This impeachment was about the character of a nation

Social media is a curious thing. Even before the words of Sen. Mitt Romney faded into silence, a son of the President was posting vulgarities about the Senator.

Sadly, thanks to always-on news and instant publication for all, tribalism, outrage, and blind acquiescence have overcome a political society like a plague.

During the course of the impeachment “trial”, I felt compelled, given the historical significance, to publish my thoughts about what I heard on a given day in context to the history and law I have studied. Many sent texts and emails and private messages thanking me for those posts.

That people did not feel comfortable liking a post or commenting publicly says a lot about the rabid nature of politics and civil discourse in America today.

Given the speed and cacophony of scorn and praise … it seemed prudent to let the events of this week pass a bit and allow good thought to be applied before providing a final thought on impeachment.

Thomas Paine is most famous for writing, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” Within that same pamphlet, “The Crisis,” Paine also writes, “Character is much easier kept than recovered.”

This essay is written at a time when the many states were barely holding on to their collective triumph of independence and new-found unity. The character of the nation was being forged. But division among the states was growing due to selfish passions and territorial greed.

Until Paine’s lonely death in 1809, he believed his purpose was to articulate the conscience of America. Paine knew something about character. He knew he wasn’t perfect. He knew that many of his positions placed him beyond the grace of old friends like George Washington. But as time passed and as the country grew, Paine’s reputation could not be recovered.

In every person’s life, a situation will arise that requires that person to weigh the balance of their character against their deepest principles. Very few of us will have that situation play out as a national historical moment, like it did for Senator Mitt Romney this week.

Senator Romney gave each of us a gift this week. He showed all Americans what it looks like when our duty as Citizens meets our most sacred personal convictions. He showed us how to keep one’s character.