I haven’t posted an article in so long that you might have thought that I had gone missing. Well, as it turns out, it was the hard drive on my computer that was AWOL and not me. Anyway, I’m back and following is the article that I want to share with you.
Donald J. Trump continues to be extremely dangerous to the American way of life and a change agent as to how the world sees us. While his son, Donald Trump Jr. is saying that the presidency would be a step down for his dad if he should win the election, Donald J. Trump continues to talk down America and our political system. His latest claim is that the system is rigged for Hillary Clinton in an effort to assure that she wins the election. Therefore, he says that he will only accept the results of the election “if I win.”
As a result of the problems that The Donald alleges are occurring in the presidential election process, the Russians have requested to have monitors present at polling places around the country during the November 8 elections. Of course, their request has been denied. But don’t be surprised if it is supported by Mr. Trump. Although he has repeatedly denied that he is cozy with Russian president Vladimir Putin, he has been one of his most adamant defenders throughout this election cycle. One of those denials occurred during the latest, and final, presidential debate; so did his latest defense of Russia (President Putin).
Countries around the world have always looked to the United States for leadership and as the ultimate example especially when it comes to democracy. Donald Trump is making a mockery of that long-held respected position and is spawning doubt in the minds of world leaders and their fellow countrymen as to whether or not we are still up to the task. That should not be! Americans have worked too hard and too long in our effort to perfect this democracy to allow Donald J. Trump – or the likes of him, to tear it and America down! That is chief among the reasons why it is so important to vote early or get out and vote on November 8.
Although many Republicans are beginning to come around, publicly condemn Mr. Trump for his actions and withdraw their support from him, they should not get any credit for that. The time to step up like true statesmen and show strong leadership in tough situations – of which this is obviously one, has long past. In the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Not only did these Republicans fall far short of that mark, but they are continuing to try to suppress the rights of those legitimate voters throughout America who desperately want to vote.
This situation with Donald J. Trump should not be about preserving ones job; it should be about preserving all of what is good about America! Where is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell?! Where is Speaker Paul Ryan?! Where is RNC Chairman Reince Priebus?! Where are the Republican statesmen?! Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the person who when he was Senate Minority Leader pledged to fix a broken senate when he became Senate Majority Leader, has long been the king of showboating in “moments of comfort and convenience” and hiding- almost to the point of becoming the invisible man, in “times of challenge and controversy.” Perhaps congress should establish a Select Committee to find out where his hiding place is and then investigate why he is always missing in action in times of challenge and controversy. Why not? They eagerly investigate everything Hillary.
Speaker Ryan, RNC Chairman Priebus and the other congressmen might not be as hard to find as Majority Leader McConnell but they are doing just as much as he is to denounce Donald Trump and stop him from ruining America; and that is virtually nothing. Mr. Trump has openly talked about how as a billionaire it makes him smart to pay zero dollars in federal taxes over a period of almost two decades. He has admitted how he has used laws in America to avoid paying his debts. He has insulted people of almost every ethnic background and said that he wants to bar all Muslims from entering this country.
He has degraded women and openly bragged about how he could grab them by their genitals and get away with it because of his celebrity. He has regularly touted foreign leaders like those in Russia and China and ranted about how smart they are and how stupid America’s leaders are. He has fervently defended Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia against accusations that Russia is responsible for the hacking of the DNC and Hillary Clinton emails even though 17 American intelligence agencies have said that Russia is responsible for the hacks. And this man wants to be our president? What more does anyone need to know to determine that he is not the person who should occupy the Oval Office?
Some among the rich and powerful use our country’s law system, which is purposely skewed in their favor, to impose their will upon the poor and weak to strip them of their rights and valuables. In their insatiable greed, they also lust after that inalienable crown jewel that all people possess but cannot take it regardless of how rich and powerful they are; it must be surrendered. That crown jewel is our dignity. Mr. Trump is this statement personified; when it is juxtaposed with his behavior and personality, it is nearly a perfect fit. Too many politicians – in this case Republican politicians, have already surrendered their dignity. We as American voters must not surrender ours.
As a final point, I have a message for those who are struggling to make a decision – especially Evangelicals, who might be among those considering casting their vote for Donald J. Trump. That message is that the challenges that we face in life can sometimes be overwhelming. But to give up and in essence do nothing will ultimately make matters worse; it will exacerbate the struggle to retain and grow that substance of things hoped for and that evidence of things unseen. When one can acquire and retain that unique substance, and internalize and grow that captured substance and evidence, then nothing will be impossible for them. Of all people who are considering voting for Donald Trump simply because he is the best option between two bad choices knowing that they are horrified by his behavior and rhetoric but yet repulsed by Secretary Clinton because they believe that she is completely untrustworthy, Evangelicals should understand this.
For those – again, especially Evangelicals – who are using the rationale that they are picking the lesser of two evils to justify their selection I say that these are just popular words that many of those in the valley-of-decision find it convenient to use in lieu of getting informed and making what is a tough decision. You have a moral and ethical responsibility. Therefore, instead, you should carefully examine each candidates record and decide based on that record which of the two is likely to best lead our country in these dire times. And after you contemplate my message to you and review each candidate’s record you still feel compelled to vote for Mr. Trump, then that is what you should do.
I watched the Rachel Maddow show on Thursday October 20 and she showed a clip of an interview that was held about four years ago with former United States Supreme Court Justice David Souter. In that interview Justice Souter said that he was not worried about some other country invading America and destroying our Republic. And he was not worried about some internal coup by our armed forces. Instead, he said, I am worried about the American people not knowing who to blame and hold accountable. Because I have faith in the American people and their desire to do what is right, I am confident that if they know who to blame they will hold them to account.
He continued. People don’t understand how government can and should work and when government does not function as it can or should, people don’t know who to blame. My concern is that they will not know who to blame and when problems are not addressed and get to be too many or too much, someone will come in and promise to resolve all of their problems if they will give him total power.
In closing he said; so all of this is a product of ignorance and you cannot keep a Republic with too much civic ignorance. This is what you should worry about. We should do something about civic ignorance, he said.
All of us should think about what Justice Souter said and juxtapose it to who Donald J. Trump really is; we should juxtapose it to Mr. Trump’s behavior and rhetoric. Then, before we cast our ballot we should seriously consider how important it really is not only to our future but to the future of our children and grandchildren and to the future of America.
Donald J. Trump is not the person that America needs to lead us forward. Whether or not you agree with me and whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent always remember, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!
Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line