Now that it looks like Biden will be our next president, the calls for civility are being heard.
“We need to tone down the rhetoric.”
“We need to come together as Americans.”
“We all need to unite behind our new leader.”
It seems a bit ironic coming from the very people that said,
“Not our president” for the last 4 years.
Half of Trump's supporters are “deplorables”.
We “cling to our guns, bibles and religion.”
Michele Obama even said in her recent unity text that Trump voters:
"...voted for the status quo, even when it meant supporting lies, hate, chaos, and division.”
She continues to insult us even as she asks for unity.
And many on the Right are saying that this is:
"our chance to give it back to them for the next 4 years, just like they gave it to us."
"This is our turn."
"Time for payback."
"Time to get even."
"What’s fair for the goose is fair for the gander!"
"Turnaround is fair play!"
"An eye for an eye."
And there is something appealing about giving it right back to them.
But if we do the acrimony and fighting will continue for the next 4 years. And the 4 years after that and the 4 years after that. In fact it will never end, because some faction will always be paying back some other faction.
Unless we decide to end it. Unless we decide to forgive and forget. Unless we are willing to move forward and treat them the way we wish they would have treated us. It’s the only way to end the cycle.
Thus the scriptural injunction to turn the other cheek. If you aren’t willing to forgive after you have been treated wrong, the cycle never ends. Tit for tat. Eye for an eye. It never ends until everybody's eyes have been gouged out.
Which is exactly why we should treat Biden and his supporters the way we wish they would have treated us. It is the only hope we have. (Read that last sentence again)
If we retaliate now, nothing will ever get better. So make your choice.
An Eye for an Eye? or Turn the Other Cheek?