On Our White House Lawn
So, a bloody UFC Fight is to take place tomorrow on the White House Lawn to celebrate {somehow} our nation’s 250th Anniversary and Trumps 80th Birthday. There is no doubt that it has gotten the press attention it was meant to have and the controversy it was meant to stir up.
The whole event has been discussed ad nauseum. In my circles, I have heard it called an example of “toxic masculinity,” a copy of gross gladiatorial fights in ancient Rome, a major violent sporting event, a misuse of taxpayer dollars, and other unmentionable things.
I call it an EMBARRASSMENT. I am embarrassed to have such a violent, bloody, boorish event representing us around the world. We are supposed to be a civilized nation. Forget that! We are supposed to be a peace loving nation. A joke. We are celebrating 250 years of our democracy which is supposed to value and protect life. Gone with the wind.
Some say that this kind of display is playing to young white men who feel emasculated. What an example of masculinity! Violent. Inhumane. Dangerous. When my sons were growing up, adults broke up slug fests, fist fights, violent encounters in the school yard and on city streets. They were not applauded. Maybe there were times when people stood around and watched boys beat each other up, but afterward, they felt some remorse and shame as one of them limped away (if they were lucky.)
They say Melania trump will be there ringside. I must wonder what kind of women find such a thing entertaining. Would she really like to see Barron Trump bloody in the ring?
Well, as a sport, ultimate fighting does require talent and intensive training. But I do not think it is meant as an open-air performance. I confess that some of my grandmother’s friends used to watch dramatic professional wrestling performance events. They were staged and meant to be entertainment. I never asked them why they liked them.
But, enough said and enough attention paid. When the world is laughing at us, we won’t have an excuse. Our president simply likes that sort of thing. No need to explain. Bombing we need to explain. But a violent, over the top sporting event on our White House lawn needs no defense, offensive as it is.
Embarrassing!