"Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that
keepeth the law, happy is he."
(Proverbs 29:18)
Former President Donald Trump addresses the crowd
in East Palestine Ohio yesterday.
I woke up this morning with writing this post on my mind.
I was thinking about former President Donald Trump's visit to the village
of East Palestine Ohio yesterday in the wake of the devastating train
derailment there, which spewed fumes of a dangerous chemical
into the air and subsequently poisoned both the ground and
the drinking water in and around this small community of
about 5,000 residents.
The chemical gas that spilled and caught on fire after the train derailment is called
vinyl chloride and is used for making hard plastics. It has been associated with
an increase of causing certain cancers. Since the incident on February 3rd,
residents in the area have suffered from headaches, eye irritations, and
respiratory problems. It has been reported that thousands of
fish have been found dead in area waterways.
A number of pets and other wildlife have also died.
Before he arrived in Ohio yesterday, Mr. Trump contacted all the Trump
hotels across the country and ordered that their supplies of drinking water
be sent to East Palestine. When he landed there on Wednesday afternoon,
the former President was carrying water supplies with him on his plane.
"This is really America right here; were standing in America," Mr. Trump
said during a news conference on location in East Palestine yesterday.
"Unfortunately, as you know, in many cases, your goodness and
perseverance were met with indifference-and betrayal in some cases,"
Mr. Trump told the gathered crowd of listeners.
Although I often cringe at the careless, not to mention crude
remarks made sometimes by the former Commander-in-Chief,
in the case of addressing the anxious residents of East Palestine,
Mr. Trump's blasting of the Biden Administration for their
shocking indifference towards this serious situation
was definitely the right kind of response.
In fact, Donald Trump's condemnation was the kick in the butt needed to
jump-start the Biden Administration into action. Not long after Trump
announced his intentions to visit East Palestine, in an abrupt about-face,
Joe Biden announced federal assistance would be sent to Ohio Governor
Mike DeWine and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Meanwhile, Trump's wondering-out-loud about the surprising laxity
on the part of FEMA has now spurred that federal agency into action too,
coordinating with state emergency operations in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
However, a lot more needs to be done before the all clear can
be given in this precarious situation. And that may take years.
Furthermore, this sudden change of heart on the federal level,
certainly does not excuse the behavior of President Joe Biden,
who snubbed the people of East Palestine in favor of making
a "surprise visit" to the Ukraine as an alleged show of support
for the government and the people in that war-torn nation.
His appearance overseas, while ignoring the obvious concerns
of his fellow Americans after a dangerous chemical spill,
practically in his own backyard, is inexcusable,
and the epitome of poor leadership.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish.."
But back to Donald Trump. While his political enemies and critics
in the news media will claim that his visit to East Palestine was
nothing more than a pre-election year ploy to garner more votes in 2024,
at a car dealership in the village, where water supplies are being distributed,
a photo of the former president leaning up against a barricade which reads,
"A Hero Will Rise" seems to say it all.
All around the village of East Palestine, there are signs and
flags in support of Donald Trump. And while his critics might
rag on, ad nauseum, about him, the real American people
recognize a true leader when they see one.
May God bless and keep Donald John Trump.
Please keep the people in Ohio and Pennsylvania
affected by this tragedy in your prayers.
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