Whether you are happy or sad about America’s recent presidential election, it is now a moot point. Election events are settling down, and life is going back to normal for most people. Only time will reveal the repercussions of this election.
Watching the voting activities showcases the wide range of opinions and viewpoints being expressed by various groups, parties and peoples. Such myriad expressions are a foundational beauty that has long been a part of the US (and in many ways, inspired our very origin). People discuss, dissent, argue and vote differently, and are free to do so.
The concept of free speech is not new, and historically it’s led to a diverse range of outcomes. There is the absurdity of free speech- an example being LIFE (Legislative Initiative for the Environment)- a 1980’s spoof organization that satirically pushed for a fictitious initiative that animals wear clothes for decency’s sake (gaining supporters that misunderstood the farce). But there are profound results of free dissent- such as activists that finally helped pass the 1965 Voting Rights Act that banned discriminatory voting practices for all black Americans. Or suffragette leaders like Susan B. Anthony and others lobbying for a woman’s right to vote, with the 19th Amendment finally being passed in 1919. The sign-waving preacher on a street corner, striking union workers, pro-Palestinian activists, or media pundits and journalists are all part of America’s fundamental right to honest opinion, appropriate protest, and legitimate dissent.
So in light of this latest election, it would be very fitting for every citizen to closely follow the lives of any people that disagreed in any ways against Donald Trump’s run for the presidency. Call it a bellwether indicating the directions this election could take our country. Here’s a list of just a few dissenters:
Biden, Joe (President)/Bolton, John (former National Security Advisor)/Bush, George W. (former president)/Cheney, Liz/Conway, George (The Lincoln Project)/Esper,Mark (former Secretary of Defense)/Fiorina, Carly (2016 GOP Presidential candidate)/Harris, Kamala (VP)/Hutchinson, Cassidy (former aide to chief of staff Mark Meadows)/Kelly, General John (former Chief of Staff)/Kasich, John (former OH Governor)/Kinzinger, Adam (U.S. Representative)/Matthews, Sarah (former Trump aide)/Mathis,James (Marine general)/McChrystal, Stanley (Army general)/McRaven, Admiral William (former Navy SEAL)/Milley, Mark (retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)/Mullen, Mike (Navy Admiral)/Pence, Mike (Trump’s former VP)/Powell, Colin (former Secretary of State)/Raffensberger, Brad (GA Secretary of State)/Romney, Mitt (UT Senator)/Sanders, Bernie (VT Senator)/Schmidt, Steve (The Lincoln Project)/Smith, Jack (prosecutor)/Stavridis, James (Navy Admiral)/Stewart, Jon (comedian)/Wilson, Rick (The Lincoln Project)/Willis, Fani (Georgia DA)/Warren, Elizabeth (MA Senator).
These people are politicians, military, media, or private citizens- some even felt strongly enough to oppose their own political party. You may not agree with their opinions, but in the US we all have the right to our voice with few limits. Our country has always protected safe expression and speaking up without fear. It is critically urgent to continue to do so. All of us must guard against enforced silence.
These dissenter’s lives must be followed especially now- because Trump has repeatedly used language about being a vindicator or being “retribution.” Admittedly, these words were voiced in the context of helping his supporters who feel wronged and betrayed, but they are extremely loaded words for any leader to use. In his presidential victory speech, Trump vowed to heal the country, and hopefully he means it. Trump not choosing vengefulness is the best true test of his vow to heal.
Many fervently hope that there will be no unjust retributions on any of these or others- wanting badly for Trump to disprove any misgivings and indeed pursue healing for the country. But in any case, the American public needs to watch, make note, and speak up if unjust retribution of honest disagreement does take place. We should always be alert for any person in power that incorrectly persecutes criticism. Because the right to appropriately dissent with anyone is still a fundamental right that belongs to all Americans. If someone can be severely punished for honest dissent, each and every one of us can be too. Honest dissent is never to be confused with disloyal subversion.
“Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels- men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower)
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Catherine M. Shannon
Catherine M. Shannon has discovered that with retirement, dinner is now at 4pm. Since that leaves plenty of time in the evenings, she is writing more. Shannon has a retirement blog (https://www.my-gainfully-unemployed-retirement-blog.net) and is alsodoing freelance copywriting for an internet marketing service.
Most of these people at one time or another uttered the phrase “Trump is dangerous.” Nobody ever said why they believed this to be true other than he was a convicted felon. Who can take that seriously when it happened nearly 90 times? Now we see the cases wrapping up, disappearing. Other than Ms. Letitia, people are admitting there was lawfare involved, and the intent was to stop him from becoming President. Since that did not work, oh well, no sense in investing more time and money. A friend of mine who is liberal says she is “quite worried about Trump breaking the law even more when he serves, and wonders where the country is headed the next four years.” I responded to her as I will here: Conservatives felt the same burden under President Biden with his weaponization of the DOJ, the different treatment for President Biden because “he was old;” the 200,000 warrentless surveillance (section 702) searches, parents who spoke at school board meetings dubbed terrorists; 300,000 children who came across our border who can’t be found; the border crisis that has brought 11,000,000 illegal immigrants into our country; President Biden calling half the country “trash.”; Covid tyranny with lockdowns, ordering people to get vaccines, people losing jobs who refused; 70,000 fentanyl deaths, all while President Biden, VP Harris, and Head of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas were on TV telling us the border was secure; soaring food, gas, housing costs; the whole woke nonsense with men competing in women’s sports, going into women’s prisons, sharing female dorms; fires igniting around the world; Big tech and the media quashing information about Biden’s alleged criminal activities, etc., Don’t forget President Trump took office the first time without understanding how Washington operated and foolishly kept key personnel from the prior administration who then made it their mission to destroy him. That won’t happen a second time. You know what they say – “People will believe a lie until the evidence is so strong, they can no longer believe it.” That’s what happened in this election. To all those of you who believe Trump is dangerous, I think the evidence suggests we have been living under very dangerous circumstances for the past 4 years. The evidence further suggests Donald Trump is nowhere near as dangerous as the regime that will soon be departing the White House.