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.
No comments:
Post a Comment