Greetings From Springfield!

There is a video circulating of angry Springfield, Ohio residents at a city council meeting. The video shows residents complaining about homeless Haitian encampments, some of the habits of the immigrants and of the citizens who are frightened by the situation. And they are angry that the city is allowing this.

This issue is a perfect example of the divide in America on almost every other issue, as well.

The citizens in this video, as well as JD Vance and Donald Trump, and possibly a majority of Trump supporters, refuse to go deep into issues to understand root causes and to, thereby, come up with real solutions. Instead they get angry and allow their fears to guide their actions. They act on their personal conclusions and emotional reactions and will not allow for investigation that can create understanding .

It is an ideological lack of empathy.

Springfield’s population had been declining for decades before a few years ago when Haitians were drawn here by the relatively low cost of living and the promise of work in local factories. Springfield needed labor. It doesn’t take long for someone to contact someone to contact someone (etc) and create a wave of immigration to an area. The Haitians in question, just to be clear, are here LEGALLY to work.

But many don’t know the language, or our customs, or have what is necessary to get a home upon arrival. Tent cities develop, people are more or less lost in a foreign land and with unfamiliar systems and they appear strange to the citizens of the town. They are NOT taking jobs from locals they are there because jobs have been available and are needed to fill. Ohio is benefiting from increased manufacturing.

What happens is that rather than consider these realities and even the positive aspects of a town going to work, a lot of people surrender to their fear of anything outside the status quo and ramp up prejudices to justify driving them out.

“They eat from a can with their fingers!,” said one resident insinuating the immigrants are low class.

“They are eating cats and dogs!” was already in the national discourse.

A demagogue running for president confirms their fears in order to fan the illegal immigration crisis in his favor. Remember “They aren’t sending their best!”?

Human beings become dehumanized and prejudices begin to create policy to stop the perceived danger.

That is the operating system of Trumpism. Trump demands (and receives) compliance to the idea that he is the only source to be trusted completely and in that space hearsay is as verifiable as fact.

The truth is, every issue is created from nuanced historical context. Immigration, economic trends and measurements, educational funding and standards, gun control, climate science, heath science, reproductive rights. Nothing is without historical narratives that lead to current situations. Without considering how we have arrived at any issue, we are deprived from any logical, compassionate, or lasting solution.

And then the neo-Nazis show up to provide one.