Hate vs Love and its Consequences

Sitting here in God’s Waiting Room, it sure seems like there is a lot of hate flying around. Businesses being ransacked and destroyed, protests turning violent, politicians and ethnic people being killed at their home or workplace and the list goes on. It seems 99.9% of the hate is generated for political purposes.

Sadly, today elections have become about hatred and not the issues

Politics has changed dramatically in the last few years. It started shortly before I was in Congress. The high paid political consultants learned if you were not able to beat an opponent with the issues then destroy them personally.

During my race for the US Senate in Iowa, Incumbent Sen Harkin sent his goons to Texas where they tore through the record room in the Navarro County Courthouse looking for something to use against me. They could not find anything, so they took Nancy and my marriage certificate and changed the dates to make it appear our son was illegitimate.

They then passed out copies to the Iowa press.

The polls showed Harkin and me in a close race, with me beginning to take the lead. They knew a big block of my support came from the Christian community. Their goal was to drive a wedge between them and me.

Destroy my personal good reputation and Harkin wins.

As it turned out I was ahead of Harkin going into the weekend prior to the election. Then President Bill Clinton camped out in Iowa for the weekend. He occupied all the media in the state and energized the Harkin base. They all showed up at the polls on Tuesday.

Sadly, today elections have become about hatred and not the issues.

Whether you like him or not, Trump is the prime example of today’s hate driven politics. The Democrats started after Trump before he had even raised his hand and took the oath of office. The tempo continued to escalate. Phony lawsuits started to grow like Water Grass in Spring.

America is no longer first. Power and control is

The assault continues to this day. The division in our country was created by and continues to be promoted by those far more interested in power than governing.

America is no longer first. Power and control is. I have ridden this old rock we call Earth nearly 87 times around the Sun. The change I have witnessed in our country is frightening.

The hatred is promoted openly. It seems without any push back. However, when that push back comes, if it is in the form today’s hatred is being promoted, we could see violence break out worse than it is today, possibly resulting in a form of civil war.

This is not the country I ever wanted to leave my children and grandchildren. Fortunately, I see a number of young people who want to make our country back again into what George, Tom, Ben and the other boys that got together back in 1776 visualized.

It is going to take a lot of work.

We older folks need to support these young people in any way we can. Yes, we have our warts and ugly places, even a Civil War. Building a large, free country is a difficult and never-ending task, but we are still the best country ever created.

It is past time to send a strong message to the haters that their attitude is totally unacceptable

However, we have forgotten that freedom does not come free. Millions have paid for protecting that freedom with their lives.

It is past time to send a strong message to the haters that their attitude is totally unacceptable. We must return to teaching our children about the past, the good and the bad, to give them the understanding of what our country is, how it was built, all the sacrifices made and the dreams for the future.

Of prime importance is everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions. Everyone has the freedom to express those opinions and debate them with those who have a different viewpoint.

But regardless of how heated the debate may become we are Americans first and have an obligation to our children and those yet to come, even if you and I hold totally different beliefs. For the sake and future of America, we hook our arms and shoulders together and stand up for and, yes even fight those who choose to attempt to divide and destroy us.

My fear today is the enemy is among us. Just sayin’.

James R. Lightfoot, Lightfoot Strategies served in Congress six terms, starting in 1985 and retiring in 1997. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal and General Government (TPS) of Appropriations, he had jurisdiction over 40% of Federal Law Enforcement (Customs, Secret Service, ATF, FLETC, and IRS enforcement).