It still doesn’t feel real.
I’ve been in politics on both a volunteer and professional level since I was 16 and I’ve never seen anything like this. Here I sit, a full four days after the election and it hasn’t quite set in that Donald J. Trump will become the 45th President of The United States. It’s odd. I have found myself going about my daily life, fulfilling the mundane responsibilities of being an adult, and then it hits me like a train…
“Donald J. Trump is about to become the 45th President of the United States of America.”
I don’t think I need to recap any of the dumpster-fire that the American political process has been over the last two years. It’s caused us all enough pain, frustration, and bewilderment. To be frank, I think most of us can agree that most of these emotions have come from or been a direct result of the actions and words of our new president-elect. It’s hard to overstate the significance of what has happened in our world recently. Even more so, it’s challenging to accept how this has affected so many people on a personal level. While I was not a supporter of either of our candidates, it’s no secret that I fought Trump with a vengeance. I have been more critical of him than I have ever been of any other leader, and that’s saying something. I’ve fought him on the basis that he lacks the character of a president and I’ve openly criticized many of his policies as preposterous, unconstitutional, and downright dangerous.
Furthermore, the simple truth is that he has insulted most of America with his rhetoric. I have seen my friends and people I respect belittled both directly and indirectly. I have witnessed him degrade people made in the image of God because they don’t share his lifestyle, skin color, gender, or worldview. I saw him insult my candidate of choice because he didn’t feel that she was attractive enough to become president. Perhaps most disheartening of all, I saw people I respect throw aside their faith and openly support him with the excuse that it was more important to manipulate the political levers of democracy than to stand up for principal.
For a while it seemed there was no end in sight. Regularly, I would open my social media feeds to see Trump supporters sending me threats or insults. Myself and others I know were called every derogatory term, racial slur, and foul word in the book. After a tweet critical of Trump I would find password-reset notifications hitting my inbox as these individuals attempted to hack my accounts. I kept reminding myself that in a short period of time it wouldn’t matter. He would lose spectacularly and life would march forward.
Well the American electorate had different plans and so it’s time to move on.
I mean that quite literally. It’s time to MOVE on. Our country is more important than nasty tweets, political attack ads, and insults. Our country is more important than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Our country is more important than any political party. Our country is about us and we the people must force ourselves to be more than what the past two years exemplified. As challenging as this is, we must learn to put our differences aside, and fight together for the future.
What does this actually look like? Glad you asked.
To those who are Trump fans: Congratulations, you won. You fought hard, defied the science of politics, and you’ve captured the world’s attention. I ask now that you begin to realize the weight of where you have put us. Please realize that the time for divisive insults and rhetoric has passed. I beg of you, learn to listen. Understand that the majority of our republic does not share your views. This is a huge adjustment for all of us. Finally, begin to demand more from our new president. Accept nothing less than leadership and the behavior becoming of the leader of the free world. You were the driving force to put him in office. He will listen to you. Use that to our country’s advantage.
To #NeverTrump and people on the other side of the isle: We lost. We need to acknowledge it and accept reality. Rioting in the streets, burning Trump posters in effigy, and lashing out online won’t solve anything. Yeah, the whole situation is depressing, confusing, painful, and infuriating. Trust me, I know. But it’s time for us to start over and model the spirit we want to see in our political process.
On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both gave gracious and optimistic speeches conceding defeat to Mr. Trump. While I am certainly no fan of either politician, they deserve credit for handling a crushing situation with such class. If they can do it, then so can we. We have no excuse.
For me, this means I am going to do my best to respect Trump with the dignity his new title deserves. I will commit to pray for him, his team, and our country like never before. Does this mean I agree with all of his policies and the ways in which he may conduct himself? Absolutely not. But in spite of my feelings it’s time I give him a chance. I will be the first to applaud his successes, for they are our country’s successes. Likewise, I will also be the first to call him out when he conducts himself in any way that is not presidential. I have done the same for Barack Obama and I would do the same if Hillary Clinton were president. It’s not about a political philosophy or ideology, it’s about demanding leadership.
Finally, we must all work to combat the hate that has been rampant in society. Please understand that stepping up doesn’t just involve sharing a Facebook status, posting a tweet, or marching with a band of protesters. To repair the damage done, we must do the opposite of what we have heard. Reach out people who are different than you are and spend time with them. Look past race, gender, and worldview to see the real person. I don’t care if you disagree with them. Just learn to respect them as humans. Our differences are what makes America such a wonderful place and no one can take that away from us. We must all make a conscious effort to engage with one another in a civil manner, even when staring down hate.
Citizens it is time. MOVE on.
Demand leadership from our elected officials. If you don’t like the landscape then fight to change it. Get involved in politics more than once every four years. Stop letting the media tell you who to vote for or how to think. Research. Donate to organizations that fight for your viewpoints. Meet your representatives and make an effort to challenge them to stand for principal.
Most important of all, respect others and love those around you like the future of our nation depends on it, because it does.
~ Daniel
PS. I personally don’t completely agree with the hashtag #MakeAmericaGreatAgain because I believe that America has always been great. But compromise starts with me, so I’ll use the hashtag.
As always you handle situations with dignity and respect and hold true to your values. Well said, well written, well done. c
“Perhaps most disheartening of all, I saw people I respect throw aside their faith and openly support him with the excuse that it was more important to manipulate the political levers of democracy than to stand up for principal.”
Voting in this election was a WWJD moment. My view was the same as yours, so I didn’t vote for either one. But every Christian had to come to his or her own conclusion. I’m sure you heard all the arguments, but they all boiled down to the Democratic platform vs. the Republican platform. I can understand that. What I don’t understand is the Christians who herald Trump as if he were a model Christian. Such support from Christians is an embarrassment and disgrace. Trump is a flawed human, just like the rest of us. He has now been elected president, so we all need to support and pray for him. We hope his worldly knowledge will be useful in solving many problems. We especially pray that he will turn to God for guidance. Sincere evidence of THAT would be something to praise!
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.”
“Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star”, 149
May 7, 1918
THIS QUOTE IS DIRECTED TO THE POSITION, NOT TO WHO HOLDS THE POSITION.
https://popcontagion.com/2016/11/16/who-are-we/
Your overall message is a good one. Some of your logic is a bit naive, and skips really important factors that make it impossible to just “move on”. How do you move on from a president elect who continues to have significant conflict of interest issues that put all of us at risk? Forget the tweets and the insults, and the “locker room talk”, in the greater scheme of things, they’re no where near as threatening as his actions, decisions, and allegiances. How do you move on from a man in a position to change tax code, laws, but won’t even show his own?. His dealings with Russia, are counter national intelligence, and also put us ALL at RISK. Please tell me, how do you move on from that? His cabinet appointees read like a who’s who of anti-progress. Billionaires. International businessmen who are supposed to protect us from international threats. Here’s my point, these are not just the negative characteristics of the candidate I didn’t like they’re major issues that could change the course of history in negative and epic proportions. “Let’s all try to get along” isn’t going to heal this country. Strong opposition is necessary when tyrant-like leaders are elected. I have enough friends and loved ones. I don’t need to make friends with Trump supporters. I need a president that is going to respect the rule of law, here and abroad, conduct himself with true transparency and integrity, and make international policy decisions that are not based in collusion with dictators, or his own financial interests. And if there are Trump supporters who eventually come to agree with this assessment and willing to do something about it, well then welcome. Me, better understanding Trump supporters is not going to make Trump a better president. So what will it take for you to be like, “ok gave him a chance but enough is enough”.
Well said! Now if everyone who opposed Trump can see and comprehend your point of view!! Let’s move on with Dignity!! Let us all stay vigilant and Keep America Great!!!
Thank you Daniel!
This was a very reasonable piece, and even though I disagreed with some of it, I thank you sincerely for your level headed commentary. We need it in this times. Cheers!
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Sorry but no. Trump supporters, like Trump ARE deplorable and should be treated such.
I can appreciate your principled high road approach but that’s what Obama tried and it brought nothing but frustration and grief.
I will fight these bastards and the big bastard who is our illegitimate president tooth and nail. The time for being nice or tolerant of these repugnant morons is over. I work to be compassionate with all but sometimes it’s not the right approach.
So basically we become stereotypically “deplorable” (a term which I strongly disagree with) in order to combat this rise of “deplorables”? Sounds like losing to me…..
Thank you for your intelligent reasonable attitude and respect for the office of President. Trump is not a politician. .He is a business man.and conservative .Working together America will be greater
For eight years we listened to many for whom Obama could do absolutely nothing right. Now I suppose there will be at least four years during which we’ll have to listen to many others for whom Trump can do absolutely nothing right. There’s just no rest for the weary!
Today was very exciting. Go Trump! Probably too libeal for me but I support him 100% so far. Let’s get some great things done for the Country!