As most rational Americans knew before he even got elected, our dear President has only driven us farther apart and made our nation the world’s laughing stock. Sure, he may be freshly blunt, do great things for the economy and what have you, but you have to admit he’s still the same greasy businessman he’s always been. His most recent shining moment, referring to numerous presumably third-world countries as “s***hole countries,” is yet another example of why our so-called “leader” needs a bit of enlightenment from one of history’s greatest role models and leaders, Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Sermons from his book Strength to Love, 1963

“Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” - Strength to Love, 1963

These two go hand in hand to address our President’s attitude towards people of other ethnicities and general opposition. His own apparent dislike and encouragement of violence only feeds those same desires in his followers and whoever else is dense enough to listen to him. It is the direct opposite of the Dr. King’s philosophy and is absolutely working against his dreams. Dr. King never promoted feeding fire with fire.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” - "Letter from Birmingham Jail,” 1963

You’d think the leader of our nation would want to promote justice and equality. Instead, he seems to be doing the opposite by attempting to prevent transgenders from joining our armed forces and not standing against nationalist groups.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” - Strength to Love, 1963

This one speaks directly to Trump’s character, or lack thereof, if you ask me. He is not and never will be the kind of individual our nation needs. He is not a leader; he is a puppet with loose strings and a loose jaw. He is not a good, wholesome, respectable man as he has proven time and again in just one year of presidency as well as beforehand.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

If only Trump could get this through his little head. I really don’t know how one harbors so much dislike and so much hate in oneself. It’s toxic to you and to those around you. It’s much easier to go through life forgiving people and being kind to one another than it is to be ugly. Plus, it takes so much less energy and creates so much less conflict. Anybody else had enough of the conflict we find ourselves surrounded by these days?

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” Strength to Love, 1963

Bam. This is one reason I was opposed to Trump showing his face at the opening of the Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi History Museum in Jackson last December. I’d bet my last dollar he knows next to nothing about the Civil Rights Movement or what life has been like in this state ever since. For someone who represents hatred, permissiveness, and evident disdain for those not of his own league to be present around such resilient figures and crusaders for equality was very upsetting. I’m just glad he stuck to his speech and was in and out in less than an hour.

Secondly, how can you expect reasonable women to respect and support you when you don't support them? "Grab 'em by the pussy"? Come on.

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.” “Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” 1963

Until Trump learns to stand up and fight for what this country stands for or someone else takes his place, the country founded by immigrants and people of all different backgrounds will never know peace or justice.