What do you mean "Time to Accept the Results?"

There have been lots of folks who are weary of the election season, who see the protests and complaints from those who voted for Ms. Clinton and over and over say "Just get over it." An Open Form in the Daily News Record yesterday (1/9/17) offered yet another plea that "Its Time to Accept the Results."  

The writer was responding to another Open Forum written on December 27, 2016 by Dr. Mwizenge Tembo, professor of Sociology at Bridgewater College who offered a very strong rebuke Mr. Trump and those who supported him in the past election. Comparing the political campaign of Mr. Trump to the behavior of an abusive spouse. He drew parallels between an abusive spouse and the way Mr. Trump bullied, lied, and used rhetorical violence to win the highest office in the land.

This writer used the same metaphor in response. Isn’t it also “spiteful” and “vitriolic?” Mr. Tembo’s metaphor is painful to think about but it effectively communicated the voice of those who believe that Mr. Trump disrespected, bullied and lied his way to the Presidency. It also voiced our concerns that many millions of Americans found his message appealing. Friends, there is real fear in the hearts of many Americans who voted for other candidates. Mr. Tembo used a metaphor that accurately described that fear.

Mr. Trump and those who voted for him will hear from all those who think he lied and bullied his way to the Presidency. They will be questioned often why they could support a person who uses his power and position to abuse the less powerful and the weak.  They will be questioned on why a wealthy and powerful businessman should be able to continue wheeling and dealing expanding a personal fortune. They will especially be questioned on why the levers of power should be handed to the wealthiest, most privileged persons on earth who have never served the public and who have always and only worked to build their own wealth and power.

We can’t get over this until at least a modicum of respect returns to the political debate, we  repudiate the “ends justifies the means” and show less dependence on excess outrage. We can't get over this until we stop referring to "mainstream Americans" and then everyone else. We can’t recover from this long, ugly political season as long as the response to the fear is to “just get over it.” Meryl Streep said it best, 

“Disrespect invites disrespect, violent incites violence. And when the powerful use their position to bully others we all lose.”

More work to do...