Hate

Hate is a strong, very negative emotion.

I was taught not to hate anybody. I might not like this person or that person, but it's wrong to actually hate somebody, right? I might have a strong dislike of certain people or organizations, but hate? No, I didn't hate anybody ... until the current administration took power. Now, I confess, I do hate.

• I hate what this administration has done to my country in two years. It has made the racial, economic and class divides much worse.  
• It has emboldened racists and fascists. 
• It has weakened or removed environmental protections that have given us clean water and air and helped protect us from toxins.  
• It is working to gut the Endangered Species Act. 
• It is working to reduce the size of national parks and national monuments, and to allow extractive businesses such as mining on protected public lands. 
• The person occupying the White House is a pathological liar who seems incapable of telling the truth. 
• He's a con man and a hypocrite.
• He tries to use the federal government to go after his political enemies and others who have been "mean" or "unfair" (two of his favorite complaints) to him.
• He convinced 81 percent of white evangelical Christians that he is one of them and that they should vote for him, despite his history of numerous extramarital affairs, three marriages, constant lies, failure to pay those who did work for him, and crude comments about women.
• He appears to believe that he is above the law. He fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates because she determined that his executive order banning people from several predominantly Muslim countries from entering the US was unconstitutional. He fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions because he refused to act to stop the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into possible collusion with Russia by Trump and his campaign.
• He insulted Sen. John McCain, who spent 5 years in a Vietnamese prison after his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. 
• He has offended and insulted America's staunchest friends and allies, insulting the leaders of the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, Germany and Canada, among others.
• He mocked a disabled reporter in front of thousands of people, then denied it.
• He praised a Republican for body slamming a reporter.
• He clearly admires several of the world's dictators, including Russia's Putin and North Korea's Kim Jung Un.
• He disrespects federal judges who dare to disagree with his decisions.
• His endless trips to his golf resorts have so far cost US taxpayers some $73 million dollars. 
• He insulted the Khan family, whose son died while fighting for this country. 
• He verbally attacked the US Navy admiral who oversaw the mission that killed terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.
• Security costs to protect his adult children when they travel on family business and vacations have cost US taxpayers millions of dollars. A single ski vacation for Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and their families cost nearly $330,000. And that is just for ONE trip!
• Several of his cabinet members have been caught taking advantage of their positions for financial gain.
• The lack of expertise among his cabinet appointees is stunning. Education secretary Betsy DeVos has never attended a public school, nor have her children. She is trying her best to force public schools to become 'Christian' schools. EPA chief Scott Pruitt was at the time of his appointment suing the EPA.
• He calls opponents and anyone who dares to oppose him insulting names. That is something a 3-year-old would do.

So yes, I do hate everything this president and this administration stand for. I hate what they have done, and continue to do, to this country. Although disappointed that the Democrats were unable to take control of the Senate, at least they now have a majority in the House. More women than ever will serve in Congress, including the first two Native American women and the first Somali woman. 

Change will be slow, but change is coming. Until there is a fundamental shift in the political process, in the attitude and honesty of politicians (who need to start doing what they are supposed to do -- represent the average American) and in the attitudes of the American public, all we can do is continue to resist, to stand for what is just and for what is right, and to remain vigilant.