Like much of America---I’d like to think most of America---I was shocked in November, when Donald Trump won the presidency. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it---A man who had confessed to felonies while campaigning, a man who incited violent behavior, a man who showed open bigotry, a man who mocked the handicapped...This man was our president. Of the United States.
I am not as comfortable in America as I was. I’ve been trying to come to terms with that for the last couple of months. Throughout the whole campaign, I wasn’t concerned. I would never have voted for Donald Trump, because he was so obviously, clearly against everything I stand for. I believed in America; I believed in the system. I was stunned when that let me down---And, yes, I do understand that I was seeing things through the perspective of a middle-aged white straight male. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and while I still love my country, I am getting more adept at seeing some of the flaws in it now. I’m disappointed in America.
And, yes, he is my president. I don’t like it, but that’s how America works. Saying “Not my president” doesn’t change the fact---The Constitution says he is, and as an American citizen, I am bound by that. And so is he. That’s actually the great thing about America---The law of the land isn’t a guy in an office; it’s that document. And the Constitution that says Trump is my president is the same one that says I get the chance to vote him out in a couple of years. And believe me, I will try my damnedest.
But I am concerned. I am concerned that the country is now being led by a man who is so obviously full of hate and insecurity. I am concerned that Trump seems to think he is a monarch, not a president. And I am very, very concerned at the ignorance and hatred that he seems to be stirring up.
And, most of all, I am concerned for my son.
Paul Matthew is two years old. He is adopted, and he is black. I worry for him; I worry for his opportunities under this administration. I worry because Trump is putting literal white supremacists in his cabinet. This is not an exaggeration or a figure of speech; it is simply the truth.
So don’t tell me to give Trump a chance. He’s already had one, and he’s already blown it.
This is not about how my candidate lost. In truth, there was no “my candidate” this election. I genuinely didn’t like any of them very much. When the time came, I cast my vote for Hillary, but really I cast my vote for “Not Trump.” Hillary was the one I hated the least. But I could have lived with Sanders. I could have lived with Johnson, in spite of the fact that he seemed to be running his entire campaign while high. I could have lived with many other candidates. My feelings are not about how my candidate lost---My candidate lost in 2000, and I hated Bush, but I didn’t feel this kind of fear.
My son, several of my relatives, and many of my friends are black. Some are Hispanic. I have many friends who are gay or trans. And I am worried for them, worried about the hatred that our incoming president seems to revel in.
For that matter, I am a member of the media, technically. As a freelance writer, I identify strongly with the press. I am aware that nobody is likely to stop me from writing about my county’s history, but I stand with the press. I am concerned that Trump does not take well to criticism, and that his immediate response is to threaten to block the press.
So what, exactly, am I supposed to give Trump a chance to do? Damage freedom of the press? Normalize racism? Incite hate speech and behavior? Because those are the actions I am seeing from him.
I am tired of hearing that friends can disagree politically, but still remain friends. That’s true, but this goes way beyond that. This man has committed sexual assault. He has spewed his racist hatred. He has threatened fundamental changes to our society. If you think all of this is okay, I’m not sure I want you as a friend.
Here’s the thing, Trump supporters: You made a statement with your vote. You may have voted for Trump because you wanted change. I thought we didn’t have to specify it had to be a change for the better, but maybe we weren’t clear enough on that point. You may have voted for Trump because you want more jobs---Though I’m not sure why you’d think a man with solid-gold toilets in his penthouse can relate to you as a worker. You may have voted for Trump because of the economy, or security, or health care....Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Your vote is your own. I respect that.
But with your vote, you made a statement. You made the statement that whatever your concern is, it is more important than the safety and well-being of my child.
If that’s how you feel, we aren’t friends.
Maybe you were fooled by his rhetoric. Maybe you just couldn’t bring yourself to vote for one of the other candidates. I can appreciate that---As I said, I respect your right to vote as you choose.
But if you’re not getting a sinking feeling by now, you’re willfully ignoring a lot.
Trump has put literal Nazis in his cabinet. He has threatened to violate the Constitution. Before he even took office, he had piled up conflicts of interest. And he seems to see nothing wrong with this. Instead, he demonstrates that he is so insecure, he has to rush to Twitter to dispute any celebrity who dares criticize him.
So I am concerned.
I am cheered by the fact that most of my friends share my concern. It makes me feel better than most Americans feel about the way I do. And I am going to spend the next four years watching, paying attention, and ready to protest. I am going to be offended at my president when he says or does offensive things. And I will say so---Which is my right, under my Constitution.
I’ll do all this for my son.
And I will do everything I can to stand up for my beliefs, in the hopes that America does it better next time around.
I am not as comfortable in America as I was. I’ve been trying to come to terms with that for the last couple of months. Throughout the whole campaign, I wasn’t concerned. I would never have voted for Donald Trump, because he was so obviously, clearly against everything I stand for. I believed in America; I believed in the system. I was stunned when that let me down---And, yes, I do understand that I was seeing things through the perspective of a middle-aged white straight male. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and while I still love my country, I am getting more adept at seeing some of the flaws in it now. I’m disappointed in America.
And, yes, he is my president. I don’t like it, but that’s how America works. Saying “Not my president” doesn’t change the fact---The Constitution says he is, and as an American citizen, I am bound by that. And so is he. That’s actually the great thing about America---The law of the land isn’t a guy in an office; it’s that document. And the Constitution that says Trump is my president is the same one that says I get the chance to vote him out in a couple of years. And believe me, I will try my damnedest.
But I am concerned. I am concerned that the country is now being led by a man who is so obviously full of hate and insecurity. I am concerned that Trump seems to think he is a monarch, not a president. And I am very, very concerned at the ignorance and hatred that he seems to be stirring up.
And, most of all, I am concerned for my son.
Paul Matthew is two years old. He is adopted, and he is black. I worry for him; I worry for his opportunities under this administration. I worry because Trump is putting literal white supremacists in his cabinet. This is not an exaggeration or a figure of speech; it is simply the truth.
So don’t tell me to give Trump a chance. He’s already had one, and he’s already blown it.
This is not about how my candidate lost. In truth, there was no “my candidate” this election. I genuinely didn’t like any of them very much. When the time came, I cast my vote for Hillary, but really I cast my vote for “Not Trump.” Hillary was the one I hated the least. But I could have lived with Sanders. I could have lived with Johnson, in spite of the fact that he seemed to be running his entire campaign while high. I could have lived with many other candidates. My feelings are not about how my candidate lost---My candidate lost in 2000, and I hated Bush, but I didn’t feel this kind of fear.
My son, several of my relatives, and many of my friends are black. Some are Hispanic. I have many friends who are gay or trans. And I am worried for them, worried about the hatred that our incoming president seems to revel in.
For that matter, I am a member of the media, technically. As a freelance writer, I identify strongly with the press. I am aware that nobody is likely to stop me from writing about my county’s history, but I stand with the press. I am concerned that Trump does not take well to criticism, and that his immediate response is to threaten to block the press.
So what, exactly, am I supposed to give Trump a chance to do? Damage freedom of the press? Normalize racism? Incite hate speech and behavior? Because those are the actions I am seeing from him.
I am tired of hearing that friends can disagree politically, but still remain friends. That’s true, but this goes way beyond that. This man has committed sexual assault. He has spewed his racist hatred. He has threatened fundamental changes to our society. If you think all of this is okay, I’m not sure I want you as a friend.
Here’s the thing, Trump supporters: You made a statement with your vote. You may have voted for Trump because you wanted change. I thought we didn’t have to specify it had to be a change for the better, but maybe we weren’t clear enough on that point. You may have voted for Trump because you want more jobs---Though I’m not sure why you’d think a man with solid-gold toilets in his penthouse can relate to you as a worker. You may have voted for Trump because of the economy, or security, or health care....Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Your vote is your own. I respect that.
But with your vote, you made a statement. You made the statement that whatever your concern is, it is more important than the safety and well-being of my child.
If that’s how you feel, we aren’t friends.
Maybe you were fooled by his rhetoric. Maybe you just couldn’t bring yourself to vote for one of the other candidates. I can appreciate that---As I said, I respect your right to vote as you choose.
But if you’re not getting a sinking feeling by now, you’re willfully ignoring a lot.
Trump has put literal Nazis in his cabinet. He has threatened to violate the Constitution. Before he even took office, he had piled up conflicts of interest. And he seems to see nothing wrong with this. Instead, he demonstrates that he is so insecure, he has to rush to Twitter to dispute any celebrity who dares criticize him.
So I am concerned.
I am cheered by the fact that most of my friends share my concern. It makes me feel better than most Americans feel about the way I do. And I am going to spend the next four years watching, paying attention, and ready to protest. I am going to be offended at my president when he says or does offensive things. And I will say so---Which is my right, under my Constitution.
I’ll do all this for my son.
And I will do everything I can to stand up for my beliefs, in the hopes that America does it better next time around.
No comments:
Post a Comment