Let’s put aside the recent slander aimed at two of the most consequential women in American history. We got bigger fish to fry. Someone laid hands on army staff at Arlington National Cemetery. That’s a record scratch moment when everything grinds to a halt. The old “flood the zone with bullshit” strategy no longer applies. The daily tumult disappears. The cacophony of voices fades to mute. Stillness and solemn silence enshroud everything. Today, we remember how we got here.
How Trump handles this going forward will speak volumes about his fitness to serve as commander in chief. We can’t move from this point until it is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. That is why this could be a disqualifying incident.
As everyone knows, there was an “altercation” between Trump campaign staff and army staff in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 26. As bad as the news was when it first broke, it has gotten increasingly outrageous with each additional piece of information.
Many people are working overtime to create distractions, side issues, and false equivalencies in the vain hope that some new outrage will distract folks and we will forget this affront to our heritage, honor and service. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the answer to that pipe dream is, “No.” We cannot move on from this without dishonoring our American heritage. This is an obligation, not an option.
Some spin the yarn that “it’s over” because 1) the woman assaulted has declined to press charges, 2) the official response from the Dept. of Defense is that an inquiry has been made, but no charges filed.
Fuck that noise.
The army staff serving at Arlington National Cemetery serve on hallowed ground. This incident happened on the most hallowed of all hallowed ground, fresh graves. The men and women who serve there serve on behalf of us, a grateful nation. They represent us. You insult them, you insult us. You harm them, you harm us. You don’t get to put your hands on them and expect to pull your hands back intact. Forget about legal redress. We don’t have time for litigation right now. This must be handled promptly and decisively. Every American blessed with the freedom, privilege and prestige we enjoy knows that all comes at a terrible price. Men and women sacrificed their lives to leave us a legacy we are obligated to protect and defend for the generations that will follow us. That obligation ends when we lay you to rest.
The fact that the woman they attacked declined to press charges because she was afraid of retribution is all the more reason we must stand up and speak with a clear voice for all to hear. “You attack one of us, you attack all of us. You don’t want that smoke.”
The Trump campaign needs to suspend activities until the two culprits are identified and fired. This needs to be done immediately. If he fails to take action, then Trump is endorsing conduct that must be rebuked. That, alone, disqualifies him from serious consideration. If that is where we are in the next couple weeks, I see no point in wasting anyone’s time on a debate when one of the candidates has disqualified themselves.
I leave you with this to reflect on.