D23 Democrats recently screened the movie Selma at the Fountain Hills Theater. It dealt with the very courageous, non-violent struggle of Blacks to attain voting rights in Alabama in the 60s. It exposed the hatred, demeaning verbal attacks, and horrific violence they faced without resorting to violence themselves.

Disturbingly, in 2017, in our little town there’s still a small contingent who hold that same ignorant, white supremacist view; the need to elevate themselves by putting other groups down. They fear, hate and demean Muslims, Mexicans, LGBTQ, Progressive Christians, Liberals, and on and on.

When it was posted in the paper that the movie, Selma, was to be shown in Fountain Hills several threatening, vulgar, hate-filled comments were posted on Facebook protesting the movie and stating that any “liberal” who defended people from these other groups should leave the country.

Prejudice throughout our land was actually exacerbated by the election of Obama. “How dare a black man believe he belongs in the White House?” “He must be put in his place and denied any success!”

Then came Trump, who inflamed and used this fear of a changing, more diverse, less white America to get elected. He put into words what this group thought. He made it acceptable to express bigoted views openly and loudly. Hate crimes rose significantly. He created a false picture of chaos and disaster in our country (caused by “the other”) and claimed only he could fix it.

We must reject Trump’s lies, which pit us against each other. We all have to live on this same planet, either working together for everyone’s good and thriving, or continuing to fight for our own superiority at the expense of others and thereby destroying us all.

Choose the power of one humanity; courageous, accepting of differences, and united for good!