I have a big entry in draft that I cannot finish. It is my attempt to sift out why I am so - and here, even, I cannot finish that sentence - I am that torn and jumbled. There is so much for me to say, to use the exercise of writing in order to sort out thoughts I cannot order in any other way, but I am unable yet to do it and I really do need to do it. It’s eating at me. I am feeling constantly physically stressed, so I need to release it, but still, I haven’t the ability. I need to keep working on it.
In the meantime, emphasis upon the “mean,” I am going to leak reactionary spurts here. I have never been political. I have never voiced my views much at all, and quite especially not here, but I am changed by this election, and I will have need to spew a bit here. Those who read me regularly, feel absolutely free to avoid any entry in this book - “Deplorable thoughts.” As for those who do not read me regularly, I realize I may attract some rude comments. So be it. I am an adult. I am in control of the delete button. Any such comments will simply confirm my recent trend of thought on the basic nature of people.
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Action:
The vice-president elect went to see “Hamilton” on Broadway. It is a hip-hop musical based on an American historical figure, performed by a mostly non-white cast.
My reaction:
Odd choice of entertainment for this particular political figure. Hmm.
What exactly was his thinking?
Did he want to see the show or did he want to make a statement?
Action:
The pre-show audience boo-ed him as he took his seat.
My reaction:
Wrong. That’s just wrong.
It’s rude. It’s inappropriate. It’s completely unhelpful.
Given the polarizing nature of the campaign, the incredible vitriol spewed, the fires gleefully lit and left to burn unchecked in the election’s wake, the reaction of the crowd does not surprise me. It saddens me, yes, surprises me, no.
Action:
After the show, one of the actors thanked the VP elect for attending and continued, “We are the diverse America that are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, but we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on the behalf of all of us.”
My reaction:
By all accounts speech was not said disrespectfully. It addressed some real concerns of the people in the play and many many others. It sounds to me more like a plea than an attack.
Action:
The president elect tweeted his reaction.
“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!”
“The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!”
My reaction:
First -
Freaking stop tweeting, you twit!
It makes you sound like an adolescent with a chip on his shoulder.
Here’s your new mantra, D.
“Be presidential, Donald. Be presidential.”
Repeat it every time you’re tempted to pick up your phone and make an ass of yourself.
Second - Drop your over-use of silly adjectives.
Your “wonderful” V.P., your “beautiful” wall, your “really, really big” vocabulary (oh so credibly disproven)…
When you describe things in this manner, you sound more like the snake-oil salesman you are accused of being (and should naturally avoid trying to appear to be) and less like a statesman (or adult, for that matter).
Third - Yes, he was harassed at the theater, but you got the facts wrong (as usual). It was the audience that was rude, not the cast.
If you feel it necessary to punch down, as you always seem to feel it is necessary to do, you should direct your anger at the proper targets, the people who actually were rude to the VP-elect.
I don’t expect you to take any responsibility for being the person who set the stage for their anger, that would be too much self-awareness to ask, but at least aim your pathetic online indignation in the right direction.
Fourth - The cast has nothing to apologize for.
What was said was eloquent and not at all out of line.
Freedom of speech, is it a concept with which you are unfamiliar?
Would you have even heard if anyone had said to you that you owe your rival an apology for the countless times you whipped your frenzied followers into chanting “Lock her up! Lock her up!” or, with “cameras blazing” called her any number of ridiculous invectives?
So why then is a simple speech without a single invective, expletive, or derogatory remark directed at your right-hand man so threatening to you?
You neither heard the words nor the intent of the speech.
Every time you speak/twitter/rave you prove every accusation made against you.
In the end, I come away with one major disappointment over this entire situation. This incident and the idiotic reaction from someone who should realize that he should be above reacting idiotically, was such a massive missed opportunity. It could have turned out so much better had it happened to a better/smarter man.
The way to have made gold out of this manure would have been simple. All Pence had to do was listen, nod thoughtfully, and then reply. I cannot see anyone stopping him or even objecting if the man had left his seat and travelled up the aisle. I cannot see a member of the cast objecting if he mounted the stage and addressed the cast and the crowd, assuring them that, as their new Vice President, he was indeed moved by the play he had just seen, reminded of the ideas and ideals that made America great and the many many different people who are a part of that ongoing and evolving greatness.
He could have worked that crowd like the seasoned politician that he is. He could have moved them to his side instead of embracing (yet again) the “victim” role that these outrageous aggressors are intent upon embracing to explain their actions and their failures. He had the unique opportunity to become a voice for healing division instead of continuing and escalating it. It would have been a master stroke and, if he meant it, a miracle for which I would be grateful.
Then the Commander in Twit would have been able to tweet out his praise of his “wonderful” vice president and bragged about his “huge smarts” in picking him.
The problem with this scenario is that it’s just not in them. Pence didn’t think of it at the time or, if he did, he knew that he couldn’t get away with it. In order to say words that might reassure those who are frightened by the nature of the incoming power politicians, he would have had to say things he did not mean, make statements that could later be used against him.
Unlike Trump
(having typed the name, I need to wash my dirtied fingers now),
he seems to understand that people are listening to what he’s saying and he tries not to leave recorded evidence that his actions or later words will directly contradict.
Sigh. Typing all this out did not make me feel much better about it.
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