Fortunately my Rosemary and I (48 years together) see eye to eye politically. We are definitely left-wingers. We adore MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and we both think that President Barack Obama is a peach.
I have some experience in the mechanics of politics as I participated actively (under orders) as an Argentine Navy Conscript on a military coup d’etat on a cold but indifferent (particularly the inhabitants of my Buenos Aires who didnt seem to care) winter morning of June 28, 1966. Members of the armed forces (the navy,I was in the ranks with my circa 1911 Mauser, the army and the air force) surrounded the Casa Rosada (the government palace from which Peron and Evita would talk to the Peronists masses years back) and gave the freely elected country doctor, Arturo Illía an hour to leave the premises. This he did in a cab.
I experienced a wonderful education in history and civics in my four years at the Roman Catholic school St. Edward’s in Austin Texas in the late 50s. In fact that education at my young age has made me (my personal belief) into an honorary American citizen.
Rosemary and I read daily our delivered NY Times so we are up and up on American politics. I am able to explain to Rosemary the machinations of the American political system thanks to Brother Francis Barrett, C.S.C. who taught me American History and to Mr. Marshall who taught me civics.
But neither man taught me how to cope with the fact that many of my Texan fellow students became gunslingers with right wing red neck politics.
Last year I wrote a blog which landed me with protests and hysterical emails from some of these former classmates of mine.
Today (I am writing this on Saturday July 16, 2016) I read a column by Timothy Egan called With Obama, the Personal is Presidential. It is nicely written and he pretty well elaborates on the fact that Obama is cool.
I don’t buy magazines much anymore. But I recall the Esquires of the 50s, 60s and 70s and I see President Obama as an Esquire kind of a guy. He is elegant, polite, well spoken, well read and the kind of guy I would enjoy being in a desert island with.
Just like I do not understand how my former classmates became what they are now I cannot understand Americans who have fallen under the spell ofDonald Trump.
Originally published at blog.alexwaterhousehayward.com.
