The great legacy of Jimmy Carter: human rights and of Donald Trump's ending it

Jimmy Carter is laid to rest today. He will be long credited for taking the concept of civil rights and making it a standard and goal applied to all nations: human rights. It was a standard used in determining foreign policy action. Civil and political rights were a key part.   While Carter the man is being buried, so is his concept of human rights as applied to our own country. The contrast between Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump could fill many opinion columns. Still, one stands out above all: Trump plans to end the standard of government diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI)in governing this country. It ends requirements that those in the minority. The disadvantaged get a special chance to get their voices heard in shaping public policy. Officially, they will be less seen and less heard if not totally ignored.  Trump's immigration policies no longer give the US a moral high ground on human rights. His threats to separate families in his mass deportation policies will be condemned worldwide as it was in his first term, though his new, more cruel threat would break up mixed-status families, as well as deporting mom, dad, or grandparents, leaving those with status behind. His replacing human rights domestically with the ending of DEI further white Christian nationalism's goals of controlling public policy.   Project 2025 contains the implementation strategy of appointing loyalists to key positions. Trump's intentions are clear, as is his announced appointee of Russell Vought to OMB, with the power, the ideology,  and the ability to end DEI administratively. https://19thnews.org/2025/01/project-2025-russell-vought-office-management-budget/  and many others with Project 2025 ties. Trump taps authors and influencers of Project 2025 for key roles in new administration | AP News

The impact goes beyond the government as some in the private sector are also following suit. So far, Trump has already reneged on most of his campaign promises, from rolling back grocery stores and ending the war in Ukraine on day one, but ending DEI along with mass deportation of immigrants, which is also a race-related issue, are so far untouched. 

The best we can do is hope and pray; while the advocacy of human rights may only be made dormant and suppressed by some political leaders of this country, it rises again and survives in four years.

Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian   on Carter's meaning of human rights....—the right to be free from government violation of the integrity of the person; the right to fulfill vital needs such as food, shelter, and education; and civil and political rights. 

US: Lasting Harm from Family Separation at the Border | Human Rights Watch

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2024/12/major-trump-campaign-points-evaporate.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/anti-dei-program-effort-2025-states-companies-universities-trump-rcna184580

Mark Zuckerberg Drops DEI And Fact Checking - Search News

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/dei-suffers-another-blow-as-mcdonald-s-slashes-policies/ss-BB1rhNAr?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=5f1e40a1228e4f03845359208208333e&ei=29

In case you wonder, I am a white Christian who believes in treating all neighbors as I would treat myself. White Christian nationalists do not.

Both side-ism cannot ignore crimes against humanity. Updated 11/11/2024

Update: ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel, Hamas leadership: what happens next? | UN News  11/11/204

Bravo, Pres. Biden: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/20/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-unites-states-response-to-hamass-terrorist-attacks-against-israel-and-russias-ongoing-brutal-war-against-ukraine/

 MSNBC received criticism from one of my favorite organizations, the ADL, for daring to report the civilian casualties in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. I also have other favorite organizations supporting human and civil rights.  I have seen the impact of war on civilians in years of personal observations from post-war Berlin to the ethnic cleansing conflicts in  Bosnia.  The losers in such barbaric violence are always the civilians on both sides. Tragedy is visited on those who are not combatants, regardless of who they support in violent conflicts. 

The only accountability since World War II has been the Hague tribunals and the Nuremberg trials, which prosecute crimes against humanity, the suffering and slaying of civilians motivated by hatred, or used as a strategy of terrorists and sick-minded dictators and ideologues. Otherwise, it is the horror of " might make right" that has characterized the evil qualities of the human race from its beginning and eclipses the care and concern side of humanity.  It is that streak of evil that, at this moment, is raising its ugly head once more.  

  As news unfolded of the barbarianism of the Hamas terrorists,  what is clear the more we learn, the more horrified we become of the evil (so correctly tagged by Biden) we are witnessing.  It is also clear that Israel right now has the moral highroad by not acting like barbarians, too, in their justified plans to focus their defense and punishment on Hamas, and not target the civilian population. There must be some safe zone to which Palestinian women and children can flee. This may be the role Egypt can and must play.   

  This is not meant to ignore the fact that Palestinians in Gaza had supported the Hamas leadership, but now their women and children are victims of Hamas, too, since they are already casualties.   It also may be instructive to the West Bank Palestinians that taking up arms against Israel could have devastating unintended consequences blowing back on their own. Hezbollah is the real additional threat and it could be one reason the US carrier fleet has been situated just off Lebanon to back up the implied threat to Hezbollah by Biden to stay out and don't even try to attack Israel from the north.

The approach of some is that any reporting of the suffering of Palestinians in the conflict is all propaganda and should not be reported needs a pinch of reality.  Also cries to show both sides on campus discussion to prohibit the Palestinian viewpoint flies in the face of free speech. The Hamas barbarians and the reporting of the atrocities present the best opportunity for supporters of the ADL and Israel to convince the world that, indeed, Hamas is evil, and they need to keep making an easy case there there are no false equivalencies. Israel has a huge megaphone now.    At the same time, being factual and reporting verified evidence, careful screening by mainstream media is critical. We should not rely solely on fringe media, social media, single point of ideology cable channels for facts. The more points of view you can get, even learning speculation and theory is a worthwhile practice. Taking assertions by either warring party needs to be taken with a healthy skepticism that demands verification or at least exposure of the source.The value of free speech on campuses and in media. It is key to a democracy and disappears in an autocracy.

These comments regarding free speech have been posted in a stand alone posting 10/14/23 MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: The value of free speech to a democracy; it disappears in an autocracy

 

In some quarters of the left, what aboutism also is a controversial, viewpoint...What Hamas did to Israel is not as bad as what Israel has done to Palestinians, for example, so Hamas' atrocities are justified.  The moral issue is artrocities committed against innocents is never acceptable..  From the very left is a voice for moral judgment in response which is: 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/13/hamas-no-moral-justification-william-barber

The left faces a reckoning as Israel divides Democrats (nbcnews.com)

To maintain their moral clarity and high ground in the face of the evil of Hamas, the US has asked Israel to abide by the rule of war, AKA Geneva Conventions and amendments, in their counterattack on Gaza. What are they? FAQs: Frequently asked questions on the rules of war | ICRC

Why is being on the side of morality?  Not always, but usually, that translates into allies providing political, monetary, and military support to the obvious victim, soon after the atrocities by the attacker are revealed to the public.  Memories are short and eventually, support can diminish because of political and ideological pressures.  Keeping up the initial enthusiasm for support becomes more difficult as time goes on, and the counter-offensive drags on or loses its moral and political support,. Support of Ukraine is facing those headwinds now.

Once again Colorado provides fodder for anti gay Supreme Court decisions

 https://www.politico.com/.../scotus-lgbtq-gay-rights...Colorado is once again the test case on whether a private company serving the public can discriminate and refuse service based on a religious belief that disapproves of LGBTQ people. Our state has been in this situation before regarding a cake maker who got success from this theocratic-inclined Supreme Court's religious conservatives. Supreme Court rules for Colorado baker in same-sex wedding cake case | CNN Politics This recent case brought by a business who wants to deny a printing service to LGBTQs is different because it challenges a Colorado anti-gay discrimination law. Thd plaintiff's contention is that she is an artist offering e commerce printing and her artistic freedoms are being infringed. It is an issue that is a thorny one with consequences reaching far beyond anti-gay bigotry to the rights of anti-non evangelically subscribed persons. We saw it in the majority of the newly comprised evangelical majority court overturning Roe v Wade. Will this lead to any more successful attempts to approve discrimination against those evangelicals who disapprove on theological grounds? Targets could include Muslims, Jews, atheists, and, in the case of evangelicals, also promoting white nationalism, black or brown people? The precedent of another court decision supporting the right for private businesses serving the public to discriminate against fellow citizens based upon religious beliefs will have unintended consequences, losses in their adherent candidates in elections as happened in 2022, Congress passing legislation (as it did in upholding gay and interracial marriages as a federal right), and it will give impetus to the attempts to enlarge a Supreme Court that is seen out of step with 60 to 70% of the American views on specific public policy issues, such as a women's right to choose and marriage equality. Court decisions appear to be made that are not based on the interpretation of the rule of law but on the religious beliefs and biases of the majority of the Justices. What becomes clear is that the separation of church and state and the Constitution forbids the establishment of a state religion. This principle established in the first amendment comes into conflict with an attempt by evangelicals to use the government to force others to adhere to their most ultra-conservative religious beliefs. They even support the use of police forces and the application of law to treat non-conformers as criminals (as is embedded in many anti-roe v wade extreme laws in many states the Supreme Court decision just enabled).

I have no problem with faith leaders extolling their beliefs or with their followers or converting others to adhere to their belief systems in their personal actions. However, forcing others who are in the majority and holding a differing opinion to comply by using governmental and political powers is not supporting American democracy but supporting a theocracy. I laud the action of the Mormon Church to recognize the principle that they do not approve of same-sex marriage as a religious doctrine, but they acknowledge that others have a right to believe and act otherwise in civil life. Mormon church voices support for same-sex marriage law | AP NewsThat is preserving the freedom of religion and civil rights, both. It also shows the confidence of a religious institution in its ability to succeed without having laws and police to act of morality police spread compliance with faith on its behalf.

I had an interesting e exchange with a close friend from another country regarding the civil rights of minorities. She is from a country in Europe where 90 percent of the population subscribes to Catholicism or some form of Christianity, and racial minorities are less than 10% of the population. Many countries in Europe and especially in the Balkans, have had bloody wars to eliminate ethnic a religious minorities with whom they disagree. Those political forces at work are rooted in centuries past. In that case, should the civil rights of those minorities be protected, and should the majority have the responsibility to do so? These countries do not have a multi-cultural, multi-religious population or a secular-based constitution like the US. For the sake of civil peace, the value of honoring civil and human rights should be above and beyond ethical and ideological reasons. Until now, human rights have been the principle that the US has led the world by providing an example of attempting to become a more perfect union. Until now, that has raised the issue of human rights as a worthy value around the world. Whether we continue despite the standard of supporting improving civil and human rights in our country in spite of our failures and victories is

under attack from evangelical theocrats. Protection of a minority's civil rights should not mean the minority has police and legal power in government to suppress others' civil and human rights, but that religious minorities and majorities have the same rights to peacefully protest freedom to preach, speak, convert, and organize.

The irony or the intention of these LGBTQ rights attacks is that Colorado is the hotbed of these challenges to whether religious adherents can discriminate against those they disapprove in their private business because of religious reasons.

Colorado has been at the forefront of acceptance of LGBTQ rights. Our governor, who just won a landslide re-election, is the only openly gay governor in the US. In addition, he is married and a parent in a same-sex marriage which is not only recognized as a protected right in Colorado but now, due to recent Congressional action, will have federal legal standing.

Update 12//7/22

The gay haters are getting organized in Colorado to bring their intolerance to Colorado public schools. School board members, be warned and ready. Colorado is not fertile ground, unlike southern states. Voters here have your backs.

A New Conservative Group Uses Anti-LGBTQ Sentiment to Attack Colorado Public Schools (coloradotimesrecorder.com)

Memorial Day is also a time to remember what those who died were defending

A version of this was published in the Sky Hi News, May 21-23, 2018
https://www.skyhinews.com/news/muftic-memorial-day-also-a-time-to-remember-what-those-who-died-were-defending/

On Memorial Day  May 28 we will specially honor and remember the nearly million and a half in the military who died in wars to keep us from foreign control and the liberty  to pursue life and happiness. At the same time we should be asking ourselves do enough of us even care about protecting our freedoms anymore?

Our founders  put protections of our civil and human rights and freedoms  in the amendments to the Constitution. Not all of those freedoms are absolute and their meanings and limits  have been shaped by an independent judiciary, but they are still fundamental to the freedoms we enjoy for which so many have died.

Nonetheless, the U.S. ranks 45  of 180 countries based on press freedom, survey conducted by the non profit Reporters Without Borders.“ A media-bashing enthusiast, Trump has referred to reporters as ‘enemies of the people,’ ...has attempted to block White House access to multiple media outlets, routinely uses the term ‘fake news’in retaliation for critical reporting, and has called for revoking certain media outlets’ broadcasting licenses.” Update: June 10, 2018: Homeland Security is now compiling lists and data bases of journalists and influencers. To what use will that information be put is the question.

We have had  our civil wars, our slavery, our abuses of rights, but we have  had made progress to improve the implementation of our ideals. No longer.   Human Rights Watch, a non profit watchdog group, has released their 2018 report: “Across a range of issues in 2017, the US moved backward on human rights. Trump has targeted refugees and immigrants, calling them criminals and security threats; emboldened racist politics by equivocating on white nationalism; and consistently championed anti-Muslim ideas and policies…. and (undermining) police accountability for abuse…..”

Voter laws are being passed locally that make it more difficult  for minorities to vote by restricting voting times and motor voter registration laws, and  requiring extra effort and expenses to obtain photo IDs. These suppression measures were implemented  deceptively to protect us from virtually non-existent fraud.

The GOP dominated  Senate is fast tracking the process  to fill federal judicial seat vacancies  with ideologues passing litmus tests preferred over nominees who support judicial precedent and who pass peer professionals’ standards .  This will impact the current interpretation of the meaning of freedom for years, from Roe v Wade to the right refuse to serve certain customers on religious grounds to shrinking governmental protections of the environment, worker safety, and health care.

One freedom that our forefathers treasured was protection  from foreign control . Our founders never imagined the reach to millions on social media by Russian bots and advertising  to help Donald Trump win, as the bi-partisan Senate Intelligence Committee has concluded and reported May 16, 2018, and as our intelligence concluded in January 2017. Added May 23, 2018: Former director of national intelligence, James Clapper, concludes Russian meddling elected Donald Trump. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2018/05/23/james_clapper_in_new_book_of_course_the_russians_swung_the_election_to_a_trump_win.html

The control the United States by bribery or personal gain by officials was so feared they put the emolument clause in the Constitution itself. There is a stench in the air that Trump has violated that clause. On May 16, we learned the Trump business organization from which Trump still benefits is  entangled in China financing a Trump Indonesian hotel just as US sanctions were lifted on a Chinese telecom already deemed a threat to US security. Another bombshell May 16 was learning Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer,  manages a consulting company account that appears to have millions coming into it, including foreign money. Suspicions are , that money could be seen as bribery to get access to the President on issues coming before the new administration, yet where finding the money went and who got it  is required to separate the crime from the slime.

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/united-statesk

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-drops-to-45-in-ranking-of-countries-based-on-freedom-of-the-press-2018-04-25?mod=mw_share_facebook

https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/5-things-know-about-wisconsin-partisan-gerrymandering-case

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war. https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/

15/politics/trump-judges-nominees/index.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/13/america-
history-voter-suppression-donald-trump-election-fraudhttps://www.washingtonpost.

com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/19/pennsylvania-supreme-court-draws-a-much-more-competitive-district-map-to-overturn-republican-gerrymander/?utm_term=.10c69794f16a

http://time.com/5279573/senate-intelligence-committee-russia-trump-2016/

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/05/trump-organization-indonesia-project-will-benefit-from-usd500-million-chinese-government-loan-report-says.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/13/america-history-voter-suppression-do
nald-trump-election-fraud

https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/5-things-know-about-wisconsin-partisan-gerrymandering-case

Lee Greenwood’s great lyric which  captures the meaning of Memorial Day the best:

“And I'm proud to be an American

Where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the ones who died who gave that right to me

And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the USA.”

https://www.thenation.com/article/wisconsins-voter-id-law-suppressed-200000-votes-trump-won-by-23000/

From https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf
"Russian efforts to influence the 2016 US presidential election represent the most recent expression of Moscow’s longstanding desire to undermine the US-led liberal democratic order, but these activities demonstrated a significant escalation in directness, level of activity, and scope of effort compared to previous operations. We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.  We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. CIA and FBI have high confidence in this judgment; NSA has moderate confidence."

With the Syrian missile strike, another old fashioned American streak trumps isolationism

The whiplash about faces of the Trump administration on recent foreign policy positions is a welcome return from isolationism to the more traditional US view on foreign policy. It was difficult to understand how making America great again or putting America first  could be accomplished by Candidate Donald Trump's withdrawing from the world,  weakening alliances, and turning a blind eye to war crimes being committed before our  very eyes.

 In fact, the history of the US is that we have a streak in the American psyche that wants us  to withdraw from control  of the western world's agenda. We  are  plagued  by fatigue of war and  domestic  priorities.  In spite of that,   eventually we get drawn back into engagement when visual evidence of atrocities and terror  happening to others becomes intolerant. It was moral indignation of ethnic cleansing  that led to US and NATO intervention in the Balkans in the 1990's.  The underlying decency of Americans in our sympathy toward others and  a concern about human rights,  however latent, are some of  of the values that indeed make America  great.

What has changed since the rise World War II  is that  cameras were not in Auschwitz and Dachau to bring  atrocities into American living rooms until after   pictures were published  of the camps' emaciated  liberated  survivors.  That pogroms and persecutions of Jews before World War II  were tolerated because  anti Semitism and racial and religious discrimination were shameful values shared by so many in Europe and the US. Moral outrage and  indignation found its formal outlet  in the Nuremberg trials and the  subsequent  using of  the trials as a template to set up War Crimes Tribunals  in the Hague to prosecute those who committed crimes against humanity  In 2016. former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was convicted  of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and sentenced to 40 years in prison. That may be Bashar al  Assad 's ultimate end,   to face justice in the Tribunals if he survives either a  violent or  a peaceful end to the Syrian conflict. US  Secretary  of State Rex Tillerson yesterday also indicated that Assad should face war crime trials.

 The visual reporting of television and the internet has brought an unprecedented degree of  depiction of pain and suffering into the every day consciousness of human beings, so excessively that gut reaction had been  so numbed by a constant flow of  pictures of dead children and intentionally  targeted and bombed hospitals and schools that wide spread world  indignation was slow to reach a breaking point. It did  reach that point  in Donald Trump 's  TV view one  evening  of a report of a Syrian gas attack. The public support of Trump's missile attack response , whether it was or was not militarily significant, showed that politically the public has his back., that they too had reached the end of any tolerance of atrocities that supported his intervention on moral grounds.  This was a surprise no doubt  to him and others  who had assumed it was .Candidate Trump's outspoken doctrine  against the US ever intervening in conflicts on moral grounds that helped propel him to election victory. .His  core supporters of that policy were  reduced to a whimper in the accolades that followed the missile strike Trump ordered.  The decent streak in America at last  awoke.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tillerson-assad-may-face-war-183940336.html

A White House in chaos is right now a danger to our security

Originally posted 2/16/17; updated 2/21/17; published in www.skyhidailynews.com 2/21-22/17
A White House in chaos is a danger to our national security. This is a period when those who want to do us harm see a softness in our ability to respond with a unified voice and is at risk. They see no clear chain of command needed to respond effectively in case of a  national security crisis.  For our own sakes, let us hope that the Trump administration corrects the situation as quickly as possible.

It may be that the uncertainty caused by the inexperience and peculiarity of President's personality traits might give pause  to a wannabe attacker Any reaction, say to a 9/11 size event, might make an attack a gamble knowing  Trump is so impulsive. On the other hand, taking advantage of a situation when the chains of command, the boundaries of power, or its policies have not been clearly established, might be seen by an attacker as an  opportunity. The danger is that to understand us better, they will test us to see how we react such as parking a spy ship near our coast or firing off a missile test, which has already happened.

Donald Trump has denied disarray in the West Wing, asserting his administration was running like a "fine tuned machine".  Views that there was chaos came from  Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense  and past CIA Director and Senator John McCain.

With the firing of  General Michael Flynn, his controversial National Security adviser, Trump's first choice to fill the post, retired Vice Admiral Robert Harward,  bowed out for family reasons, though some close to him said Harward was also worried about access to the president and the ability to choose his own staff. He announced his new pick Monday, Lt. General H.R. McMaster, which is a step toward more order. With McMaster's appointment, I am feeling much better about our security and a tougher stance on Russia. The question is if he will get the same access to the President as did Flynn or if there will be friction.

Who possibly could stand in the way of a national security  adviser's  access to the President? The closest to President Trump  is Stephen Bannon, the former head of Breitbart Media , an ideologue of the farthest right with a stated goal to disrupt the Establishment.. He maneuvered  to be appointed the the National Security Council where such coordination of the flow of information from State Department, intelligence agencies, and the Pentagon takes place.

Even with a well coordinated and competent leadership of the West Wing, we have had a history with national security fumbles early in an administration. The George W. Bush administration was  staffed at higher levels with experienced men from the outset before 9/11, but were so focused in other matters, such as filling lower vacancies and legislation, they had not devoted enough attention to the warning signs noted by the FBI of some Saudi individuals taking pilot training, even in the face of  well known attempts  abroad by  terrorists to turn a commercial plane into a weapon. The new security team is headed for a rocky shake down cruise.

Confusing those abroad, friends and foe, have been mixed messages delivered by VP Mike Pence in his recent tours of Europe and NATO  and Nikki Haley, the new US ambassador to the UN regarding policies toward Russia . They seem to  contradict Trump's coziness with Russia , speaking with a harder line toward Russia.

____________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/02/16/trumps-pick-to-replace-michael-flynn-as-national-security-adviser-turns-down-offer-people-familiar-with-decision-say-2/?utm_term=.fd2ac9ee367c

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-harward-turns-down-national-security-adviser-job/

http://www.businessinsider.com/national-security-adviser-trump-robert-harward-declined-after-press-conference-2017-2

https://www.ft.com/content/485046b8-f3a5-11e6-8758-6876151821a6

http://time.com/4672974/donald-trump-white-house-chaos/

http://www.businessinsider.com/leon-panetta-nervous-about-the-trump-administration-turmoil-russia-2017-2?r=UK&IR=T

http://fox2now.com/2017/02/18/pence-us-will-hold-russia-accountable/

http://kdvr.com/2017/02/03/nikki-haley-takes-tough-stance-on-russia-at-u-n-debut-tmwsp/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/steve-bannon-ideas-that-inform-world-view-trump-counselor/

Time magaznie, February 13, 2017

Also see my blog posting: Tensions between Vice President Pence and Michael Flynn pre-exist the "lie" flap 2/14/17

Footnote: This story was "officially leaked" by the Kremlin. Some believe they think Trump may not last full term. Whatever the motivation, the irony does not escape me. Often the comment about the chaos in the White House is that Trump was the dog that caught the bus they chased, the US Presidency, and now that he caught it, he does not know what to do with it. Perhaps the Kremlin is the dog that caught the bus, President Trump. Now that they did it, they are wondering what to do about him.

Russia preps a psychological profile of Trump. Here's what it says.

The attempt to get inside the U.S. president's mind is aimed at helping Vladimir Putin plan for their first meeting. Among the dossier's preliminary conclusions is that Trump…

NBCNEWS.COM|BY NBC NEWS

__________________________________________________________________________

Women's March on DC and state capitols to send a message to Donald Trump

(This blog posting is a priority column to be published in the Sky Hi News for  Jan 3, on)
After slicing and dicing the results of the 2016 presidential election, the question remains whether Donald Trump’s  impulsive grabbing of women’s private parts, remarks against women reporters , and the issues he supported had any impact on the outcome.,  The answer is yes. Troubling to many women  was his conversion to “pro life” and a statement he made willing to punish those who get abortions. It was one of the highest gender gaps in presidential voting history, with women voting 54% to 42%.However, the gap was not as high as it could have been since racial , high male gender turnout, and educational differences played a significant role.

None the less, with a president in the White House who will determine the next Supreme Court nominee and Congress in total control by the GOP, many women are feeling insecure about issues of equal pay and whether Roe v Wade will be upheld in the future.

Fears are not limited to women since Trump and his supporters  signaled an end to “political correctness” in public language and attitude There was overt  hostility demonstrated by himself and by his campaign supporters toward all who were not white male, including gays and the disadvantaged physically, and racial and religious minorities..The Muslim ban and registration of Muslims Trump advocated signaled a disregard of human and civil rights.

To send Trump a warning that they can mobilize women and others against him and members of Congress,  women  and those who feel threatened by the new administration’s disrespect of civil and human rights  will be marching on Washington January 21, the day before inauguration. Trump lost the popular vote by nearly three million and his electoral college vote margin was the 46th lowest in the history of 58 elections. He is beginning his term in a political position sensitive to such public pressure.

 Not all  who would like to march  will be able to make the trip to D.C so that similar, simultaneous demonstrations will be held in state capitols, including in Denver.  In Grand County transportation to the Denver march is also being organized. Contact:  Irene.cooke@gmail.com  1-970- 531-0831.   For more information visit www.marchonColorado.org.

______________________________________________________________________________________ http://www.factcheck.org/2016/11/trump-landslide-nope/ http://www.newsweek.com/2016/11/18/hillary-clinton-presidential-election-voter-gender-gap-520579.html

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-divisions-by-race-gender-education/
_http://qz.com/833003/election-2016-all-women-voted-overwhelmingly-for-clinton-except-the-white-ones/_______________________________________________________________________________

The mission as stated on the www.marchonColorado.org web page are:

1) All women shall maintain the freedom and lawful protection to choose what is best for them as it concerns their biological and reproductive health.  

2)  The diverse and vibrant communities of the United States of America shall be protected from political factions that would seek to inhibit their expression and existence by implementing legal restrictions on personal freedoms. These diverse and vibrant communities are the fabric of our great country and shall not be torn by hateful, divisive, and racist rhetoric or actions.

3)   All people, regardless of gender, gender identification, ethnicity, racial heritage, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation and/or socioeconomic status shall be treated equally and equitably, with respect, dignity and justice for all.

By bringing thousands of people together online and in person at Denver’s Civic Center Park, we strive to provide an outlet and support for those who wish to:

1) Advocate for and defend the most marginalized members of our society.

2) Connect with like-minded individuals and organizations within local Colorado communities.

3) Serve as a model of peaceful demonstration for the young women and men, and girls and boys, who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

4) Honor the women and men who have come before us and fought for human and women’s rights.