Yesterday was the anniversary of the Apollo 11 crew landing on the moon, and I would like to apologize for something.

If you know me at all, I have been pretty vocal about people supporting and voting for the former US president.

It usually goes something like this: The supporters (And voters for.) trump may not be racists/xenophobes/misogynists, but it does not appear to be a deal breaker for them. I meant every word of that. I thought perhaps it was a none too subtle way of shaming people into confronting their choice to support him.

I was wrong, and I apologize. After living and working with these folks for nearly five years, I was patently, absurdly wrong. I also have the misfortune of having many family members living in the state of Ohio, where I currently do as well. I have been surrounded by every symbol and act of unadulterated hatred. It is everywhere you look, from the confederate flags, maga hats, and plain old hate speech. It is embedded into everything here. It is woven into society here.

So I take back my original assertion about deal breaking. All of these character traits were not an impediment to their support. They were a requirement.

And yet, these salt of the earth types would have me believe things like “racism was gone in this country until Obama got elected”. No, Larry, that was your tipping point. The point in your life that you decided to come out of the hate filled bigot closet. The only racism that surged with BHO’s election was theirs.

They also champion the notion that the confederate battle flag is a “symbol of their heritage”. Karen, if your heritage is slavery, you got your money’s worth. That flag is a symbol of people who took up arms against the country they profess to love. Over the right to own and subjugate other humans.

I labored under the notion that these conservatives may have been misled. I was wrong. This is who they are and all they have ever known. I don’t know if I can ever reach them and and explain that it is okay to care about other people, but I will keep trying.

Namasté