As I was catching up on the news today, I started crying. Here’s why: The cruel ICE raids where the masked agents used smoke grenades, pepper spray and guns against immigrants and protestors; the mural defacing of Jackie Robinson and Minnie Minoso with racial slurs; the secretary of Defense renaming ships that are named for people who are gay, women or Black; and the fact that a trans teen felt she had to flee to Canada due to death threats after winning a state championship.
Reading that the superintendent of Crater Lake National park (one of my favorite places on Earth) resigned due to the gutting of the National Park Service made me cry. Hearing that the Steelers gave a shirt to and made someone who I think is an arrogant tyrant an “honorary” Steeler, as well as the signing of that science-denying quarterback, made me cry. Gosh, I’m so sad for our country.
There were a few things that made me smile: The president is selling his Tesla, a cartoon saying that perhaps there should be work requirements for Congress (read the bills before voting, hold town halls, represent all the people you serve) and pictures from the WorldPride celebration in Washington, D.C.
Unfortunately the crying outlasted the laughing. I’m so sad for our country.
Kathleen Caliendo
Bridgeville