I'm counting on my Trump supporting family & friends...

A while back I wrote a post about an old friend and his brother, the Rubino Brothers, about the bonds that are deeper than politics and that perhaps can help us not only set aside our differences but help make each of us stronger by reinforcing our shared values and commitments. I love my extended family deeply while acknowledging that politically I’m a somewhat Blue island in a deeply Red Sea. Being of Italian heritage (for the most part) we have no hesitation about arguing our political differences and as of last Tuesday at least a few of our arguments have been settled…and they won.

As I go through the process of both grieving and also trying to reach some level of understanding about what’s taken place in our Country the one piece of solid ground that I keep returning to is that in spite of our differences and political opinions we are rooted in the same values - the importance of family, the value of productive work, the necessity of personal responsibility and having compassion and a charitable heart for all, especially for those less fortunate; all of this underpinned in the belief in the power of love, a love that compels us to do the right thing even when our emotions pull us in a contrary direction. The same holds true with the friends I treasure who for decades have shared the challenges of raising children and being part of a community where we support each other in good times and bad but whose politics are very much on the other side of mine.

In my heart of hearts I know that we all care deeply about not only the world we are living in today but as, if not more importantly, the world that our children and grandchildren will inherit. These are the filters that I hope and pray they will continue to use to assess the actions and consequences of the leaders that they have elected.

What has caused me great concern and confusion is their support of a man and his politics of hate, division, dominance and cruelty. If any of the children in our family behaved in a similar fashion, name calling, lying, blatant dishonesty and a consistent failure to accept blame they would be taken to task and certainly in my generation be unable to sit comfortably for a spell!

I am so confused about how our shared values manifest in support of policies that deny the existence and consequences of climate change, demonize immigrants, especially people of color, when we are, in some cases only one or two generations removed from being immigrants ourselves, oppose common sense gun reforms that would make our schools and children safer, and deny women control of their own bodies. My confusion is heightened further when objective 3rd party analysis reveals that “his policies” will likely entail terrible hardships, in many cases for themselves and their loved ones; His wealthiest supporter and the world’s richest man has promised it, “but only for a while”. If that sounds like hyperbole watch what he does in his new capacity as Head of Government Efficiency, and bet the mortgage that regardless of the sufferings of others, he’ll be just fine.

I’m hoping that, as has happened many times in my lifetime, what occurred is a swing of the political pendulum that in time, will swing back; that this is a course correction that will be harsh for many but will ultimately be moderated as our election cycles of 2-4 years allow us to. At the same time, there are extreme elements that have now been empowered and come forward that pose a very real danger to all of us. Swastika carrying marchers, Proud Boys, Klansmen, and hate mongers of all shapes and varieties are openly celebrating that this election of “their guy” shows that it’s “their turn” to target the other that they see as a less worthy enemy with real consequence.

What I hope for from my family and friends is that by holding to our shared values, they will join those of us on the other side to be part of the moderating forces that can keep these extremists at the margins and mitigate the cruelty that underlies many of these “policies”. I’m hoping that together, we can hold the people they elected to the same standards that we, as a families and friends, apply to each other and especially by being supportive and charitable to those suffering and in pain as a result of their choice of leader.

In my own way I will try my best to be part of this effort. I didn’t write during this election cycle because I felt that the noise already out there was deafening and that my opinions, while shared by many here, would make no real difference. Perhaps I was wrong but perhaps I wasn’t…I’m still not sure. What I do believe is that we all need to better understand one another to help heal the underlying divisions and anger that has put us in this place as we are still a nation dangerously divided. I will try from time to time to add my voice as well as listen to the voices of others who I disagree with, especially those I who love and respect; all in the hope that we can slowly but surely reclaim common ground, whose foundation is secured by our shared values and our love of Country.