Jack Dillon, far right. |
“We’re Poor Little Lambs Who …”
I truly believe that 30 years from now, I will be getting
Republican National Committee mailers for my deceased father. That
is, if they are still around. I know
that I won’t be. I’ll be 100 or so. But the mail is for my dad, not me. And he’d be around 120. The RNC: We Don’t Give Up.
I miss my father. He
passed away a few years ago, but he was increasingly absent for at least the prior decade as the insidiousness of dementia and Alzheimer’s, which
robbed him of himself - and me of him – dimmed the light in his eyes.
My Dad had received at least three Gold Medals of Freedom
from Ronald Reagan, the 40th President, for his support and unfailing monetary
donations to the RNC. On the walls of
his small office, where he patiently awaited the urgent call from his company to come
back to work via a private plane to New York, flattering images of Reagan hung
upon the walls with signatures and brief words of thanks – before the lights
went out in Ronald’s eyes as well.
When Dad became clearly ill, I was forced to take over his
life and care for him until his unfair end.
His car, his accounts, his identity, and his phone number.
This meant as well that I inherited the accumulation of his life’s later
and embittered political confusions (he was by the way originally an FDR
acolyte and school-age W.E.B. Du Bois supporter).
So they call me still: The RNC. The Tea Party. The Birther Movement. Speaker Paul Ryan. The
Party of No.
At first, I was so haunted by my father’s passing; I’d
ignore the calls. But they’d leave
messages asking and sometimes almost demanding money for their fight to stop
Obama, to prevent woman’s rights, to shut down this or that, to stop any attempts preventing my ownership of an assault weapon.
But they kept calling and wanting more from him. And I slowly began picking up the phone. And I’d say that “Yes” I was that same Medal
guy. And I’d let them throw the pitch for money to get rid of Obama or illegal
voters or abortion rights or the assault on gun ownership.
And then, I’d play along.
For the NRA/Tea Party groups that called, I’d concur with
their rabid hatred of Obama and the assault on assault guns (sorry about
that). And I’d make up stuff about all the armament I
have around the house. My Glocks, my
Bushmasters, my Sigs…then, I’d ask about access to better and bigger
stuff. After all, the government is our enemy, isn't it? The voice on the other end would
grow cautious but clearly supportive.
“Yes, I know how you feel. I
think we should have more military weaponry too. But we have to work to vote those people into
our Congress that understand that.
Would you be willing to provide us with a donation – as you have in the
past - of…”
For the RNC, I’d play an older father who just found out his
son was gay I would speak in a
voice imperious with tears that my poor son was the result of what? I was no longer sure. Was it nature or nurture? I loved him but now he had become “one of
them.” The voice on the other end would
become understanding, but always suggested I find some way to get him into
counseling to get him back to the path of normalcy. And then the measured “I am so sorry,”
followed by the “Would you be willing to provide us with a donation – as you
have in the past - of…”
I don’t respond anymore, but this election cycle has certainly re-energized all phone folderol. They’re calling now again and again and leaving messages or phone numbers to call. Tea Party has rung the house at least three times this week.
And today I received the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN SURVEY
from, well, you know. Clearly addressed
to my Dad. I’m supposed to return my
completed survey with a donation of $35 through $5000 by the 30th. There’s a space for more than $5000, and I am
sadly happy Dad has left us.
Nine ridiculously slanted questions appear on the survey, with
a picture of a 35 year-old Trump and an unusually peculiar image of Hillary Clinton,
with her eyes in a worried arch to the side as if someone may have heard a
sound like flatulence.
Question 1: “Hillary Clinton is working hard to win the
White House so she can carry forward Barack Obama’s disastrous policies
–including increased taxes – which have been so harmful to our nation’s
economy. Donald Trump is dedicated to
lowering taxes and institution responsible reforms that will create jobs,
strengthen free enterprise and boost economic growth. Which candidate do you trust more to put
America on a secure and prosperous economic path?”
Whoa…that’s a tough one.
Thank goodness, the others get easier.
Do you want more ISIS?
Do you want the US Supreme Court filled with radicals? Do you want a
possible Wall or the same infiltration by illegals for many more years? Do you want the EPA to continue destroying
business models across America? Do you
support Obamacare as it eviscerates our country?
Trump says you can find the entire survey here.
www.Secure.Trump2016.com/GreatAgainSurvey.
But you won’t.
Instead, you’ll find a request for more money. You can call 888-496-6264 to see the survey,
but I’m sure they’ll want money before you can.
Meanwhile, just yesterday, Republican nominee Trump warned
that if Iranian boats were to drive by and make rude (profane) gestures at our
navy vessels, he would order our boats to shoot them to pieces. By the way, this is his common refrain – “bomb
the hell out of them, blow them up, destroy them, etc.”
In the last years of life, I tremble to believe that Dad
would have said something like, “Hell, yes.”
But he probably would have.
And I tremble to think of how many might say the same thing as
we head inexorably toward November.
An excellent reflective piece! Thank you for sharing your recollections and the photo of your father and his crew. Many of us share your "embittered political confusions" as well; many of us are fearful of this country's direction too.
ReplyDeleteI believe Donald Trump, using his business and negotiation capabilities, and his love for his country, can help our troubled nation.
ReplyDeleteI understand the asking of donations every time, the campaign must be paid for, he is doing it on small donations from the people! All candidates do the same thing - especially Hillary.
I also found that the web site did not come up, however, I had the survey in my hands, a paid stamp on the envelope, and even it I sent no money, they still paid for the survey to be mailed.
So, just mail in your comments. That is what America is all about. And God willing, will remain free. Judy Winkelmann
Indeed, Judy, we mailed in our comments in a pre-paid envelope filled with just about a pound of old mail, material, and magnetic filler to created a extra cost for the ludicrous Trump campaign. God willing, as you would parrot, Trump is a new manifestation of what God would want us to believe is the another of His many servants sent in disguise to lead us forward. And what better disguise than a genital grabbing xenophobe without the slightest comprehension of how the world wags. Do I fall into some adoration of Clinton; not really. But I believe the devil comes in disguises too -don't you? Sometimes - like Trump - they're not so cloudy. I wish you some peace and intelligent insights.
DeleteThanks for your comments…