I had an
exchange with one of my right-leaning (well, in his case, it’s clearly more proudly living than leaning) formers on Facebook. He is
a self-described Constitutionalist who could not abide Obama’s politics or
Clinton’s character (I’m sure her political positions didn’t help, either). He was and is, a stand-up member of the brass division, although not the Trumpet section,
even if he did vote for him, with at least some misgivings, it seemed.
Instead
of adding on to our conversational thread after we had found some common
ground, I thought I’d generalize the challenge I thought about leaving with him,
in the hopes there are enough more like him to make a difference. Just call me
Pollyanna. Here’s what I wanted to add:
We (the
Clinton voters and/or liberals), but more importantly, the country, need you to
stand up for us and challenge President Trump when he (as he will) tries to
blatantly ignore the Constitution. We need you to challenge him when he makes
up facts (like the recent Boeing kerfuffle) or reinforces his reputation as the
“Fastest Tweet in the West.” We need you to ask thoughtful questions when he
makes head-scratching appointments to his cabinet or other federal positions.
We can’t
do it (try as we might, and some are trying mightily)
because as soon as someone like me opines anything critical of the
president-elect, the Trumpet section blares into a cacophonic crescendo of
defensiveness. But Pollyanna here does have some (slim) hopes that the
true-believing Trumpet section perhaps just might listen to someone who actually voted
for the man.
Stand up
and be counted. Please. Your country needs you. Patriotism is not just flag waving. It is looking past partisan politics to the long-term good, the morality if you will, of your country. I like to think I am a patriot. Are you?
