Protesters push a casket representing the "Death of Democracy" down Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach as President Donald Trump and his wife Melania attend the 60th annual Red Cross Ball at the Mar-a-Lago on Saturday Feb. 4, 2017. (Michael Ares / The Palm Beach Post)
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On a daily basis, across the US, and across the rest of the world, protesters are rallying and marching against President Trump and against his executive order restricting the entry of Muslim, but but not Christian, travelers from seven Islamic countries. Residents in the Washington DC area can find a large protest in their area on almost any day of the week. The Super Bowl, usually the highlight of late-winter sports events, was somewhat overshadowed by protesters in Houston, Texas. Trump, trying to escape to Mar-a-Lago (now the Winter White House) could none-the-less hear some of the three thousands protesters on nearby Flagler Drive who chanted, "When will we go away?.... Never!"
As Trump is breaking all conventions and possibly some laws, we look to the comforting idea of checks and balances to restore moral and political order. . Instead the Republican members of the House and Senate abdicate their responsibility and abandon their previous objections to Trump's conflicts of interest. Failure to demand a rigorous investigation into Trump's relationship with Russia is seen by some as treasonous. Although Senators are usually forgiven for confirming a President's nominees with only passing scrutiny, the refusal of Republican Senators to vote against these obviously ignorant and corrupt nominees is a dereliction of duty. With his neurotically thin skin, Trump considers a free press a threat and "the opposition team". Admittedly, the role of the media is much more complex in an age where the White House itself accepts "alternate facts" and where it has long designed coverage to present point-counterpoint arguments, suggesting that either "side" is reasonable. With so little hope of reason prevailing the protests are a welcome"voice of the people". The tough truth here is that the protests must be followed with a concentrated larger protest movement that includes voter engagement efforts to impact local and state elections and a continued demand that the media call out Trump's deliberate falsifications and lies. The media must not be allowed to normalize the very abnormal events and edicts Trump has introduced. So, protesters- keep up the marches, but organize something much more consequential. |
