Let the record show that I did not consent to this.
Let it show that I did not vote for this man, that he did not represent me, that I did not believe he was deserving of being here, that I grieved his ascension, that I resisted his ugliness.
Let History record my objection to him, to the ways he humiliated women and vilified Muslims and threatened protestors and disregarded people of color.
Let it record my repulsion at his tremendous cruelty, his lack of compassion, his contempt for dissension, his absence of simple decency.
Let witnesses mark down my disgust at the way he boasted of infidelity, at how he ridiculed a disabled reporter, at the way he attacked female opponents for their appearance, at the way he marginalized immigrants.
Let it be remembered that I did not look the other way when women accused him of assault, when the reality of his Russian alliances came to light, when he refused to share his tax records—though large portions of the American media and its people chose to.
Let it be remembered that I did not buy into the fear that he perpetuated of those with brown skin or hijabs or foreign birthplaces.
Let the record show that I looked on with disbelief as he spent countless early morning and middle-of-the-night hours following the election on social media, broadcasting a steady stream of petulant, insecure, incoherent messages instead of preparing to do a job he was ill-equipped for and seemingly not all that interested in.
Let the record show that I watched him assemble a Cabinet of billionaires and bigots, of people woefully unqualified to steward our children, our safety, our healthcare, our financial stability—and that I was horrified by it all.
Let it be remembered that my faith would not allow me to fall in line behind this man while so many professed religious people did; that I saw nothing resembling Jesus in him, and that to declare him Christian would have been to toss aside everything I grew up believing faith in Christ manifested in a life.
Let History record my grieving at the racism and bigotry and homophobia that characterized his campaign, marked his supporters, and is evident in his assembling Administration.
Let it be known that I was one of the more than 65 million people who voted for Hillary Clinton; who understood that though not perfect, she was an intelligent, experienced, passionate public servant with the temperament, commitment, and qualifications to lead and lead well.
Let the record show that I greatly lamented the day of his inauguration, and that I promised to join together with other good people to loudly resist and oppose every unscrupulous, dangerous, unjust and dishonest act this new Administration engages in.
History has been littered with horrible people who did terrible things with power, because too many good people remained silent. And since my fear is that we are surely entering one of those periods in our story, I wanted to make sure that I was recorded for posterity:
I do not believe this man’s actions are normal.
I do not believe he is emotionally stable.
I do not believe he cares about the full, beautiful diversity of America.
I do not believe he respects women.
I do not believe he is pro-life other than his own.
I do not believe the sick and the poor and the hurting matter to him in the slightest.
I do not believe he is a man of faith or integrity or nobility.
I do not believe his concern is for anything outside his reflection in the mirror.
I believe he is a danger to our nation.
I believe he is a threat to our safety.
I believe he is careless with our people.
I believe he is reckless with his power.
I believe America is less secure, less diverse, less compassionate, and less decent under his leadership.
Right now I am worried for my country, concerned for our planet, scared for the future of my children, and greatly saddened that 62 million Americans seem okay with all of this.
Let the record show that I was not okay with it.
Not at all.
Order John’s book, ‘A Bigger Table’ here.
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For a pastor, you seem very self-focused. Count how many times you used the word “I” in your latest blog post. In my King James Bible, the one who used “I” the most is actually Christ. At least, that’s my take. Why are you so politically bent, and solely focused on this Pres.? Shouldn’t you be out caring for your flock? Ensuring THEY ARE OK with your self-declared political Hell-on-Earth? Stop making this about you. Or don’t, but then stop using the term pastor to describe yourself. Use political activist instead.
If a person writes from their own perspective about how they feel and what they personally believe, what other pronoun would you suggest they use? When you speak of your own beliefs and opinions, please share with everyone which pronoun you would choose to use in lieu of “I”? Are there other, better options?Moreover, “activists” come from all walks of life. One can be an activist and a teacher, engineer, lawyer, custodian, chef – anything. Furthermore, you use the word “activist” as if it is bad to be an activist, or an inherently “liberal” condition. Anyone seeking governmental policy changes could be considered an “activist.” The conservative “Tea Party” under the Obama administration were “activists.”
Prophets have railed against evil leadership from Moses to Jesus Christ. You obviously are white, middle class and comfortable. Do you not recognize righteous indignation and its essential role in restoring godliness?
“See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/2co.7.11.niv
Hey R. Jones, why aren’t YOU out curing cancer and fighting illiteracy instead of commenting on this blog post? Oh, because a single post online doesn’t count for all that anyone does – that’s right. That’s exactly what makes your questions to John misguided. One of the absolute worst ways to challenge someone’s actions is to ask “well why aren’t you doing THIS?” Should people who donate to fight breast cancer be ashamed that they aren’t donating to fight pancreatic cancer? “Shouldn’t you be out caring for your flock?” My guess is he is. He’s just sharing his concern for the state of our country, and how Donald Trump has contributed to that scary situation. He’s speaking out. He as the right. So do you. So do I.
I was thinking the same thing reading this. Pavlovitz seems to have a incredibly bloated sense of self-importance, as if history cares about what he thinks about anything, or that he will even be remembered in history. Pavlovitz comes across as extremely narcissistic, and quite honestly, reminds me very much of the man he so hates: Donald Trump.
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Haters will hate, all the while enjoying and reaping the benefits of our improved economy and relations with foreign countries. I voted for this man, I believe in this man. No…he is not perfect…none of us are…but he is the man America needs at this moment in time.
I agree with most of what you have said and opined. As Christians and as clergy, it is important that we speak out in the tradition of the Prophets, with the example of Christ and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As we are still in human form, as Paul said, we see things imperfectly but someday we will see things without the distortion our human forms and intellect entail. Until that time, let us speak with love and with courage asking for guidance and adhering to the spiritual disciplines we have accepted.
Let the records also show that MY President has brought about the lowest unemployment rate in a generation. Let it be known that the economy is the strongest in my lifetime. That he has secured the release of over 50 pastors and missionaries from prisons around the world. That he has rolled back dozens of what I believe were illegal executive orders by the previous administration. That he has protected or strengthened American industry through renegotiating lopsided treaties and trade agreements. That he didn’t bow to world leaders. That he is loved by the troops. That he has given us at least two conservative members of SCOTUS and maybe more to come. That he revealed the unnecessary waste of government during the shutdown because it had no real affect on anything except when the TSA finally cramped up the airline industry 35 days later. I was like you. I was proud to say I didn’t vote for Trump. I thought he was a joke. I thought he was going to be ineffective. I didn’t like his attitude. The only thing I was right about was his attitude. I WILL BE VOTING FOR TRUMP IN 2020!
I felt the same way about obama. So what? Nobody cares. Get over yourself.
Let the record show……I DID VOTE FOR HIM, and the country is better today than in previous administrations…….”much better” let the record show that this president has kept everyone of his promises, which guarantees his bid for 2020……MAGA!!!!
Aye, his decrements to every measure of our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are too numerous to chronicle, but I feel every one.
The digging out from under this pike of excrement will be long and arduous.
Whether successful or not