Letters to the Editor

Re: “Why Some of our Friends and Neighbors Voted Differently” by Michael Hogan (January 2021)

Dear Editor:

In this very divisive time in the US, where Democrats not only disagree with Republicans and Republicans disagree with Democrats, but when they actively hate each other, it is a breath of fresh air to read Hogan’s measured assessment of why 71 million Americans voted for Trump. For those who hate Trump, the mere mention of his name brings on an automatic response of disgust, thus making it all but impossible to actually discuss his fraught four years of office. The truth is that respect for the office of the president of the United State of America ceased to exist when he took office and it didn’t really matter whether he accomplished anything or not.

Having legitimately earned the presidency in 2016, he then had to endure the “Russiagate” scandal, that ultimately came to nothing, the attempt to impeach him, which also came to nothing, and through it all, he still had to try and govern and achieve something for his country. As Hogan points out, he did meet some of his goals. Presumably for the 71 million who voted for him in November of 2020, they did not find him to be a disgrace and indeed wanted him for a second term. Calling these supporters by “deplorable” names, turning a blind eye to their needs which they believed he might still be able to meet if he remained in office for a second term, is ruthless to say the least.

Much evidence has been shown that the election was [Ed. Note: allegedly] rigged and massive voter fraud [Ed. Note: allegedly] occurred in certain jurisdictions. It was the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case, based on a technicality over which they had no jurisdiction. They did not say that there was no evidence of voter fraud, something that has occurred before in the US elections. Had it not, Al Gore would not have lost the presidential race in 2000 to George W. Bush. The big difference between Gore’s loss and Trump’s is that Gore conceded quietly, whereas Trump has not.

From Gabrielle Blair

The Price of Beautiful Lawns:

Our Dog Sammy

By Suzy Scully

It took 35 hours for his death. After ingesting lawn poison on a walk Thursday evening in lower La Floresta, Ajijic, he died Saturday at 7:39 in

the morning. Why did our dear 12-year-old dog, a hairless Chinese Crested, officially named “Little Black Sambo,” have to die such a painful death? Because many lawn lovers don’t appreciate ants, cutter ants, rats, or weeds. We wish our lawns to be free of nuisances, so we head to the hardware store and purchase a plastic bag of white power. Not always knowing how much to spread, handfuls seem to suffice.

Except when you’re a small dog.

Sambo was a fun-loving nine pounds of gratitude; a prancer, a sweetheart and a brother of three siblings. But that Thursday, he came home, licked his paws and rejected dinner. By Friday he was shivering, breathing erratically, and not himself. Alarmed, we called an amazing vet. I can’t say enough about the wonderful service vets like Dr. Laura perform by making house calls. She explained, “He may have been poisoned.” She has seen many dogs and even more cats poisoned over the last few months due to “beautiful lawns” especially in upper and lower La Floresta.

That Saturday our dog, a wellbehaved little Chinaman in Mexican Culture, left behind some broken hearts.

A transplant from Oregon, in the U.S., where he learned to endure all forms of nasty weather, Sambo loved his new life here in Ajijic, I suspect for the same reasons many of us northerners gravitate to Lakeside Chapala. No more winter clothes, no confinement indoors, and always a sense of community. Sambo was finally a naked, hairless, happy man. He was in Mexican heaven, street sniffing, leg lifting, male marking, and making friends with street dogs.

For many expats, Mexicans have shown us the true meaning of solidarity. Why then not come together as a community to prevent these needless poisonings? A first step could be as simple as posting a sign on our lawns warning pet owners to “Beware of lawn chemicals.”

In memory of Sammy, let’s spread the word, not the poison.