FENCES VS. FREEDOM

The positive energy of No Kings this past weekend contrasted deeply with the glum feeling of Trump's military parade. Admittedly, my comparison is unfair. I attended No Kings with great enthusiasm. I saw a few clips of the military parade on a television screen with multiple, simultaneous images and looked at still photos. No Kings surprised me. Not the positive energy flowing out of the Washington D.C. suburbs, but the reports coming from the medium sized cities, such as Oklahoma City, and small towns in red states. I wonder, are these Trump voters finally realizing their mistake in voting for him; or are these the other half of the country who are the blue voters? Hard to know. The visuals of millions protesting around the country creates a strong statement of dismay and disagreement with the Trump regime.

The "military parade"--aka birthday party--seemed dark, gloomy, and purposeless. The colors, for the most part, were olive drab. I thought I would have seen red, white, and blue everywhere. I heard applause and mild cheers on the video clips but nothing like the spontaneous, raucous noise of the No Kings rallies and marches. The military parade lacked joy and spontaneity; even the people on the reviewing stand fell asleep. Andy Borowitz, a leftist comedian, suggested that Trump get advice on successful miltary parades from Kim Jong Un.

In small Rockville, Maryland, the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland--a suburb of the District of Columbia--participants cheered holding up signs; drivers honked; and I rang my cow bell. After interminable days of continuous miserable news, We--the--People yelled and hooted for our power to protest. After days of ongoing feelings of powerlessness, which have caused me (and others) to feel bleak, depressed, and sad, we were exhilarated.

Most evident to me were the lack of fences in the No Kings rallies and parades in contrast to the huge chain link and opague barriers erected for the monstrous show down Constitution Avenue. The police held back for the No Kings protests, except in Los Angeles. No Kings was characterized by openness and personal contact with others. The debacle in the District showed clumps of lackluster people on small mounds of grass near the Washington Monument. They needed some height to be able to see, given the barriers.

Trump loves fences literally and metaphorically. His wall at the southern border with Mexico is the most well known example. However, I remember, going to D.C. for a protest during Trump's first term. We were literally miles from the White House, due to the layers of fences and barriers. For all of his bluster, Trump appears deathly afraid of the people, unless he speaks to a curated MAGA crowd. What kind of President is afraid of the American people? Well, we know--a self-proclaimed despot with no actual political experience and knowledge except for being a deal maker in the safe confines of a T.V. studio or his own country club.

Trump is all bluster but actually fearful of honestly speaking to those who do not agree with him. When has anyone seen him talk with his dissenters or even Democrats for that matter? Like the bully on the playground, he insults, holding up his fists; however, he avoids discussion, debate, and compromise. I think we know why. Though Trump's ratings are going down, the Republican members of Congress and his sycophants refuse to step away and reveal the truth.

©Karen Levi 2025