I awakened early, smiling grimly to myself...
Last edited Sun Jun 15, 2025, 08:38 AM - Edit history (1)
The incident of the lack of attendance of the parade in Washington reminded me of something which happened many years ago.
One Sunday afternoon, in the heat of August, I received a phone call from a gentleman whom I barely knew who had never called me in his life. After the initial pleasantries, he asked me if I knew of a certain dentist who had died. I replied that I had, and yes, I did know him as a fellow faculty member and former professor of mine. The gentleman went on to state that the funeral was going to be held at my synagogue in the suburbs, and that he was coordinating the event.
I was puzzled. I asked him why it was being moved from the decedents synagogue in Center City Philadelphia to the Main Line and I was told that they were expecting a crowd of well over 1000 and that the Center City synagogues could not accommodate such a crowd. I had to control myself and asked seriously why anyone would think that in the middle of August, a vacation month, 1000 people would show up for a memorial service for this guy. My newfound friend replied that this man was so prominent, so famous, and so well regarded and loved by so many that there would be this enormous, unprecedented outpouring of respect and grief for his loss, so he had been told.
I thought to myself: a bigger, bloviating, self-important, loudmouth bastard who was arbitrarily mean, vindictive, and phony-erudite had not existed in my sphere ever, and it was kind of a relief that he was gone, because periodically he would show up at continuing education seminars, and pontificate endlessly about why the speaker was completely wrong about a subject of which he or she were a recognized expert and grossly and pathetically misinformed. In addition, he once had the temerity of literally poking my chest rather violently with his finger when he was upset with something I had said about somebody which everyone knew to be true, and I told him that technically that was assault and was he going to try for battery? We were not on speaking terms after that.
Of course, I didn’t mention any of this and asked what the reason was for the call. The fellow congregant asked me then if I would help coordinate since I would certainly be coming to the event. My response was, I had no intention of coming to this event, that this was a manifestation of this guy’s egocentrism, that even after his death, that this many people would care or wish to pay homage and good luck in your endeavor, it’s been nice talking to you, goodbye.
I think fewer than 200 people showed up for the memorial service and they didn’t need the parking attendants, the God-knows how many programs which were printed up, and it must’ve been frightening to sit in that enormous sanctuary with 1400 or 1500 empty seats and listen to endless half-truths about what a great man this guy was. Of course, they could’ve moved it to a smaller chapel in the same synagogue, but that would’ve been “disrespectful to his memory”… I can hear the conversation in my head right now.
For anyone to have mass adulation, he or she must need have given positives to individuals, to the community, and to history, whether that history of world or national importance or that of the local community . For all the votes that Trump (claims to have) received, what he actually brings to the table is a vindication of racism, greed, egocentrism, arrogance, and lest we never forget, “dating“ beautiful women, among other “”attributes”. The vast number of people are not going to drive 500 miles or more to pay homage to that, even if they passively agree with the “philosophy“. That is why the parade attendance was so low, and that he will have to get the White House mess to replenish the Heinz ketchup for Monday.
And that’s the way it is….Sunday, 4:38 in the morning.
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the entire world revolves around them - I'm not sure they can even understand the reality of what people really think of them
Trump goes off when things don't go well - who knows who will be his next target - Greenland maybe? I still cannot believe how many stupid assholes voted for that fascist ass clown. 
