We Are A Nation Divided

Yes, we are a nation divided and a nation divided by design. Even though I continue to hope for healing and will work for that end, as long as I can, we cannot simply seal over the scalding infection of our wounds. That will only lead to further and worsening problems.

In the past two months, I have watched our country, a progressive and vital democracy with hope and opportunity to offer, attacked by a contingency wanting to destroy it.  We are currently in a death struggle with opposing ideas and alternative facts.

Ours has not always been a country of compassion. We have often been the bad guys, but in recent time we have worked to make our image one of welcoming, tolerance and compassion. Our humanitarian efforts have literally changed the way the world population responds to one another.

That is rapidly draining away. Since January 20, 2017 we have twice been responsible for civilian deaths on foreign soil, we have made strides to block refugees from safely entering our country, even though they have been vetted far more strictly than other countries.

We have separated families of undocumented immigrants from Mexico as we rounded them up for deportation, even though the president expressly promised he would not allow that. Our leadership leans increasingly toward white supremacy and intolerance, causing an increase in crimes against various groups of people. These people are us. They are our citizens.

Now with the proposed budget we see the decimation is to include the old, the young, the disabled and the less fortunate.

The problem is, this is acceptable to a portion of our population who has been made to be afraid of the refugees and immigrants and who does not like the idea that their money might be supporting the undeserving among us. These ideas are fueled by a steady stream of misinformation that is regurgitated by Trump and his staff. They want to divide us. They have planned for this. They work hard at exploiting our differences, differences that have always been there, but were previously fuel for creating our democracy. Now they are well placed explosive statements, designed to destroy.

We are a nation divided, not by our differing opinions, but by a coterie of wealthy individuals whose only goal is to enhance their own coffers. I caution you to check out what you hear and keep your humanity close at hand. We are the People. We can change this, but it will take work and will probably include a lot of blood, sweat and tears before it is over.

Racism Is Real

Racism is real. White supremacists exist. Representative Steve King has long been known for his views and he deserves no excuses for his comments. We all know he is far from the only one who believes white skin makes one superior regardless of how he couched his defenses with words like culture and destiny. Racism, like all forms of bigotry, is dangerous and counter-productive to maintaining our democracy.

Racism is here. It is alive in the minds of people ignorant of the facts around them. The color of one’s skin does not make them more or less intelligent, lazy, mean, kind or any of a million other characterizations applied to them. The fact is that there are good and bad people in all skin colors, in all economic brackets, in every belief structure and every culture.

Representative King, trying not to tell an outright lie and also not to perhaps, damage his re-election chances, by telling the absolute truth about his belief, placed the emphasis on culture (their culture versus our culture). The acceptance of other cultures, he says, are damaging to our way of life. What that means, I cannot know. I know that our way of life includes systemic racism where we compartmentalize the “different ones” and push them into certain neighborhoods, jobs, education facilities.

Racism is wrong. It is wrong when Rep. Steve King suggests it. It is wrong when the current administration encourages it. It is wrong when one person causes harm or discomfort to another because we are different. Worse than being wrong, is the damage it does to out value system and our way of life.

This is a country of immigrants and suppressed Native Americans and refugees and freed slaves. It is the flavor of each of these contributors to our mix that produces the vibrant, resilient, strong society that we have today. We are better than the white supremacists. We are better than the hate groups. We are better than we have to be. We are better, because we are diverse and tolerant.

Yes, racism exists It is here. So does anti-Semitism, xenophobia, gender bias and a host of other bigoted ideas. We need to face them all and learn to be even better than we are today. In the United States of America EVERYONE deserves an equal opportunity. Stand and fight for equality and denounce Rep. Steve King and Steve Bannon and anyone else who encourages unfairness to any of our citizens.