It has taken me awhile to be able to
sit down and process my thoughts. I have been filled with
overwhelming despair since the reality of Trump's presidency began to
unfold on Tuesday night. I've had to lay low on social media because
I have not wanted to have my feelings of despair and disbelief shut down. The deep pain that many of my friends and
family are experiencing due to being people of color, gay, muslim, or liberal is deeply disheartening and painful. This morning I finally jumped
back on Facebook, commenting on a post my husband had made that
garnered much support and some chastisement and I responded to
someone asking my opinion on the Van Jones post I made on election
night. Both of those comments are embedded in this blog.
Here's what's important to me. This
goes much deeper than being disappointed in an electoral outcome.
I've lived through that before and survived. When people who voted
for Trump are telling me to get over it and get on with it, this is
what I'd like for them to understand.
Embedded in this election are subtle
and not so subtle nods to returning to the “good 'ol days”. The
problem with this sentiment is that those good 'ol days were mainly
good for white men. I think many people were tired of being "bossed
around” by a black man and certainly were unwilling to be bossed
around by a woman for another 4 years. (Incidentally I think we are
10-20 years from electing a woman) Trump preyed on this mood with a
demeanor that was deplorable throughout this election. This has
nothing to do with party politics although I'm not thrilled that the
government has gone Republican, I understand that as part of the
process. What I see now is that (half of) the US has elected a
demagogue who doesn't know how to do this job and someone who has
verbally assaulted every category of person except rich white men.
Where is the outrage over this from white evangelicals? What baffles
me the most is how the hell so many WHITE Evangelicals got behind
this disrespectful and rude person. Who is the church in the US? What
ever happened to they will know we are Christians by our love? I
would have more patience and understanding from the white
evangelicals who voted for Trump if they would come out and denounce
his hateful behavior and rhetoric. Instead he has modeled rude,
disrespectful behavior that has spilled over into our society and
they remain quiet. Where in Trump's rhetoric is there anything that
smacks of compassion, care for the vulnerable, or economic equity?
These happen to be the top things Jesus addressed in scripture. My
ire is not about insulting people with whom I disagree. If you ask my
close Republican friends about my ability to have a civil difference
of opinion, I think you would see that for me it's never about
agreeing. But in this case, it's in part about how the church has had
a big role in electing one of the most insulting human beings to be
in public life. As a pastor, I believe we must rise up and denounce
the evil that has been affirmed. Politics aside, this man has ushered
in an era of permission to be disrespectful unlike any we've seen.
When the KKK rejoices over a President Elect, it's time to stand up
and say enough. When I see bullying on the rise, the news tonight of
kids shouting build the wall, the fear and trembling among minorities
and women and I consider that a large part of the white church
ushered this era in, I feel great despair.
If you are a Christian and you voted for Trump, and if you are
wanting me to now get on board and disregard my feelings of
disappointment, then please show me how Trump's agenda reflects the
kingdom of God. If you can't do that, then don't chafe at the
criticism being leveled at you. At the very least, I would like to
see Trump supporters show a bit of sensitivity to those who are
genuinely afraid and feeling pushed aside due to this election. Why
can't Trump supporters or even Trump himself issue an apology for the
rude, vitriolic, demeaning statements that have been made about
certain segments of society? Why is it so important for Trump
supporters to hush those who wanted a very different president? I
need to see some compassion coming out of the GOP. I have not seen
that for years and it frustrates me to no end. I cannot take a church
seriously who espouses love for God, love for country but will not
take steps to show tangible concern for the most vulnerable in our
society.
I will withhold my blind respect for
the president-elect until he reveals to me that he will respect the
office of the Presidency. His acceptance speech was the most humble
he's been in his life but I just have to wonder...does a leopard
change his spots? I am dubious. His meeting with President Obama seemed to strike a good tone. But what happens when the bear gets poked again? It will happen. We lampoon politicians in this country. Alec Baldwin has work for 4 years. Trump has shown an inability to handle disappointment or criticism, both which will be present throughout his presidency. I hope and pray he will be able to rise to the office with dignity and respect, two qualities that have been sorely lacking thus far.
I am decidedly unexcited about his
potential cabinet appointments. Mostly old white guys. You think Newt
Gingrich is a good face for our foreign relationships guy? Sarah
Palin? Seriously. You have to be kidding me, right? At some point we
have to talk about competency again. And we have to talk about race
and gender. Putting Sarah Palin and Ben Carson in his cabinet is
tokenism and does not prove that he is an equal opportunity guy. If
anything, it hurts the cause because it pretends to be inclusive when
all it is is tokenism. The fact that neither of them are the best
people for the job adds insult to injury.
If Trump is serious about wanting to be
the President for all people, he will need to tone it down and
realize that half of the nation voted for something very different. I
had expected that HRC would've leaned to the center. Will Trump be
able to do the same? If he wants to be President for the whole
nation, he needs to be willing to listen to people who disagree with him. His first
100 days plan feels archaic and unhelpful. When he says that
“Obamacare” is a disaster and he will repeal it on day one you
know what that says to me? I am losing my health insurance. Why not
put forth a better plan that still helps people get affordable care?
As one friend put it, "He has a chance to do something helpful and
what he is saying instead is 'screw you''. I need some conservatives
to articulate in clear terms a modicum of compassion and concern for
the most vulnerable in our society. And I need the white evangelical
church to defend the gospel in ways that reflect the economic and
social values of Jesus. Until I hear that, don't be short with me
about why I am grieving and struggling with such deep feelings of
despair and bewilderment. At the very least, you could say to me, to
other democrats you know, to a gay person who is scared that their
marriage will be nullified, to an immigrant who is terrified to go
out in public, to a muslim who does not feel the freedom to practice
their religion in this 'free' society, I'm sorry you are hurting. I
hope we can do better moving forward.
Posts
They are marked on the bottom with my mom's initials and '66, representing the date she finished them. Yes, she decorated these ceramic candle holders and I loved them when I was a kid. They sat atop the piano in my childhood home and I remember looking at each of them, wanting each hairdo as my own, especially the pig tails. Of course, I had a pixie cut as a kid so it was all hopelessly impossible to have such chic hair styles!
They are marked on the bottom with my mom's initials and '66, representing the date she finished them. Yes, she decorated these ceramic candle holders and I loved them when I was a kid. They sat atop the piano in my childhood home and I remember looking at each of them, wanting each hairdo as my own, especially the pig tails. Of course, I had a pixie cut as a kid so it was all hopelessly impossible to have such chic hair styles!
