The bible teaches us: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;Â 7Â A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
That’s a pretty wide range of things listed in Ecclesiastes – even a time to hate is included. And hate is something I’ve experienced more of in the last eight years than the first six decades of my life combined. Enough that the combination of hate and disgust/contempt in my heart has be adding one more item to that beautiful bible verse – A time to skip a Presidential Inauguration. Yes, for the first time in my life I wasn’t in front of a TV watching an Inauguration.
Granted I was only a few years old when JFK was sworn in and my earliest memories aren’t until I was four. However my mom assured me that I’d seen it. Just like even before I could remember she had me in front of the TV for manned space launches. I don’t recall TV images of John Glenn’s flight but some fragments of adults talking about it. It was Wally Schirra’s Mercury flight that I have true memories of, both the launch. The point is that from early on I was taught to if at all possible watch historical moments. I have done so all my life. If keeping me out of school was needed so I could watch space launches that’s what happened. I watched JFK’s burial as it happened. I watched both Democratic and Republican conventions every cycle. I watched Inaugurations even when I was bitterly disappointed over who was being sworn in.
Until today. I thought about it much of the morning and decided NO. I wouldn’t do it. Not for Donald Trump. As the title indicates I knew fantasies of the bible bursting into flames when he put his hand on it wouldn’t actually happen. I WOULD have watched if I thought there was an actual chance of it I have to admit. But as has been written about including here on PZ Trump either forgot (and Melania didn’t prompt him) or he was sending a “F**k you Christians. I don’t need you anymore’ message. Not that the actual words of the Oath of Office mean jack-sh*t to Trump (or damn near any Republican anymore) but there’s no requirement that a President being sworn in with their hand on a bible.
As this article from The Hill explains others haven’t done so and in fact if anything the Constitution suggests against it! Anyway don’t put any stock into suggestions because of this detail Trump’s swearing in doesn’t count. If it mattered it could have been easily corrected a bit later as had to be done with Obama in 2008 because Chief Justice Roberts screwed up the words to the actual Oath! (You’ll never convince me this wasn’t an intentional thing on Roberts’ part) Regardless Trump was sworn in and gave an address different than what he wanted to give and in a very different setting.
I gather it was relatively short. When it comes to seeing a draft of what he wanted to do, a speech written for a hundred thousand or so feverishly cheering MAGAs I have “watching the aftermath of a car wreck” feelings. It’s not something one should look at but it’s hard not to take a peek regardless. I have no doubt that as bad as 2017’s ‘American Carnage’ was this would have been far worse. Worse for Trump is something I mentioned this morning – the acoustics of where he’d be speaking create echoes. A loud angry speech like he’d have given outdoors would have been a very bad idea.
For all that I knew he’d say nothing I cared to hear. I also know that for all but a few hundred very rich Americans he doesn’t give two-sh*ts. I figure since he has no consideration for me and others (IOW most Americans) like me including his rank and file MAGA goobers he deserves NONE of the consideration I’ve given to every other President in my life whether I voted for them or not. NO respect. NO common courtesy of watching this particular historical event he was the focus of. F**k him.
Prior to today I can’t imagine not watching an inaugural. Not if I had the ability to do so. There were after all those days on active duty where I might have been to hell and gone from a TV and there were no smartphones and internet in those days but you get my point. Some things I’ve always felt a sense of duty to do. Yes, that includes watching even Trump’s GOP conventions, at least the prime-time stuff. Today I drew the line.
I will of course keep up with the stuff, the sh*t he pulls or tries to pull. There will be plenty of fights to be had so there’s no choice. Much has been made of his “Dictator for a Day” comment but I’ve never believed it. Or perhaps more accurately always thought of what Rommel wrote prior to the impending Allied invasion of France when he said for both sides it would be “The longest day.” There’s that, and a stanza from a song Paul Anka wrote to honor those who fought that day: “Many, won’t see the sun set; On that fateful Longest Day.” Trump’s day of dictatorship is underway but even though the sun has gone down out east the sun will NOT set on his day of dictatorship. No, it won’t end until he’s dead or forced out of the White House.
I’ll see far more than I wanted of Trump who I’d hoped to never see in DC again. I wasn’t about to watch him try and make some triumphant return to power.
You describe my own feelings exactly. There was no reason to watch it, and I’m not a masochist.
He was a murderer and a LIAR from the beginning and when he speaks lies, he speaks his native language for there is no truth in him…Gospel of John Chapter 8 staring in verse 42 on.