Dear Sir,
Why I’m not marching on January 21.
I’ve been protesting since I was in a stroller pushed by my mom in Saul Alinsky-organized civil rights marches in Buffalo in the early 1960s. When I was 11, I gathered signatures on petitions for legislation to go after deadbeat dads. I rallied for Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign and phoned voters to support her; I was 12. At 17, I marched on Washington in the No Nukes rallies following Three Mile Island’s meltdown. Once I settled in Los Angeles, I marched for everything from nuclear disarmament to protecting immigrants’ rights. After my trip to pre-invasion Iraq in 2003, I headlined rallies and galvanized hundreds of people to march.
So why am I not joining the hundreds of marches on January 21 protesting incoming President Trump’s policies? Because I don’t trust the Ajijic march to recognize the very real concerns my Mexican friends have about retaliation against their relatives in the United States. If the Ajijic rally/march is portrayed as being too “anti-American” or too “anti-Trump,” my Mexican friends worry about being involved. I can’t justify marching to satisfy my ego when people’s security may be at risk.
And I don’t want to participate in an anti-Trump, anti-American rant. I’ll do that at home, thank you very much. I have no interest in subjecting my Mexican friends and neighbors – the people who may be equally harmed by my new president (if he follows through on his campaign rhetoric) – to my anger when they have no control over what happens. I respect them and their concerns.
Originally, the rally advertised itself as “The Backlash Begins” and bragged about burning Trump piñatas at the lake. I find that disrespectful and violent.
But I was encouraged to contact the rally/march organizing committee and was invited to one of their meetings to air my concerns. They listened. And they asked if I’d help them. With my 30+ years of experience as a professional political activist in California, I was welcomed to help. I had one caveat: The rally’s message must be positive. No Trump piñatas. No “backlash” message. We stand for unity with our Mexican friends.
But, they aren’t in agreement about their message. Some committee members, including the chair, persist in handing out “backlash” flyers to their speakers. I worry that they will go ahead with the Trump piñatas.
That’s not where I want to put my efforts. I’m an American patriot at heart. I’ve traveled through enough countries to realize merely writing this letter could get me jailed. I do not take for granted what America stands for and the privilege I enjoy.
I fight for my country. I do it by working for peace, justice and equality and I do it by traveling to meet the people who are most affected by America’s foreign policies and listening to their stories: Iraqis bombed in Baghdad, Syrian refugees stuck in Lebanon, Palestinians languishing in refugee camps in the West Bank, Filipinos maimed by the U.S. military’s toxic wastes, Agent Orange victims in Vietnam, atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki ...
Although I am sometimes ashamed by what my country has done, I am more proud of what it stands for – and for what it has inspired throughout the world. So, I will not “rally” against my country while in a foreign country.
I realize many expatriates are angry and upset by the outcome of the legal and democratic U.S. presidential election. I know I am! But instead of participating in a volatile, potentially hostile rally, I will spend that time learning about reforming America’s Electoral College – an antiquated system that allowed another president to be elected who did not win the popular vote. The last time this happened, we seated a president who ginned up a war in Iraq.
I’m committed to learning about ways to change this. Check out this video about the National Popular Vote: youtube.com/watch? v=w6ZOiiMjIxE If you want to learn more as I continue my research, feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and put “Electoral College Reform” in your email subject line.
On January 21, I’d rather matter than march. I’m rolling up my sleeves to make America’s popular vote prevail because I believe deeply in my country’s values of fairness, tolerance, philanthropy and freedom.
Join me?
Kelly Hayes-Raitt, Chula Vista and Santa Monica, California
Dear Sir,
I have one question for Mr. Gene Raymer and like-minded conservative expats in the Lake Chapala area or anywhere else in Mexico.
Since you obviously support Mr. Trump, you must agree with his xenophobic proposals directed specifically against Mexico: build a wall to be paid eventually by Mexico, deport millions of undocumented immigrants (mostly Mexicans), and slap tariffs on goods imported into the United States from Mexico.
Shouldn't you then have the courage of your convictions and move back north? You could then help the U.S. economy by spending your retirement income at home rather than in a despised country, and you could pick up jobs like grape harvesting, strawberry picking, or any other menial labor at below minimum wages, made available to all the poor, starving, unemployed white Americans now that the Mexicans and others are gone.
And in addition, you could enjoy God's creation in this blessed country of yours.
J.C. Tatinclaux, Ajijic
Dear Sir,
On Sunday, January 8, at approximately 11.15 a.m., I was struck by a pale-colored delivery van while I was riding east on my bicycle on the Carretera right outside the main entrance of the Raquet Club in San Juan Cosala.
The van failed to stop, and instead fled the scene as I was getting back up from the roadway. Thankfully, several potential witness vehicles had stopped, rather than running me over.
As I recall, the van had a yellowish or red stripe outlining the edge of the box.
Any information from a witness that could identify the van or driver would be greatly appreciated.
If you have information, please call Peter at (387) 761-0397 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..