Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do ...
Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

A Rant: Time to build that wall!

Fair Warning 
to readers.
If you are a Trump supporter, please stop reading now.  
This is a rant.  It is my personal opinion.  
It won't be repeated in the future on this blog,
 but it needs to be said.


I am putting up my own "wall,"
 on the crazy and depressing political scene,
 on this day,
 with this blog post.

I have lived in a state of disbelief that Trump was elected President.   My gut said this man was wrong for this job.  But in the beginning - without a track record to measure against - it seemed unfair to judge him.

Over the first year, I have watched all the repeated 'political fire storms' of this administration on the news and in social media daily.  Every single day!  It never ends.  This President intentionally creates most of his own problems and seems to thrive on it.  He has made terrible picks for many of his most important positions.  He says things that have to be 'translated' by his staff, because the general population finds his words at times shocking.  This past week I watched "Trump: An American Dream" on Netflix.  The series followed him in his business and personal life up to the point he entered politics for the Presidency.  It highlighted the fact that his ideas, his words, his behavior,  has not changed a smidge since he learned to walk and talk.  Granted - you can argue that any sources of information can be slanted.  But I have heard enough words said from his own mouth on camera  over and over and over again to know that my gut was right all along.  This is the wrong man for the job of leader of the free world! (which, by the way, we are not any more.)

This month, in a string of upsetting stories (as if the threat of a nuclear war with North Korea and making friendly nations adversaries while admiring our historical adversaries ... if that wasn't enough), I saw a video clip where Trump was admiring the North Korean dictator's followers - all those people who sit up and take notice when their dictator speaks.  Setting aside the fact this dictator will kill you if you don't 'sit up and take notice,' our President (in his own words - on tape so that there can be no misunderstanding) wants "his people" to do the same for him.  The President's interpreters wanted us to think he was "joking."  Joking - no one with two brain cells would believe that after the last year.  Then the stories of immigrant children being separated at the border from their parents.  And from the UN yesterday - we have withdrawn our representation on the UN Human Right's Counsel.

And that, folks, was just this last month!

I am just done.

I can't continue to watch our country sink to a new low - every single week - for another 3 years.  I have all the information I need to confirm that my gut was absolutely correct in 2016.

So I am building my own wall - a virtual wall to separate me from the grim drama in our government and the man who creates it.  I am banishing all Trump information as much as possible - from my life.  I have seen enough to know that I will vote against him and against anyone who supports him.  I don't need to hear more.   I deleted all Facebook postings (including a few 'friends') from my newsfeed ... people who routinely push Trump stories.  I will not forward any more Trump posts on Facebook.  I just add to the stress of others by doing so.  I no longer watch CNN. I agree with their point of view, but it is Trump, Trump, Trump - 24/7!  Just can't have a steady diet of it anymore.

And I will take the only action available to me - I will vote!

It must look to some like I am sticking my head in the sand.  They would argue that all citizens remain continually informed and ready to fight against America's wanna-be dictator.  They believe keeping the electorate in a constant of agitation and frustration is the way toward change.  Maybe ... I hope so.

But for me personally, and for my own health and peace of mind, I must look at this situation through a different lens.  I will vote.  I will encourage everyone to VOTE.  My elected representatives already reflect my point of view.   They are doing what needs to be done: RESIST.  In fact, our Governor, Larry Hogan, (a Republican Governor in Democratic Maryland) has pulled our National Guard Troops and a helicopter from the Texas border until the current policy of separating immegrant children from parents is changed. Thank you Governor Hogan.  It isn't a large gesture because our commitment wasn't that big.  But it is a stand and a statement!  Governor Hogan has my vote.  I look for other states to take the same stand.

Voting - the only tool I have.  I leave all the rest to younger more energetic citizens.

VOTE is my mantra!

And as for my wall ...  for the record - I am not asking for anyone else to 'pay' for it or to join me in building one.  What I am asking of everyone is to

VOTE
 everyone!!
 VOTE!

Stepping down off my soap box now.  I won't be tarnishing my blog with his name ever again.

VOTE

An apology and a disclaimer:
My apologies to any readers who are ardent Trump supporters.  
It is not my aim to make your position somehow wrong.
  But, this is my blog, and my peace of mind has been negatively affected by this elected official
 and I have a right to express my opinion on it - on bended knee if I choose
because the Constitution allows it ... 
at least at this point it does.

11 comments:

Michelle said...

RK, last night my heart had reached the breaking point on what this administration has done to our country, to PEOPLE. I keep thinking about a meme I've seen; something to the effect of "If you wonder what "good people" did in Germany during the rise of the Third Reich, look at yourself," and wonder what I can DO. Yes, vote; but will that be too little too late? Will our voting laws have changed so much by the next presidential election as to be rigged? Have we learned nothing from history? Others' and our own? ALL of us, unless Native American, are immigrants or descendants of such; MOST were fleeing persecution or poverty in a desperate bid for a better life for themselves and their children. And MOST were feared and harangued and persecuted as the "unwanted" when they came en mass. But no matter to most Republicans, "we got ours; no one else can have it now." I'm just sick, SICK. I fight to hang on to my faith; I know God is in control and will sooner (SOONER) or later return with healing in His wings for the downtrodden and broken and JUDGMENT for the proud and unmerciful. But what more can I do NOW?

Retired Knitter said...

I just read something that fits this discussion. I want to share it.

***********************************************************

LEFT: Stop taking children from their parents.

RIGHT: But Obama started it!

LEFT: I don't think that is true, but it's irrelevant right now. It's happening NOW. It needs to stop NOW.

RIGHT: It's been happening for years!

LEFT: Okay, so it's about time to stop it, right?

RIGHT: Democrats are blocking attempts to stop it.

LEFT: The GOP controls Congress and the WH, they could stop this tomorrow. Put a bill on the floor of both houses and see who votes for it. If it passes see if Trump signs it. At least TRY.

RIGHT: But you didn't complain about it 6 years ago.

LEFT: Either I didn't know about it or it wasn't happening. Either way, can we please stop taking children away from their parents now! We can argue about who to blame for it later.

RIGHT: The parents are being put in jail for illegally crossing the border. It's wrong to put kids in jail with them.

LEFT: Don't put these people in prison with murderers and rapists then.

RIGHT: But it's a deterrent!

LEFT: This is the US, not North Korea. It's barbaric, stop it now.

RIGHT: Not up to us.

LEFT: You run the government.

RIGHT: The Bible says ...

LEFT: JUST F*CKING STOP IT!

RIGHT: We don't want to.

LEFT: Bingo
**********************************************************************

And for the record - I am not LEFT or RIGHT. I am registered as an INDEPENDENT - and proud to be one.

Michelle - I agree with your comments. I don't suggest we as a nation do nothing. But beyond voting (and praying,) my own personal actions are limited. I can't march in a protest. Nagging my representatives is not necessary as they already represent my views and are being VERY outspoken. Being open and welcoming to all people is my default - what else is there. Your last question - But what more can I do NOW? needs an answer.

Thanks for commenting.

Marie Smith said...

Well said RK.

Theresa said...

Miss Michelle sent me here and I'm glad she did. Thank you for the rant. It is all so exhausting isn't it? I have yet another admonishment for people to vote. That is the true power of the people.

Anonymous said...

I don't think there needs to be any apology at all for your well-said opinion on your blog. I feel stuck too. And will vote.

Retired Knitter said...

Thank you.

Retired Knitter said...

Welcome Theresa, Thank you for stopping by my blog. Exhausting characterizes this Presidency - for us not him. He thrives in this environment. Yes, I believe in voting. I will push voting because it is our only true power - as you say.

mrsmole said...

I agree 100%...enough! Even my counselor says that fear and loathing issues have doubled her client numbers since last year. This is affecting all normal moral thinking people and I am praying that this evil pendulum swings back the other way soon or at least gets somewhere near the middle of rationality and respect for all human beings.

Retired Knitter said...

Agree. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Paula said...

I am in total agreement with you my friend. But I cannot keep quiet about it. I will continue to rant and rave. I think the reason he signed the 'fake' executive order last week is because of the uproar. I don't know that it will stop. But there is a crack in his veneer. I think he thrives on it. He is a disgusting pig. I am losing faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I have to keep praying that Jesus will put a stop to this soon. Thank you for writing about it. I am going to copy your 'left' right argument to post on Facebook!

Retired Knitter said...

Thanks Paula. The Left Right argument came from Facebook! :-)