A lot has happened in this past week or so. I haven't commented yet, because I had still really haven't digested all of it.
Last Thursday, I drove down to Washington DC, and then, on Friday, I drove down to Richmond, as it was one of my dearest friend Ally's birthday.
On my way south, I stopped in Baltimore; at the place where my dearest sister Lisa died. I left her a rose, and wished her a happy belated birthday. I miss her so much!
On Thursday, I met with another dear friend, Kimberly Moore. I spent a lot of the day traveling, but then I spent some hours in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, after which she and I walked over to the National Archives. I'd never been there before. We walked around there for a bit- seeing some interesting documents and displays. Eventually ended up in the Rotunda, which is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are on display.
I'll come back to this.
Later that night, we went to Freddie's, which is in Crystal City. I heard so much about this place, and I wanted to see it. We had dinner there, and Kim had a few drinks (I have not had a drink for more than seven weeks.) I did sing karaoke a few times, and if you are glutton for punishment I have a link HERE to a YouTube video.
The following morning, I drove down to Richmond. The traffic was merciful, and I was there before noon. Ally, myself, and Ally's friend, Lacey, all went to get our nails done. That night, we went to Barcode which is one of Richmond's premier gay bars. I love going there because even though I only go there once a year, the people remember me. It's like bumping into old friends who I never really had. They are good people.
On Saturday, there was a large protests happening in Charlottesville. Of course, we all knew that- the news have been reporting for weeks that the Nazis, the Klan and all the scum of the right-wing were going to descend upon the beautiful city of Charlottesville. They said they were going to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee, but let's face it- that's not why they were going. They were going armed to the teeth, and they wanted to cause trouble. And why shouldn't they? After all they have members in the White House staff and whatnot.
Some Americans said "No not in my city" and Americans came from all over to stand in the way of Hate. They said (in so many words) "you have gone far enough- not in my city, not in my country!" They stood United against the face of right-wing, Trump-voting tyranny.
Charlottesville was a mere 90 minutes west of where I was, but I was in Virginia for my dear friend Ally. I planned this for weeks. I'd looked forward to it!
Saturday, we had all been invited to a pool party by a friend of Ally's whom I never met. I think the party was going to start at noon, and I stood in Ally's living room watching CNN. I was in my bathing suit and wearing a swim dress over it watching the horror unfold. Watching as people fought on TV. People with who brought Shields; who brought guns; wearing helmets; and they were throwing soda cans filled with concrete. And against them, Brave Americans getting hurt, and, in defending themselves, hurting the Nazis. I was surprised that there were no reports of gunfire, but I also more surprised that I saw no the real police presence- at least not on the TV. I learned later that the police had pulled back because the Nazis had them severely outgunned.
I stood there and I thought "I should be there. I should be THERE. The rubber has hit the road- the fight against Trump's hate has begun, and I should be there. My voice should join with theirs. These people are shedding their blood for me, and for the rest of America and, I'm sitting here in a swimsuit." I couldn't shake that thought, but I had committed to be there for Ally: one of my dearest friends, and I was going to be there for her. (I had a wonderful time with Ally, and treasure every moment with her.)
And then the news came across about the car- the Dodge Challenger which crashed intentionally through a group of protesters, killing one and injuring so many others in an intentional attack.
The perpetrator: a 20 year old man from Ohio with a Hitler haircut (he'd idealized the Nazis ever since he was in school.) He was eventually caught- I guess it's not hard to track down a license plate especially when it's been on TV. He was caught; the National Guard came in; and a state of emergency was declared- but it was too late: a woman was dead. Heather Heyer, who was there exercising Her First Amendment rights to protest- dead.
Killed by Nazis on American soil.
At that point I almost told Ally I had to go that I had to be there, but something help me back. I had committed to be with her, and what could I do at this point? A state of emergency had been declared. The roads were closed. I couldn't get there. The moment had passed. Yes, there would still be violence, and Nazis would still make threats. They threatened the vigil for the dead woman- the woman that they had butchered.
And the president?
He couldn't even bring himself to condemn the Nazis, the Klan- the filth that had arrived. No, he blamed both sides, as if both sides had killed. The Nazis and the Klan took this as tacit approval, which indeed it was. They took it as carte blanche permission from the highest office in the land to continue their hate.
Americans of all political Persuasions, except of course right-wing, instantly condemned Trump's words. They were horrified- they were horrified by the images on the TV, by the casualties. Horrified by the images of Nazis and Klan without their hoods marching unstopped and possibly Unstoppable, but for those Americans who stood in front of them, and said "NO! No more!" Then the President of the United States saying "this is fine- it's not your fault."
The next day of course Trump said, that 'oh yeah, Nazis are bad, the Klan is bad, yeah, we condemn them' but the damage has been done. (Charles Krauthammer called it "Trump's hostage tape" on Fox news!) So many people started distancing themselves from the president. Our allies looked on in complete shock and horror.
I, on the other hand, like many people, knew exactly who Trump was even before the campaign began. He just showed his true colors again. Yet there are still Republicans who support him. There were still people who call themselves Americans who stood up to be counted with the Nazi party. And so it was things continued for a few days- arguments back and forth.
And then Tuesday: the Meltdown. Trump went "off script" and "spoke from his heart" and what was there was nothing short of horrifying. He may as well just put on a hood and said "I'm one of them and they can do what they want." Of course, he accused the Left because the "Party of Personal responsibility" always accuses the Left. It's always the Liberal's fault. It doesn't matter who does what- the Republicans could be caught red-handed, and still blame the Left. And a lot of people would believe them. Here the Right wing committed Murder, and yet Trump still said 'no, it's the left's fault- they were good people marching with those Nazis.' Never mind the fact that good people wouldn't be marching with the Nazis by definition.
I have been some days since then. I figured that this could all happen- knowing Trump- knowing the Right- having thought these things of the right-wing for years: that their true alignment was not to America but only to the party. GOP Uber Alles
I'd hoped and prayed I was wrong, but I wasn't, and I feel sick to my soul.
Now what?
Trump is Untouchable. The Republicans will do nothing against him. He is free to do what he wishes, because he knows he is Unstoppable and Untouchable due to gerrymandering and voter suppression. He knows that he won't lose the House and the Senate.
It has come down to this: there are few Shades of Grey left. There are the Americans on the side of what is Good, and then there's the Nazis: the right wing- the face of complete Evil. It is now time to stand up and be counted. Are you an American or are you a Nazi? It's pretty simple- if you support Trump, then you are standing up to be counted with the Nazis, with the Klan, and with Hate.
The gray areas have been covered by Shadow.
Brave American blood is in the streets. One died, and it's only the beginning.
And I?
I was not there, and I feel horrible. Perhaps I could have helped. I was not there.
This time.
Last Friday there was a rally for Equality in my home town of Phoenixville. Hundreds came to show their support for Equality and Decency. I was given the opportunity to speak, and so I did. I improvised a few words on the spot.
After I spoke, I headed off (I hadn't eaten all day) and was given high fives and hugs as I passed through the crowd.
All is NOT lost, but the fight will not be easy.
When I was in the National Archives, I saw the real Declaration of Independence for the first time. I was struck by its size- I never realized it was so big! I could barely read it, as it was so bleached by light over the years. They now keep it in a room with dim light and other safeguards.
I could barely make out the words. However, I managed to see the ones I needed to see:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Declaration- and the Constitution- are faded with time. In some ways, that matches the country. Hate is on the rise, aided by Trump's GOP. However, the Truth is there, if one looks hard for it: we are ALL created equal.
And as long as there are Good people who believe in those words, the United States will not perish.
Be well.
Last Thursday, I drove down to Washington DC, and then, on Friday, I drove down to Richmond, as it was one of my dearest friend Ally's birthday.
On my way south, I stopped in Baltimore; at the place where my dearest sister Lisa died. I left her a rose, and wished her a happy belated birthday. I miss her so much!
On Thursday, I met with another dear friend, Kimberly Moore. I spent a lot of the day traveling, but then I spent some hours in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, after which she and I walked over to the National Archives. I'd never been there before. We walked around there for a bit- seeing some interesting documents and displays. Eventually ended up in the Rotunda, which is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution are on display.
I'll come back to this.
With Kimberly Moore
Later that night, we went to Freddie's, which is in Crystal City. I heard so much about this place, and I wanted to see it. We had dinner there, and Kim had a few drinks (I have not had a drink for more than seven weeks.) I did sing karaoke a few times, and if you are glutton for punishment I have a link HERE to a YouTube video.
The following morning, I drove down to Richmond. The traffic was merciful, and I was there before noon. Ally, myself, and Ally's friend, Lacey, all went to get our nails done. That night, we went to Barcode which is one of Richmond's premier gay bars. I love going there because even though I only go there once a year, the people remember me. It's like bumping into old friends who I never really had. They are good people.
Lacy, Ally, me: Friday night
On Saturday, there was a large protests happening in Charlottesville. Of course, we all knew that- the news have been reporting for weeks that the Nazis, the Klan and all the scum of the right-wing were going to descend upon the beautiful city of Charlottesville. They said they were going to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E Lee, but let's face it- that's not why they were going. They were going armed to the teeth, and they wanted to cause trouble. And why shouldn't they? After all they have members in the White House staff and whatnot.
Some Americans said "No not in my city" and Americans came from all over to stand in the way of Hate. They said (in so many words) "you have gone far enough- not in my city, not in my country!" They stood United against the face of right-wing, Trump-voting tyranny.
Charlottesville was a mere 90 minutes west of where I was, but I was in Virginia for my dear friend Ally. I planned this for weeks. I'd looked forward to it!
Saturday, we had all been invited to a pool party by a friend of Ally's whom I never met. I think the party was going to start at noon, and I stood in Ally's living room watching CNN. I was in my bathing suit and wearing a swim dress over it watching the horror unfold. Watching as people fought on TV. People with who brought Shields; who brought guns; wearing helmets; and they were throwing soda cans filled with concrete. And against them, Brave Americans getting hurt, and, in defending themselves, hurting the Nazis. I was surprised that there were no reports of gunfire, but I also more surprised that I saw no the real police presence- at least not on the TV. I learned later that the police had pulled back because the Nazis had them severely outgunned.
I stood there and I thought "I should be there. I should be THERE. The rubber has hit the road- the fight against Trump's hate has begun, and I should be there. My voice should join with theirs. These people are shedding their blood for me, and for the rest of America and, I'm sitting here in a swimsuit." I couldn't shake that thought, but I had committed to be there for Ally: one of my dearest friends, and I was going to be there for her. (I had a wonderful time with Ally, and treasure every moment with her.)
And then the news came across about the car- the Dodge Challenger which crashed intentionally through a group of protesters, killing one and injuring so many others in an intentional attack.
Pic: NBC news
The perpetrator: a 20 year old man from Ohio with a Hitler haircut (he'd idealized the Nazis ever since he was in school.) He was eventually caught- I guess it's not hard to track down a license plate especially when it's been on TV. He was caught; the National Guard came in; and a state of emergency was declared- but it was too late: a woman was dead. Heather Heyer, who was there exercising Her First Amendment rights to protest- dead.
Rest in Power, Heather Heyer
Killed by Nazis on American soil.
At that point I almost told Ally I had to go that I had to be there, but something help me back. I had committed to be with her, and what could I do at this point? A state of emergency had been declared. The roads were closed. I couldn't get there. The moment had passed. Yes, there would still be violence, and Nazis would still make threats. They threatened the vigil for the dead woman- the woman that they had butchered.
And the president?
He couldn't even bring himself to condemn the Nazis, the Klan- the filth that had arrived. No, he blamed both sides, as if both sides had killed. The Nazis and the Klan took this as tacit approval, which indeed it was. They took it as carte blanche permission from the highest office in the land to continue their hate.
Americans of all political Persuasions, except of course right-wing, instantly condemned Trump's words. They were horrified- they were horrified by the images on the TV, by the casualties. Horrified by the images of Nazis and Klan without their hoods marching unstopped and possibly Unstoppable, but for those Americans who stood in front of them, and said "NO! No more!" Then the President of the United States saying "this is fine- it's not your fault."
The next day of course Trump said, that 'oh yeah, Nazis are bad, the Klan is bad, yeah, we condemn them' but the damage has been done. (Charles Krauthammer called it "Trump's hostage tape" on Fox news!) So many people started distancing themselves from the president. Our allies looked on in complete shock and horror.
I, on the other hand, like many people, knew exactly who Trump was even before the campaign began. He just showed his true colors again. Yet there are still Republicans who support him. There were still people who call themselves Americans who stood up to be counted with the Nazi party. And so it was things continued for a few days- arguments back and forth.
And then Tuesday: the Meltdown. Trump went "off script" and "spoke from his heart" and what was there was nothing short of horrifying. He may as well just put on a hood and said "I'm one of them and they can do what they want." Of course, he accused the Left because the "Party of Personal responsibility" always accuses the Left. It's always the Liberal's fault. It doesn't matter who does what- the Republicans could be caught red-handed, and still blame the Left. And a lot of people would believe them. Here the Right wing committed Murder, and yet Trump still said 'no, it's the left's fault- they were good people marching with those Nazis.' Never mind the fact that good people wouldn't be marching with the Nazis by definition.
I have been some days since then. I figured that this could all happen- knowing Trump- knowing the Right- having thought these things of the right-wing for years: that their true alignment was not to America but only to the party. GOP Uber Alles
I'd hoped and prayed I was wrong, but I wasn't, and I feel sick to my soul.
Now what?
Trump is Untouchable. The Republicans will do nothing against him. He is free to do what he wishes, because he knows he is Unstoppable and Untouchable due to gerrymandering and voter suppression. He knows that he won't lose the House and the Senate.
It has come down to this: there are few Shades of Grey left. There are the Americans on the side of what is Good, and then there's the Nazis: the right wing- the face of complete Evil. It is now time to stand up and be counted. Are you an American or are you a Nazi? It's pretty simple- if you support Trump, then you are standing up to be counted with the Nazis, with the Klan, and with Hate.
The gray areas have been covered by Shadow.
Brave American blood is in the streets. One died, and it's only the beginning.
And I?
I was not there, and I feel horrible. Perhaps I could have helped. I was not there.
This time.
Last Friday there was a rally for Equality in my home town of Phoenixville. Hundreds came to show their support for Equality and Decency. I was given the opportunity to speak, and so I did. I improvised a few words on the spot.
Speaking in Reeves Park, Phoenixville
All is NOT lost, but the fight will not be easy.
When I was in the National Archives, I saw the real Declaration of Independence for the first time. I was struck by its size- I never realized it was so big! I could barely read it, as it was so bleached by light over the years. They now keep it in a room with dim light and other safeguards.
I could barely make out the words. However, I managed to see the ones I needed to see:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Declaration- and the Constitution- are faded with time. In some ways, that matches the country. Hate is on the rise, aided by Trump's GOP. However, the Truth is there, if one looks hard for it: we are ALL created equal.
And as long as there are Good people who believe in those words, the United States will not perish.
Be well.
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