THIS IS WHO WE ARE

 I have exercised an abundance of restraint over the course of the last several months. For a person who has maintained a writing vehicle that is part of the public domain, this has been especially challenging but I chose to not be one of "those people". For the most part, my personal views have been in the closet, my opinions, hushed in the name of better manners than I have observed, especially from those who were in the process of seeking office. Those who wanted desperately to be heard and respected for their opinions. Those who wished to represent the people of their communities, states and above all, this country.

 Lies. Backstabbing. Name-calling. 

Misogyny. Blasphemy. Homophobia. Ethnophobia. Cowardice. Prejudice. Judgemental. Hopeless. Uncaring. Rude. Criminal. Psychotic. Blasphemous. Despicable. Deceptive. Crude. Wicked. Mean. Cruel. Unjust. Dishonorable. Deplorable. Nasty. Ugly. Unfit. Unhinged. Uneducated. Bloated. Power-hungry. Childish. Moronic. Dumb. Dumber. Dumbest. Pajama-bottom wearing. Swearing.  Cursing. Disrespectful. Argumentative. Clueless. Harmful. Armed. Gutless. Felony. Rapist. 

Numb

They are "just" words. Aren't they? 

The morning after the election, we went for a ride to a favorite beach and we listened to the words of Jim Braude on GBH Radio. Jim is a highly-educated, well-spoken and highly credible program host. We know his political beliefs and we were eager to hear his first words following the catastrophe of the day before. What we did not expect was a cool, calm and collected Jim. Respectful. Polite. A different Jim.

From his mouth came the words that I had, myself, used several times since Donald Trump stormed the media. He artfully composed one very meaningful sentence which resonated. He used his words to summarize the results of the latest election. He didn't recite a diatribe. Instead, this is what he said.

"Folks, this is who we are"

Yes, my fellow Americans. This is who we are. There just aren't enough words to describe us and I have to thank Jim Braude for the accurate description of the people of this country. This is who we are. All of the above and oh, so much more. 

You voted. You spoke. You chose your words. And, to those who chose your new leader. Shut up now. You've already re-defined the vision of America and, sadly, the way we Americans will be perceived the world over.

This is who we (YOU) are.