As we are daily bombarded by the latest Trump manufactured crisis du jour, it becomes increasingly difficult to remember next Tuesday’s election is a referendum, not on any single issue, but on the 2016 presidential election and the first two years of the Trump administration. It is for that reason I chose the title for today’s post.
But first a little history. The phrase “Lest We Forget” has it origins in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 4:7-9 to be exact.
7For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy son’s sons ….
Today, it is often used on commemorative occasions in remembrance of the sacrifice of those who perished in times of war and, of course, the fate of six million Jews during the Holocaust.
It would be easy to apply the phrase to the 11 congregants who died at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh or the two victims of the Kroger shooting in Kentucky or the targets of pipe bombs who escaped death or injury. However, my decision to use this terminology is not in reference to the untimely demise of any human being. Instead, I ask you to think about different casualties, the normalcy and values which have guided America for almost a quarter millennium. Below are just a few ways, Donald Trump has tried, and on occasion succeeded, in invoking his alternative version of the founding fathers’ vision for America.
LEST WE FORGET…the country is led by an individual who has such disregard for the foundations on which this country was conceived, he believes the Constitution can be superseded by an executive order.
LEST WE FORGET…candidate Trump insulted the bravery of members of the armed services belittling the pain and suffering of an American POW who chose to stay with his fellow captives rather than use his father’s position to skip to the head of the line.
LEST WE FORGET…the commander-in-chief, just today, told the nation he has authorized the troops he is sending to our Southern border to open fire if confronted with refugees throwing rocks.
LEST WE FORGET…authorized the kidnapping of children from parents who sought asylum from political persecution and violence in the native countries and has failed to comply with a court order to reunite all the families.
LEST WE FORGET…faced with what could have been deadly domestic terrorism, chose not to condemn the terrorist, but went after the press because their coverage diverted attention from his rallies and messages of hatred.
LEST WE FORGET…given the opportunity after Charlottesville to remind Americans white supremacy and antisemitism have not place in our democracy, gave cover to neo-Nazis and bigots.
LEST WE FORGET…personally dictated a false statement to cover up the true purpose of a meeting between Russian operatives, his son, son-in law and campaign manager.
LEST WE FORGET…took the word of a Russian dictator and former KGB director over that of our own intelligence community.
LEST WE FORGET…calls for the incarceration of his political opponents and critics.
LEST WE FORGET…believes the protection of a free press under the First Amendment applies only to those who agree with him.
LEST WE FORGET…continues to claim he has no financial conflicts of interest with foreign powers but will not provide the best evidence to prove his point, his tax returns.
LEST WE FORGET…calls others crooked when he is the one who ran a phony real estate school and has been fingered as an accomplice in the payment of money to silence an adult movie star and Playboy model.
LEST WE FORGET…he promised better, cheaper health care for all Americans but solely concentrated on repealing the Affordable Care Act with no viable alternative which would have deprived 20 million Americans of health care coverage.
LEST WE FORGET…he shames women and the disabled instead of showing them the respect they deserve.
LEST WE FORGET…Trump believes the federal Department of Justice and the attorney general are supposed to protect him from criminal investigations.
LEST WE FORGET…he has reversed any progress we have made to protect the environment going back to Richard Nixon’s creation of the EPA.
LEST WE FORGET…he champions due process for everyone except his imagined enemies, opponents and critics.
LEST WE FORGET…characterizes every domestic and foreign policy action which preceded him as failed despite the fact such policies have resulted in American economic and military dominance for 80 years.
The list could go and on. But, I will add just one more. LEST WE FORGET…next Tuesday’s election is our opportunity to, as the Old Testament states, “diligently keep our soul” and to say, “NEVER AGAIN!”
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP
Incredibly sad, reading this list. Crossing my fingers, and doing the most I can, to ensure a positive outcome on Tuesday. But — then what? Oh, my.
Thank you for keeping what’s really important in front of us and for doing what you can to bring a little sanity back to our beleaguered nation.
Been sharing this everywhere I can. Lot’s of folks, like Kathy and I, think it’s profound.