July 18, 2019

Op/Ed: Denounce Trump’s words

When Donald Trump tells four U.S. congresswomen of color to “go back to where they came from,” it feels personal. It was the same thing I heard as a 10-year old facing a schoolyard bully after my parents moved to this country to escape political instability, violence and economic insecurity. As adults, it is the duty of every one of us to stand up, speak out and demand our president treat everyone with respect.

While some may say President Trump is simply stating the obvious, “Hey, if you don’t like America, you can leave,” to many others, “go back to the crime-infested countries you came from” is a clear appeal to deep-seated racist and xenophobic sentiments within American society. This phrase was hurled at one time to all of us with foreign ancestry: Irish, Italian, Jews, Catholics, Germans and Swedes to name a few.

Thus far, Trump has not offered any form of apology. Instead he has doubled down. In a speech Wednesday night, he attacked U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Muslim representative from Minnesota, for her “vicious anti-Semitic screeds.”

Rep. Omar’s “all about the Benjamins, baby” tweet earlier this year hit a similar nerve with many. For her supporters, she was only highlighting “the problematic role of lobbyists (in this case The American-Israel Political Affairs Committee) in politics.” But others were upset because her words alluded to the centuries-old stereotype that Jewish moneymen secretly control governments from behind the scenes. Unlike President Trump, she apologized “unequivocally,” for playing into “the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes.”

Trump’s ‘go home’ position viewed in conjunction with his threatened immigration raids, his personal attacks on immigrants, women, people of color, those with physical and mental disabilities, the LGBT community, the homeless and other vulnerable groups reveal him for what he truly is, a president who governs by stoking fears that divide us.

I do not need polls to know that most Americans, regardless of political affiliation, do not believe it’s okay to attack people for these reasons. This is way beyond civil discourse. To be uttered by our president, the leader of this nation of immigrants, is simply un-American and unacceptable.

It is time for all our elected representatives — from the county courthouse to Harrisburg to Washington and especially those who have been conspicuously silent — to denounce President Trump for his words.

Anton Andrew
Anton Andrew is an attorney and former
Democratic Party candidate for state
representative. He lives in Kennett Township.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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CF Days returning to its roots

Along the Ford

Reenactors 16 — Chadds Ford Days is returning on Sept. 14 and 15. (Courtesy image)

After a year’s hiatus, Chadds Ford Days is coming back. According to Chadds Ford Historical Society Board President Phyllis Recca, it’s a reboot with the aim of getting back to the roots of the event.

“It’s a community celebration commemorating the heritage of Chadds Ford,” Recca said. “That’s how it started and that’s what will be our focus.”

That heritage, she said, centers around three things: Colonial America, art, and the 1777 Battle of the Brandywine.

Recca explained that celebrating Chadds Ford’s history was what had Chris Sanderson started Chadds Ford Days in 1958 and, she added, the historical society should stick to its mission of preserving and educating people about Chadds Ford history.

“That’s what Chadds Ford Days was about and this is a restart,” she said.

Recca acknowledged the declining attendance during recent years. The society decided not to hold the event last year in order to take some time to rethink and regroup. Part of the decline was due to competition from other events held during the same weekend, the one after Labor Day. One change is that the event will be held one week later.

One of the other issues in bringing it back is to find more colonial demonstrators, the craftspeople who make things by hand as was done in the 18^thcentury. A difficulty in finding those people is that many of the ones who used to come to Chadds Ford Days are older and have retired or passed on. But Recca is determined to rebuild the event and will continue to rebuild year after year.

She also said that while she’d like to have a lot of interesting things for people to do, getting back to the roots comes first.

A lot of what will be happening is still up in the air at present, but the society is working to bring in what it thinks are the right attractions. Historical Society executive Director Jason Greenplate said colonial reenactors from the 2^ndPennsylvania and 1^stDelaware Regiments are scheduled to be on hand with canon and muskets, as will people from the Brandywine Battlefield Park and the Brandywine Battlefield Task Force.

Other historically oriented nonprofits will also be involved.

This year’s Chadds Ford Days is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 at the Chadds Ford Historical Society on N. Creek Road.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Around Town July 18

Along the Ford

Around Town July 18

• From 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, July 25, youngsters aged 2-8 can embark on an adventurous trek through the Brandywine River Museum of Art seeking inspiration for a fantastical craft. It’s Fantastic Journeys with David Wesner. Wiesner is a three-time winner of the prestigious Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. It’s part of the Discover The Art of Stories presented by PNC Arts Alive in four Thursday morning workshops. The cost s $5 for a non-member child. To register go here https://335.blackbaudhosting.com/335/Museum-Explorers—Fantastic-Journeys—725-1000 for the 10 a.m. adventure or here https://335.blackbaudhosting.com/335/Museum-Explorers—Fantastic-Journeys—725-1100 for 11 a.m.

• It’s Paint the Folly at Painters Folly next week. On July 25, from 9n a.m. to 4 p.m., artists are invited to tour and paint the home and grounds on Route 1 in Chadds Ford Township. The property is just east of the Gilpin House that’s parts of the Brandywine Battlefield Park. Artists need to register by 4 p.m. Monday, July 22 by contacting Chadds Ford Township Administrator Matt DiFilippo at 610-388-8800, ext. 106, or by email at adm@chaddsfordpa.gov. Registration is $25.

• The next Wednesday free concert at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square is July 24 featuring Mighty Joe Castro & The Cavemen with their “Modern Sounds in Rockabilly.” Heavily influenced by the sound of rockabilly as well as ‘50s rock-n-roll and doo-wop, the band takes that vintage rock and roll sound but updates it with a modern lyrical approach and a healthy dose of post-modern guitar effects. The show runs from 7-9 p.m.

• Apollo 11 Documentary is the movie at Upton! on July 22 in honor of the 5oth anniversary of the men on the moon. Crafted from never before seen footage, this film takes us straight to the heart of the NASA mission that put men on the moon, and forever made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin into household names. A post-film discussion is planned. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Showtime is 7 p.m. Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is at 226 North High Street, West Chester. Purchase tickets at UptownWestChester.org, at the box office or call 610.356.ARTS(2787).

PAWS for People will be holding two training sessions in August for potential pet therapy teams. The first session is 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 3 at Cokesbury Village, 726 Loveville Road in Hockessin, and the second is 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 17 at Cadia Rehab Silverside, 3322 Silverside Road in Wilmington. Both sessions are required. Anyone with a gentle, people-friendly pet who is interested in volunteering time to work with children and adults with varying needs. Therapy teams consist of one volunteer and one pet who have both completed rigorous training and testing. Visitation sites range from nursing homes and hospitals to schools and libraries, with a wide variety of programs including eldercare, psychiatric support, developmental disabilities, literacy skills development and many more. Pre-registration is required. Go to www.pawsforpeople.org or call 302-351-5622 for more information.

• The Friends Folk Club presents the Tongue In Cheek Jazz Band on Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tongue in Cheek Jazz Band is Baltimore’s premier hot jazz band that honors both tradition and innovation in this classic music. Their sounds range from Rag Time to Big Band Swing to the Hot Jazz of 30’s Paris. It’s neo-traditional American jazz. Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items which will be given to the local area food cupboards.Tickets are $15 and will be available at the door. Children 12 and under are free. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the concert will start at 7:30 PM. The concert will be held at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church 116 Lancaster Pike Oxford, PA 19363. For more information call: 610-869-8076. Email: friendsfolkclub@aol.com or visit https://www.tncjazz.com/music

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Academic Achievement July 18

School & Education

• Mitchell Camp, of Chadds Ford, was named Kutztown University’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete for the 2018-19 academic year. Student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher at the completion of the most recent academic year to be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete status.

• Maggie Thomas, of Chadds Ford, earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Widener University during ceremonies at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in May.