Dear President Trump. David Brooks observes that classic liberals require everyone to obey respectful rules of conduct. He rightfully observes it takes two to dance cheek to cheek and work out our differences. You blew that up. You are a solo tap dancing gangsta. You tapped into the ‘Cain vs. Abel’ sentiment of “If I don’t get what I want, I’ll just kill you”… literally, metaphorically, politically, socially, religiously. Compromise is for weakling sissies. You blew your Republican opponents apart by refusing to play by ‘the rules’..
By refusing to play by ‘the rules’ you’re forcing everyone who trusted ‘the rules’ to play catch up. Mitch McConnell saw that, changed course and moral compass, screwed the rules and will rule the supreme court for 50 years. Politically, liberals are trying to play cricket in the New Roman Coliseum. And the lions are eating up any who lament, “why can’t we just get along with one another.” You are waging a sophisticated war while we still yearn for peace in the political valley.
You are a smart, conniving, amoral wartime politician. We still yearn for peacetime senatorial knights jousting by day, dining collegially together in Washington splendor by night.
Many advocate fighting fire with fire. Out west we know the theory of starting backfires to kill off a raging forest blaze. Meet power with power. Doesn’t always work out as we planned.
Out of Vietnam (at least for my generation) came the delicious quote, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the meanest SOB in the valley!!!”
Do multigenerational liberals and progressives beat up Trump by being the meanest SOB in the political valley? If so, how do we succeed without losing our souls, our moral authority, and, thus, the election?
In times of fear, we look to strength and security. Trump is cornering the fear market. He is not the real enemy. He is a cipher for our fear and insecurity. I loved Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” We work together, liberal and progressive, young and old, or we become lion fodder.
As a Christian, I am forced to ask, “What would Jesus do?” Each of us will answer that question in our own way from our own faith. May God give us strength and wisdom and love for the journey. 071619
Dear President Trump 