As we watch the impeachment trial in the United States Senate unfold of President Donald John Trump, we can only wonder whether the Republican Senators will act in a fair and just way or whether they will act in an unfair and unjust way to obtain some personal benefit.
Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
The House of Representatives has decided that President Trump has committed impeachable offenses against the American people as measured against the standards of the constitution of the United States. This decision has been made along party lines with Democrats deciding the President has committed impeachable acts and the Republicans have decided he hasn't.
Which side is right? Where is the truth? This decision about the truth of the allegations will be determined by the evidence. The evidence clearly demonstrates that the behavior was engaged in and the offenses were committed.
The facts are not in dispute, only the interpretation of what the facts mean, and what is to be done about the harm that is alleged to have occurred and continues to occur.
To what extent are denial, minimization, displacement, projection, and rationalization unfair and unjust? These defense mechanisms are permitted in America's adversarial criminal justice system. These defense mechanisms are permitted even if the use of them leads to a false and unfair conclusion.
The problem of justice and fairness is not resolved by siding with one or the other sides of the disgreement and conflict. The problem can only be resolved by questioning the system of adjudication itself.
The problem is not Donald Trump's behavior but the harm that has been done to the democratic institutions and credibility of the U.S. government and the impact on U.S. relationships with its allies and its reputation and credibility around the world.
A constructive adjudication of the charges is not obtained by the congressional conflicted parties but by the offender and the people harmed. What is the harm that Donld Trump's behavior has had on the integrity of the democratic instituions which the American people governed by these institutions have come to depend on? What is the harm that has been done to American's allies. Once this harm is assessed and agreed to, then a plan to repair the harm can be developed.
With Donald Trump's refusal to take responsibility for the harm that has been done, there is little hope that repair of that harm will be attempted by he and his administration. It will be left for others and the best that can be done is that the powers that enabled the perpetration of the injustice to begin with be stripped away from the perpetrator.
In reflecting on this situation of impeachment of Donald Trump which option seems to be the fairest and the most just?
A. Donald Trump is acquitted by the Senate and continues in office.
B. Donald Trump is found culpable and his behavior is censured.
C. Donald Trump is found culpable and is removed from office.
D. The matter is swept under the rug and the American people forget about it.
E. The Senate acquits and citizens become more actively involved in their democracy to advocate for fairness and justice in their political processes.
F. Other _______________________________________-----
What, if anything, should a good Unitarian Univeralist do in regards to this impeachment of President Trump and the harm that has been done to the American people, its allies, and all the people around the world?
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