By Michael P. Riccards

At his second inaugural, our greatest president pleaded for malice toward none, charity for all. This from a commander in chief who led the nation into its bloodiest war in history. 

Now you and I are and seeing another ripping apart of our republic with the endless trials of corrupt and seditious figures on both sides of the political spectrum.

Congratulations America. In a few short weeks we have convicted a former president of 34 counts of corruption and a current president’s son of violating the law in his endless trail of drugs and sexual peccadilloes. We are currently moving on over 160 cases of foolish men and women who on January 6 attacked our capital.

I can recite the reasons why they should all pay for their crimes; the greatest is they helped destroy the American dream. But rather than give you a historical lesson, or try to influence your vote in the presidential campaign, let me propose a premature solution to our divisions.

It is time to see if we can exercise some of Lincoln’s charity. Let us propose an end to trying Trump for his decadent lifestyle and abuse of the constitution. He should be granted pardons for all that — not because he is above the law, but because we as a country are above him. And we should pardon Hunter Biden because he is a disgusting human being, and we are all tired of hearing of his decadence.

My America is and remains a middle class state, one that is necessary in Aristotle’s words for a republic to survive. 

The middle class wishes a life of moderation, of family values, of a morally based ethics that governs our government, our churches, and our community. We are not cool, or woke, or power couples in our community. We wish to live lives of quiet inspiration. 

We must stop being preoccupied with obvious violations of the law by the high and the mighty, and also the low and the disgruntled. Can we please, remember that the American dream is still alive — just look at the millions who wish to climb over barbed wire to be here. How is it that no masses of people are hustling to get into Communist China, Putin’s Russia, the fundamentalist Iran, or the insane North Korea? I am tired of seeing every night my America, rip itself apart with the politicization of justice or injustice.

Yes, we have fought the good fight, ran the good race, and ended up paying an enormous price. It is said that we must be the policeman to the world since the forces of evil are so strong. But are you as satisfied with seeing bombs with the label “Made in America” dropping on Palestinian hospitals and Ukrainian battlefields? 

Even Churchill, in his crazier fits, knew that it was better, he said, to talk than to fight. First though, we must heal ourselves. Our friends, our families, our means of opinion are split so brutally because of our politics. It is time to solve some problems, defer new armaments in order to deal with our social problems. 

I was shocked when educators said that the pandemic resulted in an 18 month-loss in terms of academic skills. They are now saying that the pandemic and even before the disease hit us, our children are and were suffering from deep alienation. How come I didn’t see? Did you?  Now we know, and we must get back to taking these kids back, back into your boring middle class lives, back into the simple ways of living, back into self worth.

We cannot love ourselves if we spend so much organized time hating each other based on silly animosities. America, come home again.

Michael P. Riccards, a former college president, is the author of 30 books, including “A Republic If You Can Keep it.”

Categories: Jandoli Institute, Michael Riccards, Politics, Uncategorized