This is a shocking and unpleasant day for those of us who
never believed that an individual with no experience as a civil servant could
assume the title, “leader of the free world.”
At its core, what makes America singularly different from other nations is
the absolute belief that our democracy requires the participation of its
citizen to function. We have a true
sense of being in it together, whether that “it” be cataclysm or
celebration. The supporters of Donald
Trump have much to celebrate, persevering against great odds to convince a
majority of uncommitted voters that their candidate was different and a
harbinger of change.
Different, he
is. Unlike any previous president elect,
until his improbable run for president, he has largely avoided participating in
the democratic process. To the contrary,
he is proud of his record of using tax regulations to circumvent any financial
obligation to his country. Just because
you can, doesn’t mean you should, any more than welfare or unemployment
recipients should use loopholes to cheat the system. When the rest of us have our shoulders to the
wheel I certainly expect a billionaire, captain of industry and fellow citizen
to be right there with us. And, to the
dazed, disillusioned and disgusted who never considered this day possible emigrating
to Canada is not an option. You, too,
have responsibilities. Now more than
ever, we need you at the wheel.
As a difference maker Donald Trump has been lukewarm to the
distinctly American concepts of equality and respect for those who don’t look like,
worship like or share the same sexual orientation he does. He has been openly anti immigrant,
misogynistic and racially insensitive, reminiscent of a mid 19th
Century political party, the Know Nothings.
Abraham Lincoln offered this commentary regarding his concerns for the
fragile belief in ‘liberty and justice for all’ found so abhorrent by many of
his fellow countrymen:
”As a nation, we began by
declaring that 'all men are created equal.' We now practically read it 'all men
are created equal, except negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will
read 'all men are created equals, except negroes and foreigners and Catholics.'
When it comes to that I should prefer emigrating to some country where they
make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism
can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”
Remove the direct inference to "negroes," insert Muslim in place of "Catholics" and you have a statement that seems to be a core message from the 2016 campaign.
Remove the direct inference to "negroes," insert Muslim in place of "Catholics" and you have a statement that seems to be a core message from the 2016 campaign.
And what of Russia?
Putin’s support of a Trump presidency, a cold war-like challenge to
every American position internationally and the chilling probability of
computer hacking efforts to manipulate information at the highest levels
presents an adversarial threat unprecedented in this generation. As a nation we’ve exhibited the will and
wisdom to resolve, or at least defuse every previous encounter. The common denominator has been
leadership. In this most uncertain of
times, we need more than self serving, self righteous and self aggrandizing
bombast.
Unable to move back in time, we move forward. It is my sincerest hope that candidate Donald
Trump, the man so many of us bitterly opposed, will be changed by the awesome
responsibilities he now assumes as President Donald Trump. I hope he becomes increasingly thoughtful and
interested in hearing the voices that challenge rather than constantly
praise. I hope he recognizes the crucial
role of a loyal opposition in fleshing out both sides of an issue. I hope he considers the context of debate and
the wide assortment of options before making crucial decisions. And, most importantly I ardently pray he will
rise to the occasion and become the leader that all of us, this great American
collective of diversity, need and deserve.
