By Clyde Younger
Former Watertown Council President
Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, around 9 p.m., video captured a horrific collision of two airplanes as they erupted into flame.
My mother told me that when she was eight years old her father was lighting a kerosene stove and it exploded and set him on fire; he ran, no one could catch up with him and he burned to death.
However, he was on solid ground.
One cannot imagine the horror the people on the two planes experienced as their planes came hurtling down in flames from the sky leaving an unerasable scar in the heart of their loved ones.
After the horrible accident at Reagan National Airport, in one breath Trump gave a tidbit of condolence to the families. In his second breath lied about sky safety and security in the United States.
Further, he cast unfounded blame on the outreach that the FAA has performed in employing minorities that led to the demise of the passengers and crew of both the commercial and military planes.
Trump’s comments, after this horrible air accident at Reagan National Airport, cannot be pardoned and is a bridge too far.
We know the President’s actions are inconsistent, erratic, and radical. Unbridled power has drunken him and made him think he has the sole franchise on intelligence.
I, as a Black man, reject and I do not accept his vile assertion that we are inferior and less intelligent than white people.
My parents taught us that we are not better than anyone, nor any less.
I suggest that he look in his mirror. I don’t know whether it is a Southern or Western expression, but it is said regarding asinine behavior; “Ugly is Ugly.”
This would be a good life lesson for him to learn in his old age — that is, if he is trainable.
We excuse his obscene and demeaning language toward others saying it is unprecedented and/or locker room talk.
The locker rooms that I have been in, and there have been many during my lifetime, are pansies compared to his tongue.
His language is leading America down a very vulgar road.
Trump does not respect the dead, minorities, people with disabilities, women, wounded American prisoners of war, and even Bishop Budde, who only asked for his mercy for others.
Afterward, he said she owes him an apology.
A person of cloth asking for mercy, and he says she owes him an apology? Most Christian religious leaders have yet to speak up. Is this today’s American Christianity; cowering in a dark corner afraid to speak up?
It is especially disappointing that Black church ministers have not gathered en masse after all of the actions taken against diversity and other matters. They sit idly by. One would think the Black church would be in the lead, standing against tyranny outlined in Project 2025; or, do they think God is telling them we should return to being subjects.
We have a member of Congress introducing an illegal resolution to change the Constitution so that Trump can run for a third term.
On the other hand do we see a member of either party introducing a resolution to sanction Trump’s language so that he is not free to speak profanity in front of our children? Yes, his speech is profane.
I remember, I guess it was long ago, that a child who picked up a bad word from listening to an adult would blurt it out before their parent; the parent would say “If I hear you say that again I am going to wash out your mouth with soap and water.”
This is not a goal of Make America Great Again but it would go a long way in achieving civility.
His, “I don’t give a damn,” should demonstrate to everyone that Trump does not respect you or our institutions.
It is time for all countrymen of good will to say — No mas!
Billionaires are in control of the country and a march on Washington would be meaningless. The only interest billionaires have is the almighty dollar.
Therefore, the only way to gather their attention is to hit them in their pocket books. Also, don’t allow them to question your personal worth.
We need another Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to lead us out of our morass.
I am certain he would call for a national strike of non-essential workers at a specified date and time in the near future. He would encourage you to be prepared to show our economic power.We know a shutdown of the economy is not in anyone’s interest; however, it may be the only way to get the attention of the billionaires in order for them to influence Trump that it is not in their best interest for him to continue on his path.
Dr. King would let you know that the billionaires need you and you are important and the key to their overall success. Therefore, conditions of redress should be established for preventing or ending the strike.
The billionaires should restrain Trump and help him understand that he must abandon his ill thought-out policies. A primary condition would be, on Fifth Avenue in New York City, Trump apologize to all minorities and Bishop Budde; and burn his Project 2025 book, otherwise the strike will commence on the intended date.
I have faith and believe that God, in his infinite love for his children, will open his ears regarding the need to apologize.
However, another is associated with Project 2025.
In closing, I present my grievances before my friends in my community; Democrat, Republican, and Trumpian.
I want them to know that I, as one Black, minority resident of Watertown, cannot and will not go along with the degradations of Project 2025.