A Letter to Mrs. Stately-Ayers

By Boohunney

Dear Mrs. Stately-Ayers,

This is regarding your perception of my childish “butthurt” reaction when you compared our President to Adolph Hitler.

Maybe this should make a few things clear.

I grew up in privilege. I will never deny that fact and I have the most respect and gratitude for what my elders gave to me in experiences and opportunities.

My Dad was raised by my grandmother, who was widowed when he was 3 years old. She returned to work as an administrative worker for the railroad after her husband’s death. She saved her money to put him through medical school. My grandmother was a native of Savannah, a town full of immigrants, mostly from Europe and a population of African Americans just one to two generations away from slavery. My grandmother attended Savannah’s public schools. When she was very young at school, she met her best and life long friend, Ester.  They were friends all their lives until Ester died when my grandmother and she were in their 80’s. When I saw them together, they were like sisters of two different mothers.

Ester was Jewish. And that was not particularly uncommon in Savannah. There were people that had families from all over Europe in Savannah. My Grandmother had Scottish background on her father’s side and German on her mother’s side. Not particularly unusual, either.

I grew up in Atlanta. My father was a prominent physician. I had everything I needed and not too much of what I didn’t. I never had to drink powdered milk or eat potted meat when I was a child, but, I wasn’t indulged much either.

I remember starting preschool and making friends from my neighborhood and beyond. We were the offspring of members of the “Greatest Generation” for the most part. Many of my childhood friends were Jewish. This was not uncommon in Atlanta.

When I was about middle school age, I was sent to an unusual school that had a very different philosophy regarding pedagogy. There were some kids there that were different.

It didn’t seem to matter much and everyone blended well.

What was fun about it, the most, was everyone had a story or an interest, or a history or something. The school believed EVERYONE has something unique to bring to school everyday.

Ahhh! I can still smell the privilege! But, it was where I was, I had no choice….

There were kids that attended the school that some very unique experiences, even at a very young age.

I went to school with a few kids (that actually were well adjusted) with parents that were leaders in the Civil Rights movement. Two of my classmates’ father was gunned down and died. Can you imagine that? Being a small child and growing up in an environment knowing that someone had your father in the crosshairs and maybe that someone wants to hurt you as well? Every day. Every single freakin’ day. And your father is gone. Your mother has to be protected nearly 24/7? And your grandmother was shot down at church? Just because they thought everyone should be treated with dignity and have the same rights as everyone else.

I could NEVER imagine what that would be like.

These people were killed because they want everyone to have the right to vote, eat a grilled cheese sandwich at the lunch counter, sit in ANY seat that is unoccupied on a bus, and have access to a decent school for a good education so higher education can be within reach. To have a living wage. To “achieve.” To BE part of America as a citizen.

I think about many of my friends’ parents that grew up and their grandparents that witnessed the history of the 30’s and WWII. I can only think what horror and fear my Grandmother’s friend felt as she had relatives in Europe. I don’t know how my friends that I grew up with felt being only one generation away from a person that would want to shove them in an oven for being Jewish or having any other trait that is not “acceptable.”

So, Mrs. Stately-Ayers, comparing our sitting President (or for that matter, any sitting President) to Adolph Hitler just makes my blood boil. I just can’t understand how you can justify that and be so cavalier with your comparison. Yes, this IS personal with me.

Our President is like Hitler because…… Why?

It cheapens the effort of the U.S. and her allies to eradicate Hitler’s regime.

It mocks the suffering of so many.

If you think that is part of “civil discourse” then our discussions are over.

Boohunney