My Father was a lifelong resident of the Town of Schodack NY 12033. He was in local politics for 40 straight years in elected office. 20 yrs as Supt. of Highways , 20 as Town Supervisor. He was a Republican. His brother was a State Assemblyman and State Senator and his wife was a 3 term Town Clerk.
At the odd age of 54 he had a son from his 43 yr old wife. He began to drive a school bus for the Schodack Central School part time to make ends meet. Local Pols were not paid much back then. So you see I was raised in a very Republican home.
Many years later in Maple Hill High School. I was told a story by an English / History teacher at Maple Hill High School that in 1928 a large KKK rally was held in our town to protest the run for President by our then Govenor Alfred E. Smith. The Klan was a powerful force in America back then. Smith lost , Hoover won. My father reluctantly agreed to discuss it with me......afterall .....that story had gotten buried , rarely if ever brought up. I had never heard about it. None of my friends had. He told me that many people were terrified , the few Jewish families were very fearful. He knew all of them because they were all Freemasons. The few black families in some cases fled for a time. A couple never returned. They held a night bon fire preached their hate. The Catholic families kept their lights off in their houses that night. Terror gripped many people who were not"the right kind of American" My father and a couple of other Town officials walked the streets in order to main order and hopefully hold down the fear. You seehe knew many of the people who participated in the rally. My Father referred to them as ignorant. He spent the next election proclaiming a fact he was proud of.....I am of the party of Lincoln. A phrase one does not hear anymore.
A couple of years later he lay dying at Albany Medical Center. He was then 74. He called me to his by side because he was worried about his son's future. You see I was a child of my times , he thought me quite radical. He asked me to keep a level head and to not stray to far from a sensible middle path in life. We also discussed our difficult relationship with our ages being so radically apart. He said "well you were a hell of surprise but I did the best I could." I paused and said thank you father. I looked at him and I said I promised to stay on the level path.
Now Donald Trump is President elect. He has just selected a man I and millions of others consider a White Separatist and Brightbart bigot. his name Steve Bannon. Donald has also referred to many minorities in what I consider racist ways.
Father I kept my promise to you. Donald Trump does not have my support as you did not support the KKK.
You may wonder why I wrote this. Well an old high school friend on facebook requested to me that I express what I feel. She feels Facebook has gotten way out of control with all the hate. So Kathy Meyer this blog is dedicated to you and thank you for your friendship. Now you know where I stand.
At the odd age of 54 he had a son from his 43 yr old wife. He began to drive a school bus for the Schodack Central School part time to make ends meet. Local Pols were not paid much back then. So you see I was raised in a very Republican home.
Many years later in Maple Hill High School. I was told a story by an English / History teacher at Maple Hill High School that in 1928 a large KKK rally was held in our town to protest the run for President by our then Govenor Alfred E. Smith. The Klan was a powerful force in America back then. Smith lost , Hoover won. My father reluctantly agreed to discuss it with me......afterall .....that story had gotten buried , rarely if ever brought up. I had never heard about it. None of my friends had. He told me that many people were terrified , the few Jewish families were very fearful. He knew all of them because they were all Freemasons. The few black families in some cases fled for a time. A couple never returned. They held a night bon fire preached their hate. The Catholic families kept their lights off in their houses that night. Terror gripped many people who were not"the right kind of American" My father and a couple of other Town officials walked the streets in order to main order and hopefully hold down the fear. You seehe knew many of the people who participated in the rally. My Father referred to them as ignorant. He spent the next election proclaiming a fact he was proud of.....I am of the party of Lincoln. A phrase one does not hear anymore.
A couple of years later he lay dying at Albany Medical Center. He was then 74. He called me to his by side because he was worried about his son's future. You see I was a child of my times , he thought me quite radical. He asked me to keep a level head and to not stray to far from a sensible middle path in life. We also discussed our difficult relationship with our ages being so radically apart. He said "well you were a hell of surprise but I did the best I could." I paused and said thank you father. I looked at him and I said I promised to stay on the level path.
Now Donald Trump is President elect. He has just selected a man I and millions of others consider a White Separatist and Brightbart bigot. his name Steve Bannon. Donald has also referred to many minorities in what I consider racist ways.
Father I kept my promise to you. Donald Trump does not have my support as you did not support the KKK.
You may wonder why I wrote this. Well an old high school friend on facebook requested to me that I express what I feel. She feels Facebook has gotten way out of control with all the hate. So Kathy Meyer this blog is dedicated to you and thank you for your friendship. Now you know where I stand.
