Inauguration nightmares

I woke up this morning worried about violence.  I just can't believe how crazy the country seems to have gone.  There are all these protests planned and I am truly worried that something terrible is going to happen.  Please no riots!  I feel some people simply don't think they have to abide by the rule of law.  I think this is what happens when you convince a generation or two that 'activism' is more important than participation.  This may be why the Democrats lost those swing states.  All those Democrats who didn't bother to vote but are now galvanized to protest.  I don't know what they are protesting exactly.  They keep trying to come up with something but you can't tell what's going on through all the blinding clouds of dust they (and the media) keep whipping up.   I wish everyone would remain calm.  Let the transfer of the office of president happen and then let us proceed calmly.  If Trump did something illegal, then let the system move forward.  I just heard the Senate formed a bipartisan committee to investigate the whole Russian thing.  Good.  Let's make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.  If there is something wrong then let's deal with it, if not, then move on.

I swear though there are a number out there that want insurrection.  They are consumed with hatred.  It's like that meme going around that says something like:  Wanting Trump to fail is like hating the pilot and hoping the plane goes down.  These people want the plane to go down.  I don't think they've thought further than 'get rid of Trump!'  Everybody seems so worked up to an hysterical level.  And my gosh the impenetrable self-righteousness that has no ability to think critically.  Just rage and truisms.  And to me it looks like they are playing into Trump's hands.  I think he likes to keep everyone provoked.  But now we are playing on the big field and we need calm to make sure we are doing what is right.  We need to "confirm thy soul in self-control; thy liberty in law," as the lyric from America the Beautiful goes.

This takes me back to the first time I ever questioned my liberal friends.  It was the day Reagan got shot.  I remember sitting in the lounge of my dorm watching it being replayed over and over.  I did not vote for Reagan.  I was a true liberal Democrat at that time. I was very critical of him, but I never in a million years wanted him dead.  Never.  I went to dinner and sat down with my crowd and to my horror they were saying things like they hoped he died and joking about it.  I was shaken to my core.  I could not believe they were talking like this (this at a Catholic college!).  I could only sit there for a few minutes before I had to leave in dismay.  It was like someone had pulled the rug out from under me.  I suddenly realized I had a completely different perspective but I had foolishly thought we were all on the same page.  I think this is why I could work at the Public Defenders office.  People would say how can you defend criminals and I'd launch into a speech about how the system prevents mob rule.  So many people do not get that it is the system that has been set up to protect us that must be preserved.  Rule of law, not rule of men. This is why I am so repulsed by the cult of personality Obama and now Trump is inspiring.  Guys, that is how we get totalitarianism!

Rick and I are going away for inauguration weekend.  This just happened to be planned by chance.  But I am nervous about it!  I was nervous just on account of the weather, because one never knows when snow/ice will hit this time of the year.  But I am also concerned about being away from home if violence happens.  I don't know what I am imagining.  Everyone having to shelter in place while they catch some deranged sniper?  The whole city on lock down because of marauding mobs who decide the way to protest Trump is to commit arson, smash some windows, perhaps beat up a few white men that look like they may have voted for Trump?

Anyway, I pray this goes off better than I fear.  We need someone like MLK to have moral sway over the protestors so that they are unified and peaceful.  But we only have shrieking agitators who have only a vague purpose - to voice how much they hate Trump.