The Politics Of War • Columnists telling us to settle down and unite

1. No American elected official is anything like Hitler, Stalin, or Mao. Claiming otherwise denigrates the tens of millions killed by those tyrants. And making these ridiculous comparisons exposes a lack of understanding of the constitutional guardrails that protect America from devolving into totalitarianism.
2. Power is shared among thousands of American leaders and whoever sits in the Oval Office is just one of them. If your candidate loses, be patient. Like a bus, another president will come along soon enough.
3. Breaking the law is always worse than saying mean things or holding controversial beliefs. In a republic, our elected policymakers decide what actions are bad enough to warrant prison. Everything else is just discourse.
4. Calling someone a name won't bring about the change you seek. It can cause ideological adversaries—and even allies—to write you off as unwilling to engage responsibly.
5. Your feelings aren't all that important. Neither are mine. Feelings change; facts don't. On any given topic there's only one truth but there are countless opinions. Know the difference.
6. Freedom of speech is meant to protect unpopular opinions, because a protestor carrying an "I love puppies" sign will never be arrested. When you set out to protect only the views you agree with, you'll be the most shocked of all when you're subsequently silenced.
7. Respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable. Our justice system must remain impartial, regardless of status or influence. That means that people attacking one kind of government building—like the federal courthouse in Portland Oregon—should receive the same level of prosecution and punishment as those who rioted at the Capitol on January 6.
8. Personal responsibility is foundational to a thriving republic. Everyone must be accountable for his or her actions and decisions, fostering a culture of integrity and self-reliance. There's no such thing as group culpability or group rights. The Declaration of Independence reminded us that our rights come from God, not because we're Americans, but because we're individuals made in his image.
9. Community cohesion is vital for societal stability. We don't always have to see eye to eye as long as we're looking in the same direction.
10. We're called to pray for both Joe Biden and Donald Trump and all our fellow Americans. Those who aren't the praying sort should release feelings of hatred for the opposition, if only in the hope that others will follow suit.

statistics: Posted by Regular Order — 11:28 AM - Today — Replies 1 — Views 38