“For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7
Dear GOP, Republican lawmakers and evangelical leaders who continue to endorse our former president,
The attempt on Donald Trump's life has prompted many of you to call for a "toning down" of hateful and divisive rhetoric, and as a nation, we thank you. Quite honestly, though, you are eight years too late. We are already well aware of the connection between hateful words and violence, because we have been given a masterclass in this concept by the man you continue to endorse.
But please, do go on. Tell us how using inflammatory language toward certain people groups such as, "human scum," and "rodent-infested," has a dehumanizing effect. We're all ears. Likewise, how when a leader refers to a woman as, "dog," "horse-face," "crazy," "low-I.Q,", and "bleeding badly," social media responds by slinging forth a frenzy of hatred toward women.
The press would love to hear your thoughts on how the phrase, "Enemy of the People," affects them, and how it can have severe dire consequences, like death threats to reporters and actual bombs sent to news organizations. Minority groups would love to hear you wax eloquent on how derogatory names like, "Pocahontas," and "Coco-Chow," can fuel intense hatred that delivers threats, mistreatment and sometimes physical harm to their communities.
Seriously, GOP, our country is dying for you to educate us on this matter. Many of us watched together in horror as the man you endorse, fueled by lies, shouted to a group of rioters, "FIGHT LIKE HELL!," and "You'll never take our country back with weakness!" Incendiary words that inflamed an already raging crowd, and which led to the loss of five sacred lives, hundreds of people doing prison time, and millions of dollars in damages to a national monument.
So you see, we have already been educated on how this works, but please, share more of your thoughts on the connection between words and violence. Take all the time you need to consider the implications of supporting a man with an acid tongue. Our country has been waiting eight long years for you to recognize that hate begets hate and violence begets violence. We all know that there is no one in this country who has sown more hate, more chaos, more divisiveness, and more violent, toxic, disturbing rhetoric into the soil of America than your own chosen candidate. You ignore his words to your own peril, and to the peril of this nation. Because his reach is so wide and his tongue is so sharp and his hate is so contagious, the whirlwind will come back on all of us.
"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7)
Someday, GOP, you will be held to account for what you could have stopped, but didn't. Make no mistake, the mutually beneficial relationship you have with him, in which he issues forth abuse and you ignore it, will be judged.
"But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:36-37)
Divisiveness and hatred is Trump's love language. That is why his last term ended in chaos and bloodshed, and it is the reason his own former vice president refuses to endorse him. Mike Pence learned the hard way that the power of death is in Trump's tongue. If you allow him to be re-elected, the next windstorm he unleashes will make January 6th look like a child's birthday party, and the responsibility for it will land on you.
Do the right thing. It's not too late. I urge you renounce him, for the sake of peace, for the sake of our country, and for the sake of our lives. As you consider the connection between words and violence, understand the windstorm that is unleashed on all of us by his constant slander and abuse. America needs strong conservatives to stop playing games, and to rise up and decide that no amount of political power is worth what it costs this country to have an abusive man at it's helm. I pray that humility and courage will overtake you today.
"The power of life and death is in the tongue, and those who love it will eat it's fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)
POWERFUL Amy!!