It was Mark Twain that said “true patriotism is loving your country all the time and loving the government when they deserve it.” On Oct. 18 of this year the city of Greenfield hosted the largest public demonstration in its history. Hundreds of those in attendance carried signs bearing messages conveying concern, disappointment, alarm and disgust in reaction to the actions and policies of our federal government and particularly President Donald Trump. The sign I carried could have listed the various ways the current administration is abandoning basic principles of democracy in favor of one-man rule. Instead I chose a placard with the four words that summed up the theme of the day. It read “We love our country.”
Greenfield was just one place along with thousands of others where citizens exercise their constitutional right to protest and assemble that day. Nationwide, millions of Americans came out to join their neighbors in a peaceful expression of unity. It represented the juxtaposition of things going terribly right to address a government that is going terribly wrong. For many it represents hope. For every person that attended No Kings rallies there are many more that support the principles expressed that day.
One may ask, who in our nation could be against the idea that we do not allow rule by kings? The answer: Donald J. Trump. The president of the United States, on the heels of the largest day of protest in our nation’s history posted an AI generated image of himself wearing a gold crown as he piloted a fighter jet over crowds of American citizens actively and peacefully protesting. As if that is not enough the aircraft Trump is piloting begins to discharge a brown liquid substance that quickly covers the horrified humans below.
Whatever reaction the president may have anticipated Americans would have to this posting it occurred to many that Trump dropping this foul spray on his horrified countrymen was not unlike what he does most days in one form or another. Whether it is the president’s speeches to members of the military, his many postings on media platforms, interviews with the press or virtually anytime he speaks the president is telling lies. During his most recent interview on 60 minutes Trump made at least 18 statements that were fact checked to be untrue. For example the president claims inflation has disappeared and grocery prices are down significantly. He goes on to take credit for ending wars that never existed and repeats dozens of fact-free claims so wildly improbable that the interview could have been vastly improved if a sitcom style laugh track was added.
Perhaps at this time Trump views those willing to stand up to his tyrannical ways as targets far below him to be drenched in the awful. Contrast this with his rallies where he dishes out the same discharge while his giddy followers in red hats and MAGA shirts line up with bowls and spoons. You can count those loyal Americans supporting No Kings as better off with it on them than in them.
Edward Dowd lives in Greenfield.