"To him in whom love dwells, the whole world is but one family." ~ Buddha
Soon after Trump was elected, I sat at my black nephew-in-law's kitchen table with his two daughters, ages six and twelve. Somehow, the election came up and Kenny said he felt we should give Trump a chance. I believe that Jasmine, his eldest daughter, may have rolled her eyes at this suggestion. I immediately slammed my hand on the table and said, "no way, the man is a racist."
Kenny still insisted, as I thought later, probably for Jasmine's benefit, that we should be a bit more moderate while discussing this. I would have none of it. "Should Trump become one of our best presidents ever, I will not change my mind about his lack of a moral code," said I.
The sad story of President Obama's birth certificate should be enough to convince anyone of that truth, but I also took some time to check up on Trump. I found out about the housing discrimination law suits that were settled without him admitting guilt. I read his comments about how he was protecting his white tenants from having to live with lower class, etc., etc., blacks.
Then I saw clips from congressional hearings in the 1980s about the right to open casinos. This was the time Trump was into casinos and the hearings were about Indian tribes in New York state and Connecticut that he tried, without success, to discredit so they wouldn't be allowed to build casinos. I heard Trump say he was sure this Federally recognized Connecticut Indian tribe was way too dark-skinned to be Indian at all. I saw congressmen shaking their heads at Trump's comments, probably wishing they could have rolled their eyes as well.
These things took place in the 1970s and 80s, but his questioning of Obama's birth place, which went on for years, was more current, and just as racist.
So no doubt in my mind that day last winter. And I didn't even mention all the other issues with this man. Race was enough for me. Racism is the red line in the sand of my moral code.
So now, after his comments on the tragedy in Charlottesville, it's amazing to me how many still feel we should give the man a chance. I listened to Jerry Falwell, Jr. on a Sunday show today. Where was his moral compass, I wondered, as he said Trump was speaking his mind, something he felt was just so much better than Obama's political correctness.
I wish I could have called in to remind him of President Obama, tearing up, as he sang Amazing Grace at the funeral for victims of that Bible class slaughter.
But, of course, reminding him would not have mattered in the least.
I really love this country. I love it because of it's people. And I know for sure that there's no way the people of America will allow our country to regress and slide backwards. I chose you, America, and I'm so glad I did.
