Differing Christmas wishes across Front Royal’s political divide

Photos/Roger Bianchini

As Christmas 2017 approaches what is being wished for in the way of “presents” along Front Royal’s Chester Street political divide is VERY different. Signs displayed December 13 on the Len Sherp-organized Vigil for Democracy side indicate a growing desire to see impeachment proceedings launched against the president as charges are leveled and guilty pleas entered amid mounting Special Prosecutor’s evidence of Trump staff and family pre-2016 election interactions with Russian operatives designed to help gain Trump’s election.  A variety of other wishful issues are displayed toward the end of this story.

On the other side of the street, the pro-Trump contingent that joined original Trump supporters Ralph and Michael Waller in front of their pawn shop in late May had reduced its focus to prayers and honks of support for the president, with a nod toward prayerful swamp-draining.  Of course that reduced focus could have been impacted by the fact there were only two members of that faith-based contingent present on a chilly second Wednesday of December.  On the Vigil for Democracy side numbers were also down somewhat, but continued in double figures at a head count of 15.

The Wallers continued to sport the original Trump-Pence campaign sign they displayed in March after first Sherp alone on March 8, and then supporters appeared across the street at the Front Royal Town Gazebo.  And this week Ralph added one sign reflecting the religious tone of the newer pro-Trump contingent negatively portraying liberals as “DESTRUCTORS OF GOOD GODLY MORAL ORDER” and “TERMITES IN GOVT”.  If anything, that sign reflects the astonishingly-wide gap in perspectives of pro and anti-Trump citizens of this town and nation.

Below, a dialogue continued …

But despite that negative portrayal of anti-Trump liberals, both Ralph and Michael Waller crossed the Chester Street political divide to re-engage vigil organizer Sherp and Bob Hill in a conversation that began in early May.

And as we have reported before – perhaps seeing opposing sides of such an emotionally-charged debate finding some common ground for discussion is the most promising development of Front Royal’s dueling political demonstrations.

In August it was Bob Hill’s turn to cross Chester St. to continue a dialogue with the Wallers seeking common political ground – it was first found in a mutual concern for the environment.

But as for those Christmas wishes, there surely remains a divide …

Len Sherp acknowledges the Dec. 12 Alabama Senate election result, as well as the earlier Virginia State House swing toward the Democrats.