animal urges and develop your humanity.”

As a representative of the citizens of Chowchilla, Chavez needs to realize he is the face of the community. He leads by example.

To that end, he should make a public apology for the offensive posting about Harris and a public commitment to using social media to uplift and edify, not tear down.

The Bible says in Ephesians that Christians are not to “let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs.”

Chavez, and all elected officials — Republican, Democrat, third party or nonpartisan — would do well to follow that advice.

Be better, Mr. Chavez.

This story was originally published October 9, 2024 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Fresno-area leader must apologize for promoting a sexist slur about VP Kamala Harris | Opinion."