Route: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to Springfield, Ohio
There are few things in life as delusional, mind-boggling, and visually monotonous as American highways.
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A boring funnel covered in concrete four lanes wide. On long drives across America, there’s an overwhelming sense of beige that makes minutes feel like hours and hours feel like days.
As we pass from Wisconsin through Indiana and into Ohio, the only color that punctuates the bleakness of the roadside is the fast-food oil pits advertising signs tossing grubs that still terrorize my guts. It was just stuff.
But if you can endure the bullying, like bad food, bad driving, and even bad chat from the driver/cameraman, it sometimes pays off.
In this case, the town of Springfield, Ohio was our reward.
When we arrived in the pretty but unremarkable city, bright red autumn leaves lined the suburban streets and local parks.
There’s a reason the creators of The Simpsons chose Springfield to name their fictional town.
There are at least 35 “Springfields” scattered throughout the United States. Everyone knows Springfield. Many people fled Springfield.
But Springfield, located between the big cities of Columbus and Dayton, has played a big role in this election thanks to Donald Trump and the wild lies he told on the debate stage that still plague residents. fulfilled.
“That crazy mother made us famous.”
Proud dog owner Sandy (left) from Springfield and her friend from Central Bark. Credit: Provided/7NEWS
Local great-grandmother Sandy thinks so.
Proud Springfield dog owners remain outraged by Donald Trump’s vile and completely fabricated claims that Springfield residents, especially the large Haitian immigrant community, are munching on the community’s pets. I’m angry.
“Because of Donald Trump, people think we’re eating the dogs we’re raising here in Springfield.”
It was a lie born in the darkest corners of the internet and amplified on the national stage by a former president.
And it caused untold damage to Springfield.
“There’s a problem here, there’s no denying that,” Sandy told us as we walked her rescue dog, Giddy, through Springfield’s largest dog park, aptly named Central Bark.
“But we were doing well and we were reaching the top of everything, and then he went and said, “You know what?
“I’m not Haitian, but no one knows the difference. They just look black skinned. I don’t feel safe right now,” said the 69-year-old African American.
One of the many inedible dogs in Central Bark. Credit: Provided/7NEWS
The wedge inflicted on this community will be felt for a generation – at least that’s how Jacob Payen sees it.
He is a spokesperson for the Haitian Community Alliance in Springfield, a group that has launched a brazen attack on President Trump’s claims.
“It’s like someone put a knife in your body and started twisting it.”
“Donald Trump hurt us, and it will take a long time to heal that wound.”
We met at a young father’s store. It’s a miscellaneous store with candles, perfumes, and other non-essential items.
David Woywod speaks with Jacob Payen, spokesperson for the Haitian Community Alliance in Springfield. Credit: Provided/7NEWS
He said business has been struggling since President Trump’s comments. And he worries about his 6-year-old son’s safety.
Donald Trump’s debate comments set the internet on fire.
The now famous line, “They’re eating the cat, they’re eating the dog,” spawned an avalanche of musical remixes and viral memes.
But in Springfield, gentle mockery gives way to real danger.
Bomb threat. The National Guard was called in and the school was placed on high alert.
A funny video on the internet was a dark reality here.
“I’m a Republican, so I’ll never forgive him,” Roger Sherlock told me.
The Springfield Historical Society president and Central Burke regular wants nothing more than to see the former president punished at the ballot box.
“Springfield is better than that. We won’t tolerate that crap here.”
