I’ve been accused, especially lately, of often being too focused on politics. Such critique is fair. When we first began musing just about four years ago, it was always my intention to merely incorporate such thoughts into their relevance to media and my life. But as any cursory search of any entertainment news aggregator this morning will prove, what’s happening in that realm is omnipresent, and clearly is impacting all of our lives far more than we may have anticipated or hoped even months ago.
Besides, today’s events are anything but political, despite their intentions. The one that has the biggest budget is little more than a vanity play by a manchild obsessed with the word “huge” and a way for him to make his birthday a national event. USA TODAY’s Francesca Chambers swallowed her pride to report the details earlier this morning:
President Donald Trump’s birthday will be full of pomp and circumstance as the 79-year-old politician celebrates with a military parade. The Army expects as many as 200,000 people to show up at the Washington, D.C. parade that formally honors the U.S. Army’s formation yet coincides with Trump’s own birthday. As many as 120 vehicles, including Abrams tanks, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and military helicopters are expected to be part of the display of American military hardware. As many as 120 vehicles, including Abrams tanks, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and military helicopters are expected to be part of the display of American military hardware. Trump drew inspiration from the Bastille Day celebration that takes place in Paris every July 14. The president and first lady Melania Trump attended the military parade as guests of French President Emmanuel Macron in the summer of 2017.
Say what you will about the motivation, timing and, most def, the cost. Chambers reported the tab at $45 million, though some reports have it higher. But at least it’s one event, one location, one focus. Far more than can be said for the scattershot approach that will be going on simultaenously. FOX 11 LOS ANGELES’ Alexa Mae Asperin dropped her own preview yesterday morning:
Hundreds of “No Kings Day” protests are planned nationwide on June 14, including multiple locations across California…The demonstrations oppose the Trump administration’s policies and aim to reject authoritarianism and militarization, countering what organizers call a “costly, wasteful, and un-American birthday parade.”…While no protests are planned in Washington D.C., a flagship march will occur in Philadelphia, with organizers expecting millions to participate nationwide.
In Los Angeles, clearly the flashpoint of America, no less than 23 such events will take place over roughly an 11-hour span. It is theoretically possible for folks to attend more than one, though I highly doubt that will be the case. Asperin also wryly notes that (a)dditionally, protests are planned in Mexico, Canada, Africa, and Europe. Ya know, those 51st, 52nd, 53rd and 54th states.
But not only are these No Kings events spread out geographically, they are also a roll-up of special interests, some of which have little to do with the concept of a king. Again per Asperin: (d)ozens of grassroots groups including Indivisible, American Federation of Teachers, Black Voters Matter, National Action Network, and Social Security Works are …involved.
Diversity of respondents is a galvanizing positive. Diversity of responses create little more than noise.
My social media feeds are literally cluttered with celebratory declarations of empowerment and anticipation as the various zero hours approach. Emotional expressions of joy of being able to have their right to peacefully protest exercised and their voice heard.
But is it really that horrible to merely ask–who’s listening other than yourselves?
Clearly, the sources of your derision are otherwise preoccupied. Are your elected officials even showing up? At best, they’ll only be able to make a token showing at a fraction. At worst, they’ll simply issue a statement on social media expressing acknowledgement. Significant media can’t possibly cover it all. In which case, you’re really having little more than a block party.
Those feeds were also chortling with derision yesterday when this story appeared online and was shared by dozens of different accounts. Alas and ironically, it turned out to be “fake news”. THE IRISH STAR’s Jack Hobbs was one of many sources who took notice:
The military parade, which is set to take place on Saturday in Washington, DC, has been hit with an allegedly fake advertisement on Craigslist asking for people to come to the parade as seat fillers and extras to present the illusion that lots of people turned out to celebrate U.S. President Donald Trump on his birthday. The advertisement was posted on the site on Tuesday.
“T-Mellon Events is looking for seat fillers and extras to provide their time for space maximization and attendance perception for an event taking place in Washington, DC on June 14th,” the description of the event reads. “Extras and Seat fillers will check in on the morning of June 14th at 9:00 a.m.”
“Extras are required to wear Red, White and Blue clothing and will be provided a RED hat to wear. GOLD accessories are acceptable as well,” the description went on. “The team will advise the extras where to stand or sit according to the line of sight from a VIP viewing platform area.”
Extras and Seat fillers will be paid a flat daily fee and will be provided a lunch of fast food and soda,” it concluded. “We encourage people of color and ethnic groups to sign up for maximum perception control and these individuals will be prominently displayed on the televised broadcast and local viewing screens to be seen by the VIP platform.” Elsewhere in the advertisement, it was reported that those who showed up for the casting call would be paid a “Flat Fee of $1,000, paid in cryptocurrency – Provided by FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LLC.”
When attempting to determine the validity of the advertisement through the use of Snopes.com, it was revealed it might just be a hoax.
If anyone had actually bothered to read the details of the last paragraph, it was painfully obvious this was a hoax. We all know fast food and soda are exclusively reserved for White House guests.
So with that bubble burst, now the hopes and prayers are turning to heaven itself. As of this writing, there’s a 67% chance of rain at roughly 7 PM ET. That seems to be a source for celebration at this writing. Karma, ya know. The thoughts of DJT getting his precious hair wet is exciting many as much as the idea of peacefully protesting.
But, sorry, umbrellas and overhangs apparently were factored into that $45 million budget. So you’ll have to merely hope the reviewing stand collapses under his weight or perhaps the intensity of his farts.
As for me…well, it’s the second busiest day of the year at my place of business, I’m told, and fortunately all of those block parties will likely distract any stray marines or National Guardfolk that might otherwise show up. I have to work.
I’d strongly suggest the No Kings braintrust do the same.
Until next time…