“You’ve made a holy show of yourself, boy!”
That was a saying back in the Wexford of my youth. It meant you’d done something to be thoroughly ashamed of and, if you knew what was good for you, you’d better change your ways.
The phrase came to mind during the Donald Trump Greenland debacle. Seems like a long time ago, but that’s the “flood the zone” world our president has mired us in.
It’s hard to credit that a grown man would admit he was miffed because he wasn’t awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, and that someone would have to pay.
Oh yes, there were the lies about myriad Russian and Chinese ships threatening, and in the interests of US security Denmark had better hand over Greenland post-haste.
The crazy thing is that Denmark and our other NATO allies are in agreement that the US should have all the access it needs to Greenland; in fact, Greenlanders themselves would be thrilled if the US was to fix up its many abandoned rusted bases and help locate the frigid island’s abundant rare earths.
But no, that wasn’t good enough for the poor little rich boy from Queens. Rich or poor, he would have been shunned and ridiculed in the pubs of Wexford. How does he get away with such conduct in America?
Fibber’s fatigue, perhaps? Remember when Mr. Trump first ran for president, reporters used to note the number of lies per speech. Ancient history! Nowadays “it’s just Donald being Donald.”
As one follower winked, “You don’t expect him to be George Washington, do you?”
Well, one could dream. But a Greenland expert, Martin Breum, put it very well recently. “There is extreme consternation that your president appears completely immune to data, facts, arguments and common knowledge. He continues to state what is obviously factually wrong. This seems unbelievable to many people in this country (Denmark). We cannot understand what is happening. We wonder what is next.”
I’m with you there, Marty. There was a time we used to hold our presidents accountable. I guess fibber’s fatigue has done a number on us all.
Things got even worse at the Davos Billionaire Boys Convention when our noble warrior insulted the NATO troops who sacrificed their lives while aiding the US in the post-9/11invasion of Afghanistan. This coming from a man who got five deferments that saved him from serving in Vietnam.
This also from a man who never lifted a finger to prevent his followers from attacking outnumbered police officers while they stormed the Capitol Building on shameful January 6th – a man who later pardoned the vast majority of said “patriots.”
The people of Minneapolis/St. Paul, however, have shaken off their fibber’s fatigue.
It’s always been a pleasure to play the Twin Cities and look out across a well-integrated audience of Americans and recent immigrants.
And yes, I have heard the accusations against the Somalis who ran a scheme to defraud the welfare system. Those crooks should be prosecuted to the fullest – but their crime should not be used as a blanket denunciation of the gracious Somali people who have added so much to the culture and commerce of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
I’m sure there are many good people among ICE and Border Patrol agents too, but this armed militia do themselves no favors by wearing masks and assaulting American citizens and others who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
This is not Italy in the 1930’s, but sometimes it seems like Donald Trump is trying hard to be another Mussolini looking for his balcony.
After initially holding Democrats rather than federal agents responsible for pumping 10 bullets into Alex Pretti, he’s been busy determining how much damage the execution of two American citizens will affect the House and Senate elections in November.
There’s already been a change in his attitude: 700 agents will be withdrawn from Minnesota, and a couple of brassy sycophants will likely take the fall, for without Republican congressional majorities Mr. Trump will become just another lame-duck president. But hey, George Washington was once one too.
Despite the inevitable lies that came spouting out of the White House, we have seen the videos, we believe our own eyes, and we stand with the people of Minneapolis/St. Paul’s in their grief, loss, and defiance.
Your fibber’s fatigue is wearing thin, Mr. President. You’ve made a holy show of yourself, boy!
No comments:
Post a Comment
We welcome short comments on Belfast Media Group blog postings but you should be aware that, since we've put our names to our articles, we encourage you to do so also. Preference in publication will be given to those who provide an authenticated full name — as is already the case in our newspapers. Comments should be short and relate to the subject matter and, of course, shouldn't be libelous. And remember, if you find that there isn't enough space on our blogs for your views, you can always start your own. There are over two million blogs out there, another one can only benefit the blogosphere.