When I watched everything leading up to the impeachment, I grieved for our broken Nation, where we have taken sides to the extent that we can’t even hear one another any more. In lock step each Democrat spoke of Donald Trump’s actions being precisely what the Founding Fathers feared when they put the remedy of impeachment in place. Likewise, each Republican made nearly identical speeches, saying Trump’s actions did not rise to the level of impeachment. Speaker after speaker from the Republican Party accused Democrats of simply hating Trump because he won in 2016. So for just a moment, I’d like to take off the hate-colored glasses and consider that we are not enemies. Here is how it looks from my perspective:
I can’t speak for all Democrats, but I know that my friends and family who lean left were surprised at Trump’s election, but did not hate him. They wanted to give him a chance and see what he would do. And speaking strictly for myself, I actually have agreed with some of the things he has done. For example, I always have been frustrated that we constantly give China a pass on their human rights violations and theft of intellectual property. Trump has not.
The charge has been leveled over and over that the Democrats have wanted to impeach him from day one. But what I saw among most Democrats, including myself, opposed the initial talk of impeachment and slowly, grudgingly, began to support it after it became clear from the transcript of his call with the leader of Ukraine that he had delayed aid that had already been voted upon, while asking for them to investigate a political rival. The aid was not withheld in 2017 or 2018 over corruption, but only in 2019 when Trump saw an opening to damage the man he believed to be his most viable opponent, former vice president Joe Biden.
I listened to the hearings, where individuals with intimate knowledge of what had transpired, even those Trump had appointed, said what he had done was wrong. Many said it rose to the level of impeachment. I wondered whether any of Trump’s supporters were watching. I wondered if any had read the Mueller Report.
The other troubling thing from my perspective is that the United States has three co-equal branches of government. In refusing to comply with requests from Congress for information, Trump was dismissing the authority of one of those branches. So “contempt of Congress” really is a big deal.
I don’t hate Trump, but I hate what he has done to polarize our Nation. I hate his tweeting, which makes him look like a petulant teenager and makes it difficult for the rest of the world to take the United States of America seriously. I hate complete, blind, loyalty to anything. But mostly I hate who we are becoming. I remember a time when we respected those who had differing viewpoints. I remember when we could discuss things without screaming and stooping to name-calling and dismissing individuals with derogative labels.
So for anyone out there who has not yet put blinders on and stuck their fingers in their ears when the “other side” speaks, please hear the voices of your “opponents.” Hear their frustration and tell them about yours. Calmly. Respectfully. I truly believe that what is at stake here is our form of governance, which only works when we inform ourselves and work together. Let us not be the people who let that be a casualty of these stressful days. I’m going to try this with my brother in California. I’ll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, Yule blessings, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year. May true peace inhabit your home and your heart.