I’m at a point in my life where I don’t relish the new year. Times past, I looked forward to the ball dropping on Times Square, not much this year. I’m deathly afraid, and this is what I feared back in 2020, that people would rather elect a tyrant into the presidency than someone who represents our common democratic traditions and values. I had a discussion with my sister concerning politics. Normally, we clash but we also see eye to eye on a number of topics. She told me, she would rather have Trump than Biden because, “Biden has dementia.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I replied sitting across from her in her dining room table. “Trump on the other hand; have you heard him speak? He’s the one with dementia or he’s completely off his rocker. He talks about Obama at his rallies as if he were still President.”
“At least Trump had a good economy,” she countered.
“No, he inherited that great economy from Obama’s eight years in office. Trump didn’t contribute at all.”
“Biden can’t put two words together!”
“Biden was born with a stuttering problem.”
“Can we change the subject?”
We can change the subject, but we can’t deny the ugly truth if Trump somehow wins the election because of distrust of one party because the current President isn’t popular for any variety of reasons, or that those people that adhere to a radically different political ideology or philosophy that counters what the majority of the voters in this country and appear more than willing to die for those beliefs.
Are we headed toward Civil War Part Two? Unlikely, but then again, who knows how radicalized these people are; the disgruntled, fringe elements out there who, more than anyone are so certain in their creed, their belief system that dwells in the back alleys of racism, Christian Identity and Christian nationalism that unlike us are more than ready to take up arms and rebel against their perceived enemies. Trump has become their voice.
On a more personal note, my marketing and writing strategies are a bit convoluted. The Nate Turner western is coming along a bit slowly, but steadily. I’m a bit in a quagmire when it comes to trying to market my books through the right people. If nothing else I’m starting to recognize a scam when I see one. I’m certain the ones that keep calling me at all hours of the day are the ones more desperate for my money than those who are genuinely interested in making me successful. I’m a bit disappointed in my publisher though. He—empirical—is not contributing at all in marketing either A Man’s Passion or I Albert Peabody. I don’t know if this is becoming a potent of things to come with this publisher or if they are just waiting for me to pick up the slack.
I’m ending this at a time when everything done for the coming year will be fruitful and our democratic ideals and principles remain firmly imbedded. Happy New Year all my loyal readers out there.
Jerry Schellhammer 