Trump's "Dark And Divisive" July 4th Speech

Finally finished it.

   So painful to listen to him read the teleprompter...so, so painful...

There was one part that I though pretty bad, and plausibly divisive, and that was the bit about "only kneeling to almighty God." Both parts of that I thought to be over the line, and the juxtaposition of the two seemed worse.

   Look, I'm actually currently rather a fan of ceremonial deism. I didn't used to be, I might not be in the future, but I have been for a few years now. I do think that there's something to be gained from vague, rhetorical references to God. I'm willing to make this small concession to my religious countrymen. Just keep the Jesus out of it and we're pretty much cool. I'd also leave out the "almighty" stuff--too specific. It rules out deists, for one. 

   As for the kneeling bit...well, I defended Kaepernick for it. I thought it was a respectful and reasonable form of protest--even though it was/is predicated on the factual errors of BLM. By this point, it's gone far beyond creepy. It's now enthusiastic, "performative" quasi-prostration and (pseudo-)virtue-signaling. It's gross. I'd leave criticism of it out of an Independence Day speech, which is supposed to be unifying. Praising the presidents on Mt. Rushmore might be "divisive" given the madness afflicting the left...but that's their problem, and they'll just have to tough it out. But I don't see a reason to take a shot at the kneeling thing in this speech. Entirely avoidable. And criticizing it on the grounds that it's inconsistent with religion...Christianity, that is, which was the real message there...very bad, IMO. 

   This post is pretty jumbled, but I'm just reporting impressions, so maybe that's a defense. 

   Anyway. There were some unnecessarily sharp edges on the speech. Part of me wants to say: they were nothing compared to what's happening on the other side. Another part wants to say: yeah, well, the standards for the President are much higher. Of course he didn't write the thing--or anyway, I conclude he didn't. But he read it, which is enough.

   "Dark and divisive" is typical PMSM ridiculous hyperbole. But I do think there are grounds for criticism, to say the least.