Acceptance

My Message to my good friend, The Doctor*:
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I’m better now. This was a lot to process. I assume your friend Nick had called the Silent Trump voter, the uneducated Whites in the typically Blue rust belt, including Northern MN, that were hearing the things they wanted to hear to become emboldened for that ‘drain the swamp’ outsider infusion. Of course, what we are finding out is President Elect Trump has surrounded himself with establishment types that may not give those voters the large swath of change they were voting for.

President Elect Trump has already moved to the Left on ACA, now pledging to retain key parts of the legislation, specifically coverage for pre-existing conditions and allowing young adults to remain on their parents policies. But there are also concerns that he will follow through on his Wall through Executive Order, bypassing congress, while projected SoS Newt Gingrich is talking about returning to Macarthyism with the reconstitution of the Committee on UnAmerican Activities. That should be a concern for all.

And of course there is the Supreme Court. A seat Constitutionally stolen by the Right. This precedent is alarming as the very Party that claims to unconditionally support our founding document completely ignored their obligation for political reasons. That’s rough stuff.

But the other revelation I have made over the last few days is our difference in perspectives. I have no problem empathizing with your work, your socioeconomic environment and your upper middle class concerns. But I believe that you may be less able to empathize with what I see, witness and experience in my everyday life. Living in the inner city and working at a public school. I saw first hand the fear and concern from kids, kids who should always feel safe, now wondering if they are going to be shipped back to where they came from or if investments into their future will be dried up. Tears, literal tears from these children and some adults at the unknown facing them in this new normal. A new normal that includes a hate filled bigoted swath of Americana. This swath of citizens has remained silent, and was the group not seen in the polls, not acknowledged by the Clinton Camp, and ignored by the media. But through Mr. Trump's rhetoric they have become emboldened to come out of their shells. Scary stuff that the President Elect must smother immediately if there is going to be any hope for unity

I hope you realize that I obviously do NOT include you in this group. I see you as a member of the typical GOP base, with basic expectations of hands off government, social liberty, and low taxes. Three aspects of the rational GOP that I also subscribe to.

On the grief track I have made it to acceptance. I accept our process for choosing a leader; I accept the outcome of the election; I acknowledge Donald Trump as the next President of the United States; and on January 20, 2017, I will proudly honor my tradition of replacing the photo in my Presidential frame, with the newly inaugurated office holder

Here’s to healing, to our future, and to a hope that North Korea doesn’t do anything stupid.

Love you brother!
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*To be clear, The Doctor, a good moderate Conservative, neither supported nor voted for either major party Nominee

Flash