The emperor has no clothes and we must say so

Have we become too numb to confront what is happening in plain sight? I have responded to many emergencies where neighbors later said they had sensed disaster was coming. When I asked why they had not spoken up, the answers were familiar: they did not want to get involved, thought it was not their place or feared for their safety. But silence did not spare them from the consequences.

We know how we arrived here, but we must ask where MAGA is leading us. A promise to avoid foreign wars has shifted into a reckless, ready-fire-aim posture. Border security is being used to excuse forcibly entering homes without a judicial warrant, broad accusations against immigrants, and perceived threats answered with deadly force. When immunity, pardons, and payments for rioters loyal to one leader become acceptable tools of politics, the danger is clear: the tail is wagging the dog.

We all want dangerous criminals removed from society. But casting all immigrants as criminals is not security; it is fear turned into policy. Profiting from public office is not leadership; it is a breach of trust. And entering conflict without a strategy, a clear objective, or a measure of success does not make America safer – it endangers our future.

That is why Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” remains more than a children’s tale; it is a warning. The phrase “The emperor has no clothes” endures because it names the moment when collective denial breaks and truth becomes impossible to ignore.

In the story, a vain emperor is so determined to appear wise and impressive that he falls for two swindlers. They claim to weave magical clothes invisible to anyone “unfit for their job” or “unusually stupid.” His officials see nothing, but they praise the empty looms because admitting the truth could cost them status.

When the swindlers present the finished “suit,” the emperor parades before the crowd. Everyone pretends to admire what is not there until a child, unafraid of embarrassment, says what everyone knows: “The emperor has no clothes on!”

That plain truth breaks the spell. The crowd can no longer pretend. The story reminds us that deception survives only when people stay silent – and that one honest voice can expose what everyone fears to say.

This moment calls for the same honesty. It is not only about votes or party loyalty; it is about our constitutional promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We cannot remain comfortably numb while power is abused, facts are twisted, and fear is used to divide us. Now more than ever, we must wake up and speak together. What is happening is unacceptable, and it will not make America great again. Our future must not be left to people who serve themselves, flatter power for reward, and hide their true agendas. If the emperor has no clothes, we must have the courage to say so.

I am asking all MAGA supporters to re-evaluate how they want to Make America Great again. The original promises have been hijacked. The narratives have been re-aligned. It’s time to stop our drift away from our Constitutional guarantees.  Silence will not spare us. 

Please take the time to contact all our representatives to remind them they represent American greatness: our democracy, our voice and our future.  

Bill Murray served on the Colorado Springs City Council from 2015-2023. His professional background includes military intelligence, military police and Information Technology.