It’s Time

 

For those still somehow refusing to admit that the Republican Party has been fatally wounded and no longer represents limited government, the rights of states, freedom of religion, the backing and friendship of our NATO allies, the reduction of federal debt, a respect for the judiciary, or even basic constitutional rights. Many have clung to this party because of one issue. The sanctity of life. For this regime, it was never about saving the lives of unborn children. It has always been about controlling women. You need only look at the mothers dying because they can’t find healthcare when they have pregnancy complications or the administration’s total disregard for human life or the health of anyone once exiting the womb to know this. 

Any original well-intentioned policies have been defeated and the entire establishment is shattered.

Please hear me out. We have moved into a period of moral reckoning. The cognitive dissonance must end. 

For years, tenacious members of the party have been rejecting the truth they see with their own eyes (and hearing with their own ears).  Fox (and now other mainstream media) spew lies and the people soak it up because it gives them someone else to blame. The propaganda machine is staggering. Remnant Republicans have protected their carefully constructed world view, assigning religious meaning and patriotism to the undeserving and the unholy, even going as far as rejecting the words of the Christ they claim- in favor of sweeping power grabs and “owning” the alleged “libs”. They’ll live in a closet, eat canned rations, hand their dollars to oligarchs, and destroy their own grandchild’s future as long as the “left” has it worse. It boggles the mind. The Democrats are not blameless by any means. But Republicans (now in name only) control everything and the whole system is flat-lining. Folks supporting this administration have bolstered and defended an earthly empire of greed. I refuse to believe they all have hatred towards others in their hearts. I know some of them to be good and well-intentioned people. I believe many of them felt compelled because if they admitted they were wrong about this man and his ilk, their painstakingly guarded interpretation of the plan for repairing what they were repeatedly told was broken would fall apart and they would be forced to reckon with the level of destruction and abuse they so vehemently defended because they believed it a righteous means to an end. For years they excused atrocities and didn’t just do it in their own names, but in the name of God. Making it right is a painful process after rationalizing away the mounting evidence for so long. Like all of us, they wanted to make the unusual happenings of our current reality fit into their hopes and expectations. Though some (such as the inhumane people working for ICE) have evil and hate-filled hearts and intentions to match the darkness of this administration, I believe many Trump supporters truly believed the lies they were told and they sought a better end. This is not what they anticipated.  

But now it is past time for them to admit they were deceived. To start caring about their neighbors and come alongside anyone who still holds a soul to work for what is good and true. To patch together what is left of kindness and a dying democracy. To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. To reach back, deep into their hearts until the words of Jesus ring louder than the nationalistic rhetoric they’ve been fed by religious systems gone horribly off the rails.