Xenophobia 6/5/2020

Do you hate the Central Americans marching from their home countries to seek asylum in the USA? Do you hate Arabs? Are you fearful when you walk through a black or brown neighborhood? Welcome to the world of the Xenophobe. But relax - at least you are not a racist - at least according to Merriam Webster. Xenophobia is the fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners, whereas racism has a broader meaning set including "a belief that racial differences produce the inherent superiority of a particular race." Although they are similar, they are different enough that it is possible for one to be both xenophobic and racist. Frankly I think it is a simple, logical step from being a Xenophobe to being a racist.

We are witnessing the effects of having a President who has absolutely no intent nor desire to unite the people of this country and has done everything within his considerable power as POTUS to divide us along national and racial lines. Couple that with 45's infatuation with dictators - look at how he treats North Korea's Kim, Russia's Putin and the President of Turkey. Look at 45's actions earlier this week when he had peaceful protestors - all well within their rights - tear-gassed and shot at with rubber bullets to clear the way for his photo op in front of St John's Church. I personally have never seen a POTUS orchestrate such a despicable act as having US military personnel and Park Police move on US citizens. Then examine his hatred of former President Obama. 44's popularity sticks in 45's throat like an enlodged piece of raw meat and 45 is doing everything he can to dismantle the legacy of 44. And, of course the racial divide is 44's fault and Obama has been blamed for literally everything that has happened that can be considered departing from 45's chosen path to who knows where.

I was a college student in the sixties and seventies and was part of the struggles for racial justice and was quite proud of what I thought we had accomplished. I damn sure did not expect to be revisiting those struggles in my seventies. It was frankly quite depressing - in my lifetime only exceeded by how I felt when my wife passed away, But last night - in the middle of a phone call with an old friend I had something of an epiphany. While 45 has done despicable things and caused old pain to be brought to the forefront again I decided this was a good thing. That we could be so divided by an individual of so little character - amoral at best - then we really are at a pace where we can cross this racial divide once and for all. We are near the top of the hill. It is time to push that boulder of racism off the cliff. We just need to push together.

There are many hurdles to clear. I know of NOBODY who supports the violence and looting accompanying the wave of protests we have been enduring. The protests have been populated by people following in the American tradition of peaceful protest but then the anarchists and thugs that make up the looters steal away the focus of the protests. It is similar to a boxing match wherein one of the fighters steals rounds with late round flurries at the end of the rounds. The looters should be jailed. Their organizations must be rooted out once and for all -

members arrested and jailed and it bothers me to say this, but they should be treated like domestic terrorists, and if they are directed from other countries then they are simply traitors and terrorists, and they should face the appropriate punishment. If the leaders are antifa so be it. We need to get at the truth. The definition of terrorism is "the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims." Domestic terrorists are traitors and should be dealt with as such. We have the means and resources to investigate and that should be made a priority.


So here we sit - peering into a deep, dark tunnel but this time the light is visible. If we suck it up and make a final push to identify, disassemble and detain the domestic terrorists and treat them as the traitors they are, we have within our grasp the means to reestablish our country as a beacon of light on a hill. We need to finish the job my generation started in the sixties and if that requires the participation and help of millennials well good on them. After all, it is their world we are fighting for. Xenophobia? It is just a 25 cent word racists hide behind when they are afraid to be honest with themselves and everyone else. Please be sure check with the other bloggers in our little group and see what They have to say about Sanjana's chosen topic

Sanjana, Padmum, Raju,  Conrad, Ramana.