Enemies Within

A friend of mine left a comment about my recent posts, The Decline of America. In it, he referred to me as a decent, caring man, but that he disagreed with my positions. I thought about that comment today, then decided to wrote this post. But before composing it, I glanced at the four posts I had previously written under the label Politics and Civility, which I just read. Here are links to those posts.

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2018/10/civility.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2018/10/white-male-backlash.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2016/10/me-for-president.html

https://wurdsfromtheburbs.blogspot.com/2012/10/letters-to-editor.html

Curiously, the oldest of the four, from 2012, discussed the drastic polarity in our politics at the time, centered around our first African American President, who was running for his second term.

That post includes a reference to an online letter written by an elderly woman who claimed that another Obama term would mark the end of America. Her letter detailed why she thought as such, although some of her facts were not entirely true.

In addition to her comment, I refer to the five posted responses to her opinion, two in complete agreement, two diametrically opposed to her views, and one which requested future comments about the topic should actually introduce facts, and not "idiocies", his word, not mine.

My comment indicated my support for Obama, but also a statement that regardless of who won, we would have a man if integrity in the White House. For those of you who can't recall the GOP candidate in 2012, it was Mitt Romney.

I mention this, because I believe that my assertion, that both men were, are, men of integrity, who have different viewpoints of how to improve America, has been proven. 

America did not "end" as the writer suggested, during Obama's second term, and Romney displayed his ethics (and love for our country) when he voted to impeach Trump after the events of January 6th.

The third link, "Me, for President", also struck me as I was very focused on the middle class as the source of our greatness, and why we needed to emphasize programs and policies that will help those who make up this important swath of our economy. 

Which brings us to enemies within. 

This is a phrase being bandied about a lot by the GOP presidential nominee in this election cycle. 

I am very realistic in my understanding that very few people read my blog. I see the statistics every time I log in to create a new post.

But, if something were to change, if suddenly tens of thousands of people were to discover and begin reading my posts, I would certainly be one of those enemies within as referenced by the ex-president.

And so I have to wonder, why does my friend think I am a good man while still voting for the presidential candidate who has made it clear that people like me will need to be removed from our country if we are to Make America Great Again.

Does my friend think that Trump is not serious when he discusses using the military and judicial systems to target those enemies? 

I think that the recent revelations and statements by General Kelly should be proof enough that Trump will attempt retribution against those who disagree with him should he win again. Not to mention that Trump uses the word retribution at every rally.

Well, just so we are clear, I am one of the enemies within, as defined by Trump because

I believe that January 6th was one of the worst days in American history, perhaps the worst, because the past attacks on our country, Pearl Harbor, 9/11, the English burning parts of Washington DC, were accomplished by foreign actors who attacked us while on January 6th, it was American citizens who attacked the Capitol, fought hand to hand combat with police officers, broke windows to gain entry into the building, and vandalized the building, its offices and hallways, in an attempt to delay the certification of Biden. And it was Trump who told them, day after day after day, that the election was stolen.

I believe that any American who praises the worst world leaders seeks to be like them, covets the ability to do whatever he sees fit with immunity from consequences, as his lawyers stated in front of the Supreme Court Justices earlier this year.

I believe that demonizing immigrants, calling then vermin, accusing some (falsely) of eating pets, not only portrays an anti-Christian attitude, but spits in the face of the spirit of the Statue of Liberty that greeted my ancestors and those of a large percentage of Americans alive today.

I believe that women should have, nay deserve, reproductive freedom especially considering that it took 150 years from our founding for them to get the right to vote, and another 100 years for them to be able to seek equal opportunities in the job market.

I believe that America belies the notion that "all men are created equally" when it denies the basic rights to marry the person one loves, to worship in the manner one believes, and to identify the gender that makes one happy.

I believe that when someone breaks a law, regardless of their wealth, they should be held accountable, as opposed to using his wealth and political standing to delay trials and sentencing.

I believe that a candidate for any elected position, MUST accept the results of that election once all reasonable and legal investigations have concluded, and that running on a platform of "America's elections are rigged" should be an automatic disqualifier.

I believe that the vast amount of immigrants, legal and illegal, come to America for the exact same thing that my grandparents did, better opportunities both economic and social, and that those that have been here for five or more years, even if they came illegally, should be provided a path to citizenship if they have become assets to their communities and without criminal record, whether that path requires an extra monetary payment, military or community service, or any such specifications as determined by a bipartisan Congress. 

I believe that the free press should not only not be another group on Trump's enemy list, but is vital to our democracy, and anyone who suggests that certain newspapers, TV broadcast companies, or new outlets should lose their license or be shut down is the true enemy of our country.

I believe that Donald Trump is the worst president in my lifetime, not because I disagree with most of his policies, but because he actively promotes doubt in our institutions; our elections when he loses, our jury system when he is convicted, our judicial system when he is indicted.

Based on my beliefs and perspectives, Donald Trump considers me an enemy from within, and, harsh as it might be to hear, anyone who votes for him is indirectly in agreement with his opinion.