The Saddest Fourth of Our Lives

Elton

Happy Independence Day....I guess.

Did you happen to catch the hootenanny that Donald Trump threw for himself yesterday at the foot of Mount Rushmore? The place was packed - with not a scintilla of social distancing being practiced - and very few of the maga-brained nincompoops in attendance were wearing face masks. It really was something to behold. As the crowd was waiting for President Babybrains to make his entrance, one of the songs being blared from the loudspeakers was Elton John's 1973 recording of Funeral for a Friend. Whether or not anyone caught the irony of that particular choice of music wasn't immediately apparent. I imagine that before August rears its ugly head, a number of those poor slobs (and a few of their friends) will be the stars of their own funerals. The president of the United States of America will be complicit in their murders. Are you having fun yet?

 

FUN FACT: Elton John is not a happy camper that the Trump campaign is using his music as an audio backdrop for these deplorable gatherings. Neither is Neil Young, whose voice could also be heard floating through the air yesterday.

It normally takes two weeks for the COVID-19 virus to go from exposure to symptomatic. The First Fool's rally in Tulsa was two weeks ago today. Keep your eyes on that town in the next couple of days; the shit is about to hit the fan there. Another rally is planned for today in D.C. - against the wishes of the mayor of that city, who is advising residents to stay home  - or at least wear a mask (and most of them won't, I guarantee it). More rallies are planned for the month of July, and still more for the month of August. That this president could be so thoughtless and reckless to hold these packed rallies during the worst pandemic in a century surprised even me. That so many Americans would choose to show up for them was no surprise at all. You see, I long ago adjusted myself  to living in Idiot Nation. If Trump is re-elected on November third, I will be deeply disappointed - of that you may be certain - but I won't be surprised. Not at all.

As I've said on this site before, my belief is that Trump is holding these dangerous and potentially lethal rallies for no other reason than to spread the virus. By November, when the health emergency is so catastrophic, he'll use the chaos as an excuse to cancel the election - count on it. For the record: I wouldn't show up to see The Beatles under these kinds of circumstances. I'm a bit smarter than that. You're a bit smarter than that, too, I'm sure.

The Fourth of July is usually reserved as a time for the American people to step back and reflect on their country's history - or at least that is what we tell ourselves. The truth is, it's more of an excuse to hold a backyard barbeque and get rip-roaringly drunk - which is my plan for the day. But for those of us paying attention, this year is really not a time to feel any sort of pride in what America is, in what we have become. As horrible a job as George W. Bush did during those eight long years he called the White House "home", there was still some room to feel good about this country. That is no longer the case. I don't feel an ounce of pride being an American any longer. I only feel sick, embittered and embarrassed. We can console ourselves all we want into thinking that this is only a temporary glitch on the radar, and that we'll be back on track in no time at all - bigger and better than ever. That's wishful thinking. The sad truth of the matter is that we will be dealing with the fallout from the Donald Trump meltdown for generations. Any respect the rest of the world had for the United States is gone. It won't be coming back overnight.

And to think that the demented old freak has six months, two weeks and two days left of his term to do as much damage as he possibly can in the service of Vladimir Putin.

So there you have it, campers. Forgive me for being such a drag on this day (of all days!). In the fourteen years I've been writing this blog I've tried to post a little piece on every Independence Day, and I've always been able to come up with something positive to say. Not this year. The next Democratic president won't mystically float into the oval office on January 20, 2021, wave a magic wand and make everything better again. We are a nation in ruins, and this is the way it's going to be for a very long time.

Keep voting Republican.

Tom Degan

Goshen, NY

SUGGESTED LISTENING:

America The Beautiful

by Ray Charles

If I had my way, this would be the National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner, although a beautiful melody, has terrible lyrics and is next-to-impossible to sing. I would also make it a class A misdemeanor for anyone but Ray to be caught singing it. Since he passed away fifteen years ago, that might prove problematic. Whatever. Enjoy this beautiful recording, have a beautiful day - and wear your mask, dammit!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhJwXwXDijQ

What was it about Ray Charles?

 

Happy Independence Day, everyone.