For me, in fact, party never mattered. I have never disliked someone JUST BECAUSE they were Republican. It's as arbitrary as disliking someone simply because of skin color, sexuality or anything else. I mean, how many of us can look around and say we didn't like someone the minute we found out they were a Democrat or a Republican? If that is happening for you, you might want to consider just how absurd that is.
Both parties have had and will continue to have many incarnations. It wasn't so long ago that the Republicans were the guard of freedoms, having elected Lincoln, himself not necessarily an abolitionist, but certainly not a proponent of slavery. Lincoln had to fight against the racism that found itself immersed among the Democrats to get the Emancipation Proclamation written into law.
As of 2018, that this has completely turned around, and the GOP itself has all kinds schisms amidst its own ranks. The Tea Party has broken off within the GOP as a new kind of conservative movement, and more sad, groups like Identity Europa are infiltrating it with Alternate Right activists (aka the new white supremacists). The Democrats have spun around to be the party (supposedly) fighting for the working man, the disenfranchised, etc.
So regardless of party, as it should be, the first consideration toward our President is that of what kind of human being he/she is.
I dislike him because he's an awful person.
I dislike him because he's an awful person.
However, this tweet crystallized something strange. I realized that it is indeed plausible, if not probable, that many of those on the right that support our President don't see it this way. They actually feel like my disdain is only about politics.
To which I would now pose the following question? Do you all really believe Obama and Trump to be the same? For those of you still ranting on about Obama not actually being a citizen of the United States, I hope you'll first take a step back into reality, then answer, because hanging on to discredited conspiracy theories helps no one, particularly you, but most of all, this country.
To which I would now pose the following question? Do you all really believe Obama and Trump to be the same? For those of you still ranting on about Obama not actually being a citizen of the United States, I hope you'll first take a step back into reality, then answer, because hanging on to discredited conspiracy theories helps no one, particularly you, but most of all, this country.
If you had a choice on who should watch your children, would you really sit down with both Barack Obama and Donald Trump and not see a difference? Is the world you think either of them would provide your child truly something you'd want to see your child emulate?
In this writer's opinion, the only prism to view the future is to foresee what kind of world we want to leave our kids; That our temporary journey on this planet is very short, and for all the gifts and things I've received (and maybe you have or haven't), I want the next generation to feel even safer and more secure. Granted, I have the luxury of thinking this way. My family raised me to not only care for myself.
As Emerson put it so perfectly:
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have live. This is to have succeeded.
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have live. This is to have succeeded.
Everything is about what we leave behind. Do you want to be remembered because you slept with someone and the film was leaked and that's what made you a household name? Do you want to be remembered for poisoning innocent folks so you could live in a ten thousand square foot house? Because that house may go to your kids, but it isn't going with you, no matter how much denial you live in. Your name is all that will be left.
If a teacher stood in front of your children and a hooker walked in and demanded the teacher pay her the money he owes her, would you want him teaching your children the rest of the day? If a teacher promised your son if he did extra credit, he wouldn't fail his history class, yet failed him anyway, would you have a problem with this teacher just by the fact they broke their deal? Better yet, would you tell your child to make that same deal again next semester? If a Cub Scout leader had your kids perform a play that condemned mentally retarded children as devils to be removed from society, would you gladly sign up for the next Cub Scout meeting? If the Boy Scouts changed their motto from "Be Prepared" to "Be Only American" would you sign up?
In essence, are you saying that you believe the two men, Obama and Trump, both lie, but you'd rather have the lie be blatant so you can handle it than the one where it was hidden under a smooth delivery.
See, here's where I see a huge difference, and I don't expect everyone will agree with me. Government is a very complex place, and if you're a smart leader, you know you can't do it all. Most people come into government with an idea they'll just take it over and push their agenda forward and boom, done. But that's not possible in a check and balance system. There are people who represent every different corner of this great country that require input and thought. Many times, that makes getting anything done slow and frustrating. A wise person knows this and hires many people hopefully even smarter than he/she to help influence change. That's what a President generally does. And as he/she sits atop the free world as one of the most powerful figures, every single thing he/she says and does influences, from a facial expression to a powerfully delivered speech at the U.N. However, politics are simply about ideas: what you believe should be lawful, what you don't, and what you base it on. How you act is about what kind of person you are. Aren't both important anymore?
With Obama, you could tell what he said meant something to him. He was married and seemingly happily. He had two daughters he spoke of proudly. He gave credit to those around him and didn't turn around the next week and take it back. I mean, who would seek to try to cover all people with health coverage if you were a monster? To what end does that serve his interest or needs. It doesn't. I get that he failed on many things, but failure is part of trying to lead. There are zero leaders in the world who have succeeded all the time. Obama had some of the smartest advisors on his panels and he made sure of that.
With Trump, I have no idea what means anything to him? Marriage? Obviously not. Loyalty? Sure, if it goes one way, but how many people who were loyal to him to did he throw under the bus the moment he decided he disliked their thoughts. The number is countless: Bannon, Christie, Sessions, Manafort, Cohen, Manigault, Spicer -- now, you can say these people weren't good people and had it coming. Maybe so. Does he care about his employees? Not that I see. People departing right and left and the moment they say they were unhappy or things weren't good, they are slammed. The number of departures from Trump's cabinet make it clear he wants to do everything his own way. That he doesn't care about hiring others for their opinions, but instead offers positions to those he thinks will either fall in line or look good on the marquee.
Ask yourself, why does Trump want to be President?
By all accounts, he didn't want to hire a transition team because he didn't think he'd win, and after he did win, he didn't want to spend the money on it. His desk in the Oval Office is empty sans a phone. I don't know what that means, but isn't that a little odd for the world's busiest executive?
If you believe this is about politics, then you believe winning is the only thing that matters. And once you have won, let's say, victories overturning Roe v. Wade, getting books banned in schools, having creationism taught, preventing flag burning and protest, removing protections that cost more for companies to abide by but protect the air, and thus everybody... what is next?
If you believe Putin and Kim Jong Il leaders which Trump will affect in a positive fashion, then I assume you expect to see more of the civil rights you enjoy being enacted in those societies, no? If not, then wouldn't you expect Putin and Jong Il to be pushing their influence the other direction toward dictatorship, the form of government that keeps them in power?
With Obama, you could tell what he said meant something to him. He was married and seemingly happily. He had two daughters he spoke of proudly. He gave credit to those around him and didn't turn around the next week and take it back. I mean, who would seek to try to cover all people with health coverage if you were a monster? To what end does that serve his interest or needs. It doesn't. I get that he failed on many things, but failure is part of trying to lead. There are zero leaders in the world who have succeeded all the time. Obama had some of the smartest advisors on his panels and he made sure of that.
With Trump, I have no idea what means anything to him? Marriage? Obviously not. Loyalty? Sure, if it goes one way, but how many people who were loyal to him to did he throw under the bus the moment he decided he disliked their thoughts. The number is countless: Bannon, Christie, Sessions, Manafort, Cohen, Manigault, Spicer -- now, you can say these people weren't good people and had it coming. Maybe so. Does he care about his employees? Not that I see. People departing right and left and the moment they say they were unhappy or things weren't good, they are slammed. The number of departures from Trump's cabinet make it clear he wants to do everything his own way. That he doesn't care about hiring others for their opinions, but instead offers positions to those he thinks will either fall in line or look good on the marquee.
Ask yourself, why does Trump want to be President?
By all accounts, he didn't want to hire a transition team because he didn't think he'd win, and after he did win, he didn't want to spend the money on it. His desk in the Oval Office is empty sans a phone. I don't know what that means, but isn't that a little odd for the world's busiest executive?
If you believe this is about politics, then you believe winning is the only thing that matters. And once you have won, let's say, victories overturning Roe v. Wade, getting books banned in schools, having creationism taught, preventing flag burning and protest, removing protections that cost more for companies to abide by but protect the air, and thus everybody... what is next?
If you believe Putin and Kim Jong Il leaders which Trump will affect in a positive fashion, then I assume you expect to see more of the civil rights you enjoy being enacted in those societies, no? If not, then wouldn't you expect Putin and Jong Il to be pushing their influence the other direction toward dictatorship, the form of government that keeps them in power?
At what cost does it stop being political and become about just plain human decency?
Are heroes something only to be found on screen in the movies? I should say, past heroes, because now we write more often about corruptible heroes, just like the rest of us. Are we past a day where we demand first of our leaders that they actually care about those they lead?
My wife and I teach our children that the word is like gold, that once your word means nothing, you mean nothing. When we make a promise to our kids, we keep it. Thus, we am careful what we promise. We teach them that if they take care of their home, their rooms, then they will gain pride from the feeling of having a place to host others that feels welcoming. We teach them that if you leave your shit in the parks and on road, it piles up because few will bend down to pick it up. We teach them by example to pick it up. We teach them that everybody's situation is different; that a homeless person shouldn't be looked upon in shame, but instead very possibly as someone who has suffered much trauma, whether it be by serving in a war, losing a parent to a costly medical crisis, or having made bad choices that they could not overcome.
Neglect of any kind is a negative plague on our society. Whether it be personal: your wife or child, your friends or family members, or on a grand scale: the environment, the community, the church, mosque or synagogue.
However, neglect chosen because of party over purpose, is unforgivable, because parties will change one way or another.
Look at our country and tell me what purpose are we about now?
I can honestly say I don't know anymore, and that, in itself, tells you why I loathe our President.
Because not only do I not see a purpose or passion to his leadership, I see him belittling others, a sure sign of insecurity and weakness. Strong men do not feel the need to belittle others. They are secure being who they are and letting others be who they are.
The USA has always been a country that never willingly neglected its own. But when his favorite word "winning" comes at the expense of slandering anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who opposes his ideas as an enemy, then you have a divisive and calculatingly sinister person as your leader.
What is Trump's purpose in being President, besides extolling his own virtues, and maybe, bringing a few folks he considers loyal along the way?
I would love that answer.
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