Our reputation

I think it safe to say that most universally respected norms and human values, cultivated for ages, have been upended since Trump’s ascension to the presidency, which makes one wonder whether it was really a change or has it always been there, even before?

Racism is a belief primarily designed to distinguish and propagate one’s racial superiority over another human being essentially to protect one’s socioeconomic advantage, and nothing more.

And ironically enough, the extremely religious seem to be the more forceful adherents of that myopia than the agnostics, which makes one wonder if the conflicting values that outlook inculcate is a well thought of product of the mind than that of emotion.

But why is that relevant in East Haven you would ask?

Well, I think it is because Trump won decisively in East Haven despite his avowed racism, homophobia, dislike for foreigners (has anyone's ancestor ever gotten an invite from any chieftain of any native American tribes?) or his disdain for women.

Putting the racist, homophobic and xenophobic troubling part of his character aside and instead ask yourself this question: what would make you admire someone who has an inherent dislike for (women) his mother, sister or niece just because of their gender?

Now think of them as your mother, sister and niece and if you think that is not troublesome still, well then I could only say I think you are born in the wrong century.

All of us who live in East Haven "revel" in the “comfort” influenced by the belief (remember, believing is a state of mind, not actual reality) that we live in a town where everybody knows everybody, except that the reverse of that view easily translates to police abuse of people (remember that?) who they believe should not be here because they don’t “look” like our neighbors.

On a personal note; we experience that first hand when we first moved here. In fact on occasion, I receive letters referring to me as a “monkey” (I have a suspicion of who the author is) and other derisive names because of the opinion articles I write.

In any event, that stigma to our community's reputation as well as individual residents, is a blemish that negatively impacts all of us in ways we seem to ignore.

Think real-estate values, for one, but more significantly, think of the emotional baggage we are bequeathing our children.

I could be narrow-minded (and I think I am, ha-ha) but living in the “shore-line” part of Connecticut has more advantages for its residents, than from those who don’t; even if they actually live in the shoreline as we do here in Momauguin.

And that’s all due to reputation.

Sadly that state of mind (they’re better than us) will remain in people’s consciousness until something fundamentally different takes place in our town government that will signal a marked end to that contemptuous outlook, which brings me to the upcoming mayoral election.

Close your eyes (but keep your minds open) and try to digest a political campaign that goes like this: “I promise, if elected, to put a new refrigerator in every household; a new car and lawn mower in every garage and all your credit card balances will be paid for and all you need to do is believe in me and elect me as your next mayor this November.”

Ridiculous but thought-provoking as it sounds, campaign promises seemed to be viewed as benign and subsequently ignored only because of the “he is one-of-us" mentality. Our tribal instinct to be exact, which brings me to the subject of perception.

Perception, as they say is 95% reality because for most of us, what we think we know, pretty much guide our outlook and behavior, for we have no time to learn more comprehensively the true nature of whatever and whoever, so we feed into the habit.

With life being so unpredictable, wherein one could never be sure, so we just do it and hope for the best.

Since voting for who should be tasked to spend our hard earned contribution (taxes) to the general welfare (government) it seems a more sensible approach would be deciding who that individual ought to be, based largely on reason and less on emotion.

For let’s face it; a decision made before coffee and donut in the morning would be less likely to change, if made after the coffee is drank and the donuts are eaten.