“Let’s leave it alone ’cause we can’t see eye to eye. There ain’t no good guy, there ain’t no bad guy. There’s only you and me and we just disagree.” – Dave Mason
President Donald Trump’s Key West visit took me by surprise.
No matter what you think of Trump, when a president comes to town, it’s a big deal. So, there I stood with a front-row view of Trump’s quick and historic visit to Key West in April 2018.
Breitbart.com? Wait. What?
Barely awake, I rolled over and acknowledged my boyfriend spotted my photo on the internet. A photographer captured me standing on the road, front row, smiling as I waited for President Trump’s motorcade of all things.
Before I had time to cry “fake news” and get angry about feeling violated because my photo was taken without my permission and posted under the headline “Crowds of supporters flock to see Donald Trump motorcade in Key West,” I started laughing. Laughing at the irony of it all.
For many people, it’s baffling to think Trump supporters are also family members, friends, colleagues, and classmates. Surely, there is a lesson?
Sometimes it helps to stand in the thick of it. For me, it offers an opportunity to practice critical thinking, the art of learning to see all sides of a situation regardless of your own personal opinion.
Say what? Trump coming to Key West
Say what? Trump is coming? Our planned vacation to Key West in April 2018 was a long-awaited, much-needed getaway. We picked up a rental car in Miami and spent a week driving down to Key West.
I eagerly awaited an escape from emails and computer screens and politics and the worries of being a freelance writer. It was a reward for surviving six months of Michigan winter. We had to depart a day early to avoid one last spring ice storm.
I had no idea Trump was going to visit the Keys, and based on the limited media coverage, it seems all involved kept it pretty tight-lipped. I didn’t hear about Trump’s planned visit until a couple of days before, when I picked up the Key West Citizen while drinking my coffee on the porch of The Speakeasy Inn.
Trump’s Key West visit ends vacation
Like many people, I don’t like Trump’s personality. But we live in a democracy, where we have the right to free speech and free thought. I respect people’s right to vote for the person they believe will do the best job. Sometimes, it’s best to agree to disagree and avoid politics, or even consider the other side and then form your own opinion.
It just so happened that we were leaving the island the day of Trump’s planned visit to Key West. We had yet to see the iconic Southernmost Point buoy, about a block from the Truman Annex where he was headed. And the details were sketchy about security and highway closures and when U.S. 1 – the only highway in and out – was going to reopen to traffic.
As we checked out of the hotel, the rum bar bartender said the manager had headed out to see the presidential motorcade. On an island known for its rainbow flags and gay-friendly atmosphere, I knew it must be a big deal regardless of one’s political leanings. Trump’s visit to Key West was historic in the sense that John F. Kennedy was the last sitting president to visit the United States’ southernmost city.
Lesson in seeing the other side
After making our way to the Southernmost Point buoy, we walked by the gates to the Truman Annex, where the motorcade would stop briefly before whisking Trump inside. We found a spot on the sidewalk near Whitehead and United streets – essentially the heart of the action.
The noon sun rose higher in the sky and the Florida humidity kicked in. We waited. No one knew for sure when he was set to arrive. The police officers told us we would have to move, so we walked about a block down the road. Being short, I inched my way into a spot right on the street.
Always happy to strike up a conversation with strangers, I started talking to a local couple. I joked I should be standing on the other side where people were holding protest signs. The guy, super tan from the Key West sun, was sporting his Trump T-shirt and said he runs a local fishing charter. Originally from Israel, he lived all over before settling in Key West about 20 years ago. He hadn’t worn the shirt since Election Day and started retelling his worries of that day.
His wife, tattooed with her hair shaved along the sides, was equally friendly and said “See, this is cool that people who don’t agree can still stand here and get along.” They all chimed in that the media would focus on the protesters and exaggerate that there were people fighting in the streets. I just stood there without saying much, snapping photos and asking myself what the hell I was doing waiting on Trump.
Trump’s motorcade arrives to cheers, jeers
A couple who looked to be in their mid- to late-50s walked up and joined in the conversation. They were visiting from the East Coast. A union man, he worked in the plant operations field for utilities and his wife was a nurse practitioner. They passed up a chance to live in Key West years ago due to the school system, but with their last child about to graduate, his wife had interviewed at the local hospital that morning.
There we stood, people from all walks of life and backgrounds, waiting for any sign that the presidential motorcade was getting closer. The locals gave us updates on Trump’s departure from the Navy’s Boca Chica Key airfield from their friends on the other side of the island.
Finally, after waiting nearly an hour, flashing red and blue lights came into view several blocks away. In a matter of seconds, the caravan of motorcycles, limousines and other security vehicles whizzed by. After a quick stop at the gate, the vehicle carrying Trump disappeared inside.
Patriotism, politics on full display
As the motorcade passed by, people cheered and clapped and started talking to the police officers. They waved American flags and uttered things like “Wow, that was cool.” The six of us standing together shook hands, and we headed off to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory to mark one last thing off my sightseeing list.
The coolest part was seeing police officers on motorcycles from throughout the Keys and as far north as Homestead and Miami Beach enter a parade formation on their bikes and then park them right in front of us. We later saw them parked on Duval Street.
When we returned to the hotel to turn in our parking pass, the manager was back, sporting her rainbow T-shirt. She showed us a photo someone snapped of Air Force One flying over a sign and an image of a divided highway.
It fittingly captured the spectators who lined both sides of the street, and the state of our union. Regardless of what you think about Trump, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see a presidential motorcade and all the fanfare up close. I understand the mindset of the Trump voter. An essay “Why Rural America Voted for Trump” by Robert Leonard helps explain it.
Exercise in critical thinking
There is no denying we’re all living in our own bubbles. The media is increasingly biased and full of spin. And social media feeds are censored. We all should evaluate where we get our news and information, check our own biases and assumptions, and use logic, facts, and common sense to draw conclusions.
In short, critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information to form a judgment or decision. Here are some characteristics of critical thinking:
Make connections: Critical thinkers connect logical ideas to see the bigger picture.
Skepticism: Critical thinkers apply scrutiny and skepticism.
Open to change: Critical thinkers are willing to change their minds when the facts change.
In addition, critical thinkers question assumptions, seek out reliable and diverse sources of information, and detect inconsistencies and flaws in reasoning. They are curious, reflective, reasonable, self-aware, and open-minded. They are willing to shift their opinion in light of new information.
Proud to be an American
Reflecting on that Trump visit to Key West, it was inspiring to see the patriotism of people who love America. We lined the street and stood shoulder to shoulder, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation. You might be surprised by the average Trump voter. They aren’t deplorables or garbage or fascists or racists. They are ordinary Americans who want the best for our country.
In my opinion, any time you can interact with people who have different views, it’s a good thing. It’s the essence of healthy debate and critical thinking. And it’s being shut down in an environment where people are afraid of getting canceled or called a host of names.
If you are curious about seeing different perspectives of real Americans, watch YouTuber Peter Santenello’s videos. He’s one of the few people I see capturing real stories that the mainstream media fails to tell. If you want a deep-dive on America’s current health crisis, watch the Casey and Calley Means interview (you can ignore Tucker Carlson and still listen to what they have to say).
Standing in the thick of the Trump fanfare was a memorable way to end my first visit to Key West, a city with eclectic residents, great people watching, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Key West encourages everyone in the world to share its official philosophy that “all people are created equal members of one human family.”
Let freedom ring. Let free speech flourish. And let us seek to understand. My hope is that critical thought and common sense become common again. And may God bless America.
“The most dangerous thing you can do in America right now is ask the question ‘Why?'” – Casey Means
Author’s note: This has been edited and updated since it was first published in March of 2019. I am exercising my critical thinking skills.
Marla R. Miller is an award-winning journalist and content marketing writer who lives in West Michigan. Please “like” or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Check out my Writing Services or Read My Work.
