Lately I have found myself eager to bear witness to the events of our times. I listen and watch carefully. I think about the actions of those I watch, and research the questions that arise. As I bear witness, I experience a range of emotions.
For example, I felt called to bear witness to the Impeachment Trial of Former President Donald Trump. I wanted to hear what the Impeachment Managers would say. I felt called to listen because I truly love our country, The United States, and believe that we have the potential to use our democratic government to build an even better country, one where everyone truly has a chance to live a good life. For the past four years, I have been so worried about our country's future since Trump used and abused all of us daily as he served self rather than country. He continuously trounced our values, laws, and practices, sowed divide, and neglected his duty as President of the United States, and in the end, he even staged and incited a deadly insurrection that threatened our democracy, attempted to kill the Vice President and Speaker of the House, did kill police officers and insurgents, injured many, terrorized even more, vandalized and looted our nation's Capitol, and obstructed the certification of a free, fair, and just vote.
I have literally been abused by Trump's hateful, self-serving, violent, and destructive leadership. Not only has the abuse caused me to have nightmares, great worry, and sadness, but it also called me to bear witness to the trial. So as I watched, I tweeted out some thoughts, read others' thoughts, listened carefully, and frankly marveled at the intelligence, skill, organization, knowledge, and delivery of the Impeachment Managers case against Trump. Every Impeachment Manager did a fantastic job, and the fact that the Managers included men and women, people of multiple cultures and ages, and a sincere love and respect for our nation, the people, and the law of the land, The United States Constitution, brought me great pride and satisfaction since I truly respect and honor the great diversity that is the United States of America and I am awestruck by both the simiplicity and strength of our United States Constitution--a document that holds us together as a nation, and a document that provides us with a wonderful, positive challenge and road map for working together for the common good.
To listen to Raskin's final words was wonderfully inspiring. As I watched him, I could feel his love for our country and his great respect for the United States Constitution and the history that led to our democracy. Every American should listen to his words--words that will educate you, inspire you, and make you appreciate our country, our history, and our laws more. Too many Americans don't understand or know about the story that is the United States, and as an educator, I do believe we can do a better job in every school to make time to teach this story with depth, breadth, and engagement.
So as I bear witness, I listen for truth and what is right and good. I also listen for lies, falsehoods, destruction and danger. Today, I'll listen to Trump's defense team with an open mind. I'm curious about his lawyers and why they would agree to defend Trump who has such a poor and inhumane reputation. I'm curious about how they will defend Trump given the overwhelming, incriminating evidence the Impeachment Managers presented. I am wondering if they truly heard or understood the Impeachment Managers' case. I did hear that some of Trump's lawyers left the trial to be interviewed for television news which makes me think that they were not taking the Impeachmennt Managers' case seriously--I'll listen to see if that is true.
Some of us are called to bear witness. I am still thinking about what that means for my life. For now, I share with you, what I noticed and think. I welcome your thoughts too.
