Tanks on American Streets
How Embarrassing
Image from US Army
This is an M1 Abrams tank. Trump wants to celebrate his birthday (and the 250th birthday of the US Army) by parading 28 tanks and thousands of troops for his Soviet-style military parade. Trump loves the trappings of war. He sees white American soldiers as heroes unless they get killed or injured. He sees women soldiers and black and brown soldiers as DEI intrusions who owe their liberal overlords for their acceptance in our Armed Forces. (They are therefore part of the "deep state" and Hegseth will root them out.) Apparently, his admiration does not extend to VA funding to assist veterans.
To minimize damage to the streets, the Army is using steel plates and new track pads on the tanks. (AI)
Many Americas see this as an un-American activity, a show starring Trump that ostensibly celebrates the US Army, an expense we don't need amid budget cuts that intend to throw seniors, children and the disabled off Medicaid, and the act of a would-be dictator. If America is so poor, why are we spending 25 to 40 million on a parade that defies the spirit of America. We never needed symbolic acts to announce our superior military force. We took a sort of humble pride in keeping American tanks off American streets and we tended to display them in foreign authoritarian states as emblems of our promise to protect freedom.
You would think that Trump would be a very happy man. He is getting everything he ever wanted. If only he could round up all his detractors and see the entire nation bow down to him in adulation. Instead, he combs the media for slights and vents his anger as if words are bullets. Isn't it the pathway to success to manifest, to show gratitude, hoping the universe will favor you? Well, he manifested (sort of) with an insurrection, his fondest wishes were granted, so where is the gratitude? Trump does retribution; he doesn't do gratitude. However, the American people are getting used to feeling shame. Rather than wallow in embarrassment, join a demonstration. Probably a safe bet as all the troops will be otherwise occupied.
This new sculpture was added to a very rococo Oval Office recently:
From a Google Image Seach - Fox News
Riot Gear was used previously on American Streets, but not Abrams tanks
Tanks, trucks, howitzers from Texas are headed to DC for Trump's military parade
DC mayor worried tanks will chew up downtown streets in Army-Trump parade
The Army said it would cover the cost of any damage to Washington, D.C.'s streets from its June 14 parade. Mayor Muriel Bowser is still worried she'll be left holding the bag for repairs.
Trump wanted a military parade in his first term, but it never happened because he did not have a majority in Congress, or a pliant justice department and Supreme Court. He did not have DOGE to put the fear of "displeasing the king" into our federal government employees, so this "deep state" did try to get Trump to hold to the Constitution. In this second term the only things that he has not tamed are some of the federal district courts. It looks like this parade is going to happen and any other little thing our "emperor" wants.
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Great piece