By Michael Ellis
Freelance Writer
An old friend made a point of sending me emails during the campaign, boosting Donald Trump and belittling Hillary Clinton’s supporters. And while I’m grateful for a friendship of more than 60 years (we’re both 75), I’m weary of going back and forth on global warming, which he dismisses; the need for gun control, which he opposes; and the pervasive influence of sexism, which I don’t think he understands.
Those are givens in my world; they’re not, of course, in his. (He’s a father, like me, and eager to debate the changes we’ve seen in our lifetimes.) My answer has been to ignore his emails. I’m aware of the counter argument — if we don’t discuss our differences, how can we resolve them? — but for now, I’m not up to it.
I have no quarrel with the spirit of the president-elect’s Thanksgiving message, but I think it’s disingenuous to ask Americans to “move forward as one country, strengthened by shared purpose and very, very common resolve.”
There’s no shared purpose between those who see global warming as a threat and those who don’t. There’s no shared purpose between those who want to ease the burden of the poor and those who want to add to the bounty of the rich.
I believe in civility and co-operation when it’s possible, so I’m not interested in renewing the debate over the merits of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The election’s over, and whatever I think of Mr. Trump, he emerged as the winner (unless, of course, the recounts provide new information). My interest is in the call to unite and in whether that call reflects a spirit of honesty or even practicality.
We are where we are, and despite a willingness to co-operate when we can, our differences remain fault lines we still have to cross. (For what it’s worth, I would argue that most Republicans didn't even try to co-operate during Obama’s presidency.)
That said, although I have no plans to sing “Kumbaya” with those who deny the threat of global warming, I have no doubt that this country belongs as much to voters in red states as it does to those in blue states. But it’s also true that marauders are loose in our land. And while I have the strength, I will do what I can to resist them.