I’m trying. I really am.

I’m trying to reach out and understand how decent, intelligent people can be so enamored with Trump or so opposed to him that they can’t be objective with what’s going on.

I try to have a meaningful dialogue with the MAGA friends and acquaintances in my life by telling them that I can name three things that I like that President Trump has done, if they can tell me three things they don’t.

I might get a response that they don’t like his personality. One person told me they didn’t like his hair. However, none of those I’ve spoken to can provide more than one example. And those examples are all based on his personality, not on his actions.

But I’ve also reversed this experiment with a few anti-Trump resistance types. I’ve said I can tell them three things I hate about President Trump if they can tell me three things they like.

They can’t do that either.

I am not a fan of this President. I believe him to be a liar, con man, authoritarian, dangerous megalomaniac. I don’t agree with most of his actions, but that doesn’t mean that I think everything he’s done is bad.

I’m trying to separate my disdain for the man from my limited approval of some of his actions.

I’m also trying to separate my disdain for the man from my feelings towards friends who are Trump supporters. Some of these folks I’ve known for decades.

But I’ll admit it’s hard.

Recently, I went to the kickoff event for Brett Lindstrom’s campaign to get the Republican nomination for the second congressional district. I try to go to events like that on both sides to get a feel for how things are going.

I’ve met Brett a couple of times and found him to be a decent guy. The room was obviously filled with Republicans. Many of them I’ve known for years. Most of them are also decent men and women.

As I sat in the back of the room, I felt very uncomfortable knowing that those who were there had no problem with the iron-fisted tactics this administration has taken against immigration and people of color. People who would be outraged if Biden proposed the tariffs Trump put in place. A room full of conservatives who support the man who incited the attack on the Capitol on January 6th. I felt ill at ease around a group I would have had no problem being around a decade or so ago.

But that doesn’t mean that the liberals make me feel much better either.

The other day, after Trump’s meeting with Putin, I posted on my Facebook page that if Trump could bring peace to the people of Ukraine, even if it meant giving up some land, I would give the President props.

Well, I got cyber-attacked from the left. Some of the comments were very angry and rude. A few friends called me up and asked how I could think such a thing.

I could think such a thing because even if you don’t like it, sometimes you have to compromise. I could think such a thing because I want to see an end to all the killing.

I have no doubt that if a Democratic President had a similar outcome with Putin, the vitriol I was getting from the left would have been turned into praise.

I admit I’m probably an outlier. I’m not a joiner, whether it be political parties or civic organizations.

During the first Trump term, I had a discussion with a Republican operative. I asked him how he could support a man like Trump.

He made the analogy that the Cleveland Browns were my team, and the Republican Party was his team. I responded that at least I could admit when the Browns sucked.

If we’re going to move forward as a country, we must stop looking at fellow Americans as the enemy. We need to pledge allegiance to the Constitution, not any one person. We need to look at ourselves as Americans, not members of a political party. Republicans and Democrats may have different ideas, but we’re all on the same team.

I know in the current political environment, that seems impossible, but that doesn’t mean we give up on the idea of E Pluribus Unum. It may be hard sometimes to try to find the common ground, but I’m trying. I really am.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.