My take on the state of our democracy? Right now we’re standing in the road, trapped in a collision between crazy and cruel. If we have any hope of regaining our lives and our liberties, we must make our voices heard.
That’s what the group, 50501, is all about. And that’s why I am asking people to help build this movement. Of many things we can do to help, one tactic is very hard for me–welcome back those folks who have been hurt by MAGA.
I admit it: I am a true F Around and Find Out kind of gal. If you vote for criminal idiocy and then you become a victim of criminal idiocy, the voice in my head is screaming a loud, righteous, “I told you so!”
But vendettas and grudges are the MAGA way. If we are to reclaim our country, our state, and our communities, we need to recruit folks to join the struggle. That means extending grace. It means extending understanding and compassion to past MAGA supporters who have been stung by the outrageous policies.
A caveat: I am not talking about the 15% who make up the cutlish core of Trumpers who are filled with bile and hatred. I’m talking about our friends, our neighbors, our family members who may have just been hoodwinked by the idea of a different style of politics.
For the 50501 Movement to succeed it will be built, in part, on the understanding of where MAGA found its strength. Ironically, MAGA unified around the idea of division. That division created disunity. In disunity grew the chaos they needed to hoodwink ordinary people into thinking that billionaires have their best interests at heart. In disunity, MAGA appealed to society’s most venal impulses and ignored our better angels.
As painful as it is to see an authoritarian regime attack Americans, we must embrace some of those who empowered them.
Our basic values will guide us. After all, hatred or exclusion have no place in our shared future. And we can acknowledge that, to some, the MAGA movement was more than just a political ideology; it was a movement that promised to listen, to hear them. They felt they were voiceless–and sometimes they were. They felt they were powerless–and sometimes they were. MAGA promised. They believed.
So, how do we bring these folks back into the fold?
First, we must listen. People will not trust us if we are unwilling to listen to their stories. We must listen to listen to why they supported certain policies or leaders. Listen to their concerns, their fears, and their hopes. We must give them space to reflect and speak freely without judgment.
Second, we must offer empathy and forgiveness. Bitterness or retribution will not heal our divided country. We truly believe in the values of inclusivity. And that means creating a path for people to return. That means giving them the dignity of redemption. We can acknowledge their mistakes without erasing their humanity.
Third, we should focus on shared goals and values. We must find areas where our hopes for a better nation align. Whether it’s the desire for a robust economy, equitable healthcare, or safer communities, there is common ground waiting to be found. Working together on tangible solutions will build trust once more.
Lastly, we must lead with love, patience, and resilience. There is no quick fix to political polarization. But when we extend our hand with the belief that we can grow together, even in disagreement, we create a foundation for long-lasting unity. It is easy to keep people at arm’s length, to mock them for their past choices, but it takes courage to invite them back into the conversation.
This is NOT easy. We admire courage because it is difficult. But we can do this. We can forgive. We can find the wisdom to understand. We can overcome anger, and fear, and resentment, to recreate the vision of a nation of people unified in their pursuit of liberty and justice. We can recreate an American Way that leads–once again–to an American dream of prosperity and peace for all.
Let us be the generation that rises above division, that reaches out to those who may have once felt lost, and guides them back into the fold with grace and love.