Memorial Day, 2020. Normally a day to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice men and women of the United States Armed Forces made while in defense of our great country. Today, Memorial Day may have a wider application than just remembering soldiers, sailors and airmen. How so? Since Donald Trump declared our nation at "War with the Coronovirus" (See: www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/03/19/a_changed_trump_declares_war_on_coronavirus_142705.html), shouldn't we now consider all that have died during this "war" deserving of remembrance? After all, more have died from the Coronavirus (approaching 100,000 deaths as of this writing) than from our armed conflicts in Korea and Vietnam combined.
Although President Trump declared we are at "war", it has become obvious that the man was only trying to elevate his presidency and his own self-image by labeling himself a "war-time president", not unlike Lincoln or FDR. Except this president, chose not to lead the efforts in this war, but instead demanded State Governors take the lead (and incoming fire) so that he could personally avoid being known as a mere "shipping clerk" instead of Commander-In-Chief. (See: www.politico.com/news/2020/03/19/trump-governors-coronavirus-medical-supplies-137658). While Trump repeats his often told lie about being left with an Army literally without bullets, (See: www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/politics/trump-munitions-shortage-fact-check/index.html), he ignores the reality that supplies needed to fight his declared war (PPE, Ventilators, Covid-19 testing - including Antibody tests), have been woefully inadequate to meet the actual demands this virulent virus presents (or that he had 3 years to resupply them but failed to do so).
Knowing the death toll will continue to rise, perhaps we should also put the notion that the old "normal" we once knew Pre-Covid, will never quite be the same? Are masks now going to be seen throughout airports, grocery stores and sporting events? Shouldn't we also memorialize our old way of life knowing it will certainly never be the same?
And speaking of memorializing, perhaps we should add to our list or memories, how our government used to work Pre-Trump. Where separation of powers and oversight were once considered the holy grail of our constitutional republic, are now cast so easily aside by Right Wing politicians. Apparently the notion that we are all governed by the Constitution, no longer applies to MAGA/GOP. Seems law and order only applies to those MAGAs disagree with. Consider how proud MAGA's are when they claim on their social media sites to be "Patriots" and "Constitutional Conservatives." After over 40 years of study, I still am having a difficult time understanding exactly what a "Constitutional Conservative" actually is. Same goes with a "Strict Contextualist." When I have dared to ask a MAGA what they think being a "Patriot" or "Constitutional Conservative" is, the typical response is a "Real American, unlike a Libtard." As you can guess, such a response cannot be countered, as these folks not only don't know what they're taking about, they also pursue personal attack lines that are without merit. As long as "they own a lib" they're (and their supporting Fox News and related media) good with their distortions and ignorance. (See: www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/hannity-limbaugh-trump-coronavirus.html).
Case in point. Several states have conducted Vote by Mail now for decades. Not only does it ensure the franchise is shared by as many registered citizens possible, it also makes it efficient to vote, without having to vote in person. Now that we are engaged in a "war" against Covid-19, voting by mail seems the logical remedy to avoiding large groups of people risking infection in order to vote. Yet, instead of pursuing these routes as the most favorable to the electorate, Trump along with his MAGA/GOP supporters suddenly (and erroneously claim) Voting by Mail is fraught with voter fraud. Except although there is no evidence to prove this, they nevertheless maintain that if every citizen could vote by mail, then the November elections will be "rigged" against Trump. (See: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/false-narrative-vote-mail-fraud). In fact, Trump himself has voted by mail in several of the last elections. (See: www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/donald-trump-vote-by-mail-absentee/index.html).
Trump also went so far as to admit publicly, that if everyone could freely vote by mail, Republicans would never win another election. Isn't voting a mechanism for the people to decide our leaders and not the other way around? (See: www.npr.org/2020/05/20/859333693/trump-repeats-unfounded-claims-about-mail-in-voting-threatens-funding-to-some-st, See also: www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-mail-voting-ballots-20200410-qfnxhakicve3ndpxz64lcsqzr4-story.html).
Now Trump (wrongfully) threatens to withhold revenue sharing with "Blue" states that provide Vote by Mail because he believes suppressing the vote is the only way to assist his re-election (considering the GOP Senate refuses to pass multiple House enacted legislation ensuring our electronic voting machines are hack proof). If Trump, MAGA and the GOP really want to limit voting to hackable voting machines, then perhaps they felt they could not lose - unless voting by mail would defeat their efforts to cheat in November? (See: www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senate-gop-rejects-election-security-measures-yes-again-n1135221).
So this Memorial Day, let us remember not only the lives lost for our brave men and women of our armed forces, but also memorialize the hundred thousand Americans swept away due to a public health crisis bungled by the President and his incompetent administration. We should also memorialize the "way of life" we used to enjoy and take for granted pre-pandemic. Unfortunately, if we don't come out and vote en masse this November, we may have to add to the list of memories what it was like when America was actually ruled by a Constitution - one understood, appreciated and upheld by all Americans.
Benjamin Franklin said when asked what was created in Philadelphia in 1787, "A Republic, if you can keep it." Let's all pray that of those we have lost through "war", that their lives have not been lost in vain. Let's also pray that in November, we don't have to begin memorializing how great American used to be Otherwise, Memorial Days henceforth will certainly be much sadder. Try to have a great week! Stay safe, be well!
Although President Trump declared we are at "war", it has become obvious that the man was only trying to elevate his presidency and his own self-image by labeling himself a "war-time president", not unlike Lincoln or FDR. Except this president, chose not to lead the efforts in this war, but instead demanded State Governors take the lead (and incoming fire) so that he could personally avoid being known as a mere "shipping clerk" instead of Commander-In-Chief. (See: www.politico.com/news/2020/03/19/trump-governors-coronavirus-medical-supplies-137658). While Trump repeats his often told lie about being left with an Army literally without bullets, (See: www.cnn.com/2019/10/09/politics/trump-munitions-shortage-fact-check/index.html), he ignores the reality that supplies needed to fight his declared war (PPE, Ventilators, Covid-19 testing - including Antibody tests), have been woefully inadequate to meet the actual demands this virulent virus presents (or that he had 3 years to resupply them but failed to do so).
Knowing the death toll will continue to rise, perhaps we should also put the notion that the old "normal" we once knew Pre-Covid, will never quite be the same? Are masks now going to be seen throughout airports, grocery stores and sporting events? Shouldn't we also memorialize our old way of life knowing it will certainly never be the same?
And speaking of memorializing, perhaps we should add to our list or memories, how our government used to work Pre-Trump. Where separation of powers and oversight were once considered the holy grail of our constitutional republic, are now cast so easily aside by Right Wing politicians. Apparently the notion that we are all governed by the Constitution, no longer applies to MAGA/GOP. Seems law and order only applies to those MAGAs disagree with. Consider how proud MAGA's are when they claim on their social media sites to be "Patriots" and "Constitutional Conservatives." After over 40 years of study, I still am having a difficult time understanding exactly what a "Constitutional Conservative" actually is. Same goes with a "Strict Contextualist." When I have dared to ask a MAGA what they think being a "Patriot" or "Constitutional Conservative" is, the typical response is a "Real American, unlike a Libtard." As you can guess, such a response cannot be countered, as these folks not only don't know what they're taking about, they also pursue personal attack lines that are without merit. As long as "they own a lib" they're (and their supporting Fox News and related media) good with their distortions and ignorance. (See: www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/hannity-limbaugh-trump-coronavirus.html).
Case in point. Several states have conducted Vote by Mail now for decades. Not only does it ensure the franchise is shared by as many registered citizens possible, it also makes it efficient to vote, without having to vote in person. Now that we are engaged in a "war" against Covid-19, voting by mail seems the logical remedy to avoiding large groups of people risking infection in order to vote. Yet, instead of pursuing these routes as the most favorable to the electorate, Trump along with his MAGA/GOP supporters suddenly (and erroneously claim) Voting by Mail is fraught with voter fraud. Except although there is no evidence to prove this, they nevertheless maintain that if every citizen could vote by mail, then the November elections will be "rigged" against Trump. (See: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/false-narrative-vote-mail-fraud). In fact, Trump himself has voted by mail in several of the last elections. (See: www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/donald-trump-vote-by-mail-absentee/index.html).
Trump also went so far as to admit publicly, that if everyone could freely vote by mail, Republicans would never win another election. Isn't voting a mechanism for the people to decide our leaders and not the other way around? (See: www.npr.org/2020/05/20/859333693/trump-repeats-unfounded-claims-about-mail-in-voting-threatens-funding-to-some-st, See also: www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-nyt-mail-voting-ballots-20200410-qfnxhakicve3ndpxz64lcsqzr4-story.html).
Now Trump (wrongfully) threatens to withhold revenue sharing with "Blue" states that provide Vote by Mail because he believes suppressing the vote is the only way to assist his re-election (considering the GOP Senate refuses to pass multiple House enacted legislation ensuring our electronic voting machines are hack proof). If Trump, MAGA and the GOP really want to limit voting to hackable voting machines, then perhaps they felt they could not lose - unless voting by mail would defeat their efforts to cheat in November? (See: www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/senate-gop-rejects-election-security-measures-yes-again-n1135221).
So this Memorial Day, let us remember not only the lives lost for our brave men and women of our armed forces, but also memorialize the hundred thousand Americans swept away due to a public health crisis bungled by the President and his incompetent administration. We should also memorialize the "way of life" we used to enjoy and take for granted pre-pandemic. Unfortunately, if we don't come out and vote en masse this November, we may have to add to the list of memories what it was like when America was actually ruled by a Constitution - one understood, appreciated and upheld by all Americans.
Benjamin Franklin said when asked what was created in Philadelphia in 1787, "A Republic, if you can keep it." Let's all pray that of those we have lost through "war", that their lives have not been lost in vain. Let's also pray that in November, we don't have to begin memorializing how great American used to be Otherwise, Memorial Days henceforth will certainly be much sadder. Try to have a great week! Stay safe, be well!
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