If I were to characterize American politics in 2017 with an emotion, it would be one of bewilderment. The experience is akin to watching someone you love, a favourite grand uncle perhaps, succumbing to dementia and giving into paranoia. The once benevolent figure with a sweet countenance has now become a mad individual.
Normally we would find help, or commit them to a place that can accord the necessary care. Yet, due to limited healthcare and insurance, and lack of support from other accountable figures (e.g. uncles and aunts) in the family, this "grand uncle" now lives with us, a middle-income family with little means. And every morning we find him standing on the front lawn in a nightshirt, underpants and combat boots, waving an automatic rifle, spewing forth vitriol, demanding for a higher fence because he suspects our neighbours may be stealing our newspaper and milk.
Our neighbours shake their heads, the cops have been called, but to no avail. To add injury to the wound, this rich grand uncle has sworn to leave us out of the will; instead, leaving all his inheritance to some rich cousins, business partners, and golfing buddies who have yet to lift a finger to help. He has multiple estates, but we are never allowed to set foot on them.
Day in and day out, it has now become the norm. We live with this stress, not knowing quite what to expect, but realizing it will be embarrassing nonetheless. The backyard is littered with cigarette butts, the once pristine walls of the house riddled with the chicken scratch of a man-child. The market value of the house continues to deteriorate, and it feels as if nothing can be done to repair it. We are now the laughingstock of the town. I am bewildered.
No comments:
Post a Comment