Left of the aisle

I was raised in Odessa, and conservative. I manned phone banks in Spokane for Nixon in ‘68. Now, 50 years later, I have a second worldview. I’ve had much more life experience, and am acutely aware of the anger you feel for those who question your long-held beliefs.

As children in Odessa, we knew the greatest generation had fought WWII, and we respected the flag in their honor. Unfortunately, we’ve had less popular wars like Vietnam. Coming home, the numbers of American flags waved or hugged didn’t matter much to me. Democracy (free speech), for which it stands, meant everything.

Allowing opinion in The Record as I’m doing right now! Rush Limbaugh certainly took advantage of his free speech. An “entertainer,” he played on fears and shouted his prejudices. He loved to stick it to progressives. Many heard his opinions three hours a day for decades, believing his ‘facts.’ He didn’t take dissenting calls on his program. There was no debate in school or the community when I grew up in Odessa. It was the conservative way or the highway. They’re coming to take away your guns? We had guns in Odessa for hunting. I haven’t talked to anyone, in 50 years, who’s said your guns should be taken away. Was there any room for debate in Odessa?

Lincoln County voted almost 80 percent for Trump again. In an online, interdependent world, the information that you voted in huge numbers for Trump is easily available online (especially the Jan. 6 revolution at the Capitol). Progressives may come to Odessa to attend Deutschesfest or play golf. If you vote to take away abortion rights, Obamacare, civil rights for minorities, why would they come Odessa to spend money? It hurts festival attendance and the businesses all year long. Financially, Covid 19 will hurt Odessa enough. Do you really want to support MAGA? Why not ask family and friends living in another world what they think?

Bruce Porter

– Honolulu