SHE CRIES

     If you look closely you will see it, the tear running slowly down the cheek of the Lady. Yes, that Statue that welcomed so many, the wealthy, the middle class and especially the poor, the oppressed, that lady is crying. No more "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" for those sentiments have been declared no good, wasteful and simply not good for business.
    So this man who is destroying our democracy, who is trampling daily, no, hourly, on our principles, who has the Founding Fathers rolling and squirming in their graves, that man who hates immigrants has applied for 73 permits for foreign workers for his hotels and not for the techie side of it!! That man's son in law has brazenly used the EB-5 visa program to allow in the obscenely wealthy from all countries, especially Russians and Chinese, another $500,000 for him and his businesses.
     And the poor. Why don't worry. They will die out anyway if that man can get his healthcare debacle back on track and refuse healthcare to these poor. There is always more where they come from!! And meanwhile, the vaunted Kelly, the new chief of staff? Well, he gave his Homeland ICE people free reign to round up the cattle. Yup, what else can we call it when "of the 650 immigrants nationwide, fewer than 200 of those people were actually targeted in the operation: 73 members of family units, and 120 (former) unaccompanied children. The other 457 people — nearly three-quarters of those caught up in the sweeps — were simply “also apprehended” and arrested." Just round 'em up. Never mind if they are only 'guilty' of living good and productive lives; if they are related to a felon or just there, why there they go!!! Anyone for some old WWII movies or perhaps some Soviet history or just go to Venezuela now or the Philippines or any number of Asian and African nations but never did I think we would do that here!! I thought, nay, I hoped that the days of American McCarthyism were over and done. Foolish me. And so the tear on the Lady rolls ever further down her face and yet another one follows.
    This man who lies as a natural state of utterance, this man who denies his insults and illiterate statements when they get him in more trouble, this man just keeps on irritating both local and international entities. Australia was the latest brouhaha and now the Vatican! never particularly known for its progressive movements, yes, that Vatican, shot a warning notice over the American Catholic bow. Two close associates of the Pope have accused the ultra conservative wing of it of supporting and even suborning prejudice and hatred, seeking out those who would further that agenda as in extreme evangelicals who promote hate or Steve Bannon with his program of hate. I am impressed. There is yet room to hope. 
     But what do we say then to the extreme base of his, those who scream  re abortion, who would kill the women in the name of saving lives, who would shoot the doctors, those who take glee and joy in restricting the rights of LGBTQ, of rooting out transgender people from the armed services and never mind their accumulated years of service to the country!! Out they go!!! The future, according to these people, looks more like a dystopian society rather than the archetype American society. It is a society where NOW!! the NAACP has issued a travel warning for Missouri due to their new legislation re suits for violations of civil rights. The images of traveling where one can find oneself thrown in a cell for no reason, denied human and civil rights - not appetizing and a shock to our system. And in America, 2017! We are back to this???
     This man boasts of his business empire, his successes so people should do the 'right" thing and just obey him, do his bidding, regard him as the be all and end all. Well, his businesses were not so successful; they closed, went bankrupt, stiffed contractors and just played around with people's lives and livelihoods so excuse me if I pass on his 'lovely' invitation. As have so many others.
     This man gets into arguments and so do his minions. Yesterday the apostle of hatred, of nationalism, Steven Miller, spoke hatefully re immigrants and got into two fights with reporters who dared to question, who asked for explanation, who asked for basis of facts. How dare they!!!! I just wanted to reach through the screen and smack him hard for his words and tones, for his fostering of hatred and inhumanity.
     This man has induced a terrible attitude  within this country. It is even more all for me and to hell with you attitude. We see that here in the Village. We see the blatant lies of David Israel re this realty swap and for that please read yesterday's posting or go to the Messenger site where the truth is told - and even the letter or email from a governmental official with the truth of numbers!!
     Garbage drips down from the top just as does goodness and kindness, care and concern, honesty and altruism. Yes, at times I feel like a stupid eighteen year old still idealistic, still hoping, believing against all reality, above and despite my cynicism, that there is a goodly store of decency within humanity. I have seen it especially in the days after the debacle of the election as so many have taken action, have worked with those who need help. Let us pray that this side of mankind prevails - here in the Village, in the county, out there in the rest of the country and further out there in the world.
     And in the meanwhile, the tears keep rolling down out of the corner of an eye. The torch seems to droop and the head to sag. Can we not shore it up? Can we not help the Lady be what she was before? We must. Oh, we must. Here comes yet another tear. And another. And another.