Ohio high school principal wrongly defamed over election message

The controversy surrounding Monica Asher’s innocent message speaks volumes about the sad situation we find ourselves in as a nation.

Monica Aser didn’t stand on the street corner waving an “I hate Donald Trump” sign.

The principal of Olentangy Orange High School did not praise Vice President Kamala Harris either.

After one of the weirdest and nastiest elections in modern American history, Asher wrote a post about values after “seeing pain, uncertainty and division” at her school.

“I can’t write a post that pretends the election didn’t happen; especially when so many of you are struggling with how to move forward,” Asher wrote as part of a newsletter sent to school staff on Sunday. “I know you are struggling with how to move forward with your students who are afraid, but also how to move forward with colleagues who don’t share your views.”

About 44% of Ohio voters did not vote for Trump, which is why many who receive Asher’s newsletter do not support his worldview. Harris received 46% of the votes Delaware county, where most of it Olentangy Local School District is located, and 63% in Franklin County, where a small portion is located.

Yes, Asher likely intended to comfort and encourage the many who fear that President-elect Donald Trump will be a man of his word for the first time. No, she didn’t criticize anyone who voted for Trump.

What she did was lead with compassion.

‘Know that Oranje remains a place where students, all studentsseek safety. It will continue to be a place that not only values diversity, but celebrates it,” she wrote as part of the newsletter. “Orange will remain a place where showing compassion and respect for those around us is a priority, where we recognize the humanity, dignity and worth of every person we meet.”

Because of her efforts, Asher has been abused and is now on forced administrative leave.

“This woman should be fired! Her salary is paid by the taxpayers and they are not all crazy liberals! This needs to go viral so everyone can see what their kids are dealing with! This is from the high school in the area where we have lived for 25 years. This is despicable,” said a user of X, the former social platform known as Twitter wrote.

The election was contentious, with a lot of energy and hard feelings from people on both sides of the political divide.

The alleged ‘sins’ of Monica Asher

Putting aside the disgusting nature of the politics, what exactly did Asher write that was out of line?

That students should feel safe at school no matter what? There are many reasons why many students don’t, but don’t we all agree that children should be safe at school? Do those who object want to harm children? no children? What a sad story is told about them.

That diversity should be celebrated? Haven’t we learned that diversity – in some form – is an American strength? Do Asher’s new critics want a segregated society? Hmm.

That compassion and respect are good things? Shouldn’t we do unto others as we would have them do unto us? Are disrespect and contempt preferable?

That we should strive to see the humanity, dignity and value in every person we meet? Yes, lock her up.

Asher, at the end of her short message, evoked images of storms and buffalo, an American symbol of freedom.

“The resilience, unity and strength of the buffalo comes from working as a collective. By working together we can also overcome any challenge,” she writes in part. “We can support each other and create an environment where both we and our students can thrive.”

The controversy surrounding Monica Asher’s innocent message speaks volumes about the sad situation we find ourselves in as a nation.

Her views were written after Trump’s victory, but are neither liberal nor conservative.

I think they are American values. I don’t want to be wrong.