For several reasons I haven’t posted a blog in a while, two of the primary ones being that I had shoulder replacement surgery three weeks ago and then contracted Covid.
I have recovered from the latter and am making a marvelous recovery from the former. That said, I have had time to do a lot of thinking, which is actually the third reason I haven’t written lately.
Thinking is a necessary discipline these days, but, given the political craziness of the moment, I have come to see just how dangerous it can be to your mental health.
Reading about a man in jail charged with killing his wife getting enough votes in a Republican primary to qualify to run for a seat on his Clinton, Indiana township board almost blew my mind.
But I confess that at this point I don’t understand anything about today’s Republican Party. It’s as if every Republican politician in the news has been drinking real crazy water.
Their oath of office is a pledge to work for liberty and justice for all, to ensure that everyone is treated equally and fairly under the law, but I am at a total loss as to how anyone can believe that the rhetoric, message, and actions coming from Republican politicians uphold that pledge.
It seems to me that just the opposite is the case, that they are determined to undermine any hope for our nation’s future.
And now it seems the Supreme Court is poised to further destroy its own credibility in the eyes of the American people by making a decision to overturn Roe v. Wade that reflects their politics more than their judicial acumen.
Most puzzling (and disturbing) are rank ‘n file Republican voters who continue to support people who are willing to say and do anything to get their votes. No wonder Republicans have all but forgotten what an oath of office actually means. They pay no consequences for their betrayal.
But here’s the fundamental question: To what end does any sensible Republican believe all of this is headed? Is their thinking so twisted that they believe destroying our democracy will affect only Democrats?
So egregious is their disregard for the welfare of the nation that I am tempted to hate everything about Republicans, their words, their actions, their disregard for common decency, and their apparent disdain for the fragility of our democratic institutions.
While I would argue that those feelings are a natural reaction to today’s Republicans, I know it would also say as much about me as them if I gave in to them. Hating Republicans would make me just like them because hate is what their words and actions express day in and day out. It is what is poisoning our politics.
Fortunately, during my time of recuperation and recovery I heard the awe-inspiring speech given by Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow that she ended by saying, “We will not let hate win.”
That was exactly what I needed to hear. Instead of hating, I heard the call not to let hate win, a holy calling, if you will.
Describing herself as a “white, married, suburban, Christian mother,” she was calling out her Senate colleague, Republican Lana Theis, who used Mallory as a foil in a fundraising letter, accusing her of “grooming and sexualizing children” for standing up against Theis and others like her for trying to marginalize the LGBTQ community.
Instead of hating her Republican opponent, Mallory chose to fight the hate she represented.
We will not let hate win. A simple, powerful message that spoke to me and millions of others who saw the video clip that went viral.
It touched us because it makes perfect sense. It is something everyone can do instead of becoming part of the problem.
The word hate means to possess a “passionate dislike” for something or someone, but here’s the thing. Hate has the power to possess the person who possesses it.
When that happens (1) it makes the speck in someone else’s eye look bigger while blinding you even more to the plank in your own; (2) it darkens your heart and soul to truth and to reasonableness; and (3) it skews how you see the real world.
Hate, it turns out, is a disease of the soul, curable only from the inside out, but sadly often does immense damage before healing can happen.
That is why it has to be resisted, stopped, exposed for the evil it is.
Joining Mallory McMorrow in refusing to let hate win is to unite in standing against a force that not only is trying tear us apart, but has the potential of destroying us as a society.
Amazingly, though, we are seeing the most unlikely of people coming together in the fight against hate. Not only is Mallory McMorrow in it, so are conservative Republicans Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
It is in fact bringing together liberals and conservatives, Democrats, independents, and disillusioned Republicans, anyone and everyone who tells the truth, believes the truth, demands the truth, and tries to live by the truth.
And I believe we will win, not solely because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the only thing we can do to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, so help us God.
linnposts.com 
Thank you! Forwarded widely.
Very sorry you have been dealing with medical stuff, but glad you are healing and getting your two cents out there! You are so articulate.
Best to you and Joy.
Thank you, Shari. I’m on the mend and appreciate the encouragement.
Well said, my friend! Prayers lifted for your complete recovery from surgery and covid. Please continue to help us give voice to the cause of truth spoken in love rather than hate!
I will keep doing my best, Jane, but every day it gets harder and harder because of what is going on.
I hear you, bro.
you are of course absolutely correct with regards to hating republicans, but damn it is so easy to hate these scum sucking pigs. I am working on it however.
Like Guy, I am having trouble not hating some of those ultra-conservatives who still support Trump and have no compassion for people in need in our nation and around the world! Your faith in goodness, Jan, is remarkable and keeps some of us from being totally consumed with hating the selfish and the evil among us! Keep up your wise counsel to all!
Bill Blackwell
I’m struggling right with you, Bill. It helps to be among family and friends.
I am feeling hopeful too Jan. The passionate spirit and explosive energy at the Supreme Court this week feels palpable that they have hit a nerve with all their hate. Being among the outraged is my happy place these days.
I knew you would be there, Dixcy. We simply have to keep fighting the hate that is all around us.
Thank you, Jan. So refreshing to read your blogs. Hate never wins; it just makes us just as dark as the “other side”.
It isn’t easy to resist hate, but it does indeed make us dark. Thanks, Kay.
Hi Jan,
Glad to hear you are feeling better. John Ramsey often reposts your blogs and I have greatly enjoyed reading them over the last year or more. Perhaps you remember me from Craig Springs and LC. Anyway, thank you for continuing to be an intelligent and thoughtful voice when there seem to be so few.
John Crank
I do, indeed, remember you, John. Thank you for following my blog and for your comment. Comments are always welcomed. Good to reconnect.
You present a tough but I think correct challenge, Jan. Hate can only make things worse but it sure is hard to watch what is going on with republicans and not at least get angry. I hang on to some hope that they can be defeated in their destruct goals but hope is hard to come by.
Wilbur, I think doing what is right is always difficult because it is right and wrong hates it so much it throws everything at it. But history suggests doing what is right ultimately triumphs. That’s our hope.
It was my near-namesake, Stanley Baldwin, 3 times our Prime Minister between the wars, who once said that: “A dynamic force is a terrible thing; in the end it may crush you, and it is not necessarily right”. Yes, I saw a news item about Ms McMorrow on Facebook recently, and I thought that her words were said not a moment too soon. It needed someone of her integrity and courage to ‘put on the brakes’, at times such as these, when cheap populism seems to have the upper hand.
To look back at the events of that first Easter, I think of Thomas, who wouldn’t believe in the resurrection until he saw and felt the wounds of the risen Jesus. In effect, Thomas was warning his fellow apostles of the dangers of being too hasty to get on a ‘bandwagon’, so I’m a little reluctant to be too harsh about his doubting.
I thought you’d like to know that at our healing service in St Cuthbert’s church yesterday, I made mention of you in our prayers.
Nigel. you make such a good point re Thomas. Had not thought about it that way before. Thank you, and also for remembering me in prayer.
Jan,
This excellent post brings even closer to mind what my Republican mother taught me from early on: Never hate anyone nor anything. This was a way of living for her and became for me. This makes it sound simpler than it has been, but her advice has stood me in good stead as I’ve navigated some rather difficult people along the way. All this appropriate for yesterday Mother’s Day.
Best wishes on your continuing recovery.
Cheerz!
Gene
Thank you, Gene.
Jan, I too want to express my empathy for your recent medical issues. And I am glad to hear of your improvement.
This important post of yours covers a number of issues, so very thoughtfully and articulately.
On Thinking: When I first joined IBM way back in 1968, I was handed a very conspicuous name plate for my new desk. Only this name plate did not have my name on it. It had only one word: “Think”. And, oh God, that is what I have been “trying” to do every day since. A lot has been written about “Thinking”. Here are just a few wise expressions from the classic book titled: “Change Your Thinking and Change Your Life”, by John C. Maxwell: 1. “Everything begins with a thought”, 2. “What we think determines who we are”, 3. “We can change the way we think”, and “Our thoughts determine our destiny”. And as you and I have discussed, “getting our thoughts out on paper” and becoming a “writer” or author, as you have so expertly become, creates clarity and practical perspective on today’s serious “circumstantial” issues.
On your fundamental question: I think we all agree that there are not many “sensible” or thinking Republicans left. And their end is not just aimed at “Democrats”. Their leadership and their constituencies are now “united” around the general current circumstantial nature of “white, male dominated superiority”. To them, “civil rights” is only defined by the eyes of the beholder!
And they appear ready to fight to the finish to protect this evil and hateful “way of thinking”.
But today’s circumstantial issues now require much more than “thinking” in order to overcome the “hateful” thinking, attitudes, behaviors and actions of “evil people” – of which there are many. “We Good People” find ourselves in the precarious position of having to succumb to the evil actions of these hateful people. We Good People are now “at the mercy” of these hateful people and we must now find ways to actually “take them out” in order to secure the kind of future of which we good people (the majority by the way) want to see for ourselves and our offspring. We tend to wallow in our “thinking” and in our political, philosophical and spiritual discussions, rather than step up to the task of taking appropriate actions on our wisdom and our thinking. As a result, evil people and hate-filled people appear to now dominate our political, philosophical and spiritual worlds. We must now quickly ask ourselves the question: “What are we going to do about it”, and actually “do something about it”.
I am reminded of what President Harry S. Truman (my father’s favorite president) did by dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yes, the consequences were disturbing, and I think about that often. But in “one significant act of goodness”, the war was in effect ended, it saved probably the lives of a million good people, it eliminated the despicable Japanese war machine, and it allowed the good people of Japan to create the kind of future “they” wanted for themselves and “their” offspring – which they did.
A possible action we good people might consider, is to immediately find ways to unite around a “Constitutional Coalition of Goodness” to save our democracy from these evil and hateful people. Democrats, Independents, Former Republicans, Current Moderate Republicans, The Youth of America, Religious, Non-Religious, Whites, Minorities and any other Americans with “goodness in their souls” must mount a unified campaign to oust these hateful and evil Republicans from America’s political landscape. We all must become catalysts for the change we so desperately desire. And we must succeed in this as we go to the polls in November of 2022, and then again in 2024.
We must replace their hatred, with our love of God, our love of self and others, our love of civility and humanitarianism, and our love of democracy and country!
Your final statement says it all: “And I believe we will win, not solely because it is the right thing to do, but because it is the only thing we can do to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, so help us God.”
John
John,
This is an excellent response to Jan’s equally excellent post.
Cheerz!
Gene
I agree with Gene’s comment about yours, John. Excellent response. I love the phrase, “Constitutional Coalition of Goodness.” That is one to remember and use. It may be the key to people once again being committed to “civility and humanitarianism” you suggest. Thank you for such a reflective response, John. I hope everyone will read it.
Thank you both for your comments. We cannot afford to lose this fight. John