1776.
The American Revolution is over and the seeds of democracy have taken sprout. The new government, the government that American colonists had fought so hard for the right to develop, had finally laid a democratic foundation upon which it could begin the construction of what many believe is the great country in the world.
1800.
American Democracy is at risk. Partisan tensions between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists have been growing. Such tensions have been ripping friendships and families apart, this kind of political divisiveness has not been seen since the inception of American democracy. An election between candidates Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson that led to a tie, resulting in a decision from the house of representatives making Jefferson the next president. Although some thought this decision would lead to the destruction of the hard earned Democracy, there was nonetheless a peaceful transition of power from Republican John Adams to Federalist Thomas Jefferson. Despite there being a monumental lack of trust form both the Federalists and Republicans in the opposing party's ability to govern the nation with honesty and justice, both stayed true to the belief that what mattered above all else was the preservation of the republic, because without that principal their democratic voice was lost.
2016.
In the third and final presidential debate moderator Chris Wallace posed a difficult question to Donald J. Trump, he said, "Your running mate Governor Pence pledged on Sunday that he and you, his words, will absolutely accept the result of this election. Today your daughter Ivanka said the same thing. I want to ask you here on the stage tonight, do you make the same commitment that you'll absolutely accept the result of the election."
Trump responded, "I will look at it at the time. I’m not looking at anything now, I'll look at it at the time."
After Wallace attempted to explain to Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump the significance of the peaceful transition of power throughout the history of U.S. democracy, even after a hard-fought election, Trump continued, "What I’m saying is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense, okay?"
Since when are the results of a democratic election subject to the approval of a tyrannical white billionaire man? I'm sorry but it is my understanding that Americans stopped being ruled by a King in 1776.
American democracy is built upon one transcendental principal; the notion that no matter how vicious the campaigns are, no matter how untrustworthy the candidate is, no matter how the "silent majority" feels, the results of the Presidential election held every four years, are final. The election results are the sole voice of American democracy, when they become subject to the approval of one person our democracy is rendered meaningless.
Trump's comment is not only an affront to those of us who still truly believe in the Democratic principals held since our nations inception, but to the brave men and women who have died protecting the will of the people, individuals who would rather lay down their lives than see that Democracy they loved so much be held hostage by anyone other than the constituents it serves.
Donald J. Trump makes mention of Hillary Clinton's scandalous emails every opportunity he gets (and don't get me wrong he has the merit to do so, they were scandalous), but what Donald Trump said when he said the results of the election were subject to his approval alone, is treason. It is treason to not only propose the notion that he is going to do anything other than peacefully concede the presidency to the winner of the ELECTION, but it is also treasonous to pose this thought in the minds of millions of unaware follows of him who now are ready to incite violence nationally in the name of seeing their treasonous leader grasp the presidency with his small hands.
You see, Donald Trump is not like the rest of America. He is a billionaire who evades taxes, a self-declared sexual predator who takes pride in being able to grab women unsolicitedly by their genitals and start kissing them, he is a misogynistic man who is okay with calling his opponent a "nasty woman" in front of America on a national platform, he is a political outsider who does not understand that in order to be president you need to know what day the election is, and lastly Donald Trump is a treasonous threat to everything that America stands for, someone who is okay with calling the election rigged unless of course he is declared the winner.
Americans know that our most sacred possession is our voice, and this is something we have always known. Americans knew it in 1776 when we declared our independence from those who would seek to silence us. Americans knew it in 1800 when even after a vicious political cycle Americans overlooked the differences they had and peacefully passed the Presidency to some who many Americans hated. Americans knew it in 1920 when women finally secured their right to vote. Americans knew it in 1965 when African Americans secured the right to vote. Americans know their voices matter, they knew it yesterday, they know it today, and they will know it come November eighth.
As Thomas Jefferson said in his first inaugural address, “every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.” Everyone has different opinions that stem from their different experiences, but the one principle that every American agrees on is that we refuse to be silenced.
Let's make sure that Donald J. Trump knows this November eighth that we refused to have our voices ignored.
