I wore this t-shirt a number of weeks ago when I took Maxine for a walk in the park. I think this a positive, non-political message. It is not stating what I think should be done, although I have views on what should be done towards ending the plague of gun violence in our country. Surprisingly, however, I was confronted and put on the defensive by Trump supporters. I engaged in a discussion and in a very short time the discussion escalated into a screaming match with the Trumpers screaming for the protection of their beloved guns and in support of having more guns guarding every place in America. They also defended Trump’s inaction, his support of the NRA, and his hate-filled agenda. What should have been a relaxing walk with Maxine ended up engendering dismay, frustration, and fear in me. I am actually fearful of these people who value their guns so much they don’t want to take any steps to prevent gun deaths.
Approx. 40,000 deaths happened in 2018 alone. That’s the number of deaths you’d expect to see if we were at war, but I guess we are in a war. It’s a war with the NRA and those that think the status quo is just fine. It’s a war with those who enjoy feeling the need to, and who want everyone else to feel the need to, pack and carry to protect themselves from “the other.” Do they relish the necessity of wearing bullet proof clothing and carrying a gun when out in public because they are fearful of being shot? I, myself, do not want to have to live that way. I do not want to consider that somebody with hate in their heart might decide this is the day to go to some public event and vent their hate on that particular group of people. Something has to be done!
After yesterday’s tragedies in El Paso and Dayton, I thought it appropriate to again wear the T-shirt that so irritated the Trumpers that day in the park. No one confronted me today. I did get one thumbs-up as someone drove their golf cart by saying, “Nice shirt.” I only hope that means opinions are changing.
This morning, I heard several senators on television stating they would return to Washington tomorrow if Moscow Mitch would call for the Senate to convene to vote on the gun control bill that was passed in the House which has been collecting dust on his desk. This bill, if Moscow Mitch would do his job and bring it up for a vote would pass. It has a majority of support of the people of the U.S.A., and support of both the House and the Senate. It would then be left up to BLOTUS to sign. That is, if BLOTUS would sign it.
I heard BLOTUS’ comment this morning calling the shootings acts of cowardice. I don’t believe that comment does anything at all to help the situation. But, I would like to say this: I believe the worst act of cowardice is and has been BLOTUS’ kowtowing to the NRA. What an embarrassing display of feckless, shameful, spinelessness BLOTUS showed when he dropped the ball after meeting with the NRA the day after he met with the students from Parkland. His entire squatting in the White House has been a show of weakness and cowardice for sucking up to our enemies on the international stage, alienating our allies, and encouraging racism, hatred and division in our country. He’s a coward for playing on people’s fears and prejudices for his own political and monetary gain. He is supporting the worst inclinations of the human spirit, not helping people to suppress any hate-filled destructive thoughts they may have. Awful thoughts go through everyone’s heads at times, but you’ve got to fight them, not give in to those thoughts, let your better thoughts win. BLOTUS is giving people affirmation of their hate and their desires to act on their hate, and supplying them with even more reasons to hate.
These mass shootings are on your back, BLOTUS, for not being a good and moral leader for people to emulate, for not bringing out the best in our citizens, for encouraging people to hate each other, and for sitting back and not having done one bloody thing about it. Yes, I said bloody – the blood is on your hands.