Judging by the 1,400 protests across America and the millions of people participating, it’s evident that citizens understand that every man, woman and child has been put in harm’s way by the devious actions of the Republican Party and the lies they’ve allowed Trump to tell.

Evident to everyone, that is, except those still clinging to willful ignorance and living in “deep stupid” (a phrase coined by a Republican politician by the way, not me). Of course, Republican strategists knew they could manipulate the gullibility level of voters watching Fox, following social media and believing conspiracy websites.   

For 8 years, Democrats have been attacked verbally and physically, trolled on social media and slandered on both right-wing and mainstream media. Many Democrat politicians fear that their families will be harmed by irrationally angry bullies egged on by Trump. They’ve installed complex security systems. I wish I had.

I never imagined that someone would break into my home in Massena. Many thanks to the Massena Police Department for their assistance. It seems that this was not vandals breaking in to grab electronics or cash for drugs. No, this was a planned theft. The house was cased for potential break-in points, they had the tools and figured out when our house-watchers would be out-of-town. But why target my house and not others?

Considering the ignorant venom directed at me by NCN letter writers (I’m a Democrat “wealthy elite”??) and those who don’t know enough not to echo the opinions of TV commentators/entertainers being paid to spin information, could there be a connection?

My home was filled with cherished things inherited from my great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mother. Yes, there were two sets of antique silverware, silver candlesticks and a tray, wedding rings, jewelry and pocket watches handed down through the generations. They got it all. But why also take the 3-ring-binders of postcards from the 1900’s chronicling the correspondence between my great-grandmother and my grandmother?

I imagine these thieves will get money when they fence the stolen items with an estate jeweler or antique dealer. But the more important sentimental value is lost to me. That’s the ugly world we live in now. Could an assumption have been made that a supposedly “wealthy” Democrat would have “good stuff” in their house and thieves felt entitled to take it?

Guard your precious things well. Everything’s in freefall thanks to Trump. Anything can happen.

Martha Hodges
Massena