Skip to main content

The Obligations of Winners, and Losers, Part 2

Recently I have been told by a Democrat that everyone must put away their resentments and be one nation. I said the Democrats, as winners, have obligations. In return I was told I 'didn't get it'. Almost exactly four years ago, on 11/19/16, I wrote a blog called "On the Obligations of Winners, and Losers". In that blog I wrote what I felt were the obligations of both sides. That exchange prompted this second look at the obligations of both winners and losers.

It is revealing, and sad, to see what I felt were the obligations in 2016. They were-
For winners-
        meet with House and Senate to find compromises all agree to
        stop using executive orders and signing statements to govern outside law                  stop differential enforcement of laws (as done by Obama)                                          accept legal abortion                                                                                                    reach out to fearful groups like gays and blacks                                                          enforce immigration law without frightening those in the US

For losers-                                                                                                                             respect the transition of power                                                                                     stop rioting, lecturing people, and making political statements at plays, etc               stop using identity politics to divide the nation

Virtually none of this was done. I can't say how much outreach there was to Congress, but the rhetoric between Pelosi and Trump has been venomous and degrading to our institutions. Democrats have continued rioting, looting, lecturing, accosting Republicans in restaurants and other public places. Our 'government' has been by almost nothing but signing statements and executive orders. 

The only part of my list that WAS done was outreach to the black community by Trump. This resulted in a marked increase in Black vote for Republicans, enough to worry Democrats.

Now I am told I should just accept what has happened and we should 'come together'. That's going to be hard without some outreach, and a welcome, and possibly an apology. No Republican tried to restrict access to an inauguration, looted stores, rioted and tore down statues. No Republican has yelled at people in public conveniences, or used sports and entertainment venues to lecture people. In return I'm told Republicans have tried to enter ballot counting centers with guns, that white supremacists have disrupted meetings and cities. That's true, but the scale and scope of Liberal and Democratic misbehavior is vastly greater. Not an order of magnitude, several orders of magnitude. 

There is no mass, coordinated effort by Republicans to attack ballot centers, or anything else for that matter. In contrast, there has been financial and personal support from Democratic leaders for street violence and use of entertainment for social lecturing. There is no question who has used these tactics, none at all. A few Conservative crazies are not in any way equivalent to the disorder, violence, and rudeness perpetrated by Democrats.

A friend posted a very nice item, saying that no matter who won, half the country was going to be mad. That's right. Democrats have expressed their anger for four years, violently, publicly, and inappropriately. Now they ask for Republicans to 'come together', to cooperate, to accept.

Oh, we do. You will not see misbehavior by Republicans. However, I don't think you're going to see much cooperation either. Democrats need to reach out to Republicans, and as winners they have that obligation, just as Republicans did four years ago. What I feel from Democrats is a smug sense that Republicans now really have to recognize the righteousness of Democratic views. That attitude will certainly help us all 'come together'.

As I see it, Democrats have insulted, attacked, and badgered Republicans for years. You need to provide some kindness and consideration, stop calling us names, before you can expect cooperation. I long for an interactive and cooperative government, and society. The winners need to initiate that, just as I said four years ago.

So go ahead, all you rioters, lecturers, arrogant sports and theatre people. Be civil, kind, and welcoming. Listen and compromise. YOU FIRST. I'm not holding my breath.

Ted

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Forgiveness

 In doing years of medical teaching, I have told students that teaching and learning are not directly related. I can teach and teach, but you may never learn. Conversely, you may learn continuously without me teaching you a thing. 'I teach' and 'you learn' are two separate, active processes that may overlap or coincide. The same is true of forgiveness. I am an unforgiving man. I am the very opposite of God, who is slow to anger and of great kindness. I am quick to anger and very slow to forgive. I'm kind and insightful with people generally, but when mistreated or insulted I am not kind at all, nor do I forget, or forgive.  The Bible tells us to do something else. We are told to forgive. In Matthew 18:21, Peter asks Jesus how often he should forgive his brother's sin. The Jewish standard was three times. Like the young man in the story of the Samaritan, who asks who his brother is in order to know to whom he should be loving, Peter appears to be asking for guida...
Post a Comment
Read more

My Broken Tooth

 I broke a tooth today. I've done that before; I inherited my mother's horrible teeth, and if not for crowns I would have the smile of any drug-addicted homeless man in the street. But the tooth broke, rather than the crown coming off. I've had that happen a couple of times, and it's nothing. After all, the tooth is just fake, held on by cements similar to the ones I use for my models. This time, however, I have to have the root extracted so I can get the modern version of a bridge. And this new dental experience has reduced to me to jelly, this not helped by the condescending, sexist comments of the dental assistant. I have a long, longe memory, my first recollections coming from age 2. I have well-developed, detailed memories from age 3 onward. I vividly recall being at the dentiswt as a child, when it was fashionable to fill baby teeth. I can recall being left there by my mother as a 14 year old, on the day I was paid for working as 'the 5th ace' at Camp Maga...
1 comment
Read more

Politically Correct Dishonor

The Biblical prophets warned aloud that devastation would come to those who were unclean. Those that profaned God and the house of God, those who were drunken, fornicators, idolators, those that cheated, that gave unclean offerings. Israel was warned of the consequences of their behavior. And God did not punish Israel. Rather, by walking away from God, Israel simply suffered the consequences of its behavior and choices. I chose, I chose , to live, to receive a transplant. I struggled to have the surgery that prolonged my life, I accepted the gift of a kidney from a whole person that I might live. I was convinced by family and friends that I had some role in the world, something I might contribute. And I believed that. My idea of contribution was to teach, to give to others what I had learned to do. But I have lived to see injustice. To see self-interest and greed triumph over not merely right but reason as well. I see incompetence passed off as expertise, the mundane as the s...
2 comments
Read more