Photo Courtesy Fulton County Sheriff’s Office
In writing this piece, thinking of how this man debases everything he touches, I looked up synonyms for ‘cheapen.’ To my surprise, I found ‘trumpery.’
John Young, “If Donald Trump is a Christian,” Gila Herald, April 1, 2024
Column By Mike Bibb
In writing this piece, thinking of how this man debases everything he touches, I looked up synonyms for ‘cheapen.’ To my surprise, I found ‘trumpery.’ – John Young, “If Donald Trump is a Christian,” Gila Herald, April 1, 2024
Alright, I’ll confess fellow opinion columnist, John Young, and I are cut from a different bolt of cloth.
Obviously.
But, his recent Gila Herald article equating Trump’s name to Webster’s definition of “trumpery,” was a stretch too far.
Or, maybe it was Young’s way of pulling an April Fool’s prank. Which, would make more sense.
Since Mr. Young suggested I look up the word “trumpery” to validate his dictionary discovery, I, too, found his explanation to be correct. Trumpery implies something showy but worthless.
A perfectly good word when describing a person or object having these characteristics.
Another noun Mr. Young could have easily associated with Trump is “trumpet,” listed just below trumpery in my dictionary.
Unfortunately, trumpet implies a different meaning than Young was seeking to illustrate his contempt for Trump.
Nevertheless, whether it’s trumpery, or trumpet, or other words beginning with the five letters t-r-u-m-p, seems a bit unprofessional to compare dictionary synonym definitions to a person’s name in attempting to besmirch him.
I’m sure Young wouldn’t be flattered to know his name could be linked with “not advanced or developed, awkwardness, lacking experience, immature, ignorant” among other Webster New World Dictionary entries.
My surname, Bibb (Bib), is often associated with “a child’s chest cloth tied under the chin when eating, a water faucet or hose fitting.”
A much older application of the word “Bibb” is used to describe “a wooden bracket fastened to a sailing ship’s mast to support trestle trees” (cross members). Perhaps, it is so-called because of the person who conceived the idea.
An individual’s name is what it is, representative of his ancestry’s heritage and origins. Many are derived from objects in nature or a person’s occupation.
In John Young’s Gila Herald piece, it’s apparent he had no intention of using words that would be beneficial or favorable to Trump’s political ideologies and governing techniques.
Also, as a syndicated columnist appearing in multiple news venues, I assume his opinions are read by many with similar sentiments of Trump.
The “mainstream media” is predominately occupied by organizations sharing Young’s viewpoints. Turn on any of the major networks – ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC – and you’ll discover that reported stories and styles are practically identical in content and delivery.
It’s almost like they intentionally mimic each other for the sole purpose of presenting news in a predetermined manner to remain compliant with instructions from officers and directors of the company.
As a result, the mantra “Trump, bad – Biden, good” is repeated numerous times a day – every day – until eventually promoters of this gibberish begin to believe it.
Finding positive news accounts of Trump is like panning for gold in a tar pit; the chances of discovering a nugget are practically incalculable.
Fortunately, there are a few news outlets and podcasts making an effort to present the other side of the story, but their numbers are significantly exceeded by the major networks and big daily papers.
Nevertheless, anti-Trump forces remain nervous about his popularity and ability to draw huge crowds at campaign rallies, while Joe Biden stays close to home, rarely venturing outside a staged and scripted event.
The Democratic National Committee has said it has no intention of having Joe face Trump on a debate stage, knowing Biden’s performance could be disastrous.
Why risk it? Besides, what’s Joe done to brag about?
Understandable. His tendency to wander off-topic, prattle on over imagined Congressional successes, and rave of his administration’s limited accomplishments is beginning to wear thin.
Folks are figuring out his boasts do not match reality. Rising prices, interest, and taxes are rapidly eroding paychecks from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Still, Joe thinks everything is cool. Nothing to see here as illegal migrants pour across our open borders, riots erupt in many of our larger cities, crime is regarded as more of a nuisance than a threat, wars are breaking out in the Middle East and Europe, China is teasing Taiwan, and Transgender celebrations are held at the White House on Easter Sunday.
Meanwhile, a guy who hasn’t been president for over three years is indicted and tried for various alleged infractions, fined enormous amounts of money, and tied up in multiple court proceedings, yet still finds the time to campaign practically non-stop.
He makes the Eveready Battery Bunny seem like a sloth.
This whole messed-up scenario has propelled Trump into the lead of the 2024 presidential election. Predictably, the press is having kittens over it, unable to fully admit their current Democrat president is slipping in the polls a little more each week.
So, what’s the logical explanation for Joe’s descending popularity? Well, maybe because a large percentage of voters are sick and tired of being called Nazis, White Supremacists, MAGA Extremists, Ku Klux Klan members, Orange Man followers, deplorable, and despicable.
Virtually, everything but American. The slurs are doubly insulting to military veterans and first responders – two categories Joe is lacking in experience and knowledge.
Joe’s a 50-year creature of Washington politics and bureaucracy. It’s the only career he’s ever known. Consequently, he’s never missed a paycheck or struggled with the difficulties encountered during up and down economic cycles.
His sputtering, stumbles, and stunts can no longer be camouflaged or explained away. They’re too numerous to hide or pretend they don’t happen.
However, there’s one thing Joe admonishes us to do that makes sense – “Think about what you think about.” (Sept. 13, 2022)
We are, Joe. Probably, more than you realize.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
