My Father Did Not Die for This: Guest MINDSETTER™ Cerullo

My Father Did Not Die for This: Guest MINDSETTER™ Cerullo

My father did not die for the sort of America that Trump, his sycophants and henchmen tried to bring to our country over the past four years.

They have attempted to savage our Democracy and deaden its soul.

As a therapist, my work requires that I take a non-judgmental and open-minded view of other people, their beliefs and aspirations. I believe I have been able to do this throughout the past four years regardless of my personal beliefs.

But the right to free speech stops when it is used to incite the assault on democracy we witnessed on January 6. Trump's actions and words have indeed incited domestic terrorism.

This is not the way any of the many, many Republicans I knew throughout my youth would have acted. Nor is it the way the Democrats with whom they had respectful, collegial, citizen serving relationships would have. Our family benefited immeasurably from the advocacy of both a Democrat and a Republican before my Dad died of a service-connected disability.

In his memory, and to the memory of all the members of the Greatest Generation, what we witnessed Wednesday should bring tears to the eyes of every American Citizen, regardless of their faith, race, ethnicity, identity or political position. It has to mine.

I pray that we will now stand together, as family, friends and community, whatever our politics. Let us dust off the debris of the past four years from our spirits. 
Let us resume, for the sake of all of our children and children’s children, our respectful and shared pursuit of the American Dream “with liberty and justice for all”.

Michael C. Cerullo, Jr. is the leader of What’s the Rush, RI?