The Content of Their Character

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that one-day people would be judged for the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.  The continued promotion of D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) throughout our culture has become the antithesis of that dream. It seeks to reward and promote people based solely on the color of their skin, ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity. It is seen throughout business and economy, politics, education, entertainment, and other areas of culture. 

As this nation moves closer to the November election, we are once again seeing how D.E.I and identity politics are playing a major role. People deny the reality that one of the candidates was chosen, not for their qualifications but solely for their ethnicity and gender. Some will claim that the previous roles that this candidate held validate their qualifications, however, none of those so-called qualifications were acknowledged by their superior as a reason for their selection. 

As much as underprivileged minorities might have not liked that they had to prove themselves by being two and three times as good to get the same or less than acknowledgment just a couple decades ago; now there is an open acknowledgment that they will coast on their identity alone and not put in the effort to be good because D.E.I. made things “fair” for them now. 

Are we really calling this fair? Are we really saying that being chosen for our color/race is what we want? Are we really rejecting Martin’s dream? What sense does that make? What happened to the days when we prided ourselves on putting in effort and achieving by merit? I know we live in a time where the mantra is “work smarter, not harder,” but D.E.I. is not that. 

You can say what you want about the current presidential candidate for the Democratic party, but you cannot point to any specific qualified reason for her selection other than race and gender. In the previous presidential race, she was not highly preferred by voting Democrats. In fact, she was an early dropout from the race because her numbers were so low. Even now, as she campaigns, she does not point to anything that suggests the qualities of the commander-in-chief. Her record as holding the office of vice president does nothing to suggest that she can be the top person in the executive branch of our government. Border Czar aside, can you honestly point to anything that she was tasked to accomplish and did successfully? 

I don’t know how you have previously looked at the two main people who are seeking your vote in the coming election, but I would suggest looking at the content of their character. It has been said that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. It’s interesting to see all the pundits and those who oppose the former president becoming the next president accuse him of wanting to be a dictator and be the ruin of “our democracy.” His track record has shown him to be someone with a high regard for the law and the constitution.  

His respect for the Constitution caused him to appoint judges who interpret the law according to their original intent, not as they wished it to be. His respect for the law positioned him to respect the separation of powers between federal and state authorities when the COVID-19 crisis hit. He did unilaterally mandate anything beyond the first two-week stay home that had been recommended.  

His respect for promises made was to follow through on a promise made to Israel by every president that preceded him from the time of Bill Clinton up to Barack Obama; to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. Every promise he personally made was kept, against the greatest opposition of the legislative branch of government, including securing the southern border. 

When the 2020 elections were held, he contested the validity of the election's outcome. Contrary to popular cries of the media and the democratic party, he did not deny the peaceful transition of power to be disrupted. They shout to the heavens that he is power hungry and mad, yet he served, giving up control of his business interest, he took no pay but instead gave it away.  

Those who are attempting to keep him from returning have done all but kill him and nearly accomplished that. If you look closely, those who are lifelong politicians appear to be the power-hungry ones. It is said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It would seem those who have been in power for 30, 40, 50, and even 60 years are the ones who are truly striving to hold onto power. Career politicians have dug their heels in hoping to retain it. What is their true fear? What is the true agenda? What is the true threat? 

The content of their character is what truly needs to be looked at in the remaining months leading up to the election. The time to put aside the noise, the propaganda, the hype, and the shine. It’s time to strip everything down to the ground but what is true. Ask yourself if you are seeing things for what they are or what others are telling you what you should see.  

I’m reminded of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where Captain Picard had been captured by Cardassians. The leader of the Cardassians promised that he would be given better treatment and even potentially released if he would tell him how many lights there were. The truth was that there were four lights. The Cardassian leader wanted Captain Picard to say that there were five. Even at the cost of his freedom, and not knowing that his freedom had already been secured, under pressure, he refused to say that there were five lights.  

Now is the time for Americans to see things as they are and acknowledge our freedoms are at stake, our future is at stake, and our country is at stake. We must be willing to vote according to the content of the character rather than the color of their skin. It’s time to live according to Martin's dream and prove that we are that generation that believes better and chooses to live better because we are not beholden to the whims of those who are desperate to keep what they have not earned.