So, as a country, we elected Donald Trump as President. And by we, I mean both those who voted and those who did not. As reported, a large percentage of eligible voters chose not to take to the polls and voice their opinion on who they believe should be president of these United States of America. Like a lot of people I too was cynical about the duopoly's appointed candidates. So my response was to vote for another person altogether. And no, I did not write my own name in, despite years ago making the remark that this would be the first election I was eligible as a candidate, and thusly would take the outsiders' track by storm to win the White House. After internal polls had me at a strong showing of possible double digit support nationally (and by that I mean total votes, not percentage of), I elected to forgo the process of self nomination (I know, a surprise even to my own ego!) and vote for someone else who was actually running and listed on the ballot (although Bacon was a tempting choice for a write-in candidate).
Now I have heard from people on both sides that by voting a 3rd party candidate was merely the same as voting for the candidate they opposed. That I wasted my vote, spitting in the very face of my civic duty and privilege to vote. Of course I believe otherwise. I believe if you vote for whom you would like to have as your president then your vote counts. If you vote for a candidate merely because you don't like another on the ballot, that my friends is what I call a wasted vote. That section of the ballot is a vote to AFFIRM your choice. If you wish to actively deny a vote, that's the section farther down where you find yourself choosing whether or not to retain any of the 4 billion judges most of you have never even heard of that work in one level of jurisprudence or another that oversees your particular county, state, or region.
Anyways, I digress...we elected Donald Trump. President. Of the United States of America. Yes to the chagrin on many. Yes, I too am shaking my head at this revelation. There are many who openly state he is not their president. Now I feel the freedom to express yourself is your natural right as a human, whether you are a citizen of this country or not. But I am left wondering, if this guy is not your president, then you must not be a citizen of this country. And I wonder why so many of you non-citizens are all over the streets of this country and on social media proclaiming how he isn't your president. Plain and simple, like it or not, if you are a citizen of the United States of America, for better or worse, Donald Trump is in fact your president, and will be for the next 4 years, or less if impeached or through resignation, or more if he somehow gets re-elected. Short of moving out of the country and renouncing your citizenship, the fact that he is your president is an indisputable fact of your life for the time being. Now, unlike some others, I'm not going to tell you to "get over it, and move on". If you don't like his policies, by all means voice your dissenting opinions, form groups to lobby an opposition, march, whatever it is you want to do, go out and do it.
Now, maybe this is far too radical an idea, but maybe try these things with a little civility. All the labeling, the name calling, the violent acts against persons and property... merely the tools of fools. And yes, before you try to point fingers I have called some of you pinko commie bastards. As a joke, never serious. except that one person. You know who you are. I jest. I have to use humor. I write any of my serious blogs in portions, then stop for a bit and have a two, sometimes three-sided joke fest with myself because I need a little levity to break up the seriousness, before re-starting. And it shows. My writing style is very much ADHD. Although I have never been diagnosed with such a disorder...probably because I'm too cheap to see a doctor who would bestow such an official diagnosis upon me. During the day of inauguration, we saw images from protests right there in Washington, D.C. Most members were peacefully assembling and exercising their rights. However you had a few nincompoops who hijacked some of these protests and committed acts of violence against persons, and property as well.
Now, while I abhor this violence, seeing a Starbucks get its windows smashed was a little humorous. I mean really, if you are going to go after a business, why not go after someone who is charging a lot of good money for, in my not so humble OPINION, a craptastic coffee-like drink. The Folgers or Maxwell House I brew at home, for far cheaper by the way, tastes much better. Hell if you want to pay for coffee, come to my place. If you bring your own mug I'll happily give you a massive discount. And even if you don't want to bring your own mug and want me to provide one for you, you'll save immensely over what you'll pay to stand in line at the Starbucks for their stuff. One caveat...you drink it black, or have an option of milk and/or sugar. No whipped cream, or any other fancy crap. You want bacon with that...the stove is 3 feet away, cook your own.
Okay on to the crowd issue. There has been much ado made over the size of the crowd at the Donald's inauguration versus that of Obama's. One side, supported by the media says the Great Orange One's audience was definitively smaller. The other side, and much touted by the new administration and their alternative facts, state unequivocally this is untrue. Photos taken at different times, attendees versus total viewing including the internet and tv, reality versus Trump's ego, or whatever other reasoning might be at play here seems to be dominating a good portion of my facebook page, talk shows, and the news itself.
On this issue, there are a couple things going on here. First, the media is literally playing Donald's game. Pointing out something to bruise his poor ego, letting him and his lackey's respond, and cue the back and forth. The more the media and the anti-Trump crowd keep it up, the more push back they get from the administration and all those who support him. Who's right? The better question that should be asked is Who Cares? Let's just keep the distractions up over such trivial meaningless things, so we don't have to look at real issues that might actually affect us as a people. For Fuck's Sake, its the real life equivalent to trolling on social media, without the need for social media. The media and liberals are butt hurt about Trump winning, and Trump and Company is all butt hurt by even the slightest slight. Maybe we should spend more time worrying about what is really leaving actual real life people across this land of ours hurt, and focus on finding solutions for those problems. I involve myself in pointless arguments all the time. Not because I want to trounce someone's feelings or alienate myself from the people around me, but for something to pass the time. Hell, it's practically a family tradition to argue over anything and everything. Partially for interaction, partially to understand each others' points of view and why we have them, and partially so we can sharpen our skills of Sophistry for when we decide to have a real argument. But to fill news feeds the world over with this pointless drivel is beyond me.
Now, the marches. All over the country, we saw these women's marches. My sister participated in one in her home state of Florida. I have friends that did so in Colorado, and some great family friends in California who also chose to participate in these marches. I applaud them all. Exercising your freedom to express yourself, be it solo or in massive groups such as these is your God given right, and specifically protected by our sacred Constitution. From what I've seen, these were all peaceful protests. To be honest, I haven't kept up on what exactly they were protesting. I should probably ask...maybe I'll be answered in the comments section without having to ask. Always a much easier route for me. I guess I see it more an extension of the anti-Trump protests, but what do I know? I was lucky to graduate high school much less have any real idea of what's going on around me.
One question I do have is this: If these marches were a protest for women's rights, what rights have been taken away from the women in our country? I suspect I'll get an earful for asking such a question. But then again, I like that, merely because it shows the free flow of thoughts and ideas. And please, give me YOUR thoughts. No hacked memes, no parroting the talking heads on TV. Just what YOU feel and believe.
So I'll leave it at that and just say...Your Turn to talk.
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