Can you love Donald Trump and company? Do we need to love them in order to get a better world?

[This post is the first post moved from the Mueller thread that was discussing the fate of the Mueller Report. -- JM]

This will be resolved over the next several months, I think. Yet people will be talking about it for years to come. The republicans are projecting all over the place. Their accusations are confessions. It will boomerang. 

I live in trump country. I stay very calm and relaxed when hearing comments from his supporters. I ask, have you read or listened to the Mueller Report? When someone says he’s done good things for our country, I ask, what specifically has he done that is good for our country?  I listen and I do my best to share factual information. When they say how great the economy is, I say are you aware that employees at (blank) are making $8 an hr? Can you live on earning $8 an hr? We have a well funded food pantry that is packed every week. If our economy is doing great why do we have so many people in our community in need of food, shelter and clothing? If our economy is doing great why do I have teenagers coming to the door raising money so they can have school supplies?

I attend a weekly bible study. Over the last few weeks LBGTQ has come up. I researched all scripture both Old and New Testament that are twisted and used to persecute people. I found a comprehensive study unpacking each of the verses, addressing what was happening during that period of time in history. Scripture is silent on committed relationships of the same sex.  So often Scripture is taken out of context and twisted rather than looking at the entire narrative as well as the Culture, historical facts, and what specifically was going on at the time that the writer targeted oppressive, immoral behavior.  

When asked if I’m a Christian, my reply is..well it depends on you mean by that. Frequently in this forum I find what informs my faith and hope for a new creation. Continually moving forward with love and light for ALL people. Supporting and helping those who are persecuted and oppressed. Things many of you write about. Language like “being saved” or “Are you a believer?” make me wanna gag. That seems more like an event than a process. Regardless of our spiritual beliefs, I think we might all agree it’s a process to be explored, tweaked and lived out. There is ongoing depth and movement in the process. Also missteps along the way. What a journey to take with others..especially others who do not think as we do. So much to learn from one another. I’m nearing 70 and I find it exciting to hang out with a younger generation of people who have caused me to look at life a bit differently. Teachers all around us moving forward in goodness, truth and beauty. 

Our democracy is taking a beating. There are opportunities to glean from this. We need to continue to walk along side of each other and step by step move forward encouraging others.  The only way out is through.

Thank-you, Stardancer. You are a true heart warrior. 

Brilliant Stardancer!  I am a yoga practiciner (who still can't spell) We believe the light and truth are a journey within ourselves.  When we successfully unite body, mind and soul.  I am broken right now but working on my path back.  My journey started in 1976 and will continue until my end.  I  have observed many born agains, including in my own family, and I noticed many can easily pick and choose the items they wish to quote from the Bible.  Many choose to ignore the  love thy neighbor as yourself section!  

The thing about many Trumpsters is they are like him.  Bullies!  If you go toe to toe with them armed with the facts they sputter and get nasty.  If you go toe to toe and look them in the eye and say BOO they run away.  

Someone noted the other day on twitter that unemployment is low because many people are working two jobs.  How is the eceonomy so great if farmers have to receive Government relief?  

I agree the Reps are using delay tacktics.  Guiliani going to the Ukrane to try to strong arm them into investigating Hilliary and Biden is ridiculous.  I honestly believe this is all going ot backfire on them.  Trump is a master blackmailer, I believe they are counting on the two new Supreme court justices he installed to save the day when all these law suits are heard.  I think he might have a rude awakening.  Although I am not a fan of Roberts he has proved in the past to be a man who honors the law of the land.

All of the threats the Reps are making are going to come back and bite them in the butt sooner or later.  I believe the American people are basically good and will become tired of compassion being a crime.  In the end Karma  is going to come for them.  It will take a while to sort it out because the Reps have made a mess of things.  It probably won't be in  my lifetime but I certainly hope Trump's downfall is.

Stardancer,

I really resonate with a lot of what you said.  I admire how you seem to maintain a certain sense of detachment as you engage with T**** supporters.   I sense that you communicate with them gently but powerfully.  I must admit, I don’t know if I could do that.  Right now I’m at that you’re-a-waste-of-my-time stage.  But I have the luxury of living in a blue, progressive county of a purple state, so I can pick and choose with whom I associate.  Funny, though … as I say that, I also admit that there is enormous value in engaging with those who think so differently from you.    You’re exercising your spiritual muscle.   And we’re all connected in spirit.  I mean, isn’t that part of being a lightworker?   Why am I assuming that it should be easy?

I just read the following article which was written by a former general counsel for the FBI who was removed shortly after the new director was installed. It gives a perspective on loving those who we find very hard to love at the moment: 

https://www.lawfareblog.com/why-i-do-not-hate-donald-trump

It is well worth reading. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Dear Baba,

Thank you for posting that article by Mr. Baker.  I found it profound in some ways. First, the quotes from Jesus and from Dr. King were good foundations for his argument. I really can sympathize with his reasoning that carrying anger and hatred for Trump and the power of people behind him--that part of our society does allow them to live rent-free in your head and heart and weakens us. I just don't understand how to love him and those that support him. I am angry and upset at what their actions do to undermine our democracy. While vengeance may be absent, I will be satisfied with justice and nothing less. I am so angry for justice. I want justice like a dehydrated, thirsty man in the middle of the desert wants a drink of water, desires to be quenched. Curiously, I don't have the same emotions for Putin and Russia. I view them as I view a snake, it is their nature, what they do to protect and promote their nation. However, I do recognize this feeling and I felt similar intense feelings of anger to Bin Laden, Atta and their cohorts who took control of those planes on 9/11 and flew them into the Pentagon, WTC and the plane that crashed in PA--terrorists who killed so many people and my cousin. I don't walk around angry all the time however, I stay away from Trump tweets and his televised speeches because it like presses the button again. I have restricted myself to watching the news Sunday morning (once a week). I might scan a headline (NYT sends me an overview of the news every morning in my email) but I do not delve and don't necessarily read them every day. I try to focus on what is happening with the Democratic candidates. I am reading novels and cookbooks and learning about gardening and design. I am taking naps and keeping busy with work and working on my house-- sorting, discarding and organizing. So I can understand what Baker is saying, just cannot give Trump love, benefit of the doubt (I don't believe one thing he asserts - he lies all the time and by extension, don't believe any news coming out of his government/cabinet/departments-- I think they all lie to conform to his approval). I have no faith at all in the executive branch of the government nor the Republican representatives/senators. To me they are all bad actors with no conscience--just greedheads looking for personal enrichment, power and control over people who deserve by the Constitution to be free. The Judiciary is a big question still but I understand it has been filled/is being filled with corrupt idealogues and has historically been a racist institution and have little faith left for them. I shudder for our future generations. 

Yes, Baba, that article is well worth the read. 

The old saying goes "fight fire with fire."  I get why some would think that applies in this situation. But we're not dealing with fire. We're dealing with humans and their emotions. We're dealing with hatred and darkness. You don't respond to hate and dark with more hate and dark. You respond with love and light. 

We are all here to learn and teach on a spiritual level. Souls here are of varying 'ages' for lack of a better term. Some are old souls and some are young. The old are here to teach (and if old/wise enough, learn themselves from those they teach), and the young to learn. Those who are filled with hate, fear, and darkness will remain hateful, fearful, and in the dark so long as no one has shown them that there is love, peace, and light. 

We don't teach kids math by repeating their ignorance on the subject, nor should we degrade them for not knowing materials that are above their grade level. This lesson is hard to apply when we're talking about human traits instead of academics. 

Earlier in this thread there was talk of the Bible and how some mis-use or misinterpret it to weaponize it. This is true. Many of these folks cherry pick verses to back their opinion. Cherry picking is a well known tool to bullies, narcisists, conspiracy theorists, and others who are not well adjusted or self aware. They'll point out a single tree instead of seeing the forest. If you look closely, most of the few Biblical references to LGBTQ issues are in books authored by Paul-formerly known as Christian hating/persecuting Saul of Tarsus. While Saul saw the light of Christ and reformed, that does not mean he lost all of his animosity towards others prior to authoring his books in the Bible. Such folks can see that Numbers included dimensions for the proper place of worship, that animals with cloven hooves are not to be used as food or their skins used, or that a woman can't divorce a husband or even enter a church at specified times as old customs or prejudices, reflective of the time the book was written, not as a general directive on how to live life for all perpetuity. Yet lessons that were meant to never be challenged-like treat others how you would like to be treated, or judge not lest you be judged are tossed out only when it is self serving. 

Here again, such misunderstanding of the meaning of such valuable spiritual lessons are not fully comprehended by the younger soul. This is why the older souls among us need to be steadfast in demonstrating them. The younger souls will learn. The elementary school teacher doesn't always see their pupils future academic achievements, and that's ok. It's a group effort to educate a child, from those who instill the foundation/building blocks to those who teach secondary or post secondary topics. It's not much different in the spiritual realms. 

We shouldn't judge others. You never know who is the teacher and who is the student when here on Earth. Who is to say that that abrasive relative isn't in your life to teach you patience or forgiveness? Sure, it could just as easily be the reverse-the abrasive individual may be here to learn to be more loving to others by being exposed to someone loving, patient and kind. We just don't know until we leave this plane and remember what our lesson objectives were when we signed up to come here. 

While it seems to all  be unfolding in slow motion, and is taking far too long to correct, Mueller will testify, as will others. People who haven't read his report or reliable reporting on it will be shocked to find out what he really found and thinks. That  light on the hill can't be hidden, no matter how much the administration or fake news tries. The self serving, unpatriotic ways of this administration and those who covered for him in any way will have light raining down on their darkest recesses. While many of us may never be satisfied with the consequences for some of these folks, what debt is still owed will be collected in the hereafter. It is the principle of Karma. Many of these souls will have to return to human form any number of times, till they learn the lessons they need to learn. So too will teachers return to teach them.  

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Light, love,and hugs to all who find themselves missing their mothers, or to all the mothers missing their children today. 

Baba,

Thank you for the article.  I felt chills as I read it, which is always confirmation for me from Spirit that I'm recognizing truth.   This past Friday I also watched a wonderful interview that Rachel Maddow had with the author of that article, James Baker.  I’ve attached the interview, which is broken up in three sections.  I’m not sure if you can access it without subscribing to MSNBC:  https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/baker-trump-attacks-could-make-law-enforcement-hesitant-59423301822

I have similar feelings as Rowsella.  I too want justice.  I struggle the most with this Administration’s cruelty.  Sometimes it feels too hard to take.   I like Rowsella’s approach with limiting the amount of news watching, and spending time doing things that gives your life some order and joy.  We need to be balanced in our day-to-day life.  I actually believe that such balance can give us perspective and soften our hearts.  

Regarding loving T and his followers – I find it a little easier now to love the voters who support him.  I believe that their allegiance is all based in fear.  But I still keep them at a distance, and can’t get into a discussion with them about it.   It’s for my own health and self-preservation.  I’m already physically spent with some health issues, so I don’t want to waste my energy engaging. 

Regarding loving T … that’s still a tough one for me.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I was unable to pray for T until one evening, while I was praying during my Silent Minute.  I felt very accepting and open, and prayed that T find healing and that his heart softens.  I was met with a vision of a dark cave, with an invisible barrier that nothing could penetrate.  It felt awful, so I disengaged. 

A thought just popped into my head.  If I picture T* as a small child, I feel very sad.  He was a child once, totally reliant on his family for security, love, and acceptance.    I could always love and pray for T*, the child.

I think many of us walk a knife edge between hatred and peace in the Trump era. How can we love Donald Trump?  I certainly don't.

 But I don't want hatred to consume me either.  Not only will hatred harm me, but I could do as much harm to others if I hold on to hatred.  

The Dali Lama hit the nail on the head when he said that we can't create world peace until we find peace in our hearts. And if our hearts are filled with hatred, then there's no peace. 

During the French Revolution, the revolutionaries murdered thousands of people.  At one point, they crowded over two thousand people onto a barge and sunk it. Fueled by centuries of injustice, that is what raw hatred can do. Then in came Napoleon, a dictator not much better than the monarchy they overthrew.  

Hatred, even if justified, does not create a better world. 

So what do I do with my hatred?  I take a good look at Donald Trump and his enablers.  A really good look.  Now, I'm not going to love them at least not in my current raw state of mind. I need to calm down, take good care of myself, and step away from the stress first.  

Then what I can do  is to make an effort to understand and accept the conditions in them and in our world that gave way to making them the way they are.  

Understanding and acceptance lead me to something I can do that is one step towards love: forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the key for me to finding that inner peace.  But hang in with me. Forgiveness is not saying they are okay.

Long ago I met a forgiveness guru and best selling author, Joan Borsynko. She told me that forgiveness is not condoning what someone did, but simply understanding what led them to do that.  

Forgiveness is a radical acceptance of reality in which we open our eyes wide to our world and everyone in it, and we see deeply.  

We may hate what happened.  We may hate the pain we see people suffer at the hands of others.  We may hate the behavior of some people and we may want them to pay for what they did.  But if we are willing to really see our world and everyone in it, then we will also see forces that make people do the things they do.  We will wake up to reality and the way life works. And awakened, we can breathe into it, which just means that we let our psyches integrate and digest that reality rather than push it away.  It is, after all, our world and we have to live in it, even as we work to change it.   After that we can work for change, but the changes we will make will be fair to all and non violent. 

So our radical understanding of the way things are, and the forces that caused someone to do what they did, leads to acceptance. We do want to change the injustice and the cruelty.   But the best way to change it is to really see clearly the way things are. Otherwise, we are likely to create an equally dark world than the one we now despise. 

As for actually loving the likes of Donald Trump, the closest I came occurred when I was on a silent retreat with loving kindness guru, Sharon Saltzberg.  Meditating many hours a day in a beautiful setting with kind people, I turned my gaze towards Donald Trump while in a state of  love for the world.  He appeared in my mind's eye as a stunted little child-man running around along with a bunch of other little stunted child-men.  I can't say I felt love for him, but I felt compassion. 

As for the love advocated in your post, Baba,  I agree it's a supreme idea and thank you for bringing it up. It takes a lot of inner work. And self care.  I want to feel that way some day.