The Boomerang Effect
By now, we have heard Representative John Lewis' (D-Ga) view of the (il)legitimacy of the Donald Trump presidency. On Meet the Press, the Congressman told moderator Chuck Todd, "I don't see the President-Elect as a legitimate president." After explaining why, Mr. Lewis followed his unequivocal proclamation by adding he also would not be attending Mr. Trump's inauguration.
It came as no surprise the President-Elect could not let the pronouncement go unanswered. He tweeted, "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!"
To his credit, Mr. Trump seems to honor veterans, individuals willing to sacrifice their lives for the freedoms we enjoy. Many would say there are few freedoms more precious than the right to vote. In fact it was the right that has brought Donald Trump to the verge of being inaugurated the 45th president of the United States.
Long before Mr. Trump was a blip on the political radar, Congressman Lewis nearly sacrificed his life to ensure a long disenfranchised population could enjoy the right guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. This civil rights hero and last surviving speaker of the historic March on Washington gave his blood and suffered severe blows at the hands of those who should have been his protectors in pursuit of the right to vote. What Mr. Trump was obviously ignorant of is that Mr. Lewis' actions actually have produced "results" and greatly.
Mr. Trump goes on a twitter blitz because Mr. Lewis questioned the legitimacy of Mr. Trump's presidency when Mr. Trump spent nearly eight years promoting the myth...no the lie...that the 44th president of the United States was not a legitimate the president. How ironic?
Unlike the President-Elect, President Barak Obama did not stoop to name-calling when Trump said about Obama what Lewis said about Trump. Throughout President Obama showed class, restraint, and maturity. The more Trump attempted to delegitimize the Obama presidency, the more controlled President Obama exhibited.
This leads me to a few truths, I learned from my parents and my Sunday school class, truths I hope the President-Elect learns:
* For everything, there is a time and a season.
* There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent.
* What goes around comes around.
* People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
* Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
* It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
I could continue, but the message is clear. What we do to others has a tendency to come back to us in ways best summarized as "the boomerang effect."
Monday, January 16, 2016 7:30 PM
