Hey y’all…. I want to start by saying I was in the middle of moving with no permanent address whilst all the debates and voting were going on.
However I remember; a time when we didn’t harass others on their vote. Let alone pester them to find out who they voted for. When my brother and I were children and growing up I simply can’t seem to recall my parents ever asking each other whom they voted for/against. It wasn’t that long ago….the 90’s.
It was kept to yourself. That’s just how it was, least at our house. It’s been incredibly disheartening to see friends get verbally aggressive and talk in a threatening manner to others with opposing views. Several years ago my dad took my brother and I on a trip to Washington DC.
I remember being amazed at the architecture, museums and history. American CAN be great when we aren’t fighting with each other. It’s been said a house divided upon itself cannot stand. There are many responses and many responsible for not holding our former president accountable. Let alone others in positions of power.
All of this is coming from a man who DID vote for Trump in the first election. I did so with heavy heart knowing both choices were God awful. As press conferences and such came on the air I sighed. Over the years with former President Trump several things became abundantly clear. The character of ourselves I think is worth more than the character of any president. It is OUR duty to hold those in power accountable.
The President serves at the pleasure of the people. He/she IS culpable AND responsible for tidal waves they create. I watched live footage of the capital riots and sadly reflected on a quote from Padme Amidala. “So this is how democracy dies…with thunderous applause.” It sickens me to see all the vitriol on facebook from people I respect about how Trump was just suuuuuuuuch a great leader. He was NOT a good leader; not even remotely close.
I found him disgusting back when he had his weird reality show the apprentice. Yelling “you’re fired!” more than that though I CANNOT and WILL NOT agree with any of his sexist, racist, childlike rhetoric. I was appalled throughout the course of his presidency at how blatantly racist and underhanded this…..man was.
More than The Office of the President of the United States I’m ashamed to be associated with America and what she has become. I never, NEVER in my lifetime thought I’d say I’m ashamed of my country. Yet, I am.
I remember back when tragic events happened 9/11 and EVERYTHING simply stopped. American flags were sold out everywhere. There were prayer groups supporting our fallen and our government alike. There was UNITY in the country. Must we have immense loss of life and tragedy in order to stand together? Everyone has rights to their own opinions. However I think that perhaps it may be wiser to share and discuss those views with likeminded people. Or even people of differing beliefs. It used to be that if someone voted for a not so good president you’d be sitting on a couch and hear something to the effect of “Man….I’m beginning to wish I’d voted for the other guy/gal.” This opened the door for CIVIL discussion.
Well why’s that Dad? Well I thought when I voted for this candidate that they had America’s best interests in mind. I thought their policies on things like defense and climate change sounded reasonable and could benefit the country and the world. These kind of discussions are what we need, desperately. I grew up with certain leanings towards how I felt about the Clinton’s and I can’t say I’d change those. However on the same topic I think parents need to remove themselves from this aspect of their children’s lives. It breeds either division or trains the younger generation to think in the same way their parents do. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to listen to my own parents (Mother and Step-Father) regale both my brother and I with tales of how this candidate or that is some sort of slimy weasel.
This is HIGHLY toxic behavior. Shame on the generations prior to mine, I say this with the most love and respect I have for both parents but again I say. Shame on previous generations. I KNOW, that all my grandparents would be rolling ’round in their graves if they could see this nonsense.
It IS time for change. In my eyes, change starts with one, then another and another. Until you have a tidal wave of new thoughts, new idealists, new darers and doers. To quote Michael Jackson’s music “If you wanna make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change.”
These are my own thoughts and opinions. I share them in this format in hope to perhaps try making the world, or at the very least my generation a better place and better, more tolerant people.
Rapha Yada my friends,
Richard
Holy Water, Burning Man 