It is unsurprising that, after a contentious election season, the nation as a whole is unable to “come together” in a sense of unity. The division that existed well before the 2020 campaign cycle was destined to grow as the country deals with a public health crisis and economic uncertainty on top of partisan politics. Any hope for post-election calm was quickly erased by two main things: President Trump’s insistence that the election was stolen and the Left’s call for unification in light of Joe Biden’s win.
In the three weeks since voters went to the polls, Trump and his team have made numerous claims about the integrity of the election. It is perfectly acceptable for the losing candidate to request recounts, if warranted. Furthermore, legitimate claims of voter fraud deserve investigation, even if they wouldn’t change the election outcome. But the president has gone further than that by claiming that he has won the election. This is only wishful thinking. His statements do real harm to a fractured nation that is desperate to move beyond this chapter. His behavior isn’t merely frustrating; it’s harmful. The United States prides itself on the peaceful transfer of power and the notion that everyone’s vote counts even if the incumbent doesn’t like the results. He is beclowning himself to the very end.
While many prominent Republicans are unrelenting in their claims about the presidential election results, the Left claims to be eager to bring everyone together and strike a chord of harmony. This message from the winning party is expected but is even more absurd given the recent past. Since Trump took office, there have been a barrage of assumptions made about those who support him. It’s one thing to be critical of the president when his behavior demands that as a response. It’s another thing entirely to call him Hitler, say his followers are Nazis or fascists, assert that they’re all racists, and ridicule his supporters for their upbringings and mental fitness. That kind of mockery isn’t easily forgotten. It is difficult to listen to requests for peace after enduring years of derision. And this from the very ones who won’t condemn violence from antifa and Black Lives Matter riots.
The Left’s “come together” mentality has nothing to do with working together to find solutions to the problems that plague our country. In reality, the Left wants nothing to do with compromise. They only wish to chastise the election losers in the scenario and demand full cooperation, all while pretending to be the reasonable party.
The combination of an infantile president and political opponents who suddenly want everyone to play nice is a toxic mix. There will always be political disagreements, but treating our neighbors as villains does no one any good. It only makes for continued unrest after a tumultuous season. This year has been difficult and heartbreaking. People counted down to Nov. 3, hoping that at least some of the discord would end. Unfortunately, it will remain for the foreseeable future.
In a nation almost evenly split between those loyal to either major party, the idea of unity is almost comical. Working peacefully alongside political adversaries is not the same as agreeing with them. Both parties must learn that closing this chapter requires both honesty and empathy. Trump and those loyal to him must be honest about the election despite their wishes to the contrary. The Left must empathize with those who not only lost the election but have been subjugated to cruel generalizations for years. If neither party realizes their own part to play in improving the atmosphere, the cultural and political unrest will only grow worse.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
