A New America

Here’s the speech Trump ought to give in Dayton and El Paso on Wednesday. Mr. President, please feel free to use at will, no remuneration required.

“I come to you today with a heavy heart. So let me just say one thing. I’m not directing my remarks to my supporters — yes, I hear you out there. I love you all, love you. You have worked so hard to create the greatest presidency in the history of the world which I have delivered to you. Are you tired of winning yet?

“No, this is directed at the 30 percent of Americans out there who don’t like me, but who can’t find any inspiration or confidence in the Democratic Party in 2019. People who love our country and want to make it better. People who work hard and are responsible, and who expect the same of their fellow citizens.

“I know many of you don’t like me, or my style. I understand that. Frankly, and I’m going to be very honest now, I’ve earned some of that disregard. I have been callous. I have hurt people. In hindsight, I believe I’ve disrespected people who are eminently worthy of respect. Elijah, I’m looking at you brother.

“I’m taking this on. I’m used to being a piñata for the media and the liberal elites. I’m used to the enmity of the Speaker and other progressives in Congress. I’m even used to the big inflatable baby Donalds at many of the protests.

“What I’m not used to, and will not accept, is all the division in this country. So I’m taking responsibility as the President to recognize how I’ve contributed to this division and from this day forward I’m committing myself to building bridges to reconnect our country.

“And I do mean our entire country. For too long, I’ve assumed that my vision of America was the right vision and the only vision. I chalk some of that up to a state of irrational exuberance after becoming the most powerful man in the world.

“But on reflection after two years in office, I realize this was a mistake. There are many visions of America, almost as many visions as there Americans. None of them are right to the exclusion of all others, except maybe the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I don’t think any of us would disagree with that sacred vision.

“This is the true beauty of America — that we are not static, but dynamic; that we are reinventing ourselves all the time; and that this dynamic process of reinvention is being driven by the beautiful diversity of ideas we have in this country.

“We all know this. ‘E pluribus unum,’ the rallying cry of our country, is based on this very idea of diversity. It is our bedrock, the American grain itself, as William Carlos Williams once said.

“There is no ‘other’ in America. We are all the other and we are all brothers and sisters in this cradle of liberty. Yes, we should have some rules and guidelines governing entry into this great country, but built around a big open door that welcomes all who come here with strong hands and clear hearts.

“The deaths we have witnessed are a tragedy that mere words cannot capture. They came out of the hatred and hopelessness of individuals who slipped through the cracks of family, community and law enforcement.

“And it’s not just Gilroy, El Paso and Dayton. It’s also Chicago. It’s the quiet, anonymous deaths of people on the streets of our cities due to simple lack of shelter. It’s the deaths of people in our health care system who can’t get the care they need.

“Everyone of us today holds the same question in their hearts: What can we do to stop this madness — and this is surely what this is, sheer madness — and reclaim the better angels of our nature.

“The most important thing is to grieve together, listen to one another, and create something positive out of these tragedies. Let’s all walk forth with a common vision, built on the beautiful diversity of our country. That is a vision of love and compassion for one another; a vision of respect for our differences, not hate; a vision that there is no problem or challenge to which America cannot rise if we do it together, whether it is gun control, immigration, or health care.

“A dear friend of mine who is aging told me once that when he goes to church and approaches the altar for the sacrament, he sometimes has to reach out and touch a shoulder at the end of the pew to steady himself.

“Right now, put your hand on the shoulder of the person next to you and steady yourself. Reflect on the meaning of respect and community. Ask yourself every day, ‘What can I do today to show respect and build a stronger community?’ 

“If we all do that everyday, we will make a difference. I promise you. We will rise and expand in this great experiment of humanity we call America. We will win — good over evil, love over hate, responsibility over chaos. 

“God bless the souls of those we lost, God bless their families and friends, God bless this good community, and God bless America.”