“And I don't know a soul who's not been
battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been
shattered
Or driven to its knees
But it's all right, it's all right
We've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road
We're traveling on
I wonder what went wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what went wrong” –
Paul Simon
“95 North is
bumper to bumper. Route 1 is closed from I-76 to Route 30 as we experience
extremely heavy volume all along the funeral route for the sudden and tragic
passing of the United States of America.” – 11/09/16 U.S. Radio Traffic Report
As with the
majority of citizens who inhabit the populous landmass south of Canada and
north of Mexico, the one-time great republic, formerly known as the United
States of America - I’m angry, I’m sorrowful; I’m in shock, disbelief,
depression and deep despair. And, I ask
you, wise readers, how does one learn to live with these legitimate and sincere
feelings for the four years, the 1461 days, we have ahead of us with the
Right’s favorite fuhrer leading his ignorant, angry and violent army of
anti-American misogynists, bigots, Russian oligarchs, KKK and neo-Nazis in the
rapid destruction of the greatest experiment in democracy the world has ever
known?
I had
sincerely hoped that with the prior posting of November 3rd, sanity,
intelligence and patriotism would have prevailed and there would be no further
need to address the odious subject of Donald J. Trump. Clearly, as did most
people whose anatomy still contains both a functioning brain and heart, I far
underestimated the level of idiocy, prejudice, and pure unadulterated hatred that
once lay dormant and has now leapt to the fore, and into the loving and
welcoming embrace of the Republican party and their malignant membership - a colossal
collection of clueless rebels without causes, engaging in a gigantic, unjustified,
whiny, self-indulgent, self-important and narcissistic White Rage hissy fit,
irate and outraged because people of color, Latinos, women, the LGBT community
and other minorities dare believe they are entitled to the same Constitutional
and equal rights as these good ol’ boys and hillbillies.
“And I dreamed I was dying
And I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying”
Should We Stay or Should We Go Now?
Let’s face
the forlorn facts, our fellow former Americans have screwed us, as surely as if
they are Trump and we are a 13 year old girl (or for that matter, an extremely
close relative, whose identity will be only revealed upon her father’s demise –
ah heck, I just gave that away, didn’t I?) Toronto is tempting and Fiji is fine
this time of year, but we stay. While we
may have never before been this rightfully ashamed of the red, white and blue,
nor ever this disgusted with those who voted to legalize and legitimize racism
and sexism, we stay. Although we should not accept the results of this election
or the ascendancy of Trump to the Oval Office, as acceptance inches too close
in attitude to approval, we stay. We
stay, because we are in the right. We stay because we are the descendants of
our Founders. We stay because we must fight - fight against the
revolting and repugnant rising tide of hatred, division, discrimination, xenophobia
and anti-intellectualism. And we fight with our words and our deeds, our voices
and our votes. With determination, patience and genuine patriotism, there may
be a path to lead us back to the real America.
When Trump,
that most petty, most loathsome little man, and his legion of obdurate and
brutish philistines are indecent, we must display decency. When they are
intolerant, we will be tolerant. When they renounce and reject, we will accept
and welcome. When they are hateful, we will be loving.
Americans.
Patriotic Americans. Those of us who still believe in freedom and equality, are
now immersed in the battle of our lifetimes, the battle to save and preserve
our Republic against the enemy from within, and the most perilous and
treacherous domestic danger our country has confronted since the War Between
the States. We have to stand united to defend the values we treasure. Together,
we will persevere, and perhaps even prosper, when we succeed and
eventually and inevitably put this extremely dark period in our history behind
us. There is no choice. We have to hold
on to the hope that when all is said and done, the power of tolerance,
acceptance, love and Americanism will ultimately endure.
“We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age's most uncertain hour
And sing an American tune
But it's all right, it's all right
You can't be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow's going to be another working
day
And I'm trying to get some rest
That's all I'm trying to get some rest”
Any
comments, questions, criticisms, compliments, candid confessions, cash
contributions? Contact me at butchersaprons@mail.com.
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