Yes, Our Next President Is An Evil Orange Tribble- Get Over It
I know, January 20th looms large in all our minds. I’ve tried not to think about it. Tried to savor the last days of the Obama presidency. Tried opening another bottle of wine. Tried pretending it was all a dream. You know what? It wasn’t. And we’re just going to have to deal with that reality. Donald Trump… undeserving, unqualified, and unaware will in fact be in the Oval Office for the next four years.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Did I share a tear over the presidential election? You bet. Do I believe the will of the people was carried out? Trump losing the popular vote by almost three million votes says no. Do I think The Donald can lead this nation? Even to Trump Tower? Hell to the no.
Doesn’t matter. He has to.
Anyone hoping for Trump’s failure, rooting for his major slip ups, betting on his incompetence is merely taking an ax to the deck of the ship carrying us all and hacking away. I don’t want the ship to sink just to prove I’m right. I want the ship to stay afloat for four years and then, damn it, I want a new captain.
We got in this mess, this climate of divisiveness, this culture of spin because more and more Americans valued their political party over their country. And that’s a shame on all of us.
I do not respect Donald Trump. However, I do hold an enormous respect for the office of the President. I will support him. I will root for him. Does that mean my brains have oozed out my ears and I’ll lie down, taking whatever is thrown at me in the coming four years? Please. Have you met me? Of course not.
Public outcry still matters. Mass reaction, huge protest, the power of the people remains alive and well. Just this past month Republican leaders attempted to abolish the Ethics Committee (I think we can agree a desperately needed entity), when the public backlash stopped them in their tracks. I can still defend my rights, my voice, and make myself heard. And I can hope that the new Leader of the Free World is a better man than I thought. These are not mutually exclusive positions.
C’mon, people. It’s a sad day when I become the voice of pragmatism. That like never happens. Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.
This week’s song is Out in The Fields by Gary Moore with Phil Lynott, both of the classic band Thin Lizzy. I find the song to be an apt one for America today. Moore and Lynott, white and black, a northern Irishman and a southern one, a guitar player and bass player yet fast friends for years up until Lynott’s tragic early death on January 4th, 1986. They were singing about the religious divide in Ireland at the time (the song was released in 1985) but I think its message is applicable now. Listen and check out the lyrics…. Oh, and try to ignore the obvious ’80’s tells…
Lyrics to Out in The Fields
By Gary Moore
It doesn’t matter
if you’re wrong or if you’re right.
It makes no difference
if you’re black or if you’re white.
All men are equal
till the victory is won.
No colour or religion
ever stopped the bullet from a gun.
Out in the fields,
the fighting has begun.
Out on the streets,
they’re falling one by one.
Out from the skies,
a thousand more will die each day.
Death is just a heartbeat away.
It doesn’t matter
if you’re left or to the right.
Don’t try to hide behind the cause
for what you fight.
There’ll be no prisoners taken
when the day is done.
No flag or uniform
ever stopped the bullet from a gun.
Out in the fields,
the fighting has begun.
Out on the streets,
they’re falling one by one.
Out from the skies,
a thousand more will die each day.
Death is just a heartbeat away.
There’s no communication,
no one to take the blame.
The cries of every nation
have fallen on deaf ears again.
Out in the fields.
Out in the fields.
They are falling one by one.
Out in the fields.
No flag has ever stopped
the bullet from a gun.
Death is just a heartbeat away.
Out in the fields,
a heartbeat away.
Out in the fields.
Death is just a heartbeat away.
Out in the fields,
a heartbeat away.
Out in the fields.
In the fields,
the fighting has begun.
Out on the streets,
they’re falling one by one.
Out from the skies,
a thousand more will die each day.
OUT!
Hear that, Democrats and Republicans? “It doesn’t matter if you’re left or to the right. Don’t try to hide behind the cause for what you fight…There’s no communication, no one to take the blame. The cries of every nation have fallen on deaf ears again.”
Do better, we deserve better.
Oh, and let’s be clear, she’s still out there. If not Hillary, then another one, but she’s out there and she will make it- sooner or later. That ceiling will shatter, so get used to the idea. It doesn’t scare me, but then… I’m not scared of a strong woman, America.
Are you?
This post was written by Erika Gardner. She’s a native Californian, lifelong lover of fantastical adventures, and a dedicated Whovian. If you enjoyed it, please sign up to receive updates on www.erikagardner.com Or you can follow Erika on Twitter @Erika_Gardner, “Like” her Facebook page Erika Gardner- Writer and Storyteller.Or check out her contributions to the BBB Blog.
Hope he fails? No. Expect him to? Yes. Expect him to do any good? No. Hope he does good? Absolutely but not holding my breath.