In a letter that likely took on new importance in light of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, a Seattle teacher addressed the dangers of a Trump second term.
In an opinion piece for The News Tribune last week, Michael McSweeney penned an emotional message to his former students as he begged “forgiveness.” The 71-year-old retired teacher was venting about the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity and lamented that the high court and Congress had not succeeded in protecting the nation from another Trump presidency.
“Dear kids, I lied to you. Every single one of you. From 1974 through 2017. And now I feel terrible about it,” McSweeney wrote in the op-ed published on July 8, days before Trump was targeted by a would-be assassin at his Butler, Pa. rally.
“I used to tell you what made the United States unique and special among all the other countries of the world. Class after class, year after year, grade after grade. I told you all that the United States of America would always be strong and safe because our country had a constitution with something so special, so unique and so important,” he wrote, pointing to checks and balances and the three branches of government.
I taught my students the Constitution would protect us. Now I realize it was a lie | Opinion https://t.co/hWhix2p3LP
— Tacoma News Tribune (@thenewstribune) July 8, 2024
“I always told you no bad, dangerous person could get elected president because the Congress and the Supreme Court would get them out of office before they could do much damage,” the former teacher continued.
“I was not intentionally lying to you, my dear grown-up kids. I loved you too much to do that. But now, it is clear to me I was lying to you, and I beg your forgiveness,” he added.
In all-too-familiar rhetoric, McSweeney railed about the “evil and dangerous” Trump and the “frightened and ignorant” members of Congress.
“I lied to you because I never could have imagined one person as evil and dangerous as Trump could ever be elected president. I never dreamed a Congress with so many frightened and ignorant members could all be elected at the same time and would band together to do whatever it took to keep Trump in office,” he wrote.
“It never crossed my mind how corrupt and off-the-rails the Supreme Court could become, or how wrong their judgments would be in the time of Trump. I said these things could not happen, but I lied. And now I know I lied to you because — right here in front of you and me — these things are all happening,” McSweeney added.
“Can you ever forgive me?” he asked.
Though the letter was published days before the assassination attempt on Trump, many users on social media reacted after the shocking events of the weekend.
This letter is from a 71 year old man. Its self-absorption and detachment from reality underlines why so much effort is put by the left into trapping people in a permanent state of immaturity.
— Phil Davies (@PhilDav12361062) July 15, 2024
Perfect example of the Vitriol that they spewed for years, that they now claim needs to be deescalated.
— Mikes1921 (@Mikes1921) July 15, 2024
I’d prefer for teachers to not influence my children’s political beliefs, especially when they can’t seem to teach reading comprehension and math.
— TM1(SS) (@dickeyman1) July 15, 2024
@SeaPubSchools Not shocking
— Adam (@AdamMCorleone) July 15, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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