Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee’s 1989 film, has been rolling around in my thoughts of late. And when I heard historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author, Jon Meacham, at Aurora University a few weeks ago, he used that -- a look at our present moment through the lens of history, reminding us of previous times of division and fear.
Meacham believes the soul of this country is not all good or bad -- that our better angels battle regularly with our lesser ones. I had hoped he would broach the topic of impeachment, but instead he offered what I interpreted as an optimistic view -- that if we change our national narrative through honesty and empathy, our better angels would regain control.
A few months ago, before the Ukrainian development, I was where Speaker Pelosi was on impeachment -- that we couldn’t afford any action that might weaken the Democrats’ chances in 2020, especially in the face of the Republican held Senate. But I now see that as shirking our Constitutional duty.
Trump, ever insolent and smug, continues to deny and deflect the mounting evidence insinuating him in offenses that need to be brought to trial. “Lesser angels” is too mild of a term to describe what’s driving the narrative of this country, and I realize it’s way past time to “do the right thing.”
I'm Paula Garrett and that's my perspective.
