This will be the second time in my life, that a United States President I loathe completely will be speaking in the town I live in.
The first time was in 2004. George Dubya Bush, war criminal extroardinaire. I was at work and someone gave me the news. He was at Blaine's International Sport's Center.
I had to go into the back and cry I was so angry. The first person I had ever hated in my 20 years of life was only a couple of miles away.
I entered the military at 17 years of age. It's perfectly legal for military recruiters to set up shop inside of high schools.
When I was 19, I shattered my ankle. And God told Dubya to send us to war. I was a part of the 434th MSB. The Red Bulls. They were over there for over 2 1/2 years. Some of them didn't come back.
There are countries Bush cannot set foot in because he was tried and convicted as a War Criminal.
Now it's Trump. He was going to speak at the DECC but our usually progressive and outspoken community surprised me. The number of tickets requested was quadruple the number of available seats. So it was switched to Amsoil Arena.
I know a few, like myself and a couple of co-workers had requested a pair of tickets with the intent on not going, forcing him to have a few empty seats. But the tickets were a farce. It's first come, first served.
That tactic ended up backfiring on us, but no doubt the majority of people were serious. Minnesota is a blue state, but it's basically cut in half. The small towns and counties in the north are primarily red, while the larger populations in the south are blue.
And since Duluth is in the north... Well, let's just say it brings out the ugliness in people, knowing that he's going to be here. It seems to give them permission to be disgusting human beings.
I've heard a lot of bullshit from co-workers and people talking loudly on the bus about Trump's stance in immigration. And that it is the immigrant's fault for bringing their children with them illegally.
People. 👏 Seeking asylum. 👏 Is legal! 👏
Ironically enough, directly outside of Amsoil Arena stands this lovely Lady Liberty.
A miniature of the original, true, but yes she has this plaque. Will she hear his rhetoric of hate?
Protests are planned. We know he chose Duluth because we are a shipping town at the head of thr Iron Range. Copper Mining is being pushed heavily right now.
There is already enough on our plates with Line 3 and the DAPL plowing it's way in. #waterislife #noline3 #noDAPL
Will he even mention the explosion that rocked our lives at the Husky Enbridge plant in Superior? Does he even know that no one for 30 miles south and 5 miles in every other direction can garden this year due to toxins in the soil?
Please. Trump has made it clear he doesn not care about the little people, or the environment.
How dare he come here after cutting funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Program, helping to clean up after the pollution caused by his generation's rape of the Earth?!
The trio and I will be there come Wednesday, rain or shine we will join the ranks of protesters outside of Amsoil.
Also, almost symbolic. A 1,000 foot ship making it's way out onto the lake ran aground yesterday, just outside of the Arena. Pushed away from the canal by the insane, flood-causing storms we have had the past couple of days.
That ship's name? The American Spirit.
Dark days ahead for Duluth. Let's just hope the crazies can stay sane and not hurt anybody through this.
