Me, front and center, stumping for the party when I was very young.
In the larger world outside of my little microcosm here, I am disgusted today. I grew up in a southern NC county that was riddled with racists and klansmen and much of my childhood was spent both worrying about the Black people I loved and making my introverted and then later bolder actions against the racists who threatened them.
My mother worked for Governor Terry Sanford when he and his staff strove to rid our state of this hatred, so I also grew up seeing firsthand ethical, honorable action being taken by our leaders in government.
It has been obvious to me since I first became aware of Donald Trump (in the 1980s when I went to NYC a few times a year and hung out at clubs including Studio 54) that he was an ignorant, arrogant, misogynistic jerk. When he entered the presidential race, I thought he was a joke. When he won, I thought our country had lost its mind. Yesterday I was absolutely disgusted, angry, and reminded in a potent way how I sometimes felt when I was in high school, how I felt the day I was pulled over by two small town cops because I was transporting Black members of our state championship basketball team to the downtown soda shop to celebrate. How I was personally threatened by teenaged KKK members. Seeing the faces in the photos and video footage taken yesterday, as a group of ignorant grinning terrorists breached our nation’s capitol and threatened harm.
I understand to some degree the psychology of this kind of behavior. In some cases, they were taught to hate. In many cases there is low intelligence. Put arrogance, ignorance, and hatred together in a mob and you get what we saw yesterday.
All I can say today is that I will never again tolerate anyone saying they support Donald Trump, these terrorist beliefs and actions, or any kind of racism, period. I will say that outright to anyone who crosses my path espousing these beliefs or acting on them. It’s past time for this hatred to be treated as criminal behavior in our country. No, you do not get to line up along small town sidewalks draping confederate flags and carrying assault rifles. No, you do not get to march around calling for the eradication of a race of people. No, you do not get to, as a law enforcement officer entrusted to maintaining peace and rule of law, perform violence against the citizens you are bound to protect. Doing these things should, and must, land you in jail with serious incarceration consequences.
How can it be that in my 60 years this is not already true?
Today on November Hill I will do the things I always do: muck some manure, clean some floors, do dishes and laundry, feed horses, dogs, and cats, and beloved donkey boys. I will write some and read some and stay in touch with friends. I will look at garden beds and ponder projects in home and barn and farm.
And I will make time to call my senators and representatives and demand that they take action against Trump, his accomplices, and his rioting terrorist mob. It is time for change.
I agree with everything you've said and can't wait for this four years to be over. I do think we need an immediate impeachment so this jerk can't even run for dogcatcher. He must never be allowed to hold office again, he is a traitor and would be dictator. He and his deplorables must be taken to task and I hope we never hear from them again. Wishful thinking maybe but I hope not. If only the VP had a pair of b__lls this could be over right now. The end before this turns into a very angry novella.
ReplyDeleteIt’s maddening that immediate action has not been taken. I’m fully supportive of the Senate and House reconvening Wednesday night to confirm our electoral votes and the election. That needed to be finished and they did it. Kudos to everyone who voted it through. Shame to all who objected, and double shame to those who stood and argued and tried to protect their political capital.
ReplyDeleteNow it’s time to do everything possible to remove Trump, bring charges and prosecute every single offense that was done on Wednesday and before, and make certain to include his adult children who are as disgusting and unethical as he is. Every cabinet member, every member of Congress who colluded with him should be turned out of public office and jailed. It’s appalling that people who have done the most insignificant of infractions, or none at all, have been murdered for their supposed “crimes” while trump and his mob family are free.
Did you see that while terrorists on order of Trump stormed the Capitol, Melania was conducting a photo shoot in the WH for the coffee table book she plans to write about her decor there? Un-freaking-believable. The moral compass of these people is simply missing in action.
I agree. I consider them all garbage that should be taken out with the rest of the trash!
ReplyDeleteYes. Agreed.
ReplyDeletebillie -
ReplyDeleteI agree word for word with your response to A. Would only add that if every one of those seditious morons who stormed the capitol building is not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law - which btw Trump tweeted about during the height of the BLM protests and I quote:
"Anarchists, Agitators, or Protestors who vandalize or damage our
Federal Courthouse in Portland, or any Federal Buildings in any of
our Cities or States, will be prosecuted under our recently re-
enacted Statues & Monuments Act. MINIMUM TEN YEARS IN
PRISON. Don't do it!"
then we as a society are toast. This is our last chance...
Also - I'd love to see an well placed aneurysm right about now.
Yes, so true, C. LOL about the well-placed aneurysm. You’d think he’d already have had one given his unhealthy lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteVery well said Billie. It's surreal that this is happening in our country. It's not surprising given what we've had to endure for the last 4 years and every comment that was obviously going to lead to something...but this? I'm currently reading President Obama's book, A Promised Land, and the contrast between those hopeful days of his presidency and now is stark...and tragic.
ReplyDeleteI should've looked here on your blog sooner. A writer writes.
Thank you. Love to you and the menagerie!
Thank you, Kathleen - so glad to see you here. Love to you and your animals as well. Hope you’re safe and healthy and that we all emerge out of this dark period to hope and healing.
ReplyDelete