Before the internet, before cell phones, before television, before Facebook, Google, Instagram, before it all. Even before motion pictures and radio we had to use our imagination. An an author reminded me (thank you Edward Savio), when patrons saw the first motion picture of a train rushing towards them on a screen, they flinched, they ran, they screamed. They were afraid. It wasn’t reality, it was another person’s vision put into their mind.

In today’s world what we see, what we hear is more than we can imagine. It’s bigger, bolder, scarier, edgier than what we would picture in our own minds. It is the vision of another shoved into our pysche. We cannot unsee or unhear these visions. We may move them back and away from our day to day thoughts but they will always be there to come charging at us like a train.

The same could be said of our political and social lives. Not too long ago we couldn’t imagine the racism that pervades our society. We didn’t see, didn’t hear the hate and anger that seems to be part of our American society. Now we cannot unsee it. Racism, xenophobia, misogyny and bullying they all are the top stories in the news. Either it’s the haters spewing their fear mongering or the hated disgorging their distaste back.We cannot escape either side.

This time we live in may pass. We may find our way to a more accepting, loving society. But we cannot unsee or unhear what happens everyday of our lives. The video and audio history will always have a place in our minds. Hiding away, hibernating, if you will, until rearing up and charging at us like a train.

Sorry gang, I’ve been remiss in my rants lately. So much to take and so little time to take it in! I’m just getting around to watching the democratic debates from last week. Not much new there. Infighting amongst the candidates. Calling out each other rather than finding ways to win.

Trump won because people felt left out of the conversation. I believe most people still feel that way. I haven’t seen anything from anyone that is all that inclusive.

I’m sure I’ll have something to rile you up and make you think some more. That is what I try to do. I am like a squirrel right now, storing nuts for the winter. As someone once said

Let’s go back a few years, just a few. I am not here to rehash racism throughout America’s history, just a few years back please.

Can you remember 2014? This was before Donald Trump announced from the escalator that he was running for president. And, for all intents and purposes that he was a racist.

In 2014, as had been the case for many years, Democrats were condemning racism in all forms. You know who else condemned it? Republicans. At least outwardly. Republicans have consistently been cited in polls as believing that enough has been done for the African-American community. Back in 2009 26% of Republicans believed that more needed to be done. In 2014 that had decreased to 14% but was on the rise from it’s low just a couple of years earlier. Again, though, outwardly the Republicans were saying the right thing, “Racism is bad”.

So where did that leave all the racists? They didn’t believe they had a party that cared about their values. The Democrats pushed equality, the Republicans went along. Who should this segment of the population believe in. Racism was closeted, locked away in small rooms and dark alleys. You couldn’t proudly celebrate your racists views without getting kicked back to the cave. This rather large group of Americans needed an outlet. They needed someone to say it was alright to be who you are. After all it is the right of every American to fight and vote for their beliefs. In the mainstream media there was no one advocating for this group. No spokesman that would open the closet doors. No one to shed light on the plight of these suppressed citizens!

Then came Donald Trump. From his ivory tower, from the top of that escalator, their savior appeared. He fed their anger. He fed their fear. He fed them their desserts! They could finally bare their souls and be the Americans they wanted to be. It became okay to denigrate other citizens and immigrants. After all if you weren’t white and American you didn’t really belong here.

As we head into the 2020 elections we see more and more of this feeding of the racist community. We hear the words and see the actions and feel the hate. This is a large segment of our population that had been secreted behind a veil for many years. The veil has been pulled aside and our country has to find a way to deal with the issue. We are not going to change their views overnight. Not even the last two and half years have proved helpful. In fact the rhetoric has become louder and stronger as the campaign begins in earnest.

“These four congresswomen detest America as it exists, as it is currently constructed. They want to tear down the structure of our country. They want us to be a socialist, open borders country,” said White House adviser Stephen Miller.

What can we do? We can work harder than ever to change our history. Sweep away the layer of dust clouding our politics. Redirect our country to a new and better way.

VOTE! Talk to everyone you know. There are good people out there that are standing on the sidelines. Preach if you have to. We may not have another chance!