By: Cheryl Hancock-Watts January 23, 2017
Democracy: A Government in which adult citizens freely elect their political representatives
Democrat: A person who favors or supports Democracy
(Oxford’s Students Dictionary)
Eight years ago when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States Republicans were disappointed, but because we are a democracy most people accepted the outcome and President Obama was given the chance to honor his promise of “Hope and Change” to Americans.
Four years later when President Obama was reelected for his second term, again Republicans were disappointed, but because we are a democratic nation, the outcome was accepted by most people, as it should have been.
This year as Donald Trump was elected President of the United States the Democrats were disappointed, but unlike the past two Presidential elections many people did not accept the outcome of this one, instead they protested, demonstrated and boycotted the Presidential Inauguration among other events. Our Democratic election was not honored by our fellow Americans.
As Muslim and Communist nations and even our own young people watch Americans dishonoring our democracy, our way of life, we should be very concerned how this will affect our future. This kind of action by millions of Americans who refuse to accept the outcome of our Democratic election, puts America’s Democracy in danger, which has been our way of life since we became a nation. After living in the Middle East for several years, I truly am grateful that I was born in the United States of America, a nation of Democracy defined by Abraham Lincoln that it is for the people, by the people and of the people.
Just as concerning is the great division we are witnessing in America. In the Bible it is written that if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Because our leaders are refusing to accept President Trump as their Commander in Chief this puts our country in grave danger. I was taught by my father who retired as a Command Sergeant Major in the United States Army that whoever your commanding officer is, you respect him and obey his orders. It doesn’t matter what your opinion of him or his orders are. So, will the sixty-seven plus, Democrat members of our Congress who refused to attend the Presidential Inauguration respect and obey their Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump? Or will at least one Congressman who said he sees President Trump as an illegitimate President be able to follow orders in a time of war? What kind of elected leaders and examples are they to the American people when they refuse to accept our Democratically Elected President? We elected them to be our representatives, but are they really representing us?
I have been taught by my father and my country to obey those who have authority over me. The Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders, and Democracy teaches us to accept those who have been elected as our leaders. Our nation can be strong once again if we unite as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.