#2 MLK DAY, 2017

WHEN THEY GO LOW, WE GO HIGH

By now, we all heard this phrase from Michelle Obama used toward the end of our recent presidential campaign, and while it clearly resonated with some, it was possibly considered by others to be, in equal parts, idealistic, unrealistic and ineffective.

Please put me in the camp with which it resonated.  Yes, admittedly in these unusual times, it's probably idealistic of me to expect that when one party has been deeply offended by another party, that the offended party can just turn the other cheek, and take the high ground and not lash out at the offending party.  It's only natural, it's only...human.

But the way I figure it,  I am entitled to be idealistic today, it is after all the day we celebrate the man who was the architect of non-violent protest, the man who learned to turn the other cheek, despite great opposition and despite being hated by many.  He led by example, and while he was sadly a victim of the violence he so abhorred, he opened the eyes of the world and his message endured, idealistic as it originally was.

With this perspective, I have to say I was bothered by the recent statement made by Democratic Congressman John Lewis from Georgia, who marched side by side with the man we celebrate today, that our new President-Elect will not be a legitimate president

I share Congressman Lewis's concerns about Mr. Trump, for a multitude of reasons, and a large majority of America, including many Republicans, does as well.  However, Mr. Trump was elected according to the current rules with which, we the people, let me say that again, we the people, govern ourselves.  And we must, no matter what, honor and respect those rules.   Congressman Lewis may not like many aspects of the recent presidential campaign, and he we may feel wronged, but he should channel his efforts in a more productive manner and not challenge the legitimacy of the current President-Elect. Instead, he should challenge the President-Elect on any and all legitimate current topics or policies.

Most importantly, he should recall Michelle Obama's recent message to us all, that when they go low, we go high.   On Martin Luther King Day, it's only fitting.

(Note to all- While I have chosen only to address Congressman Lewis's recent statement, I could easily spend equal time commenting about the appropriateness of Mr. Trump's tweets and responses to Congressman Lewis's original comment, but I will leave that to Alec Baldwin.  Admittedly, he's much better at that than me)