I know a man. He’s a quiet man, a retired professional. I’ve often thought him a smart man, and a man of some common sense. Outwardly, he doesn’t seem to be a hateful type. I don’t think it matters to him the color of your skin, or to what god you pray, if any. He’s respectful of women. He gives his heart and soul to a charity that helps children with serious medical issues. I can’t imagine him making fun of a disabled person. He’s not a liar, certainly not an obvious one. I’m pretty sure he’s a man of principles, and principles that he stands by at all costs. If pressed, prior to this election, I’d have called him a man of character.
Now, I’m not so sure, and it breaks my heart. I struggled with writing this because I want to be wrong. I struggled with writing this because I’m pretty sure he’ll recognize himself, and I’m likely to lose a friend, but I can’t stand by in the face of this choice and remain silent.
It’s a choice that I can’t understand. I’m quite certain that if you had asked me prior to the election, I’d have been able to tell you that this man is conservative. He’s an older white man raised in the south. He’d stick out like a sore thumb if he was anything but conservative. But how does a man of character set aside all that is good and right and cast a ballot with someone who is by all evidence diametrically his opposite? How does a quiet man of character and principle sleep at night after casting his ballot for a narcissist without either? How does he support a hateful, disrespectful, liar?
I don’t know how that came to be. I wish there was a way I could understand, but I simply can’t.