OPINION: We are about six months into President Trump’s second term of presidency and if we’ve learned anything, it’s that he brings the hostilities out in our nation. For better or for worse, when his name is brought up, people from all walks of life are willing to express their opinions of him, as a businessman, politician, father and so on. Some people wear their bright red caps proudly, while others would only buy that hat to burn it. All this to say: people have strong feelings about President Trump.
As of late, tensions seem to be increasing. On June 14, dozens of ‘No Kings’ rallies were held across the state of Maine in protest of the Trump administration. People in towns and communities like Portland, Bath and Freeport marched the streets to address their grievances. Most everyone’s sentiments could be summarized in two words: no kings.
This is a big deal; our country’s foundations were established under the premise of escaping the rule of the crown and now we may have a crown of our own? Is history repeating itself? Have we as a society reverted back to the governmental structures we left behind? I think not.
While President Trump may not always be the most germane individual, we don’t have to go back too far in our own history to find some significantly worse offenders. Does the name Franklin Delano Roosevelt ring a bell? He served four terms in office. This feels a little more royal than anything President Trump has done. How about King Andrew, more commonly known as Andrew Jackson, our 17th president whose political opponents would rally and chant the very things being said a few days ago. Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt both tried to obtain a third term in office.
All this to say: we have been much closer to a monarchy in the past than some would like to believe. I don’t find it hard to believe that some people have embellished this threat merely for political gain. However, this doesn’t mean President Trump’s hands are particularly clean.
With 143 executive orders in his first 100 days back in office, I can’t blame people for anticipating what could be to come. What I do have reservations about is the narrative that we have a tyrant on our hands. This is simply not true: tyrants don’t win the popular vote. We are all entitled to our own opinions and thankfully have the freedom to express them.
The true issue is the convoluted nature of our political landscape. Political extremism has become an occupational hazard. When people give an inch, others take a mile, only widening the divide in our nation. Instead of rallies, protests and demonstrations from either side of the isle that only heighten hostilities, we need more dialogue. It will only be when we can come together and conduct ourselves civilly that we will start to see progress. For everyone.
