American freedom is enviable not only to every citizen of the world, but an enigma in human history. Instead of a nation ruled by the divine right of kings, under which humanity suffered throughout time, America is governed by Americans. Operating not by despotic rule, but guided by founding documents which crystalize our most basic rights and ideals: freedom and independence.

Devotion to ideas like personal liberty, is what makes America exceptional. Our existence is possible because Americans not only rejected loyalty to a king, they actively rebelled against him and his subjects. The American Revolutionary War was our first civil war over who would rule; the people, or the king?

Shortly after America claimed victory against the largest empire in the world, the desire to pledge allegiance to a man (George Washington) was strong, almost innate. President Washington, thankfully, rejected all sweeping adulations.

Put simply, the American way is to value principles: freedom, independence, the right to live a life without government interference, approval, or tedious meddling.

It is unAmerican, therefore, to pledge political obedience to a man (or woman).

From 2008 to 2016, the American right actively protested the socialistic schemes of Barack Obama. Coming to a head in 2009 when President Obama and the Democrat Congress shoved the Affordable Care Act down the unwilling throats of the American public. Who didn’t cast a vote for the disastrous bill.

In response, the right formed the TEA Party, paying special homage to early patriots who tossed the British’s tea into Boston Harbor. Our modern TEA Party, believing we were taxed enough already, were concerned the American way of life (freedom from encroaching government which was increasingly taxing without representation) was threatened. They organized a grassroots movement to resist President Obama, regardless of the media’s constant pillorying of “racism” toward any disloyal subject who dared question or protest him.

Blind loyalty to a president was a problem under Obama. So it is a problem under Trump.

If at this point you’re barely containing a seething rage, because someone dared suggest dedication for ideas not a president, stop and consider for a moment how you came to abandon principles you once held dear. For a man.

Sidenote: yes, Trump is better than Hillary. Yes, Gorsuch is BAE. “Whataboutism” isn’t going to fly here. Stop it.

Who or what Donald Trump is doesn’t actually matter for the sake of my argument. What matters, the problem, is the blind following he apparently has.

After last night’s election, wherein the Democrats picked up more seats in largely blue states, some reactions reached peak boot-licking kiss ass. Trump’s loyalists blamed #NeverTrump or blamed other Republicans for not “embracing” Donald Trump. Blaming the disloyal for Republican losses nationwide.

Kind of like this:

Conclusion? Pledge loyalty to our president. Or be blamed for Democratic domination.

Therein lies our problem. Too many Americans have ceded with their conservative principles to instead lead lives of discipleship for a president they love. Damnation be upon anyone who cross or not fully “embrace” the dear leader.

Notice I’m not attacking Trump’s character, principles, beliefs, or choice in hair style. I’m not attacking Trump at all. This isn’t about Trump.

Instead I’m asking an open question: when did it become acceptable to hold a president above principles? For if I were to voice opposition to Trump on (pick your issue), instead of reasonable responses, I’d likely be inundated with Whatboutism arguments. Told such things as “Well, no one else would’ve won against Hillary” (a convenient deflection, as we can’t exactly test the theory), and “What good were Republicans doing anyway?” Which is a valid argument for another time.

The Republicans are mostly useless sacks of crap. If you’d rather not wait for my next OpEd.

You may think the arguments cited two paragraphs up are "straw men." If only.

Anytime one side loses to the other, we must regroup. What went wrong? How can we improve as a movement? Where do we go from here? Fair questions if what we seek is a free America.

All questions we can and will answer as Democrats engage in insufferable gloating and overreach.

Rather than attaching so much meaning to a man, why not reflect on our history for some answers: staying true to our American ideals, not blind trust in a politician.

Written by Courtney Kirchoff