Thursday 11 June 2020

Coronavirus Trump

Trump initially dismissed the coronavirus problem as a little flu that would quickly blow over. Then it was something that he had full control of. Then it was something created by China. Then it was something that would be cleared up by a miracle. Then he started listening to the experts. Then he forwarded his own ideas on how to cure an infection (swallow disinfectant!). Then he stopped listening to the experts.

He still doesn't listen to them.

He messed up everything from ensuring sufficient protective clothing, ensuring sufficient testing, setting up emergency hospitals… the man even failed to present an example of responsible action during his few public appearances during the past several months. 

Because of his ineptitude, 113,000 Americans (and counting) have died up to the time of this post.

Now Trump wants the USA to return to full normality.

According to the experts (yes, he's still ignoring them), this will mean that at least 100,000 more Americans will die as a resutl of the coronavirus by September.

Now, listen carefully, Donald. Here's a bit of arithmetic:

113,000 + 100,000 =213,000

Got it?

That's more than TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND deaths that you would have on your conscience, were you to possess such a thing.

Some weeks ago, I wrote a little song documenting Trump's pathetic response to the crisis. Don't expect greatness—it's the first song I've ever written. Anyway, it's called The Coronavirus Boogie:


[C]You know I just can't sing
I must have that thing 
That they [G7]call the coronavirus [C]boogie 

[C][G7][C]

[C]I've an ache in my head
I should stay in bed 
This could [G7]be the coronavirus [C]boogie 

[C]

[C7]I went to visit President Trump
[F]To ask him what to do
[Dm]He told me not to [D7]worry, son,
You've [G7]only got the flu![G7]

[C]My temperture's high
Right up to the sky
Must [G7]have the coronavirus [C]boogie 

[C][G7][C]

[C]Well I'm feeling bad 
And it's kind of sad
Sure to be [G7]the coronavirus [C]boogie 

[C]

[C7]I went to visit President Trump
[F]To ask him what to do
[Dm]He told me not to [D7]worry, son,
We've got [G7]disinfectant for you![G7]

           
[C]My throat is all sore

I can't swallow no more
I don't [G7]dig the coronavirus [C]boogie 

[C][G7][C]

[C]Now I've started to cough
Think I'll order a coffin—
You can [G7]dance the coronavirus [C]boogie

[C]

[C7]So don't you visit President Trump
[F]To ask him what to do
[Dm]He'll only tell you [D7]loads of lies,
And that'[G7]ll be the end of you! [G7]

[C][G7][C]

(If you're wondering about a tune, I've put a short version of the song on YouTube: you can find it here.)

The illustration at the beginning of this post shows a mural showing President Donald Trump morphing into a COVID-19 virus. It appeared in Balmy Alley, San Francisco, in early March.

Monday 1 June 2020

Dangerous Trump

It is difficult to decide which of the two figures is worse.

More than 100,000 dead through the coronavirus.

One man killed by four policemen.

Both figures originate, of course, from the United States of America.

Both figures are a direct result of Donald Trump's signal failure to act as a President.

Trump has demonstrated little but megalomania, xenophobia, misogynism, antipathy, crudity, vulgarity… during his time as President of the USA. (Anyone who thought that these typical pre-president-Trump characteristics would be better controlled when he became President must feel greatly disillusioned.)

Trump has made the USA a pariah in the world.

Trump blames everyone but himself for what is happening in the USA.

The truth is, the 100,000 deaths and the death of George Floyd are direct results of Trump's bumbling non-leadership.

Trump chooses not to listen to the many experts that surround him and provide him with the information he requires to make fact-based decisions. Instead, he blabbers out his own crazy theories: the coronavirus is no more than a flu; the coronavirus problem will be cleared up by a miracle; drink disinfectant to clear the coronavirus from your insides; it's all the fault of the WHO; it's all the fault of the Chinese; it's all the fault (as is everything else) of Obama.

No, Trump, it's all your fault, with your childish, petulant Tweets, which are little more than veiled attempts to divert attention from your own errors and to target minority groups, women, foreigners, and anyone who disagrees with you.

You are supposed to be a President. You are supposed to be the President for all Americans. You are supposed to lead by example. Instead, you strut around without a mask, you go to Florida to visit a rocket launch, you use demeaning language to describe protesters against the killing of George Floyd, yet you use praise in Tweets regarding ultra right-wing protestors and those calling for the relaxation of lockdown rules.

Indeed, Trump's failure to denounce white supremacists in the USA has now led to the killing in broad daylight, in full public view, of an African American, who pleaded for his life, whilst offering no resistance. This was not just a killing, rather it was a lynching by no less than four police officers.

Trump's rise to power and his misuse of power remind me frighteningly of Hitler's rise. Hitler had the crazy idea that the Arian race was in some way superior to others. He gradually built up hatred of other races, especially the Jews, amongst his followers. He banned books and other publications that spoke against his own ideas, he surrounded himself with yes-men whose only interest was self-aggrandisement… And now we see Trump attempting to manipulate the press, belittling certain reporters, especially female ones, especially non-white ones; we see him surrounding himself with his own yes-men and one by one removing those that dare to contradict him or speak against him.

America, do you not see what this fool is doing to your country?

Tuesday 24 March 2020

15561: mean anything?

Elvis Presley during 68 TV Special
15561.

Mean anything to you?

Actually, it's 15561 days.

Where were you 15561 days ago?

Well, if you're more than about 45 years old, you probably know, without actually being aware of it.

Elvis Presley died on 16 August, 1977 and that just happens to be 15561 days ago today, 24 March, 2020.

So what?

You might well ask. Indeed, yesterday he died 15560 days ago and tomorrow it will be 15562. What's so special?

Well, Elvis was born on 5 January, 1935.

He lived 15561 days.

Today, 24 March, 2020, Elvis has been dead for just as long as he lived.

Hard to believe, isn't it?