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The 'Stay-at-Home' Protesters are NOT Patriots

Donald Trump is encouraging protesters who, defying stay-at-home orders, and ignoring social distancing guidelines, are gathering in front of some state houses, calling them patriots who are ‘liberating’ the states and the Second Amendment, and blatantly lying on national TV, saying that the demonstrators are practicing social distancing, when video of the gatherings show that they are not, that, in fact, few are even wearing masks.

     How, forget the lie, forget that these so-called ‘patriots/ are ignoring Trump’s own White House guidelines on social distancing, there is one point that must not be ignored. These people are not patriots.

     Many of them are angry and frustrated at being out of work. This is understandable. Many more, though, are using the situation to push agendas that have nothing to do with COVID-19 restrictions, such as gun rights, anti-abortion, etc. They are claiming Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly, while ignoring the danger they pose to their communities, ignoring the lawful orders of the governors, and thumbing their noses at the national guidelines.

     Patriots act to protect the public, not imperil it. Patriots are willing to sacrifice for the good of the nation, not whine about not being able to engage in their favorite pastime.

     By encouraging and verbally supporting them, Trump is not supporting Constitutional rights, he is doing what he frequently does, he’s pandering to his support base, in order to bolster his re-election chances, or even worse, just because he likes to create chaos and confusion.

     Whatever the reason, it’s not what the country needs from its chief executive in this time of crisis. We need vision, healing, and leadership, not lying, whining, and pandering.