Burning In The Wake

 

Henry Ford said, “Don't find fault, find a remedy.”

The office of the President of the United States of America must be filled by an individual who can create peace through the art and skill of diplomacy. 

In any presidency there will be conflict. In every presidency there will be the possibility, and perhaps necessity, for war. The one who dares to apply for this position must be immediately prepared to shoulder that reality. There will undoubtedly be moments of unrest, both politically, culturally and perhaps physically in every generation. Those who wish to be at the helm must be capable in those moments to understand the nuances of those conflicts, and most especially to be proficient in resolving them in the most pragmatic ways. 

Today our country is seeing turmoil in the political rallies, and ensuing protests, of Donald Trump. In Chicago, protesters and Trump supporters collided in the thousands and while the rally was canceled, the conflict remains unresolved. 

In virtually every city where Mr. Trump speaks, we see these clashes: Saint Lewis, MS , Fayetteville, NC , Miami, FL , Richmond, VA , just to name a few.


Chicago Protests at Trump Rally - March 2016
 
Altercation at Trump Rally in Virginia - Oct 2015

The division is spreading faster and faster through our Nation. Some of this animosity was created solely by Trump himself, some he has encouraged, but some of these divisions existed before his time. He did not make all these problems…but can he help fix them? 

If he wants to be the President of the United States he cannot continue to defer or reject the responsibility of this moment. The buck must stop here. 

Today is his moment to try to lead. 

We are each responsible for our own choices, as are the protesters and the Trumpeters, but a leader takes responsibility for people other than themselves. They shoulder the questions, needs, and problems of the many. If he wants to be our Commander-in-Chief, then he must lead today, not AFTER he has been given the title. He must earn the job. He must prove he is worthy. He must demonstrate he is fit for the calling. Only results are evidence of effectiveness. There can be no excuses or blaming others.

This is his moment. 

Convince me Donald Trump. 

Convince me you can sue for peace. Show me, now and today, that when foreign nations rise in anger and frustration with us, or each other, that you can handle the responsibility of a mediator. I promise you Mr. Trump that when those challenges arise that they will be much more demanding than those that are happening on your campaign trail today. Can you create treaties out of wisdom, compassion, justice and the sheer force-of-will for peace? 

Earn your way to the top with an undeniable performance of skill. 

These are defining opportunities.  Systems are being tested and fracturing. These are great days of change and possibilities.  

There are those who only serve to deconstruct and demolish. Donald Trump can certainly bull doze. He has proven he can challenge the status quo with his unexpected rise, with his angry rhetoric and unconventional methods. He has rattled this nation and stirred our fires. He has shocked and shaken this country.

But can he offer solutions? Can he unify a city? A political party? A nation? A world? We have to consider this carefully, because up to this moment his only 'leadership' has been to leave our country burning in his wake.

The President is the president of not just the political party of those to whom he or she belongs, but the president of all Americans. A President must effectively work with those who disagree with them, with those who are not their loyalists. They must represent us all and answer to us all. They must be willing to do what is best, not for just those to whom they affiliate with, but for all people. They must speak to the dissenter as well as the proponent. 

If he is volunteering for the toughest job, then he cannot shirk this problem. Will he say, “It is not me. It is not mine.” Or will he stand and claim it, and resolve it? The mantle of responsibility must be assumed with all its weight by those who seek the privilege to wear it. 

Mr. Trump, can you unite people? Because you have applied for the job. You are in the middle of a skills demonstration interview and we are watching.

  

Where I Will Stand

As the woman walked by me waving her Trump sign, she yelled, 

“Y’all are stupid! Go Trump!” 

I stepped forward with my hand extended and she noticeably flinched backwards as I did. I called to her, 

“I respect you. Don’t worry, I respect you. You are politically active and I think that is what is important. We are both just trying to be patriots by standing up for what we believe.” 

It was then that she hesitantly took my still-outstretched hand. 

“I believe I am a patriot.” She said, “I belong to the Daughters of the Revolution and my family goes way back.” 

I responded, “I think that is wonderful. We may not agree politically, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get along.” 

We talked and then this good woman thanked me, smiled, and waved as she walked away. 

When I had learned that Donald Trump was coming to my town of Fayetteville NC, I immediately began organizing a demonstration to voice my disagreement with him and his platform. I feel strongly that his policies are either without substance or would be harmful to our Nation. Ultimately, I feel that his character and language are not dignified, and someone so deliberately hateful and abrasive should not represent us all as President. I feel these things so strongly that I stepped out of my comfort zone to stand up for what I believed, publically. I chose to get involved. 

Through social media, I reached out to a few like-minded individuals and received a permit to protest through the County. I worked with the Sheriff’s Department and the Coliseum complex management to learn what they needed from me and my group. 

I set forward rules for our protest; 

Be Safe, Obey the Law, Be Respectful, No Weapons, No Vulgarity. 

Our group was small, but as the day for the protest grew close, several other groups asked to stand with us since I had obtained a permit. I agreed, inasmuch as they followed our guidelines. 

Yesterday, we stood by the parking lot entrance and held our hand written signs, waved, and smiled. Many people waved back, a few flipped us off or shouted rude things, to which we responded with peace signs, or yelling back, 

“But we love YOU!” 

My friend Blanca would always say, 

“Enjoy the rally! Have a nice night!” All in all, I felt very positive.

As the afternoon rolled on, more people joined us from the alternate groups. Some chanted, “White, black, red, brown…We don’t want Trump in our town.” And although chanting isn’t my favorite technique, I figured it was relatively benign.

Later, we moved closer to the Coliseum where there was foot traffic. I met others on both sides of the political spectrum. 

I want to mention my new friend Mr. Stinson, an avid Trump supporter. He is also a Vietnam Veteran and when I saw his hat and tell-tale leather vest, I had to talk to him. 

Never miss a chance to thank a Vet. 

At first, he wouldn’t shake my hand because I was a protester, but when I told him I just wanted to thank him for his service, he humbly smiled and told me that the real heroes were the ones who never came home. My husband and I talked with him for almost half an hour, hearing his stories of war and Southern politics. When he learned my husband was active duty military, he reached for his hand to thank him in return.

Police officers were all around, walking, chatting with each other, and observing. Like bored life guards, they were relaxed but keenly attentive, scanning both crowds. I thanked several of them for doing their difficult job. I asked a few if they were tired and if their feet hurt. They would laugh and confirm yes, to both. 

It had gotten dark and individuals who had gone inside the rally and had been kicked out by Trump were starting to join the line of protesters. The rally would be ending soon and I had small children waiting at home who needed to be put to bed on a school night. Most of my friends had either left, or were leaving with me. It was time to go. 

By the time I got home, things at the Coliseum had escalated. I walked into the house to see videos of lines of police officers separating angry, chanting protesters from screaming Trump supporters, inflamed from the rally. (Can I just say that our law enforcement don’t get paid enough?!) 

I was so disappointed. 

I believe in good, better and best methods. At first, these images made me reflect if protest was the best way to get my message across. I wondered if it only served to solidify the views of others by hardening their determination when faced with resistance, even when they are only lukewarm in their resolutions. Perhaps, I was wrong. Maybe yesterday, I was only working against myself.

On the other hand, I could see people soften and change when I talked to them. Actually, I think it was when I listened that they opened to me. It was their own voice that made them receptive, not mine. But my voice was there too! and I hope that my presence mattered and that it helped. I hope my actions last night honored my beliefs and my community.

I was there partially because I believe that Trump exemplifies intolerance and hate in his behavior. How could I protest that by using those same methods? I believe in being the change I want to see. I believe in diplomacy. 

But diplomacy broke down last night. 

Honestly, I can see fault on both sides, even the side that I am on. I can see that we need to choose not only a good way to protest, but the best way to protest. 

To be clear, I know that we cannot negotiate with much of the extreme radicalism coming from the Trump movement, and instead must stand, courageous and immovable, in the face of it. But we must never sacrifice our principles through any thoughtless instigation. 

I obviously believe that politics does not have to divide us, and to confront each other does not mean we have to contend with each other. It is important that people who believe in temperance and peace always show up. 

This is what I know: education, peaceful discourse, and compromise can be keys that unlock our political differences. If any of those are missing then progress cannot be made. I believe that protest has a place in that formula. I implore both sides to reach out… and choose what is best.