No Kings (My Brief Dip Into Civic Resistance)

If there’s one thing I would change about myself, it would be to eradicate whatever bacteria exists in my brain that makes me pay attention to politics. I would do away with that in a heartbeat.

Getting too absorbed in politics, I’m convinced, is the quickest path to a dark and cynical worldview that robs you of the many and myriad gifts of life that are right there in front of your eyes, if you could just calm your brain long enough to appreciate them.

I try – Lawd knows, I try. But no matter how hard I try, I still get sucked into the political muck more often than I should. Less than some people, but maybe more than most.

I’m not even sure how much of it has to do with actual politics – the grinding gears of the political machine, or the inner workings of government. That stuff rarely interests me. I am not a political junkie (I hope). In fact, I don’t obsess over it unless it slaps me in the face.

And therein lies the problem – it has been slapping me in the face a whole f**king lot lately. And for that, we can thank (no, blame) the current president of these here United States, whom I dislike with an intensity that probably borders on the irrational.

I’m not even sure how much of my distaste for him has to do with politics. I’m not sure I even know what his politics are. I doubt even he knows what his politics are. I doubt he even has much interest in politics. I doubt he could speak intelligently about a single policy – or even name a single policy.

He just has a bunch of minions scattering about, telling him we should do this or that, and just sign here, Mr. President, then you can go back to thinking about golf or women or yourself – mostly yourself.

I don’t think our president gives a shit about policy, or governing, or any of the stuff a president is supposed to care about. He only cares about himself, his brand and image, his fragile little limp-dick ego. That’s the total sum of what this guy cares about.

Maybe that’s why I dislike him. Because he’s a spoiled, self-centered, thin-skinned, unintelligent, infantile, narcissistic, weak, corrupt and arrogant douchebag. I would dislike him no matter what job he held. I’ve known and met douchebags like him for most of my life, and maybe you have, too.

I am so, so sick of them – mainly because they seem to prance through life without the accountability that the rest of us face.

I resent the fact that a douchebag like our president has risen to the most powerful position in the world. I resent that enough people are misguided enough to think he has a single quality that qualifies him to occupy the White House.

He has exactly two things going for him: He was born rich, and he has a flair for publicity. Because of these two qualities, he has convinced himself – and others – that he is entitled to the power he currently has.

And what has he done with that power? He has used it as a sledgehammer to bash anything and anyone who has ever slighted or offended him. That’s it. That’s all.

Oh, I could go on and on. But I won’t. Instead, I’ll tell you a bit about the weekend I just had and the USA just had….

*****

The photos that accompany this blog were taken by me, on my iPhone, on Saturday, June 14. They show a peaceful protest in our little town in northern New Jersey. The protest took place on a miserable, rainy day, but a couple hundred folks showed up anyway, to protest the current regime in America. I rode my bike there on a whim, simply because I thought it was the most important thing I could do that day. And I’m glad I did.

Our protest was part of a much larger, nationwide “No Kings” protest from coast to coast that reportedly involved some 5 million people – which would qualify as the biggest single-day protest in U.S. history. This was a display of civic resistance intended to show the president that while he controls the levers of power – with less than half the vote – he does not control the hearts or minds of most Americans.

This was the first protest I took part in in God knows how long. I am not much of one for protests. I vote, and I write my elected representatives, and I write blogs expressing my opinions. But I don’t spend a lot of time in public gatherings.

This time, though, I felt like it was important to channel my anger into something useful. It shouldn’t just be everyone else who puts it on the line. I and others need to take part as well, and I’m glad I did.

*****

The ”No Kings” protests were held on the same day that the president spent $45 million of taxpayer money to hold a military parade in the nation’s capital, along the lines of North Korea, Putin Russia, Nazi Germany, and other authoritarian regimes.

By all accounts, this parade was a dismal affair, featuring small crowds, empty bleachers, and a general boredom and malaise. It became the butt of jokes the world over.

Well, the president wasn’t happy that his stupidass little parade got overshadowed by hundreds of anti-president protests involving millions of Americans. He threw his usual temper tantrum and acted out by sending anti-immigration thugs after civic officials and barking loudly about how Iran needs to surrender against the right-wing Israeli war machine.

Like I said: He’s a weak, thin-skinned little douchebag…

Anyway.

It was good to take part in civic resistance for a change. It was better than stewing in my own anger. It freed me from thinking so much about politics because I replaced thoughts with actions.

When I rode away on my bike, I felt better. The country felt better. We’ll see how long that lasts. But it sure was good to taste it, if only for a fleeting moment.

Note: We’re heading on vacation this week, so for those who leave comments, it might be a couple weeks before I reply. But all thoughts are appreciated!