by Mike Pyatt
Not the indie folk band from Ohio, or the cartoon series from Dave Coverly. Rather a family of traffic calming devices that use vertical deflection to slow motor vehicle traffic. Used worldwide to enhance traffic safety conditions, they conversely pose mechanical hazards to smaller sport cars, or cyclists, wreaking damage over time. They’re particularly effective in school zones. For some, they’re annoying and irksome. Those in a hurry are easily vexed by them. Their purpose-slowing the onslaught of dangerous drivers who otherwise ignore others safety. One may find a useful metaphor.
The majesty of the peaceful transfer of power to the 45th President, Donald J. Trump, and attendant celebration, were diminished by a firestorm of criticism from nearly every political, cultural, and media elite circles, who virulently opposed his presidency. His transition to governing will magnify the gaping divide that exists. In his Inaugural speech he threw down the gauntlet-vowing to “giving the government back to you, the people,” not the entrenched D.C. establishment-on both sides of the isle. Returning to his campaign rhetoric, keeping promises made to the “forgotten men and women.” Those disaffected by the last five administrations.
His appeal to staunch voters found many viewed him as “the last speed bump,” to keep them from being “run over” by politicians in D.C., who ignored them, and “rigged the system” for decades. The far left liberals, and establishment GOP ignored them and denigrated Trump’s candidacy with a long list of perfunctory, degrading labels. President Trump has been pertinacious in his support of those “forgotten” Americans. He has promised action, “getting to work.” Something establishment politicians continuously failed to deliver. The media flocked to label President Trump’s Inaugural speech as “divisive and dark.” Rather than write the Democrats post-mortem.
The ensuing Women’s March, demonstrated an obsequious, gross misunderstanding of President Trump’s agenda. Previously indolent, Gloria Steinem, found her voice, spewing her tawdry narrative of down trodden women, followed by grandmothers, mothers and daughters, who, like Don Quixote, were tilting at windmills that posed no threat. Their grisly practice of aborting the unborn anytime, is protected by law, yet they whine about their loss of rights that aren’t in peril. Organizers of the U.S. march in D.C., hypocritically excluded “pro-life feminist” groups, yet invited males to tag along. Did their wives know where they were? The vulgarity amidst the marchers in D.C. repulsed many. Madonna’s terrorist remark, “I thought long and hard about blowing up the White House,” was laced with f-bombs. While the protestors vilified President Trump, one wag observed, “He got more overweight people out walking today, than Michelle Obama did in eight years.” They left behind more debris than sway.
A nagging, unanswered question persists, “Why did so many Evangelicals turn out to support Donald Trump?” Trump is not “personally religious.” His mainline denomination background under “positive thinking theology” of Dr. Norman Vincent Peal, didn’t match the tenets of most Evangelical churches. More latitudinarian. Nevertheless, Trump marshaled their support and resources in the general election, exceeding the numbers of Bush 43,’ and Mitt Romney in 2012. A member of his “religious roundtable,” opined, “We are looking for a strong leader, commander-in-chief, not a theologian-in-chief.” Overwhelmingly, Evangelicals, turned out at the polls. In general, they agreed, tongue-in-cheek, “We’ll lead our Bible studies. Trump will lead the nation.” Evangelicals aren’t monolithic. His choice of Mike Pence as V.P solidified his standing with the religious right.
Donald Trump intuitively perceived Evangelicals would serve as the “last speed bump” to slow the secular, progressive onslaught that would otherwise be unimpeded. He knew that their Biblical underpinnings of absolutes, they embrace and extol, would be inimical to the moral relativism that permeated our culture over the past four decades. He knew he could count on them to help stem the tide of secularism, and erosion of the values that threaten our Republic. He calculated they would dismiss the 24/7 criticism from the “dishonest media.” Understanding he needed solid support from a segment of the population that stood for immutable principles, he actively courted them throughout his campaign.
Evangelicals concede President Trump’s a populist. Not an ideologue-a pragmatist. Not a conservative. Not Reagan. More pugilistic. Many are convinced he’ll be an ally defending religious liberty, lending to our voice equal footing in the public square. During the campaign he was surrounded and influenced by a host of Evangelicals. We must oppose profligate spending that President Trump has proposed to “rebuild our infrastructure.” What about the billion dollar price tag? And build the wall? Nehemiah returned to his homeland in 300BC, to rebuild the shattered wall. It only took 52 days. Opponents told Nehemiah he’d never do it. They built it, armed with sword and spear at their side. Is there a lesson for President Trump?
He extolled the virtue of “righteous and just people” in his Inaugural address. Evangelicals understand that “righteousness exalts a nation.” We can be counted to help wage a winnable war on illegal drugs, halting Chicago’s black on black carnage, support law and order, protect our borders, and oppose rampant “eco everything religion” promulgated by the strangling policies of the EPA. Evangelicals support a strong economy, and a President who dared to declare, “Radical Islamic terrorism.” Evangelicals staunchly appose existential threats to our historic ally Israel.
The 45th President, like all of us, has foibles, and imperfect past. His no-non sense talk, non PC language found fertile soil. That’s why many Americans rallied behind him. He was more like them. Willing to fight. Evangelical support isn’t absolute, but transactional. Our position’s grounded in Biblical presuppositions. Should his strong leadership falter, or he renege serially on his many promises-Evangelicals would withdraw support. Our role as “the last speed bump,” isn’t just a metaphor. We take it seriously. Some warned it was a knee-jerk reaction to Obama’s eight years of weakness, and constitutionally subversive policies. There’s a risk. We can fire him. Ultimately, we know Who holds our future. What do you think?
Mike Pyatt’s a Natrona County resident. His email’s roderickstj@yahoo.com
