Must End Partisanship and Hatred

Cheap shots and wild-eyed speculation only serve to further weaken us. Expressing your distain may make you feel better, but there is far more at stake here than just individual comfort levels. Time to Grow up.

What we have seen over the last eight years is how hatred for the president has clouded our judgement and retarded our ability to solve our problems. By contrast we have seen how Hubert Humphrey’s working with Everett Dirksen, or Tip O’Neil working with Ronald Reagan resulted in benefiting our nation greatly. 

If we have learned anything through the political ugliness of the Obama Administration, it should be that we must dispel the demons that propel a bitterness and sense of frustration over the loss suffered by our candidate. We MUST rise above our own human failings and judge any actions, initiatives, or form of legislation on their merits and not some hatred toward those who support or oppose the proposals.
As a veteran I was appalled at what Trump said about John McCain. Whenever it is conjured up the anger grows even stronger. But that anger should not, and WILL NOT, allow me to withhold support for his initiative for an aggressive program to rebuild our infrastructure, demanding an end to China’s trade exploitations or any other programs that will clearly benefit our nation or solve our existing problems. To become as bigoted as the bigot and to model our thinking after what is most despicable about Trump’s thinking is not justification for stifling any proposals that will end the pain and suffering of so many Americans today. It only drags us down into the same gutter in which bigotry and hatred reside and the stink is the same.

Also, to allow our disappointment to negatively impact our view of our fellow citizens not only demeans the First Amendment to our constitution but is extremely self-destructive. There is ample evidence that validates the Trump vote was about CHANGE. Yes, there are racists and bigots that supported him but then racists and bigots vote in every election. To say half the American people are mostly or simply motivated by hate, bigotry, ugliness, greed, sexism is not only wrong but hurtful and mean-spirited. Advancing that thinking only further manifests the notion that our president should be despised. Had Hillary won, the charge would have been that Americans supported, lies, deceit and personal gain over the general welfare of our nation. That would have been as invalid as the charges now waged against Trump supporters. It was about pain and demanding CHANGE.

Finally let’s be realistic. Do we really believe that Trump will build a wall and if he does that Mexico will pay for it? Do we really believe he will appoint a special prosecutor to throw Hillary in jail? Do we really believe he will round up every illegal alien and deport them?  Do we really believe he can mandate hatred and discrimination toward Muslims by not allowing them to enter our country???  The point is that we have no idea what a president is all about – what he truly thinks – or what he will actually do, until he takes the oath of office. Until then we have an obligation to give him the benefit of the doubt and then act accordingly based upon the merits of his positions, thinking and conduct.

We must end this awful ugly partisanship and hatred. If we continue to allow it to dominate our thinking and behavior our pain and suffering will only intensify.