Good People
On Both Sides
Donald John Trump has a troubled relationship with women, money, fact, and history.
It is Memorial Day 2025. The unofficial start of summer. Time to get out the bass boat in the South and to open the vacation cabin in the North. The day on which many of us pause to honor the memory of the 580,124 persons in military uniform paying the last full measure of service to patriotic duty in three recent wars of international importance.
What is easy to forget or overlook is the why of the timing of this Moment of Remembrance. Its origin is in the North and has to do with spring flowers. It began as a time to honor Union Troops who fell during the American Civil War. It was set at a time when fresh flowers could be found to decorate their graves annually.
As many Americans celebrate the start of a summer likely to be lived consequentially, the Mad King almost certainly will not grasp or appreciate the irony of Memorial Day 2025 during his tenure as 47th president of these barely United States of America. He is a clown in the circus of Real Power. He is demonstrably profoundly unsuited for thoughtful action in these presently volatile times.
In 2015, he gave voice to the amazing notion that America no longer was great. For the last decade, he has fostered an unnecessary crisis in national purpose, character, and conduct. We the People are entrenched on two sides of an identity issue. Each team is willing to die on its hill of self.
In service to his own personal best interests, Donny the Deluded has been the willing tip of the spear for an effort to reimagine the terms and restructure the conditions of life for persons and institutions affected by the form of a government invented 250 years ago.
Riding the Tiger
It is easy, fashionable, and seductve to view the fact and consequences of Election 2024 as the informal commencement of World War III. Mr. Big Stuff willingly crawled into the saddle of the ever fierce and always hungry tiger of conflict.
And rode it into two terms in high office. Dismounting without getting eaten by a creature red in both tooth and claw is an age-old dilemma.
It is not silly to have concerns that Trump 2.0 very soon will take measures to suppress the strengthening public expressions of Resistance 2.0. It is not at all certain he has the ability to control the forces of anger and unrest he has called forth.
The Great Divide
Google AI states: “The American Civil War, a conflict fought between 1861 and 1865, resulted in a Union victory that preserved the United States as a single nation and abolished slavery. The war's origins lie in deep-seated sectional tensions, primarily stemming from disagreements over slavery's expansion into new territories. The conflict also involved significant political and military considerations, ultimately leading to a devastating loss of life and a reshaping of American society.”
Google AI is misinformed. Lee did surrender at Appomattox. The laying down of arms did not change underlying attitudes. The house was divided then and remains so to this fine Memorial Day.
This is the war we do not celebrate today. The one we really need to admit has never ended. We cannot even agree upon its proper name.
The conflict that raged across our soil between 1861 and 1865 was not civil. There is nothing civil about any war. The grounds of the capitol of the State of Texas have a statue that calls the conflict “The War of Northern Aggression.”
In 1860, the United States conducted its eighth national census. It reported a population of 31.4 million persons. About 23 million persons lived in 22 northern states. Around 9 million persons lived in 11 southern states. 3.5 million of the persons counted as living in southern states were enslaved. The two tallies do not match exactly, but they give a reasonable approximation. We killed about 1 out of 5 of ourselves in our first declared and mutually armed internal dispute over values and alliances.
The American Civil War was the deadliest war in U.S. history, with an estimated 620,000 military and civilian deaths. This toll surpasses the combined deaths of more recent American conflicts.
American Civil War: Estimated 620,000 deaths. This number is often cited, but some historians estimate the number may be higher, around 750,000.
World War I: U.S. military fatalities: 116,516.
World War II: U.S. military fatalities: 405,399.
Vietnam War: U.S. military fatalities: 58,209.
A Terrible Idea
The Mad King is growing impatient with the effects of Resistance 2.0. The withdrawal of consent to be governed by Trump 2.0 is not acceptable. He has mentioned martial law as an appropriate remedial action.
This weekend, the sitting President embarrassed himself, offended the audience, and alarmed the Substack community with his inappropriate appearance and remarks to the graduating class of the West Point Academy. The Vice-President delivered an equally disturbing message to the graduating class at the Naval Academy. Not to be outdone and just to cover all the bases, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security disrespected the history and mission of the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy. These incoming leaders of armed force were instructed to respond to the commands of the executive branch in preference to their historic institutional purpose and even if in conflict with bound personal oaths of conduct under the Constitution. The Secretary of the Air Force will deliver comments to the graduates of the Air Force Academy on 29 May 25.
In 2024, the United States had a population of 340.1 million souls. About ten times the number as at the commencement of our still virulent Civil War. It would be folly for Trump 2.0 to send armed force against peaceful citizen protests. Regrettably, the Mad King has poor impulse control and little regard for the immediate consequences of ill-considered actions. His good people carry torches and chant Nazi slogans. His good people disguise their face while executing his likely illegal treatment of citizens and migrants. His good people accept bribes.
If he does have knowledge of how revolutions historically have arisen, he chooses to believe the consent of the governed is negotiable. Or disposable.
Manifesto
Before our nation stretches an immensely consequential Summer of Confrontation.
It has been said that the right to swing your fist stops one inch from my nose. There may be good people on both sides of the issue of the American dream. Until such time as our rule of law fails, where we are is not the issue. Who we are is the relevant question.
The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference.
We the People unhappy with the results and consequences of Election 2024 love the myth and the history of America the Beautiful Land of Opportunity. We are not indifferent to the existential and intrisic evil embedded in the implementation of the 2025 playbook.
Resistance to the manifest cruelty, chaos, and corruption of Trump 2.0 is a deeply personal matter. It involves risk and sacrifice. It transcends convenient labels of party lines, gender, race, age, and/or religious background.
It's a matter of right and wrong.
Ignoring or demeaning human dignity is not right.
The question is—what are you trying to keep alive? Yourself or your principle?
You may lose your life. The principle will survive. And prevail.
Dignity, hope, and faith are not a battle plan. But they are a dandy battle cry.
Anthem
Target and Tesla are admitting damage to their brands and bottom lines due to adverse consumer reaction to their policies and practices. The time is ripe for Resistance 2.0 to become even more bold.
Increase the volume and instances of resistance.
Consider making more “good trouble.” Go on the offensive. Enough willful and clearly self-serving damage has been done to justify a pleading against The Guy in equity for restitution of funds unjustly gained for personal use. The Trump v United States decision leaves him open to prosecution for objectionable private acts. His public stock investment advice is suspect. His crypto investor dinner is on shaky ground. The Qatar jet as a library acquisition is weak. The very filing of such complaints, in any applicable jurisdiction, would distract and seriously disturb the Trump 2.0 Magic Show.
Hats off to those who are planning, supporting, and attending visible signs of a growing resistance to Trump 2.0. And all honor and glory to the educational institutions, lower court justices, politicians, lawyers, journalists, and media spokespersons defying implementation of the illegal aspects of the Project 2025 playbook.
And praise all gods great and small for the reporters and editors at The Washington Post for trailing the smoke back to the trigger finger on the hot Trump 2.0 gun.
The early strengthening of Resistance 2.0 is a precious and fragile early spring flower. It needs constant care and close attention to survive and thrive. Do not let the 04 May 25 Washington Post reporting disappear.
It is important to remember that Donald John Trump believes “only the weak will fail.”
Let us continue to be faithful, strategic, and strong in our resistance to the fact and effects of his Reign of Terror and Tour of Revenge.
Let us continue to pull up our socks and step into the breach now, every Power of One person dissatisfied with the results and consequences of Election 2024.
Let us continue to put into play our persons and our purses every day in every peaceful way everywhere all at once to demand:
The elimination of the Big Beautiful Bill. Draft a reasonable and sustainable budget that maintains the social network and personal rights put into law and custom in the last 80 years.
A return to positions of principle those persons, institutions, and organizations betraying a public trust in their integrity when bending a knee, kissing the ring, funding the personal wealth, or furthering the ambitions of Donald John Trump.
The bringing of criminal charges against Musk and articles of impeachment against Trump.
Resumption of support of Ukraine, NATO, WHO, IMF and related international organizations and accords dedicated to the proposition of global peace, health, and prosperity.
The bringing of articles of impeachment against corrupt justices now contaminating the opinions of the high court.
Referendum and recall of congressional representatives not faithful to their oath of office and/or unresponsive to the concerns and wishes of their constituents.
Creation of a Shadow Cabinet charged with daily briefings of administrative assaults upon the rule of law, the health, safety, and welfare of We the People, and simple decency.
Course correction on the conduct of matters related to national security.
Open, timely, and impartial consideration of and rulings on pleadings regarding the constitutionality of executive and administrative actions taken by Trump 2.0 and its implementation of the Project 2025 playbook.
Our statue of liberty has broken chains at her feet.
This administration does not have our leave to reinstall ancient constraints on her or us.
I truly believe that right is might.
Resist. Persist. Prevail.
In a world where “only the weak will fail,” let us continue to be strong.
We cannot, we will not, fail.
Go, team, go.
Excellent emphasis on The Summertime Blues: Before our nation stretches an immensely consequential Summer of Confrontation. If summer was your time for renewal and growth, vacations, and quality time with the children, Trump will disrupt that, too. He's not going to stop, and that increases all resistance.