The following was posted online at OakPark.com on Feb. 7 in response to Ken Trainor’s column [“Getting to know you,” Viewpoints, Feb. 1] which asked a series of questions to promote dialogue with Trump supporters:
Ken, assuming your questions are not rhetorical, I have the following responses for your consideration:
I was very saddened by Romney’s 2012 loss. I thought the risk to our nation from the rising debt charged to our grandchildren, the collapsing access to quality health care, the rise of ISIS and an emboldened Russia, and the divide of our citizenry from another Obama term would be devastating. And it was.
I think Trump is a symptom of just how devastating it was. Yet none of the “elections have consequences, sit in the back” victors, nor even dear friends, seemed at all concerned with my feelings, or bridging some divide.
However, this election has been one of endless demands from the members who supported Clinton. In fact, we who did not are not only required to “reach out” and “fix it,” we are affixed with the label of “racist,” “sexist,” “homophobic,” “immigrant hater” as penance, regardless of the veracity or hurtfulness of such hateful accusations.
To your other questions, none of my neighbors, friends, and family who supported the Democratic candidate is the enemy. And I know of no people who could not vote for Hillary who frame those that could in that way. Ask yourself if you do the same for those who voted differently than you.
There is enormous common ground. What we suffer is a lack of room to have a dialogue when such extreme hate and vitriol is occurring, one that is continued and conflated with not only every editorial, but obit, movie review and food column.
As for “delaying any vote on a Supreme Court justice once the campaign season is underway,” I may not agree with it, but let us acknowledge that it is very much “the Biden rule,” not “stealing” (and please bring some maturation into your vernacular).
Economic inequality is an issue, but the solutions advanced by the last administration and our 60-year war on poverty are not successes. Read Ryan’s treatise, he visited the communities, he’s got a better way. Or at least new ideas built on ground truths.
I will quickly hit your other questions: Yes, the electoral college has never been more necessary. The insulated “bubbles” of the populous coasts and Chicago should not be able to dictate the order for every state in the republic unchecked. Otherwise, why not give California six senators?
As for claims of marital fidelity — really? Just don’t even. I appreciate your speaking for more than half of all American women but am confident that the vast majority are not going around “supremely pissed off” because we are a sensible species capable of managing complex emotions while supporting progress in America wherever it may be found. But thanks for the mansplain.
Of course, Russia and Assad are bad. They should never have gotten reset buttons, “more latitude after the election” or feted by the Speaker of the House. Syria is not on Trump. Yet.
Here’s what I would like you to consider: As much as you dislike Trump (in my opinion the second worst candidate on the ballot), many, including myself, disliked Obama. BO was most assuredly not the crass buffoon that Trump is, but he was a destructive force. Yet we broke no windows, we started no fires.
And I am certain, were we to have a contemptible corrupt, lying, angry, cuckold as president today, the case would be the same. Perhaps part of that is that we wouldn’t have a bubble-dwelling media and Hollywood elite constantly spurring us to sycophantic outrage and condoning bad behavior as an appropriate response to being sad a candidate you dislike won the election.
That said, I am excited about the (rare) press that is fleshing out substantive issues, for the democratic activism, and participation in the process. I’m delighted to see people engaged by visa suspension who were either oblivious or unconcerned about the 26,171 bombs the U.S. dropped on those people in 2016.
It has been lonesome in the meaningful watch of an engaged citizen, and I welcome the company. Your brand of it is not its most productive, but it’s yours.