So, what happened to the truth and civility?
Five years ago, when the nastiness and lies spewed over the airwaves and in the media seemed to hit new lows, I wrote a commentary lamenting the absence of civility and truth in American society.
Truth and civility had been under attack for some time, of course. But it felt like a turning point.
Gabby Giffords had just been shot in Tuscon, AZ. The right and left were blaming each other. The ugliness only got worse from there.
Flash forward five years. We are a nation that appears to be morally bankrupt. And on the verge of war?
With Donald Trump as our president elect, the truth and civility no longer matter. In fact, they only get in the way.
Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale fact checked everything Trump said on 28 different days towards the end of the 2016 presidential campaign and documented 560 different falsehoods, for an average of 20 lies a day.
The next President of the United States lies publicly 20 times a day. Think about that. Think about all the devastating implications that holds.
And that, fellow Americans, is just one of the many deeply troubling aspects to this guy.
Now, he is threatening an escalated nuclear arms race. And he has yet to be sworn in as president. It's not going to get any better. He's becoming progressively emboldened.
If our representatives in Washington don't do absolutely everything they can to block Trump from the presidency, it will be game over for the United States of America.
Too soon for congressional censure, reprimand or expulsion?
We the people should prepare for war, perhaps in more ways than one. Certainly, we need to fight for our country to keep it out of the hands of the least qualified person on the planet.
Let your congressmen know how you feel. Make phone calls. Send emails. Write letters to the editor.
Just as important, as we celebrate the coming of mankind's savior this Christmas weekend, we should pray for peace and healing in our land. Have a Merry Christmas. Let's hope it's not our last.
For what it's worth, here's that opinion from January 2011, calling for truth and civility in ourselves and our leaders:
http://archive.knoxnews.com/opinion/columnists/rein-in-the-rhetoric-restore-civility-by-holding-politicians-accountable-ep-406564701-358148181.html
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