Reflections on the Election of Donald J. Trump - The Ends Justify Any Means
I understand and respect our American democracy and the sovereignty of God. However, our American electoral process is not only subject to the will of God, but much more to the will of the people. Also, the will of people is not entirely influenced by God. People are influenced more by truth or untruth. People are also influenced by their fears, their perceptions, their prejudices, by a wish to preserve their "way of life" as they perceive it, as well as many other influences. There are also darker forces at work. For example, a KKK rally was held in North Carolina on November 9 to celebrate the election of Donald Trump.
A majority of the majority population (63% of white male vote and 53% of white female vote), along with many others, wanted to assert themselves in this election especially after having an African-American president for eight years who, among the many very good things President Obama has done and in providing a great example of personal integrity and marital-family fidelity, promoted a dramatic shift towards making acceptable what many people find objectionable. In my opinion, this was a big mistake by President Barack Obama that many people feared would continue under Hillary Clinton.
(Other Trump vote total demographics: 81 percent of white evangelicals, 8 percent of the African American vote, 28 percent of the Hispanic vote and 27 percent of the Asian-American vote)
While most voters recognized that president-elect Trump was not qualified to be president, he was the only candidate in this binary election who represented how they felt, harnessed their anger/fear, and would represent their interests.
This election also revealed a profound double standard and reinforced the power of cultural privilege. Barack Obama, or almost every other person, would never be allowed to "get away" with saying and doing the things said and done by Donald Trump, past and recent. We learned that, for some, the ends justify any means. This is not a new phenomenon and history is replete with examples. Nonetheless, this is something I thought we had moved past in our nation. I had confidence that the electorate would not vote en masse for Donald Trump in light of his public and private behavior. I've rarely been so disappointed to be proven wrong.
It is now our patriotic duty as American citizens to always be respectful, prayerful and supportive of our presidents, even from a position of loyal opposition if necessary.
It is most unfortunate that this patriotic duty and respect was not afforded to President Obama by many citizens and political leaders who politically and personally undermined him, including the president-elect.
These realities govern my thinking and behavior:
The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without plowing the ground. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will. (Frederick Douglass)
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