Why Am I Here?
Who am I and why should anyone listen?
Who am I and why should anyone listen to me? Great question and quite good of you to ask.
I’m just a nobody and nobody will ever ask for me for a celebrity signature since it has no future monetary value. Unless, of course, I someday choose to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, or free climb Everest or the Eiffel Tower. In that event, and if I survive, all bets are off after I write my book about the adventure.
I am just the average citizen of the United States of America and, as a citizen, I am afforded the right to have my own opinions. I am allowed to disagree, peacefully, with anyone else’s opinion, if I choose, and I use that option a lot whenever I visit X (previously Twitter). But I rarely look at X anymore because I’m not a fan of the smell of musk. Our Constitution affords me the right to have an opinion just because I am one of the “People of the United States”.
I live in a country with established rules, laws and regulations that are intended to “insure (my) domestic tranquility”. We have unity between the states which allows for this “domestic tranquility”, but that took the lives of more than three-quarters of a million men fighting and dying between April 12, 1861 and May 26, 1865 to accomplish. We don’t ever want to go to that place again because, with modern weaponry, the death toll would be even higher.
This union of citizens we have is expected to be blind to each person’s ancestral origin, or ethnicity. It assures me, through our Constitution, that the person we select to lead our nation will provide for our “common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” In other words, the person chosen to lead this country is obligated to be the best glue we have to hold it all together so we never again drift into a war between the states. That is the primary role of our President, and this is the job we hire that person to do. The President is expected to work for all of us, regardless of our party affiliation, and the President is expected to hold our country together at all costs but when the President, his allies, or his followers, begin to talk of “civil war” or refer to “the enemy within”, or make bomb threats signed “MAGA” this is the acetone that will remove the glue that binds the fifty states, and multiple territories, together.
The Washington Examiner reported, on November thirtieth, that “A slew of Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut reportedly received bomb threats in their mailboxes signed with "MAGA" at the conclusion of the message on Thursday according to an announcement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Friday. The news came after President-elect Donald Trump’s top Cabinet nominees received similar threats this week.
Other Democratic politicians have also recently received bomb and death threats in other states in the last few weeks as well. It was also reported in the Examiner on November twenty-seventh that “Several of President-elect Donald Trump‘s incoming Cabinet nominees were targeted Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning with bomb threats or were swatted, according to Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt."
This behavior is not isolated to just one party. There is violence, it has been reported, on both sides of the political aisle. This is wrong. This is a sign our democracy is becoming slightly unglued. We cannot let that happen. These hostilities seem to be coming from both sides at present, but this extreme hostile environment began with Donald Trump’s move away from the rule of law eight years ago. This began with four years of Trump’s ungluing of the things that hold us together and his sowing of pure chaos into our political environment. This, coupled with his innate ability to avoid responsibility for his own criminal acts.
We should have no king. When we anoint an untouchable king, it is inevitable there will be push back since elevating someone to king obliterates the entire premise of the Constitution. There has been no equal” justice for all” as school children recite daily in their classrooms, when examining the crimes of Donald J Trump. This has built up an immense frustration in various parts of our political system. To quote Martin Luther King, “A riot is the language of the unheard.” However, MLK did not himself speak this language out loud, even though he listened well, yet he still accomplished much. Riot, threat, violence, this is not a language that will ever find much common ground between people.
The Constitution is an agreement for all of us to behave civilly with each other, and in a prescribed manner. It lays out the manner in which “we the people” can select persons to represent us. It is these representatives who create what is generally regarded as “the rule of law”. These are the rules we all must live by to maintain an orderly society. These are laws driven by the will of the people...in theory. It’s never been a perfect system, but the primary intent of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is there should never again be a king, never again be a person immune from, or exempt from, the rule of law. We lost sight of that goal when we ignored the high crimes for which Donald J Trump was impeached more than once and the senate declined, more than once, to convict and remove him from office.
The Constitution, as it was first written, was an imperfect document and it will always be an imperfect document because it is impossible to nail all things down. For this reason, it has been amended, over time, and it is the first of these amendments which gives me my voice here…no matter how small that voice may be. Right now, it is quite small—but it’s getting larger.
We live in a world today where a faction about to assume power believes we are a “Christian” nation. We are not and never have been a “Christian” nation. We are a nation born of many creeds, cultures, nationalities, races, ethnicities and religions. So much so we inspired the French to create a statue in admiration of that world view.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
We were once the “golden door” but we are now about to slam that door shut. All were welcome here once and those who arrived could serve God however they chose or even deny there is a God if they like. Ronald Reagan’s son is probably the leader of that crowd of denial. Ronald Jr. and I likely don’t share every viewpoint, but the one we share most is that government and religion are like oil and water and will never properly mix. Not even when applying a little political heat. John Adams, one of the signatories on our founding document, stated this quite clearly.
“The Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” John Adams
We live in a world now where a faction about to assume power believes the press must be constrained. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in a letter to Dr. James Currie: "our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." Jefferson, another one of the founders of this nation stated clearly in his letter that if we lose a free press, we also lose our freedom. Just ask an East German who lived behind the Berlin wall if this is not true.
There is a caveat here. Much of what passes for news programming today is actually just opinion, or even propaganda, and not fully vetted fact. For this reason, I keep my eggs in many news baskets, and don’t limit myself to just one channel. This is a good way to prevent falling for a single person’s, or channel’s, statement of opinion. Check everything you hear and read with actual vetted fact. Do your own research because truth that has been bent is just as untrue as a straight up lie. A varied diet of news is important if you are, red, purple, blue, right, left, center, independent…
I suppose, since I am quite critical of the man; I use this term “man” quite loosely here; who is about to take power as king President for the second time, the threat of punishment for a viewpoint other than his own may at some point include me. One need only look at the example of the Stasi in East Germany to know this form of political doctrine can lead to the turning of neighbor against neighbor, which can lead to the arrest and confinement of any person who speaks out against the one in authority, no matter how small that disagreement or voice may be. The fact I can disagree with my government peacefully is what truly makes America great.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Before the Constitution became the guiding principles of our nation the framers laid down these words:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Now, to be fair, the framers, and those who followed, did not always live up to the ideals they claimed to espouse. Those of African descent, who were brought to this country as slaves, were counted as 3/5 of a person. That’s far from all men are created equal. The indigenous tribes were considered to be “savages” that needed to be driven from their own land since we had a “manifest destiny” to conquer this “new” land for, mostly, white Europeans. This was codified into law and the indigenous were not ever endowed the same unalienable right to “Life, Liberty and Happiness”. We instead drove them out with disease, the point of a gun, the near extinction of the bison, the taking away of their children into boarding schools, and many broken treaties. We are still seeking a way to atone for those errors.
In more recent times we incarcerated all persons of Japanese descent, even those born in the US of A, placing them in concentration camps after removing from them all of their personal property. Remnants of one of these camps still exists not far from my home.
We have done other disgraceful things in this country and we, as a nation, have not yet learned from these mistakes. This is evidenced by our new willingness to look the other way as yet another group of ethnic persons are soon to be rounded up, placed into camps, then expelled. History often repeats itself as we conveniently forget past wrongs.
We did similar to this current push to expel persons in 1882, during the Presidency of Chester A Arthur. This episode of hate lasted several years, the target of that episode in our history being those of Chinese descent. Many “driven out” were brought here by our country to build our railroads, dig our tunnels, work with our cattle. Some were even doctors and quite skilled workers. This previous “driving out” culminated in two horrific massacres by persons driven to hate and violence by the official policy: one in Hells Canyon, between the border of Oregon and Idaho, the other in Rock Springs Wyoming. The result of this “driving out”, and the two massacres, was a sudden downturn in the economy for many years due to a great loss of needed labor. Many mines and factories closed nationwide as both skilled and unskilled workers simply disappeared. California was especially hard hit. And just like we did with those of Chinese descent, we once again plan to expel millions of workers, skilled and unskilled, from this country. This will once again dramatically decimate our labor force and our economy. Based on the rhetoric from some of the militia groups, a slaughter or two is again a distinct possibility. Especially under a President who believed there were “good people on both sides” during a march that included Nazi flags and chants that “the Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville. Hate breeds more hate, and we are about to make yet another egregious error born of hate that will become another part of U.S. history we would rather not be told.
So, back to “why am I here?” I am a citizen of the United States, just like most of those reading this article probably are. I have no degree in political science. I have never been elected to office, and I am not an attorney. I am no one special, just a concerned citizen who spent most of my life not really following politics much at all. But I am an avid reader, and I do read about history, so I am well versed in the countries and leaders that have previously failed their citizens. I have at times, been critical of this nation’s past errors and when I witness inequities and brutalities that still exist, I speak out. I have used my right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” and that is why I’m here writing this column five days per week. The fact I can even write this column, without fear, I say again, is what really makes America great.
I am standing up to those seeking power who want to punish or annihilate those who speak against them.
I am here to speak up against those who feel only their view of God and religion is the right view of God and religion.
I am here to speak up for those who are seeking a bit of compassion after having fled a bad situation across our border. I have known some of these people, I have worked with some of these people, and I have worked just feet from the Mexican border and observed many of these undocumented crossing into our country. I know the type of people these are. They are mostly women and children and are not criminals. They simply want a better life, just like all of us crave.
I am here to stand up to those who wish to silence any critical voice.
I am here to stand up for the rights of women to make decisions about their own body, with zero tolerance for government interference.
I am not alone in this standing up. This is all just “good trouble” as John Lewis called it. We can love our country and still be vocal in our demand for a “redress of grievances”. When all those football players, led by Colin Kaepernick, took a knee, I was defended their actions, just like I defend Tommie Smith’s and John Carlos’s raised fist at the 1968 Olympics. It was a bold move on their part. I will participate in a neighbors’ grievances, such as that of the “dreamers”, even though it does not affect me personally, if the cause seems right.
For any “Christian” reading this, Jesus defined a neighbor as one who is your sworn enemy but is in need of care, not just those persons closest to your own ideology, religious or political views. If you are wearing a MAGA hat and are injured on the side of the road, you are still my neighbor, and I will offer the same aid without ever questioning your politics. Compassion and humanity should trump all politics. If you are one who has made a long harrowing journey from South America, and have fallen ill on the road, or are found injured, you too are my neighbor and deserving of the same aid and compassion. Compassion should trump all race, ethnicity or citizenship. “Christians” who endorse any lack of compassion to the downtrodden, at our border or not, or who approved, for example, the separation of children from their parents, or who approved the locking up of children in dog kennels or who encourages harm to any stranger residing in our land…your religion is not in keeping with the scriptures you believe you follow.
Truth and honesty, I voted for Harris. But I support the right of anyone to vote for Trump, even if it is apparent he has only his own interest at heart, and not that of the nation. However, those who voted for Trump will share in the guilt and blame if he really muffs the job like Chester A Arthur. Trump has a track record and history. That track record and history is not hidden, if one just looks and we must take that history into account when we offer up the job.
Donald Trump is a felon who would find it difficult to find a job elsewhere, yet he somehow qualifies to run the entire show…again? I am dismayed that a severely partisan Congress has been so remiss in the enforcement of the precepts of the fourteenth amendment of our guiding principle, the Constitution:
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
This, in my opinion, was a travesty of the highest order, perpetrated by Congress on this nation. History will hold those accountable for this political farce and this decision will stain certain senators’ legacies in the history books forever. Donald J Trump, by the stark admission of many in Congress,
incited insurrection and sought to tear down the very framework that makes us a free nation governed by the rule of law. Those who overtook the Capitol on January the sixth did not see red or blue when they attacked democracy, they only saw “the enemy” in all those who had to run and hide. Trump lies when he states no one died. No one was exempt from their hostilities that day, not even those of the party of Trump. Not even the Vice President.
Donald J Trump, in my humble opinion, as a citizen and member of “we the people” was not qualified to run for the office of President in 2024. I am afforded that opinion by the very Constitution which should have threatened Trump’s new four-year reign. His participation in this election was clearly in violation of the Constitution and is yet another step away from the rule of law that keeps our nation together. Trump is not the glue we need to maintain order; he is acetone.
When Kamala Harris ran for office of the President, she pledged to be a President for all persons, no matter who they voted for. Donald Trump has a different opinion on the matter. His opinion, if it is devoid of hate speech, is protected by the same first amendment that allows me to write this article without fear of arrest by a Stasi-like police force at my door. At least for now.
The future is uncertain but there are distinct parallels between the actions of Donald J Trump and those of Chester A Arthur who also saw some as the “enemy within”. Arthur achieved, per historian George F. Howe, "an obscurity in strange contrast to his significant part in American history". Donald Trump, I believe, will also fade into an obscure past and history will remember very little positively.
Here is Donald Trump’s Thanksgiving message this year:
I have to break this down just a little. By Trump’s assessment, since I supported, promoted and voted for Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and Barak Obama, I am a “radical left lunatic”, despite my having been registered as “independent” most of my voting years. I voted in the past for whoever I thought was best suited for the job, after first researching the candidate and seeking the advice of others. I have found very few acceptable Republicans in the last few decades who qualified for the job, in my opinion. When Trump ran for office, I was forced to completely abandon my “independent” status so I could join hands with the Democrats to help create a “blue wall” in hopes we could stop the potential for an alienation of person’s rights. The only research I needed was to watch that one escalator ride and the hateful rhetoric I heard. As it happened, Trump was, in fact, instrumental in ripping and shredding women’s rights during his four blunderous years. (Yes, I made up that word, but it fits.) This action of his has already caused needless deaths of women seeking proper medical care. If all that is a radical stance, trying to protect the rights of others, I then am guilty of being a lunatic. However, I think the passing of time will be quite kind to my views, so I’m not seeking treatment for my “lunacy” just yet.
Trump barely squeaked through in the Electoral College vote. He barely squeaked through in the popular vote as well. This was no “landslide” as he depicts, giving him a mandate to wipe out the “bad policies” of the left. This was the equivalent of finding a few small rocks in the road when traveling a mountain pass—at best. This was not a landslide by any definition. When I look at the split of Congress as well, it too barely has me seeing any sort of red mandate. It only depicts the deep ideological chasm we have in America today. The repeated declaration from Trump and his allies that Trump has a mandate to be a dictatorial king…not even close to being true.
America is already great, even if it is far from perfect. And despite our ills, I am still proud to be an American, albeit a critical one of pieces of our past and present. And as I near the end of this writing, I juxtapose now the Thanksgiving message of our Vice President, Kamala Harris, who found no reason to denigrate our country or call any citizen, red, blue or purple, right, left or center, a lunatic.
I write because it is my right to speak up as an American, even if I do not have a political science degree. Especially since I don’t have a political science degree. I can have a voice simply because I am a citizen. We all have that right to speak up, every one of us, and anyone has the right to peacefully disagree at any time. I only ask you please explain your reasoned argument for any disagreement you have with me so I can learn and understand your perspective. Perhaps we can even find some common ground. Common ground is the only goal we will ever find since no two persons will ever agree completely. We should treasure our diversity rather than denigrate it and I will never call you a lunatic simply because we disagree. Take courage.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill