The American President

I can remember when I was a little boy, just beginning to understand the profundity of the American President.  The first president I can recall was Ronald Reagan.  As a child I had no ideology, I didn’t care about budget shortfalls or tax policy.  I wasn’t concerned with Iran/Contra.  I didn’t have an appreciation for the blind eye he bore against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  Whether Reagan was beginning the trickle-down economics of the 80’s, invading Grenada, or trading weapons for hostages, it was of no matter.  I was enamored with the prestige and regal nature of our President.  I was taught from an early age that the presidency was more than just a man. The office of the President of the United States was transcendent.  It was a position to be honored.  I remember watching President Reagan meeting with Gorbachev.  I remember the wonder of watching this man, our leader, our President, trudging through the tundra of the Cold War.  He projected the strength and resolve of a nation.

I use President Reagan as an example, because his ideology is something that I find repugnant.  He allowed things to happen during his administration that put a blight on American values and tradition.  His actions and lack thereof, had long-lasting, detrimental repercussions. I believe he condemned an entire generation of gay men to death.  He enacted domestic policies that exacerbated the socioeconomic divide in this nation.  He engaged in a plethora of policy prescriptions that hurt many Americans.  What he didn’t engage in was pettiness.  He didn’t act like an enraged toddler every time someone was critical of his actions.  He comported himself with maturity & rational thought.

The respect for the office of the Presidency was long considered sacrosanct.  However, that reverence has eroded.   The 2^nd Bush White House lied to the American people to cajole us into an unnecessary war.  They fleeced the middle class by unfair tax policy, unethical financial policy, and an avoidable collapse of our economy.  Then it was questioning the first minority President’s fidelity to this country.  Questioning his citizenship & patriotism became commonplace.  The nation’s first African-American president derided and jeered.  The accusations were as preposterous as the people making them.  The man leading that pack, sadly, took the oath of office just days ago.

Donald Trump became the 45^th President of the United States two days ago.  He took the same oath that every US President has taken since Washington.  He swore to ‘protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.’  His hand upon 2 holy books, promised to ‘faithfully discharge the duties’ of the office of the President of the United States.  In his brief Inaugural speech, he spoke of themes that were very dark & dystopian. His über nationalist sentiment reminded a nation of a frightening time. His isolationism and ‘America First’ ideology is an antiquated and destructive notion. It’s a chilling reminder of the House Committee on Un-American Activities in the 50’s, McCarthyism, and the Hollywood Blacklist.  That witch hunt for supposed communists tore this country in many places.  Division and specious accusations seem to be the preferred tools for this President.  A sad statement for the country Reagan called the “shining city on a hill.”

We now have a President that doesn’t seem interested in anything but controlling his personal image and lining his already full pockets.  In the 2 brief days since his occupancy of the Oval Office, he sent his Press Secretary out to lie about the number of people attending the inauguration.  He spoke at the memorial wall at CIA, seemingly to applaud the work of our intelligence community.  Instead, he did something as petty as rehash the election results and directly suggest that everyone in the room probably voted for him… but he wasn’t asking those that didn’t to identify themselves.  He did all of this in front of the very intelligence community that he has railed against since the revelation of Russian involvement in the US elections.  He has threatened media outlets by denying access to the White House Press Corps.  He’s even suggested moving it out of the White House.  This President has sent a very clear message in his first 2 days in office:   He has no intention of fulfilling his oath to protect and defend the Constitution.  In fact, he’s already taking steps to violate it.  This is who occupies the highest office in the land.  This man, who is arguably the most powerful on Earth, leads this great nation.  The question is:  Will this nation maintain its greatness under the leadership of this self-obsessed, petty, emotionally immature, racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, blow hard?

We must look to ourselves for the answers.  For the true power is with the people.  Only when we turn our backs, when we ignore, when we think it doesn’t affect us…  It is only then that we are truly at risk of destruction.   It may sound quaint.  It may even seem a bit overly optimistic.  But it is enshrined in our governing documents, that this country has a government OF the people, BY the people, and FOR the people.  They also remind us that when the boot of tyranny is reigning on the collective neck of the people; we must throw off the yolk of that tyranny with a new government.  We are the last vanguard, protecting ourselves against despotism of any from.  From silencing the media to stamping on the rights of individuals, we must ensure our constitutional destiny.  We, the people, are truly the ones with the power to change course. 

I have faith in this country.  I have faith in its people.  I have faith in this experiment in democracy that has lasted over 250 years.  We are one nation, indivisible.  We must remember that… Now, more than ever.

It's time.... STAND UP!

The past year could be described in many ways.  Chaotic. Disheartening.  Shocking.  The list could go on ad nauseum.  Many of us, myself included, put our blood, sweat, and tears into promoting a future filled with possibility.  A future where we could build on the amazing progress we’ve seen in the last decade.  The road before us was filled with billboards telling us of the audacious hope we could have faith in.  Our GPS said that we were on the right path.  All indications were, that we had won.  We had defeated the movement of hate that was threatening our very way of life.  It was inconceivable that a man, a movement, was getting so much traction in the modern era.  We, as a society, had grown in our understanding of each other.  We had expanded our collective empathy.  We were beginning to learn that our fellow man now meant people of many faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identity, socio-economic status, and all the other wonderful threads in the tapestry of humanity.  We had begun to overcome.  Overcome our narrow perceptions of things we didn’t understand or agree with.  Overcome the collective need to grasp to a bygone era.  Overcome systemic ignorance and bias.  We were indeed forging toward a brave new future.  A future filled with prosperity & happiness.  A future that would see the world begin to come together as one.  A world that embraces the similarities in culture & society.  A society that began to doff the antiquated notions of growing our differences instead of cultivating our shared interest.  We saw this world.  It was just down the road.  The smallest of distance before we could grasp and embrace our chosen path.  

Then it was gone.  

On the night of November 8th, 2016, I was working in a small office in Cedar Rapids.  The organization I worked for was a PAC that focused on voter turn out.  Turn out for the national, and an emphasis on turn out for local elections.  Getting our US House Representative Candidates elected to Congress. Aiming for the trifecta.  Maintain Democratic control of the White House, and diligently work toward taking back the House & Senate.  It was a lofty goal, I’ll admit.  It has to be noted, however, that we didn’t see the darkness coming on Election Night.  We were brimming with optimism and fervor to continue the work of the last 8 years. Our day progressed into night. We were shaking the bushes to get as many voters to the polls as we could.  Making sure we followed up with all the voters that we had spent the last 6 months talking to.  The night was looking promising.  Our data was showing that our voters were coming out in a very impressive number.  Another sign that our night was going to be celebratory.  Then around 7 - 7:30 things took a turn.  It started to become clear that there was a chance we would lose.  Not just lose the congressional races.  We actually had a chance to lose the White House.  The inconceivable had arrived.  There were tears.  There was silence.  There were looks of defeat and incredulity.  The impossible seemed to become much more possible than we had ever fathomed.  The mood in the office took a precipitous drop.  Our fervor doused with reality.  We had been blindsided.  

I had a 55 minute drive home that night. I had to make the run from Cedar Rapids to the Big Gay Farm in Manchester.  All while the most critical states were about to be called.  These were the moments that would decide the presidency.  NPR was my lifeline.  As I glided down the dark and long highway, the reality began to set in.  We lost.  We didn’t only lose, we were thumped.  The House, the Senate, the Iowa Statehouse.  It was a wash.  Hillary Rodham Clinton, the heir-apparent, the progressive standard bearer, was not to be the 45th President of the United States.  When I finally arrived at the farm, and made my way into the living room to join my friends, the news was all but confirmed.  A sweeping sense of dread washed over me.  The unthinkable was now reality…

Donald J Trump:

Racist, Mysogynist, Islamophobe, Xenophobe, Homophobe, & all around horrible person….    

The President-elect of the United States.  How could it be?

The subsequent two months since the election have shown a lot of light on what a ‘President Trump’ administration is going to look like.  During his campaign he would amp his crowds, grow their frenzy with notions of cleaning up D.C.  His promises to ‘drain the swamp’ and get all the big money interests out of the government.  A fresh start for the people with someone that has ‘no’ ties to the Beltway Establishment.  We know now, 13 days before his inauguration, that was all lies.  Now, mind you, I’m the first one to acquiesce when pushing for candidates to keep EVERY campaign promise they make.  There are certain realities of governing that take precedent over some lofty assurance given during a political rally.  That being said, the actions taken by the Trump Transition Team over the last month show a stark difference between his campaign style and his governing posture.  

I hear a lot of people ramble on, wondering why people get so worked up about this new president.  They live in the delusion that the people elected to govern our country have no effect on their day-to-day.  Well here’s a wake-up call to all of those people.  Especially people in minority communities.  This is the time that you need to stand.  This is the time that you need to mobilize. I know it all seems rather dramatic.  You may even think it’s an immense overreaction.  Maybe you’re right.  Perhaps the powers that be; the Universe, Fate, God, Nature, will balance this potential atrocity out. Perhaps. But I’m not prepared to hook my wagon to a unreasonable leap of faith.  Mr. Trump has a devious, very likely to be extra-constitutional & illegal, agenda for his time as the most powerful man on Earth.  He hopes to monetize the presidency.  He will sell his mother down the river to ensure that he achieves his goals.  These are not the characteristics or moral credentials I believe anyone truly wants in the President of the United States.

Now, I’d like to bring the focus to our community.  More specifically my community.  The LGBTQ community.  I’ve heard many say that The Donald isn’t going to come after gay rights.  My response to this fallacy has always been the same:  Do you know who his Vice President is?  Mike Pence is perhaps the most homophobic person to reach high political office since equality became a right.  He is intently opposed to marriage equality. He once wanted to divert funding for HIV/AIDS research to conversion therapy.  A practice that has been disavowed by the entire psychiatric & psychological community since the late seventies. He signed a bill as governor of Indiana that codified discrimination against LGBTQ people.  He also supports a similar bill that is floating through the new Congress.  It’s so coyly named: the First Amendment Defense Act. The real purpose of this act is legalize discrimination against the gay community throughout the United States.  The LGBTQ community could soon face similar discrimination to what the African-American community went through in the Fifties and Sixties. Told that you can’t eat at the diner down the street.  That cute little boutique you love has now chosen not to accept your business. The overnight manager at McDonald’s is a ‘devout’ Christian and refuses you your nuggets & McFlurry.  You combine ol’ Mike’s penchant for destroying the LGBTQ community with The Donald’s desire to expel 12 million people from this country.  The imagination runs wild.  A reporter, pundit, advocate, that I greatly respect, Rachel Maddow, was asked what she would put to Donald Trump if he were ever courageous enough to do an interview with her.  Her response sent chills down my bones and made this possibility all too real.  She said she would ask him, “Will I, or any of my friends, be winding up in camps?”  the fact that something so heinous, so evil, so Third Reich, is even a question that someone would be eager to ask.  

He may not try to put gay people into camps.  He may never be able to deport 12 million people.  But when the leader of the free world puts that type of energy out into the universe, it tends to feed certain things.  It feeds the ignorance and hate of people who live to destroy LGBTQ lives.  It feeds the rage and indignation of the White Supremists. People who thrive on hate and ignorance tend to feed from the necrotic disease that is hate speech.  They gain a bolder posture when they think that the President of the United States supports them.  They pursue more provocative actions.  So, no, a President Trump may never put all of the gays in camps.  He may never send 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the country.  But his rhetoric, his posturing, his very tweets, feed the beast that is hate.  Hate groups will feed on it.  You will see a rise in hate crimes. You will see a rise in overt discrimination.  You will see your country and your government turn against you.  That’s not what this country is.  It’s not who she was meant to become.

So now I plea with you.  Take a stand.  Be more proud now, than ever!  Stand shoulder to shoulder with your LGBTQ brethren.  It’s when we stand strong and stand together that we can accomplish anything.   We achieved equality in a brief 40 years. We lost many people over that time.  People who fought and died for the freedoms and ease we so treasure today. The Matachine Society.  The drag queens at Stonewall.  Harvey Milk and his people in San Francisco.  The fight against HIV/AIDS. The fight for protection from discrimination.  The fight for marriage equality.  Our community was born by fire.  We have ran the gauntlet and emerged from the other side stronger, with pride, and love.  All of these fights.  All of the people we lost along the way.  This all leads us to now. 

Today I call upon all LGBTQ people.  I call upon our allies.  I ask you to rise up.  I ask you to take notice.  I ask you to fight. Fight not only for your rights, fight for the rights of our entire community.  Separately we can make noise, and get noticed.  Together… Unified… Speaking with one voice. We will not only be noticed.  They will have to listen to us.  They will hear us demand social justice.  They will hear us chant for equality.  They will see us stand our ground.  See our courage and conviction.  We, as a community, are capable of so much.  So much good.  The agents of positive change. And now is the time.  

Will you stand with me?  Stand with me against the coming tide of injustice?  If you’re reading this and you don’t live near us, get your community to stand up.  If we rally our communities, stoke the fires of courage, and make our stand.  We will make change.

Thanks for reading!  If you would like to contact me directly, you can do so at scott.dbq@gmail.com.  I would love to hear your comments, or critiques.

Again, thanks for reading…  Until next time!!

Q