From: Scott Keen
Columbus
In the 2016 general election, 63.7 percent of Bartholomew County voters voted for Donald Trump. Forty-nine percent identify as Christians. Indiana municipal offices are overwhelmingly held by Republicans. We are just a sightly less-red county in the red, red state of Indiana.
Almost a thousand people showed up in Columbus to protest the horrific murder of George Floyd. All agreed racism is despicable.
But who did they vote for? Odds are two to one, if they live in Bartholomew County, it was Donald Trump. If they are not familiar with our president’s stand on racial issues, I suggest they do some research.
Bartholomew County votes strongly GOP. What is that now? Still the party of legendary Indiana Republican statesmen like Senator Richard Lugar or Governor Otis “Doc” Bowen? As a lifelong Hoosier I was not always politically aligned with them, but I knew they were competent and honorable men.
Or is the Republican party the Party of Trump and all that stands for? Division and hostility, blatant dishonesty and disrespect, fiscal irresponsibility to the benefit of the 1 percent, personal aggrandizement and enrichment, encouragement of ignorance and violence, incompetence, militarization of the state, nepotism on steroids, religion as politics, and general mayhem reminiscent of a Keystone Cops movie (look it up kids). Unfortunately, the GOP’s quiet acquiescence to Trump’s dangerous vision seems to answer that question.
My dad was a WWII veteran, a lifelong Republican, an elected official, and a good man. He read his Bible frequently, especially the red text. He was one of those practicing Christians that lived his religion, just being kind, not proselytizing, but gladly helping those in need with the shirt off his back. And believe me, he didn’t have many shirts.
By the way, when my dad held his old, well worn bible, it was a cherished object to him. He never treated it like a box of radioactive spiders or displayed it vainly like a toddler displaying the prize he won from the “throw the dart, pop the balloon” game at the county fair.
I am sure my dad is rolling in his grave at what his party has come to represent.
So all should consider this as they rightfully protest the public murder of George Floyd, the countless horrible race based murders that proceeded that, and the centuries of racism that have embroiled this country and so hurt the black community. And let’s not forget about our neighbors to the south that are treated like animals, or the LGBT community so many like to hate, or the indigenous Americans pillaged and shoved onto soul-crushing reservations, or the continual disrespect for and second class status of women, or the failed war on drugs that was designed to hammer minorities and hippies, and other injustices that thrive here.
And they should ask themselves,“Who, and what, have I really been voting for?”
Editor’s note: This letter is paid political content
