by Peter Weinberger | pweinberger@claremont-courier.com

As we witness events unique for this generation, I cannot help but feel Americans need to show the world how we can bridge our differences and unite as a nation.

On Wednesday, I watched 500 people march to the Claremont police station and peacefully, passionately express their views on police brutality. They joined groups all over the nation doing the same thing.

Black lives matter and the COURIER is 100 percent in support of their mission to end police violence against African Americans. The killing of George Floyd was a brutal death right in front of our eyes. Unfortunately, we were shocked by what happened, but not surprised.

Now with former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis speaking out against the president, it’s time citizens work together in November to oust the man doing everything possible to tear this country apart. “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us,” he said.

Mr. Mattis went on to say, “We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise; and to our children.”

The one thing this pandemic has done is take down the curtain—like in the Wizard of Oz—showing a man who cares little for the people he governs. Mr. Trump has become a threat to our democracy, with his constant lies and bravado, proving he cannot govern at any level. His daily virus updates were a travesty that included giving medical advice to ingest poison as a remedy. The president’s lies are now so regular and profound, even Twitter sees the need to warn the public about his statements. A new low for any American president.

The result is that the US has three times more deaths from the coronavirus than any other country.

Like Mr. Mattis, I’m sick and tired. Not from the pandemic, but of a president who thinks he’s above the law, answering to no one. I encourage everyone to act in November and show this president he has to answer to US citizens. He is ultimately responsible for our country’s actions and losses.

So ask yourself this question first stated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter. “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” If your answer is no, let’s vote Donald Trump out of office in November.