Just My Opinion, Probably not so Humble

For the first time ever I’ve been interested in all the activities surrounding the change of presidents. I’ve never before bothered to watch inaugurations, listen to speeches, watch the parade and view the National Prayer service. Once a president took office I went on about my daily life and whatever news came to me then I was content. Not this time. I’ve watched so many newsy videos, listened to the actual swearing in of the new president, watched clips of his inaugural speech, watched the full video of his talk to the CIA, and numerous other videos and news commentary surrounding this change of leadership.

 

There are videos of the protests, videos of the anti-Trump people who were in Washington for the event, videos of Trump supporters, and the inaugural events, his first activities and actions the first couple days in office. Way too much for one person to take in so I had to select what I viewed.  I can’t say I watched the best or the worst.  But, I get the distinct impression that the new president wants to have a reconciled and united population. The people who do not like the new president seem to have a truly irrational fear of him. He’s being called all kinds of things that I don’t see in the man based on the things I’ve watched and listened to in his speeches and watching him in the various settings these last couple days.

It seems to me that the media portrayal during the campaign has completely consumed people and they are not listening to the truth, to the facts, to what the man is saying. He offers an olive branch and his detractors run it through the wood chipper without even a passing interest in it’s meaning. He tells the people that he will make decisions that are for the country, for the people and that he will not fail the people or the country. Those are lofty words and I hope that he is able to do that. If the left does not go totally bonkers and the congressional representatives the people have voted in will cooperate with him, then maybe he can. Certainly, he’s called upon God to be a guiding force in the nation. That in itself gives hope to people of faith, people who call themselves Christians, maybe even those of other faiths, though somehow I am skeptical of that.  The detractors, anti-Trump people, are the ones who have been displaying hate through violent acts. One does not win others over to their side or even gain tolerance from the other side through acts of violence. That turns people off who do not agree with you. People spout on about intolerance but their very behavior is intolerant. Tolerance only for their opinions, any other seems to be intolerant. Does not matter which side left or right, tolerance isn’t a one way street. It has to run both ways. The first Amendment of our Constitution guarantees our freedom of speech to express opposing views.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”  

On the other hand I also see some apparent Trump supporters who post comments on social media that are inflammatory as well. Calling for actions against people who have voiced their opposing opinions that are also violent in nature. They don’t seem to be bodily attacking the left but in words. I don’t know, I haven’t seen any news on actual physical violence from the right. It may have happened but it isn’t in the news I’ve seen either mainstream or alternative.  In any case we have freedom to peaceably assemble, but it seems that some of these assemblies are not peaceable.

I am praying for a peaceful unity of all people in this nation. Natural born citizens, naturalized citizens,  and legal immigrants. I agree that illegal immigration is a problem. A complex and not easily resolved problem. There are adults who immigrated illegally and our laws appear to allow for those born here to have citizenship; so there are children of illegal parents who themselves may be legal citizen by birth. I’ll have to do a bit more research on this since the government web site on citizenship does not make it clear whether a baby born in the US to illegal immigrant parents is “subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.” In any case you have children who may be allowed to stay and parents who would be deported. I think it is a complex issue. We need to come to some peaceful and reasonable determination on that subject. But for the rest, illegal immigrants, if given amnesty undermines the legitimacy of legal immigrants have gone through all the legal requirements to live and work here. To not deport illegal immigrants is unfair to the law abiding immigrants.

The country has fallen into a mess politically, economically, and socially. Only through God can he really clean up the mess and if about half of the people don’t want to get cleaned up then the new president is going to be striving the entire time to achieve his goals and the goals of about half the people for this country who support him.

God bless us as we move into a new era for our nation. An era where the leader is not your typical entrenched establishment politician. An era where there is hope for a brighter future by many and fear of the unknown for many others. An era in which we strive to become a united people with diverse beliefs. An era in which I personally pray for the prophesied revival in our land. May this nation become a great nation, under God, again.

Blessings,

Grandma Peachy

 

P.S. Watching the inaugural parade I noticed that ten year old Barron Trump was bored for much of the parade, however, when the Rural Tractor Brigade from our nearby community of Elkhorn, NE and the Viet Nam Helicopter Veterans with their helicopter went by his interest peaked. He’s a typical boy and I found it endearing. Chronic grandma here.