I realize there were extreme\u00a0elements behind Trump. \u00a0I realize he played up to them. \u00a0I realize there were extreme elements behind Clinton. \u00a0I realize she played up to them. \u00a0I realize both of those extremes are going to react in inappropriate ways. \u00a0For the Trump followers, it will be seen\u00a0on tweets, and social media, and dark corners of the blogosphere\u00a0with the occasional breakthrough on cable news. \u00a0For the Clinton followers, it will be in those areas as well, but it will also find its way into mainstream venues and outlets, pundits dressed as comedians and radicals not identified as such by the media despite the obvious.<\/p>\n
For those who hope the best for the country, admit it. \u00a0I cringe at what I\u2019ve seen some Trump supporters say on Facebook and other sites. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen some deplorable images. \u00a0I\u2019ve seen some hateful rhetoric \u00a0But I see it from the Left just the same. \u00a0And again, as I\u2019ve said before, that rhetoric of the Left doesn\u2019t always come through the same because it appears to have the imprimatur\u00a0of social acceptance since it can find its way into mainstream outlets.<\/p>\n
But reject that. \u00a0Especially believers who would set an example. \u00a0Call it out, sure. \u00a0If you see something terrible, say so. \u00a0Knowing Patheos, I\u2019ll focus on the meaner elements to the Left of center since I have no doubt others will be diligently scouring the culture to find those nasty elements to the right of center. \u00a0But never pretend that proves anything. \u00a0It only proves what the Faith has long proclaimed, that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.<\/p>\n
Instead, look at why this happened. \u00a0Listen to those who are hurting \u2013 on both sides. \u00a0People are scared. \u00a0On both sides. \u00a0Don\u2019t dismiss them. \u00a0Sure, they should behavior with respect and lawfulness, they need to be mature and bring their concerns to the table as adults. \u00a0But listen. \u00a0And find ways to come together, to make sure the worst elements of this long, agonizing campaign don\u2019t manifest themselves in either party, or in any branch of government.<\/p>\n
If we truly value other things than partisanship, we\u2019ll do just \u00a0that. \u00a0We can disagree, we should. \u00a0We\u2019re not a dictatorship. \u00a0 I think one of the big backlashes we saw on Tuesday was the growing notion that one side had seized the reigns and, with a sympathetic media, was simply bypassing traditional procedures in order to impose its values on the nation. \u00a0Even those who sometimes agreed, if those I personally know indicate anything, were getting a little worried.<\/p>\n
So call out the extremes, find common ground, come to the table to discuss differences, and of course pray. \u00a0For non believers, at least hope. \u00a0And remember it\u2019s not just us that we struggle for, it\u2019s our posterity. \u00a0Something our Founding Fathers were so keenly aware of, they put it in the Preamble of the Constitution. \u00a0If nothing else, we owe it to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice by putting aside their differences and biases so the rest of us wouldn\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I realize there were extreme\u00a0elements behind Trump. \u00a0I realize he played up to them. \u00a0I realize there were extreme elements behind Clinton. \u00a0I realize she played up to them. \u00a0I realize both of those extremes are going to react in inappropriate ways. \u00a0For the Trump followers, it will be seen\u00a0on tweets, and social media, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2805,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musings"],"yoast_head":"\n