About two months ago I made a trip on my sport touring motorcycle down to Minnesota. The plan was to travel across Minnesota to Duluth and then travel up Lake Superior’s coastline to photograph the fall colours.
What transpired was a lesson into how quickly America has devolved into two camps that seem to viscerally hate each other. I must admit, it shocked me. The hate speech emanating from the right had infected Minnesotans in such a way that I literally found it impossible to have a rational conversation surrounding politics. Group think and hate speech had become prevalent across the state. Right wing Republicans and Left Wing Democrats sat and sit on an immense divide, devoid of intelligent discourse, rationality or reason. I had never seen America in such a state.
Twenty years ago I would never have believed that what I was witnessing was possible. You see I was a firefighter and Fire Chief for 43 years, now retired, and over that time I had many interactions, conventions and IAFC conferences with American Fire Chiefs and firefighters generally. I found the majority to be affable, empathic, interested in public service and forward looking.
What I found on my trip, attempting to have a normal conversation at coffee shops, restaurants and rest stops was mistrust, anger, demonization of the ‘others’, and an environment so polarized that no person was not entrenched on one side or the other.
I also discovered something else. The Republican Right is dominated by religious zealots with a passion for hating anyone who is not.
At one stop in NorthEastern Minnesota, I stopped to warm up and have a coffee at a local cafe, and overheard a conversation that actually stunned me, about how the men at the table ought to beat the hell out of those who disagreed with them. One man, obviously a trump supporter, looked over at me and asked if I was riding the motorcycle outside. I said that yes, I was. He then asked where I was from. I said, Canada, and he said, “What are you doing down here?” I said I was just riding through the state to photograph the fall colours and would head back in a few days. He asked, “So what do you think about those Democrats in Washington? I realized by the tone in his voice that he intended to let me know what he thought of them.
I thought for a second, and reflected on the trump stickers on the windows of the cars outside, the MAGA hats on two of the men at the table, and thought that discretion was the best way to respond. I said, “Well I think both sides need to listen to each other, and to come to some agreement about the future that respects the positions of both sides.
One man let out a ‘guffaw’ and under his breath, said, “Liberal Fuck”. I was a bit surprised, and decided to not offer any further commentary. The man I was speaking to said. “Democrats are all about themselves and they don’t give a fuck about the white men and women who make this country great.” I was careful not to disagree, and said that “I understand that, but the world is changing and it would be great if we could just understand what makes the other side tick.”
I should also tell you that I taught college part-time and one of the courses I instructed was, “Conflict Resolution”.
The man who had interjected the guttural laugh just asked, “Where are you from in Canada?” I answered, “Winnipeg”. His response was as unequivocal as it was strident.
“Well, I suppose you’d best get on the road and get back there.”
His face was one of anger.
I didn’t say anything in return. I quickly finished my coffee, paid my bill and left the cafe.
I learned something important that day. It was obvious that there would be no middle ground in America. You are either with us, or against us, at least that was the position of the far right.
An observation as I rode through the state, also was obvious. The poorer the neighbourhoods, the more Trump signs in evidence, and the more, “God is a Republican” signs or sentiment existed.
I felt unwelcome, alienated and to some extent, abused. I did indeed turn around and head back to the Canadian border, all the wiser for my brief sojourn into the world of America’s political anger and animosity.
When I pulled up to the customs window, six hours later, I was met with a pretty, young CBSA agent who asked, “How was your trip to the U.S.? Quickly followed by the question. “Is it getting any better over there?”
I looked at her and smiled, “No, it isn’t.”
She just nodded, passed me my passport, and said, “Welcome Home.”
I said it was great to be home, and drove off.
Anecdotally, it will be the last time I travel to the United States. I found it to be hostile, uninviting and truly irrational. There is much to do and see in this world, and I’ll do just that, — excluding America.
My mind wandered back to Trumps first iteration in 2016, and a thought scampered across my mind.
Maybe that wall idea, isn’t such a bad thing.
Ciao…
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