A black cloud hovers over America, specifically in the village of East Palestine, Ohio. It has been three weeks (February 3, 2023) since a Norfolk Southern rail train tumbled off its track smack in the middle of the small Ohio town population 4,781. In the three-week period since the derailment, except for a few media outlets, the American mainstream media has practically ignored this event ever happened. By now it was Saturday of President’s weekend, and a copy of the Atlantic Constitutional was laying on the rug in the hallway outside of my hotel room. The entire front page was smeared with a story regarding former President Donald Trump and allegations of fraudulent voting procedures in the 2020 Presidential election. Pages two and three were filled with stories about Jan.6th, 2021. Upon closer inspection of the paper, I was unable to find one article dealing with a train derailment that could possibly turn into one of the most disastrous toxic environmental spills in American history. A 38-box car derailment caused a massive explosion and fire cloud immediately. The train was transporting chemical and combustible materials, with vinyl chloride, a toxic flammable gas that pollutes all that it encounters, and the untold affects will linger far into the future.
Thousands of fish, and other various wildlife, are dead because of the chemical spill. From the day of the incident the residents have been complaining of harsh coughs, watery eyes, and sore throats from breathing in the contamination. . Despite these facts I could not find a single mention of the story in one of the country’s major city’s newspapers. Norfolk Southern Corporation, the United States government, and the mainstream media’s lack of attention and urgency for the people of East Palestine is damning evidence that certain Americans do not matter to this administration. From the evidence in the lack of response and attention East Palestine Ohio lives do not matter. This situation stinks of politics, regionalism, and speaks to the pure contempt this current administration has for middle America and the 75 million people who voted for Donald Trump. The residents of East Palestine are not members of the Arab League. They are hardworking blue collar, mostly white, American citizens living in a place where many generations of the same family have lived for over a century. After two weeks of a non-responsive FEMA ,or the Federal government, the people of East Palestine are hacking up blood, wiping away watery eyes and were agonized over their kids’ runny noses and raspy voices. All this time the EPA and our federal government keep telling everybody “everything is fine.”
On February 3rd, 2023, a Norfolk Southern rail train filled with toxic chemicals lost its load smack in the middle of a small town in the middle of America. In the moments after the horrific accident Ohio Governor Mike DeWine urged his constituents to evacuate and await further notice. Less then a week after the accident the Environmental Protection Agency informed East Palestine citizens that the drinking water and air conditions were safe for a return to home and a normal life. For the residents of East Palestine their homecoming seemed more like an apocalyptic gathering. Not a bird has been seen in the village in the past three weeks. There is a justified fear that their hometown is on its way to extinction. The long term effects of this catastrophic event will not be fully recognized for several years. It is beyond egregious, that with exception of one major station, the mainstream media and our federal government have all but ignored the event. President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have not only not visited East Palestine they have basically turned their back on its’ citizens. America’s own are being treated as if they do not matter to their federal government. Three weeks after the fact and there was talk of National Transportation Director Pete Buttigieg might show up someday and pretend, he cares.
FEMA’s initial reaction to the accident was, “this is out of our jurisdiction, we are designed to help victims of tornadoes and hurricanes.” Lol. On February 21 Joe Biden stepped off a plane in Kiev Ukraine as the fire sirens connected to a war zone screeched above his head. As Biden limped, and stammered about the streets of Kiev Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hand was in his pocket grabbing another check, this time for 350,000 billion . This is what America looks like under the leadership of Joe Biden. We continue to give millions and millions of cash to one of the most corrupt regimes in all the world. We give away $500 a night hotel rooms in New York city to illegal immigrants. We hand over a Soviet arms dealer, responsible for thousands of Americans deaths in return for some silly basketball player who broke the laws of the country she was earning a living in. Joe Biden’s new world global government is supporting the downtrodden throughout the world, but when it comes to our own fellow citizens of East Palestine, he tells them “to whistle dixie.” Not that it should mean anything, but it would be negligent not to mention that 70% of the registered voters of East Palestine voted for Donald Trump. Could this be the reason the President and the United States Congress have turned their back on its own constituents?
The best scenario for the future lives of East Palestinians is a bleak one. If you had a home there, would you go back? Would you ever drink the water there again? Staying healthy into the future is still a scary proposition for the town its own country ignored. When the spring rains come and the chemicals seep into the ground there is no telling the illness and death it can cause down the road. If ever there was a time members of our own team needed help it was this situation. It is obvious the resale value of homes in East Palestine is zero. America’s Environmental Protection Agency continues to tell residents that their health is not at risk. Lol again. I don’t think there is any doubt that our federal government shunned the people of East Palestine because they were a bunch of “rubes” to this current administration. They are white, low-income Trump voters. Our federal government is much more concerned with the people of Ukraine, the millions of illegals who march across our border untethered then the suffering of our fellow citizens. When the history is written East Palestine will forever be a shiny symbol of how of federal gov’t let politics get in the way of simply serving its people.
Three weeks after the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train spilled toxic chemicals all over the dreams of a tiny town in middle America. Transportation Director Pete Buttigieg stepped out of a black sedan and into the early morning fog. The United States Director of Transportation looked like a little kid wearing his daddy’s construction hard hat. You could see the embarrassment on the face of a man who was in way over his head. Any chance of further political opportunities for Mayor Pete are over. A small group of East Palestinians gathered around the messenger who had arrived three weeks too late, his 7:00 am arrival got him in and out before the East Palestinians had eaten lunch. The first question was asked by one of a throng of about 20 people was: “Why did it take you three weeks to get here when you claim to understand the horrific ramifications of this accident?” The former Mayor of South Bend had the look of a man who would forever be labeled as the leader who took three months paternity leave to help his partner raise their child. He couldn’t find the time for the people he is supposed to serve. He blushed, stuttered and stammered then meekly responded. I’m sorry, could you repeat that question, I’ve lost my train of thought.?” You can’t make it up.
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