Busy and bustling, London continues to captivate me, going back to my first visit nearly 50 years ago. This time around, a three-day visit to British friends in the Dorset countryside offered a startling contrast to the world-class city that draws millions to the United Kingdom.
The highlight for my wife and me in London was a Broadway show. Yes, folks, we traveled to this city on the Thames River to see “Jersey Boys.” It amused us that we watched, in a packed British theater, a musical about a singing group so American in its origin and its hit songs. The mostly English audience seemed to love the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, standing at the end to sing along with the actors. Ironically, I remember more vividly the Liverpool guys called the Beatles than I do the New Jersey gents.
After two days in London, with 8.6 million people in its greater area, we traveled to Gillingham, with a population of nearly 12,000, situated in the northern part of the county of Dorset in southwest England. Like crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge onto the Eastern Shore, we found this part of Great Britain to be tranquil and relaxing.
I took a phone call during our stay in Gillingham from a friend, who was surprised to hear me say I was in England, He wondered whether I had deliberately chosen to hide from our presidential campaign. Not a surprising question in light of the outrageously ugly nature of our current political slugfest.
My British friend, whom I’ve known for 30 years, asked a rather intriguing question about the major party candidates: “Isn’t there more talent in the United States?” Now, that’s a difficult question. I answered in a long-winded, not necessarily relevant manner that the negativity and intrusiveness of American political campaigns—particularly on the state and federal levels—discourage participation by many talented people who might consider dipping their toes into politics.
While staying at our friends’ home, I could not escape BBC coverage of the Oct. 9, 2016 debate between Clinton and Trump. Looking at the confrontation through the eyes of our British friends, I wondered if the behavior, particularly Donald Trump’s, could get any worse. And it does, daily. When I think the bar for civility could not get any lower, it does. Our foreign allies must be dismayed.
As I returned home from a too-short five-day trip to the UK, I felt even more discouraged and disgusted by our election. Like many, I am eager for the unsightly brawl, expected to be vicious, to end. To end the political nightmare that is the 2016 presidential election. To end the disregard for citizens dreadfully concerned about the future—theirs and the nation’s.
I find that hope and optimism are in drastically short supply, if non-existent, in the person of Donald Trump. I cannot and will not vote for a person whose sense of reality is misguided, whose views are shallow, whose barely disguised bigotry is frightening, whose grasp of policy is solely lacking and whose self-centered view of life permits little or no compassion for others.
When I think about people like John Kasich and Jeb Bush, or even Ohio Governor Rob Portman—serious politicians with thoughtful agendas—I so regret that Donald Trump represents the Republican Party in an election that has torn asunder the tenets of acceptable behavior and policy-driven campaigns. Personal attacks and constant disparagement of critics underscore a morally bankrupt campaign waged by a person who craves attention and proffers scant substance.
Hillary Clinton is a flawed person and lackluster candidate. Like some, I guess, I wish the standard-bearer for the Democratic party were Joe Biden. I wish I liked and respected the Democratic candidate. I will vote for her, but not enthusiastically.
After reading a Washington Post article addressing Trump’s contempt for information provided him by intelligence professionals about Russia’s hacking of the Democratic National Committee, I again realized that a person unwilling—or perhaps unable—to listen to and accept non-partisan, data-driven national security information is ill-suited to be our nation’s commander-in-chief. Information provided by intelligence officers is often displeasing and uncomfortable; nonetheless, it should not be dismissed as folly if it conflicts with preconceived notions.
I’ve gone from “Jersey Boys” to the restful and refreshing environs of Dorset, to the ceaselessly disturbing nature of our presidential campaign. Though it may seem like a convoluted story line, it isn’t.
We live in a small world offering plentiful opportunities for enjoyment and enlightenment. Darkness too permeates our world as our two candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, fight to occupy the White House in a mostly unseemly, civility-bashing way. Despite her personal and professional drawbacks, Mrs. Clinton is by far the most capable to lead our country and world.
Mr. Trump is poorly equipped to serve as President of the United States. I couldn’t hide from that truth in Gillingham. I can’t ignore it in Easton.
Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland. Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer. In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.
Lynne Horvath says
Well, you asked for something positive, something happy. I just finished emailing this link from the Post to my friends, but in case a link is verboten here on this letter site, just google Canada says US is great. Be happy and keep on keepin on. Love, Us
Link is here: https://wpo.st/CEx62