My wife Alice and I are not having our after-the-holidays party this year. It’s a 20+ year tradition; a welcome respite for our friends following Christmas and Hanukah. Guests always say how much they appreciate a party after the holidays and having a chance to finally relax.
This year, however, I told my Alice that Trump voters were not welcome in my home. Living in Dallas, Texas, and given the conservative bent of our friends, that meant no party. We couldn’t invite only the few people we knew who conformed to our sense of decency. We weren’t even sure where some of our neighbors stood. So we cancelled the whole affair.
In fact, I went further. I told my tennis group, whom I had known for years, I would no longer be playing with them, since most were Trump supporters. I stated that I could not socialize with people who lacked a moral compass which I consider fundamental to being American.
What has brought about such an extreme reaction in me, to the point of cutting off relationships and ceasing activities that I enjoy? It’s really not that complicated.