It’s been four weeks since I last posted in my blog. In the past random events, random thoughts have led to essays that reflect whatever I’ve been thinking about, or what was happening in my life, or beyond that, what was happening in the world. For the last month, though, and no doubt for the next two the upcoming election has imprisoned my ability to go beyond that. My thinking time often centers on my friends and family, on new songs I’ve learned on the guitar, photographs I’ve taken, experiences I’ve had. Not lately, though. I’m jailed in the Federal Prison of Donald Trump.
This was posted by the 45th President of the United States, a “retruth” originally posted by Zeek Arkham, but copied and endorsed by the former President. These are two of the most accomplished, intelligent, and forceful women in American politics, one of whom happened to have received more votes than the mad poster in a Presidential election in 2016, the other likely repeat that in two more months.
So here’s my problem. Shit like this sticks with me, prevents me from discarding it as pure mindlessness, (which, of course, it is), and moving on to recognize and appreciate the many joys and loves in my life. I recognize that. I know, too, that it is up to me to do the discarding, and often I can do that. Sometimes I simply can’t. Or don’t.
And just when I think I’ve got everything under control, this happens.
Trump, with his famous "thumbs up" post standing by the graves of Americans who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
From The Atlantic, “The section of Arlington National Cemetery that Donald Trump visited on Monday is both the liveliest and the most achingly sad part of the grand military graveyard, set aside for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Section 60, young widows can be seen using clippers and scissors to groom the grass around their husbands’ tombstones as lots of children run about.
A cemetery employee politely attempted to stop the campaign staff from filming in Section 60. Taking campaign photos and videos at gravesites is expressly forbidden under federal law. The Trump entourage, according to a subsequent statement by the U.S. Army, which oversees the cemetery, “abruptly pushed” her aside.”
The Army, which is historically loath to enter politics, issued a rare statement yesterday rebuking the Trump campaign, noting that ceremony participants “had been made aware” of relevant federal laws “prohibiting political activities” and that the employee “acted with professionalism.” The Army said it “considers this matter closed” because the cemetery employee had declined to press charges.”
The Atlantic concludes, “This week, all the mother of a fallen soldier could do was call out a crude and self-regarding 78-year-old man for failing, in that most sacred of American places, to comport himself with even the roughest facsimile of dignity.”
Footnotes: Trump has called the dead soldiers “suckers” and “losers.” He has asked, “What was in it for them?” He avoided visiting a cemetery in France to honor WWII soldiers because it was raining. He avoided the draft because his father paid a doctor to verify his “bone spurs.”
He’s such a coward and evil piece of shit. The keys to my cell are in all the voting booths across America which will open for business on November 5th. Can’t wait.