The basic difference between what Trump and the Republican Party are pushing for and what progressives and liberals believe in and are pushing for can be summed up as a battle between hate and love. It’s hate that drives Trump to push an agenda that demonizes people who want to see the Israeli military stop killing Palestinian children and other innocent civilians. These protestors are acting with love, and Trump responds with hate. Americans of all parties receive loving healthcare support through the Medicaid program, but elected Republican are proposing cuts to that program so that they can cut the taxes of the wealthiest Americans — that’s a hateful policy. Under Democratic president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s new deal, Americans came together to rebuild an economy that had been decimated by the Great Depression — an economic crisis made by policies similar to those being pushed today by Trump and Republicans in congress. One has to ask, why do Trump and his Republican supporters choose policies that will harm so many Americans. How can they claim to love America while enacting policies that demonstrate so much hate for so many American people?
Let’s work together to find ways to restore American empathy. Empathy for our neighbors. Empathy for struggling countries around the world. Empathy for those who are disadvantaged.
Many of Trump’s supporters come from fundamentalist evangelical Christian churches — churches that claim to follow the teachings of Jesus. One of Jesus’ most famous teachings is captured in the Sermon on the Mount which starts with the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
These are words of love, and guiding principles for people of the Christian faith. Many elected Republicans (like Cliff Bentz, the congressman who represents Oregon District 2) claim to be believers in Jesus. Shouldn’t they be driven by the love Jesus teaches?