The last two editions of the Sun City West Independent have the Opinion section inundated with a child-like devotion, not to our country, or the ideal of democracy. The letters haven’t been celebrating the blessings of our great republic. No, the letters are filled with generalities, misinformation, and unadulterated worship for an individual, a former reality star whose list of business failures and fraudulent behaviors are coming home to roost. They are lauding a man who faces four criminal cases (indictments) and 91 counts against him.
Grand juries, made up of ordinary citizens like you and me, determined that there is enough evidence against Trump for a trial. And yet, the fan club continues to parade through our lives with misinformation and denial, ignoring the unsavory, fraudulent, and illegal actions of the man.
He has been accused of rape, stealing monies from his own charity, running scam organizations such a Trump University, providing hyperbolic renditions of his worth with the intent of appropriating loans that he would not otherwise be entitled to, and other activities. He has threatened the security of our country, not just by taking classified documents, which if he had just returned would not be an issue; but by refusing to return them to the archivists and also using them to bolster his “importance” amongst the Mar-a-Lago Club members and leaders from other countries. His supporters, facing the same circumstances, would not be treated as kindly as he has been by the Judicial branch.
This branch has made every attempt to accommodate his bullying rants and declaration of witch-hunts, all in the face of unquestionable facts and evidence.
Some of his followers may not know the details of all of this because they remain focused on biased cable sites whose sole purpose is to keep his flock in the dark. When I ask this group if they have watched the impeachments all the way through, read any of the formal reports, perused the indictments, or sought out more reputable sources, their answer is always the same. “I don’t need to do any of that because I believe what he says.” Balderdash, they just don’t want to have to think these complex things through and in some arrested development universe, have stopped all higher-order thinking. An informed citizenship deserves better than this man offers. Unless, of course, the reason for their support is simply because they see everything from a monetary lens. In which case, God help us all.
Our country’s success is built upon three branches of government; the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, each providing stopgaps to protect our fragile government from corruption and rot. Each branch is given the power to check the other two branches. Each branch has its own responsibility and power. It is a delicate dance of equilibrium, depending upon such characteristics as integrity, principles, and devotion to the Constitution. These three branches are the core of our Constitution and as patriots we are called to support those branches as they are the Constitution.
To be a patriot is defined as “people who strongly support their country and are prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.” Two words within this definition are of critical importance in defining patriotic behaviors. The first word, country, makes it clear that patriots do not support individuals, but rather ideals and principles. The whole of our Constitution is creating clarity regarding our ideals and principles. Nowhere is there a mention of idolatry for individuals. The second essential word is detractors, and this word is vital to understand. A detractor is “a person who tries to take away from the quality, value, or reputation of someone or something.” In other words, those who would disparage the workings of our three-prong democratic system and those suggesting that the Constitution is no longer working, are detractors. We have three branches of government and how those branches are formed is clearly outlined within the Constitution itself.
It’s time for Americans to grow up and be the patriots who strongly support their country and are prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors of the workings of the Constitution.
