It's Me Again, Mr. Trump

                Your first test as president begins now. You successfully analyzed and exploited the fear of many people to win the presidency. They are now full of hope for their future because you won. In doing this, you also created fear among minorities, many women, and the LGBTQ community. Their fear is now overwhelming and they are already being victimized by your emboldened supporters.

                If you are serious about bringing this nation together – and we desperately need that – you must speak up immediately to reassure those groups that they are safe and that those who threaten them will be stopped. If you don’t do that, your presidency will be remembered as a failure no matter what else you may accomplish.

                I think you know that we cannot come together as a nation if minorities, women, and LGBTQ persons continue to be threatened or marginalized. You proved you are smarter than that by winning this election. Now give us all hope that we can work together to put America on a new path by speaking out immediately to reassure us all that your campaign words will not be the epitaph to your presidency.

                We need you to be successful in healing our country but you alone must make that possible. Good luck. I will be praying for your success.

Dear Mr. Trump

                Congratulations on becoming the 45^th President of the United States of America. You are now in a unique position to become the most inclusive, unifying president in history. You won election without becoming indebted to anyone.  You don’t even owe the party that nominated you. What a great opportunity to do what’s best for the nation rather than serve narrow interests.

                You can now choose from a smorgasbord of ideas to “make America great again.” You can bounce back and forth from the salad bar to the main dishes and even to desserts without anyone claiming you owe them. You can even fill your agenda tray from the left or right side! No president in recent memory has had those options.

                According to exit polling and individual county results, you won big in areas where blue collar workers are desperate for jobs and income. They voted for you out of fear but not fear of change. They made you president because they are afraid of the status quo. If you ignore them, you will be a one term president and the Republican party will be history.

                There is a way to give them what they need and help the entire nation at the same time. You go over to the left side and resurrect an idea of Bernie Sander’s. Put Americans to work rebuilding our transportation infrastructure. It provides jobs for the hard-working blue collar workers, helps business move goods from one place to another, enhances tourism, and improves the safety of every citizen.

                See what I mean about great opportunities to do something great and leave a wonderful legacy? This is just one example of all the great ideas out there and you have the opportunity to choose the best ones without worrying about donors or other private interests collecting IOUs.

                Your election was met with despair from our allies around the world. Reassure them by showing you realize the world is a smaller place than it was 50 years ago. We can’t isolate ourselves but we do have to strengthen America by taking care of our own.

                I am counting on the belief that you didn’t really believe many of the positons you took during the campaign. It’s OK to do what’s right even if you must admit you changed your mind. Think ahead 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years as you choose your priorities.

               Use your deal-making, negotiating, information-gathering skills to put together a to-do list that will be remembered as a promise-kept. Great ideas and great execution will, in fact, make America great again. Good luck! You earned this position – now earn our respect.

It’s Just My Opinion

                I always learn something when I am able to fully discuss an issue, or even a disagreement, with someone.  At the very least I learn where the real difference of opinion lies.  How is it possible for two people with the same information to come to drastically different opinions?  The obvious answer is that opinions are based on who we are.  “Who we are”, of course, is a function of our past experiences, the people in our lives, the decisions we have made about our values, and even our DNA.

                Yes, I am one of those people who engage in “discussions” on Facebook.  Much of the time, I give up after one or two posts or when the personal attacks start.  Sometimes, those discussions stay respectful and civil enough that we find common ground.  When that happens, I become more aware of my own views and how they are formed.  In addition, the other person and I are able to start or strengthen a relationship which leads to agreement on other issues.

                Every year we seem less and less able to engage in civil discourse.  It’s more than an annoyance.  To me, discussing our views, especially our differences, is a fundamental element of our form of government.  I believe in the collective wisdom of an informed, thoughtful group of people.  I have grave concerns about American society today.

                Your opinion represents who you are.  It incorporates your values, your intelligence, your attitudes, your work ethic, and your genetics.  In short, your opinion is based on everything about you and you can’t dismiss who you are by shrugging and saying “It’s just my opinion.”

                When you express an opinion you have just made a statement about who you are.  You can’t take it back.  You can’t dismiss it.  You have to defend it, and explain it.  If you don’t you are denying everything about yourself.

                Form your opinions carefully and be sure they represent who you really are because everyone else will understand that they are connected.  Never dismiss yourself with “it’s just my opinion.”