truth and consequences

Yesterday I sold my novel Paradise Interrupted to a perfectly normal seeming man for his wife at an art & craft show. He returned a half hour later all overwrought.

“We have to talk,” he said, motioning to meet him around behind my canopy.

My only thought was that somehow what I wrote in his book had offended him or his wife.

“Whatever you say stays here,” he assured me. “Nobody else will know.”

“Okay, shoot,” I say.

“I'm sorry but there's something I have to know,” he says. “I have an obsession. I can't stand to give money to anybody who supports Trump. I have to know who you voted for.”

I was glad to hear this was all it was. I told him he had an unhealthy obsession and he'd better get ahold of himself.

“I know, he says,” almost in agony, “but please tell me.” He cupped his hands in supplication.

I told him its not this important, it's just like having a favorite football team. You root for the team and some perfectly wonderful people will be rooting for the other side.

“Please, just tell me,” he said, “Nobody else will know. Please.”

At this point I figured I should give the guy what he needs so I said, “I'm a flaming liberal,” which he took to mean I had not supported Trump. He was as relieved as if I had just saved his little girl from drowning, repeatedly shaking my hand.

This is the effect on just one man of Tuesday's vote. Spread it across the country and you've got some problems. How many people are now crippled in their ability to shop? To even think straight.

On Tuesday a sea change took place in this country and selling my books as I do at weekend festivals, I am positioned to observe an illuminating effect: to wit, the distinct political halves of the population just swapped sides like a reciprocal wildebeest migration.

 

Since Obama took office I have been beset by the occasional Republican who feigns interest in a book, then grills me on my slant. When I say I like the man, they slam down the book and stomp off saying they can't do business with me, thereby thinking I have been roundly punished. I wondered at their motivation and it took Trump getting elected to reveal it.

That won't be happening for awhile because it's the Democrats' turn to do it. This weekend for the first time ever, Democrats held my affiliation hostage to a book purchase and Republicans were content knowing the White House soon will live up to its name. Turns out it's no more than anger at being on the losing side. To manifest itself to the point of punishment, I conclude, requires true loathing for the winner. For Democrats it requires a despicable lout such as Trump and Republicans simply needed a half-Negro man superior in every way to any candidate they have put forth in the modern era.

One could conclude it was this slight that fueled the result we see now, and it would be not restricted to the voters but must include people of influence over them. I suspect the useless- information-overload-to-the-brain society we occupy today has bred a nation of loony tunes, it's just that simple. It's a sea to shining sea nuthouse and the pecans are in charge.