I want to respond to Michael Smith and any other Trump supporter who calls him or herself a “deplorable.” I don’t call you that, never have, never will. And just so you have a fuller picture, I did not support Hillary Clinton. I supported Bernie Sanders. Yes, I am further to the left than Hillary by more than a country mile.
I would like to respond to each of the points you made in your “My Turn.” So, let’s get to that.
1. I fully understand that you are an American citizen. I support your ability to state what is on your mind and to support those who agree with you. I do not ask you to subordinate your rights to immigrants. What I do hope you will do is join me in welcoming people to this country who want to live a better life, are often fleeing extraordinarily difficult living situations, may actually be fleeing to stay alive and offer no ill will to us. By the way, these are often the people who pick your apples, wash the dishes in your favorite restaurant or clean your hotel room or office.
That you wish a more secure border is fine, but that does not happen when asylum seekers who have a legal right to such protection are separated from their children. A wall does not give us that protection. What does protect us is assisting the countries from which these folks are fleeing to be better places to live. If these folks live in safety with reasonable possibilities of making a living, most of them would not think about coming here. I would also call that caring for our community.
2. I assume that your reference to answering to adolescents relates to the young people who are encouraging people to vote and are using their constitutional right to free speech to demand gun control. These young people have had experiences that I have not had, and those experiences form their political outlook. I do happen to agree with them and find their commitment inspiring. Do they have allies? Yes they do. But they speak their own minds. I am happy to learn that your heart goes out to these young people. Their question is what are you going to do to help them live free and full lives?
3. I don’t know Wolf Blitzer, nor do I watch him on TV. Was he toasting Hillary Clinton or just drinking some champagne? I don’t know. Do you have reason to be concerned? Maybe. Frankly, I am more concerned about the actual content of the news from all the media.
4. I am happy to see that you believe that bullying is unacceptable. I do not believe that we abdicate our adult responsibilities to make children’s lives acceptable by telling them to “toughen up or watch it get worse.” I do not believe that children need to be protected from all adversity, but bullying is not just adversity. It is a way for some to attack others for being who they are. If we really believe that we all have a right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” then we have a responsibility as adults to create communities where that is possible for everyone. This is not creating a safe closet for those attacked. It is creating a fair community where all of us can live equally.
5. During my adolescence, I, too, learned that life is not fair. I believe that it is important to teach this to young people. I also believe that it is the right of these same young people to learn that they can use their voices and their skills to respond to some of the inequities that they encounter in the world to make them right. I do not believe that we all should just buckle under to those unfair situations that are usually created by people and can be changed by people.
6. You are correct when you say that the mere act of blocking traffic does nothing to end racism. It does, however, draw attention to the issue. Would you have mentioned struggles against racism in your My Turn if it had not gotten your attention? All police are not racists, but some, like others in our society, are. Because police are in positions of authority, they sometimes play out their prejudices through their jobs. Again, this is about fairness. Those who demonstrate without a permit and stop traffic usually expect to be arrested for breaking the law. They do not expect to be beaten for committing a misdemeanor.
7. I believe it is fine that you have a gun that you, obviously, properly care for and keep safe so that others will not use it foolishly or unlawfully. I don’t own a firearm…never have, never will. The struggles around the 2nd Amendment are not about your ability to have a hunting rifle or a firearm to protect your home. I do not believe that you need a semi-automatic to do either of those things. I do not believe that it is an infringement on our rights to have to pass a background check and have a license to own a lethal firearm. We have licenses to drive cars and to conduct many professions. I do not understand why the same should not be true for those who wish to own something that can take a life in an instant.
8. I agree with you that giving a trophy for finishing in 10th place is not appropriate. A great “attaboy, you did your best” is.
9. I am not sure what Mr. Trump’s income has to do with his wanting to be president. Many rich people have sought the office…some successfully, some not. I disagree with what President Trump stands for and, whether I am rich or not, have a right to say so.
10. I understand that there are millions of Americans who agree with you, Mr. Smith. As you can see above, I even agree with some of what you believe. The issue is not “love it or leave it”. It is how do we all live here together. I think we have a lot of work to do on that front.
Susan Worgaftik is a resident of Greenfield.