Having watched the initiation of Donald J. Trump it was difficult not to have perceived the distinctly theatrical nature of the enterprise. With its ornaments of sound, architecture and fame, the proceedings were – that is, until the singing of America the Beautiful – perfectly executed and imaginable. The malfunctioning of the recording to back Underwood’s singing instantly deflated the ceremony and poignantly reversed the grand theatrical pomp to the common allure of a child school production. It was a reminder of inescapable reality even at the behest of what Trump called the best country in the world (an assertion as implausible as its World Series baseball).
Given the preoccupation of Trump with money and appearances, with the oftentimes simulated projection of limitless wealth, the truth remains that approaching 80 years of age, he is still working, selling coins, baseball hats, wine and perfume on the side. As commendable as is his work ethic and jumping about a public stage to popular music, it nonetheless solidifies the theatrical element of the performance. Indeed it is a feature of his mandate that his rhetoric is purely entertainment. Nor can it be argued – as Trump so anxiously extolled – his performances have connected with a youthful audience. But once again the amusement value of the show – including the toxically invigorating suggestion to enlarge American real estate influence by renaming the Gulf of Mexico – does not correspond to reality.
Theatre is of course metaphorical; that is, its persuasion though not authentic is notwithstanding the limitation, figurative. Yet while poetic exemplification is stimulating to the imagination, it remains distracted from reality. Once disjointed from that figurative domaine the clarity of thought surfaces.
Though it is certainly true that territorial advances may come with advantages, the reality is that syllogistic reasoning requires a prescription of thought, specifically the inclusion of the requisite parameters or premises. One of those intruding premises is that of the other party. Barring strictly invasive conduct, behaviour other than on stage is governed by negotiation and agreement.
Were I to attempt clarity of vision, I would see people as other than ants upon the ground. Surely there are objectives greater than digging for more oil or expanding the delivery of fossil fuels. Surely we have capacity to protect humanity from gang threats. Surely we are able to feed and educate people. Surely the hope is not to conquer and eliminate.
If however I am deceived in this faculty then it were better to return to the stage where I shall at least for a moment be spared an impossible reality.
Baroque music, a style of music that prevailed during the period from about 1600 to about 1750, known for its grandiose, dramatic, and energetic spirit but also for its stylistic diversity.