ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE IN 2016?

I am reposting a letter from my dear friend and Spiritual Sister. Dianne wrote this soon after Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in 2016. In Dianne's opening paragraph she states, " I am disheartened. I am not hopeless but realistically cautious." She was a harbinger of what the next four years would bring.

INSIGHTS FROM A FRIEND

I am posting the following letter I received from my dear friend, Dianne Rogers, with her permission. We go way back to the 70's when we met while working on our Masters' Degrees from The University of Maryland. We immediately connected on so many levels. Dianne is a woman who is an astute observer of human nature. She is well read and articulate. We have discussed many issues over the years. Whenever we need someone to listen and seek advice, we are only a phone call away. After receiving the letter, I had to share it. Dianne has delved into the essence of why Donald Trump is a threat, not only to our country but to the world at large. 

Marge,

I am not saddened by this election, I am disheartened. I am not hopeless but realistically cautious. Knowing the personality of the president elect, I am frightened for what his narcissistic, impulsive, socio-psychopathic, pathological lying nature might do to harm our nation. And the people he has surrounded himself with as his advisors, gives me more cause to be concerned. One example is his chief advisor who 

is a conspiracy theorist and whose negative attitude manipulates truth in a way never seen before on such a national level.

When recently asked if he had any regrets for his outlandish behavior during the campaign, Trump's response was "No, I won. I have no regrets." 

When asked during the campaign if he had ever asked God for forgiveness, is answer was "No, I've never done anything to be forgiven for."

I am sending you a wonderful piece written by Dr. George Lakoff * who is a cognitive scientist and linguist from the University of California

on 'Understanding Trump" which I hope you will find interesting reading. I remember learning about Lakoff in graduate school studying 

the link between linguistics, language and reading... 

I admire Lakoff's research and analysis and find what he has to say as very enlightening in terms of trying to understand the phenomena

of the election of such a man. 

My ultimate concern is this: What do we tell the children (especially our boys and young men? )

That it's OK to bully, to make fun of others that are not like us...disabled, foreign, other faiths or ethnic origins?

That it's OK to grab/grope/sexually attack girls because they can?

That it's Ok to use language that is offensive and divisive?

That it's OK to do these and many other things because "Well the president can do this, why can't I?" 

We have increased the number of hate groups in this country for the last 18 month by more than 100+.

There are now 892 separate hate groups who feel empowered to behave in a manner contrary to what we have always held as American values of civility, decency, integrity and honor. 

This man has repeatedly shown us, lo this past year and a half, that he does not hold any of those values as sacred.

And we will see in the future more and more of what teachers across the country are now reporting in their classrooms from kindergarten through high school: a rise in unacceptable behavior the likes of which we never dealt with in our years as educators...

For me, the bottom line is respecting all people and caring for your fellow human being as Jesus taught us to do. 

"Love one another as I have loved you"...

Every major religion on this planet holds true one major tenet: The Golden Rule- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

We are a nation of immigrants from many ethnic and religious backgrounds and to have a leader that denigrates so many is not only

intolerable but unconscionable to me.

Thank you for the opportunity to put down in writing what have been my thoughts for the past week...

P.S. I (did) read Kathleen Parker’s* piece in the Post and am not in agreement that he will change due to his seven decades of behavior that indicates otherwise.

As my Bill (Dianne’s Beloved Husband) would have said, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." I am so thankful that he is not here to have to endure now, what he had to suffer for so many years of his life: racism and bigotry...which has reared its ugly head in a way we have never witnessed before so very publicly.

So I take my lesson from the love that Bill showed despite the prejudice he endured:

He would pray for Trump's soul and so shall I.

*https://georgelakoff.com/2016/07/23/understanding-trump-2

*https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-white-house-already-changing-donald-trump/

Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

and Vote in November.