Keeping My Enemies Close

WHEN THE PRESIDENT of the United States runs for reelection, loses, then claims that he actually won and that the election was stolen from him, he becomes a traitor, a traitor to democracy. When he implements a carefully orchestrated plan to violently overthrow the United States government by inciting a mob to insurrection for the purpose of remaining illegally in power, he becomes a traitor to his country. This is indidputable, applicable to all presidents under all circumstances. Fortunately, traitorous presidents like Trump are few and far between, Jefferson Davis excepted. A project of such insurrectional ambition necessates a large number of accomplices or it will die on the vine. Without substantial support from immediate subordiates and from among the general public, anundertaking of this magnitude will be laughed into oblivion before it even begin. The very monet President Trump announced to the world, on election night, that he actually won the election, he should have been ridiculaed to scorn by the American people, then ignored. Instead he not only was taken seriously by about seventy five million supporters, they continue to support him, and quite possibly will succeed in electing him once again to the presidency. But before that happens, the former president, now under several federal indictments with seemingly more to come, might be convicted of several felonies, and sentenced to prison. Unlikely though this scenario seems, stranger things have happened, as we often say. "We are never deceived, we only deceive ourselves", said Goethe. Trump's supporters, who nearly universally still support his outrageous election lie and most of whom still insist that the insurrection he and they enacted was justified by circumstances, have by their support of Trump's traitorous crimes themselves become traitors. Among them are several of my friends, friends of mine for decades. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer", said Machiavellii. Although Trump has not yet been convicted of incitement to insurrection or of defrauding the American people of of abuse of public office, there seems to be at least a reasonable chance that eventually he will be. When millions of people witness someone comitting a crime in living color on national television, it is not unreasonable nor unjust to claim that indeed, crimes have been committed. If you see someone kill another person in person, you are not required to await a jury verict before condlucing that a murder has been committed. My former friends are now my enemies politically and civically. Are they not taaitors to demoracy and to their country any less than Trump himself? Socially, personally they are still my friends, if they are willing. I am willing to have social friends who are my civic enemies, if they are. I don't disguise my point of view from them, nor from anybody. I keep my enemies close.