Saving whose America?

The power grabs are coming from all directions now. Unprovoked war is raging in Iran. Gasoline prices are escalating rapidly. MAGA Republicans are gaining steam, realizing nobody is going to stop them

The “Save America Voting Act” has passed the House but is stalled in the Senate. Good thing. If you have read it, you see how it could disenfranchise large groups of people. Especially women and people of color.

This voter suppression act sows doubt in our elections, which have historically been very well protected and administered. Donald Trump and many Republicans are casting doubt, because Trump lost the 2020 election. Trump would do away with elections altogether to stay in power.

Free and fair elections are a foundation of democracy. Great lengths are taken to protect the process and ensure the integrity of elections in our country.

Most people have not balked at showing IDs as they get their ballot. Being drawn into the mix now is the issue of whether the name on your ID matches the name on your birth certificate and on your passport.

Call me crazy, but this bill appears to be a solution in search of a problem. There is no problem. This scheme is manufactured by paranoid sycophants to please a party of one: DJT.

The tyrant’s playbook includes casting doubt on democratic systems. People are gullible, not particularly well informed, and truth is fungible. Alternative facts are free flowing and unchecked.

A well-informed citizenry is fundamental to a functioning and effective democracy. That supposes people want a democracy. It is possible that democracy is no longer a primary goal of Americans?

The hope I see is in the “No Kings” protests that have grown in number and strength from the rallies of last year. A robust resistance giving witness to our civil disobedience is a healthy sign.

We are in the middle of this mess that many of us did not vote for. We have three more years of this. Can we survive?

To escape the reality of Trump’s awful presidency, we have been watching The West Wing, the entire series now shown on Netflix. A fictional President Jeb Bartlett brings morality, leadership, and a cast of competent advisors and assistants to guide the ship of state.

It is amazing to imagine the leader of the free world lead with clarity, honesty, and a moral center that considers the work he does “stewardship” of the democracy. Being an exemplar is not something Donald Trump has capacity to do.

It was fun to see Jane Fonda and Robert DeNiro speak at the rallies. Icons of resistance. Turns out Hanoi Jane was right about Viet Nam. We lost thousands of lives and billions of dollars with no clear victory in hand.

The mindset of war is foreign to me. War appears to be the marker of inability to negotiate a lasting peace.

At some point, the warmonger loses his capacity to fight. Age, dementia, frailty, loss of his peoples’ confidence contributes to the failure.  

I do believe this era of Trump will pass. I also believe it will leave indelible wounds on the America we love. We are no longer the “shining city on the hill” and have tarnished the legacy of a proud people in their quest for a more perfect union.

For one brief shining moment we led the world. We were respected as we gave hope and help to people around the globe.

It is hard for me to believe we could give this up so easily. Take voting seriously. Be loud in protest. Nothing can be taken for granted.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com