By Edward Sperry, Stevensville
Our President is on the receiving end of a barrage of negative publicity which is without precedent. There is a daily ration of unsubstantiated charges, personal insults, and commentary from the media which is 90% supportive of the ever further political left. The First Lady and her son are even considered worthy targets. I am in my ninth decade and have even voted for some Democrats. I cannot believe the depth of anger, filth and downright hate that is being spewed across the airways and net. Have you noticed? Do you care? I will be criticized for this commentary and that’s fine as there is no longer time to waste with political correctness and its resulting censorship.
This flood of lies, hate and intolerance has become a threat to our republic. Well neighbor, I suggest we recognize what is occurring. We are a nation standing on tip toes at the edge of very slippery slope. There is violence in the streets. Citizens are being urged to publicly harass, to deny free expression of opposing ideas, even on occasion the right to merely publicly enjoy a meal in peace. Police officers have been murdered and Republican Congressmen have been shot. Republican candidates have been shouted down and threatened; even in one recent instance assaulted with a switch blade knife. These are not the actions of some far right fringe. With few exceptions, the Democratic leadership has done almost nothing to discourage such conduct. As a nation, we have always been so proud that we managed for over 200 years to pass political power without bloodshed. It’s past time to recognize what is happening. Isn’t this the same bullying we are trying to stop with our children?
Are you impressed by the Black Lives Matter crowd with their pleas for death of policemen? Were you impressed by the Occupy Wall Street mob? Do you really want to leave our borders open and overrun? Is the recent tax reduction a bad thing and would you rather have your taxes raised? Should we be able to defend ourselves from the growing threats of North Korea, China and radical Islam? Is unrestricted late term abortion a good thing? Is it reasonable to insist upon identification before one votes? Should unelected bureaucrats write laws which control your every action which can be related to what is called a carbon footprint? Should the same anonymous civil servants control your medical decisions and opportunities? Finally, do you really want to support the publication of countless regulations which deter creativity and industry?
My point is that you may deplore some of the things our president says, or how he always strikes back for anything he deems an attack; but, he keeps his word and has implemented policies which have put our nation back on track. As I commented in my title, it’s not like we are joining him for dinner. I accept his faults. Lord knows his predecessors had their full share.
I have tried to express the concerns of an old vet who has watched the political scene for over seven decades. We face the rise of socialism in our youth. They have never been taught of the bloody failure of socialism over the past 100 plus years. We face a current or movement of thought called Social Justice. A dedicated social justice advocate assumes a position of moral superiority. What conceit! If one has reservations about this undefined movement seeking a world of paradise he is called a racist or some other popular term such as Nazi which is used to diminish or dismiss argument. All other opinions are considered hate speech uttered by “deplorable” gun- and God-loving fools.
Neighbor, remember the history of the last century. When someone was deplorable they were soon labeled expendable. Ah yes: the slippery slope! Think hard before you vote. Consider the lessons of the Soviets, China, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua. The issues are downright existential!