Inauguration Day 2025 (You watching or not?)

[Jersey Girl]

Hello All,

Long time since I've started a thread around here. Thought I'd take a crack at this topic. Don't criticize the topic it's the best I can do right now. I'm trying to survive over here. So what are you planning to do on Monday's Inauguration Day? You watching or not?

In keeping with my alleged and intentional detox from all things politics, the fact that we'll be on the tail end of a 4 day sub zero snow storm over here, and my total lack of interest, I will not be watching. That doesn't mean I won't catch parts because I know good and well it'll be on the main television here. Like all day, all night, Marianne*.

I did watch a video that Gunnar posted recently so I'm lying through my teeth here. Think it was Brian Tyler Cohen? But anyway, what are your plans? Do you care? Not care? Will you watch out of a sense of patriotism, historical interest, or support for the incoming? I mean, coming in again, President?

For me, my total lack of interest has to do with the fact that this will probably be the last inauguration day of my life and since I'm disgusted with everything about it, I'm choosing to play ostrich and pretend that it's not even happening. I'll probably spend the day crafting and reading my new Pacino book. I dunno, maybe clean something or repot my plants and praying the power stays on.

So that's my story.

What's your story?

Yours truly,
The other flightless bird

*If you don't know what that is you are not my people. Leave me alone. Get away from me.

[Moksha]

I am sure my daughter will watch the live play with Hasan Piker. I'm not sure I care to watch Trump's parade of insufferable lies and insults, even if the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square performs at his inauguration.

This will signal the day America broke with normalcy and everything went downhill. It will be a time of joy for optometrists and misgivings for many senior citizens.

[Bond]

I'm not. Going to watch Breaking Bad and walk on the treadmill for 2 hrs or so.

[huckelberry]

Jersey Girl, I have no plans to watch this inauguration. I am sorry to hear you do not expect to see more. I wish you well, and prayers.

[Molok]

No, I'm sure I'll be seeing enough of the rapist against my will, so I'll be giving this one a pass. For our conservative board members, please remember to keep your arm at a 45 degree angle to do a proper sieg heil.

[ajax18]

No, I'm sure I'll be seeing enough of the rapist against my will, so I'll be giving this one a pass. For our conservative board members, please remember to keep your arm at a 45 degree angle to do a proper sieg heil.

"Conservative board members" That actually sounds polite and civil. I almost got roped into a politics quagmire at church. I would never have picked this good brother to be a MAGA hater. I thought I knew who was safe to talk politics with at church. I should have just nodded my head but his comment was so misinformed I mistakenly thought he was joking. When it became clear he wasn't I darn near had a heated argument before EQ meeting..
But I did stop myself and tried to smooth it over when in a past life I'd have relished the argument and taken it upon myself to straighten him out. I took down my Trump bumper sticker after the election. Trump will not be a political prisoner and no longer needs my support. I need a detox from politics as well.

[canpakes]

I don’t recall ever watching any Inauguration Day activities, regardless of election. Pretty sure that I’ve always been working during those moments.

COVID presented a unique opportunity to be working from home on J6, though, and I was able to watch that unfold in real time, starting with Trump’s crazed speech. If I recall correctly, this board even had a thread unfold during the event.

ETA: here’s that thread -
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=428

[Jersey Girl]

No, I'm sure I'll be seeing enough of the rapist against my will, so I'll be giving this one a pass. For our conservative board members, please remember to keep your arm at a 45 degree angle to do a proper sieg heil.

"Conservative board members" That actually sounds polite and civil. I almost got roped into a politics quagmire at church. I would never have picked this good brother to be a MAGA hater. I thought I knew who was safe to talk politics with at church. I should have just nodded my head but his comment was so misinformed I mistakenly thought he was joking. When it became clear he wasn't I darn near had a heated argument before EQ meeting..
But I did stop myself and tried to smooth it over when in a past life I'd have relished the argument and taken it upon myself to straighten him out. I took down my Trump bumper sticker after the election. Trump will not be a political prisoner and no longer needs my support. I need a detox from politics as well.

This is one of the wisest and most sincere posts I've ever seen from you, ajax. I checked out on politics probably right after the election. Not because I felt satisfied with the outcome and Trump coming back for a second term as you probably did, but because I finally realized how toxic it all is for me.

See how it affected your interaction at church? That should never happen in a place of worship where we are meant to come together in a spirit of fellowship. I'm convinced that it's not good for our soul and it's difficult to strike a balance when it's everywhere we look online, our phones, and in our neighborhoods for that matter unless you make an intentional effort to break free from it which is what I did.

I do see headlines, but rarely read the articles. I've unsubscribed from all politically related youtube channels. I've kept only what I refer to as "my lovely youtube ladies" channels. I hope you'll give yourself a chance to detox, too.

Philippians 4:8

[ajax18]

That should never happen in a place of worship where we are meant to come together in a spirit of fellowship.

It shouldn't happen. I felt guilty for saying as much as I did. It's hard for me to understand. This brother served mission as I did. He works for a living, believes in respecting marriage as between one man and one woman, and for the most part we're not that culturally different. He even agreed with me that we need to enforce our borders. But it took me too long to realize that trying to clarify and discuss the facts was not going to be productive. From my perspective he had malignant Trump derangement syndrome. I know his son, who is my age, certainly doesn't suffer from this. That's why I thought he was playing a joke on me just to push my buttons. But it can work out. Both my previous business partner and current business partner are Democrats. We both know better than to talk politics and seem to still hold a strong bond between us. But I'll never understand why hard working business owners would ever ascribe to the politics of Bernie Sanders, a man who was so lazy and worthless they kicked him out of the communist commune he was living in, a man refused to pay child support, etc. And then he has the nerve to attempt to pass laws to confiscate a larger portion of my paycheck and increase the taxes on my mortgaged property while he has three houses of his own? One thing I do know is that talking it out with people on the other side of the aisle is the wrong approach.

[Jersey Girl]

That should never happen in a place of worship where we are meant to come together in a spirit of fellowship.

It shouldn't happen. I felt guilty for saying as much as I did. It's hard for me to understand. This brother served mission as I did. He works for a living, believes in respecting marriage as between one man and one woman, and for the most part we're not that culturally different. He even agreed with me that we need to enforce our borders. But it took me too long to realize that trying to clarify and discuss the facts was not going to be productive. From my perspective he had malignant Trump derangement syndrome. I know his son, who is my age, certainly doesn't suffer from this. That's why I thought he was playing a joke on me just to push my buttons.

And see that's not unlike my own experience. What is the profit to us when our thoughts become so negative and contentious? We might not voice our opinions but the Lord knows what we're experiencing inwardly so how is that beneficial to us? How do we reflect the light of Christ when the light is so often being short circuited by those types of basically angry and disrespectful thoughts? I don't think it's possible or at least our ability to do so is diminished. I didn't want that kind of stuff living in my head any more. So I kicked it out.

But it can work out. Both my previous business partner and current business partner are Democrats. We both know better than to talk politics and seem to still hold a strong bond between us.

My mother used to say that there are 3 things you never discuss with people. Religion, politics, and money. I think she was spot on! I am more than sure that you share things in common with your business partner that have nothing to do with those things. Oh, maybe money since it's business related. But still, I am sure you have other kinds of common ground on. I always try to seek common ground. It's there. You just have to find it.

A great example is you and I. Not long ago I made a post for you about taking you off ignore. It was an impression that I had of you that led me to believe that you were leaning into your faith more these days. I had that impression by opening some of your posts so I could read them. We don't share the same views politically (just like hubs and myself) and even though we are from different religious "orientations", I can certainly identify with one turning to our Heavenly Father or perhaps making a return to our Heavenly Father. We see scripture in the Bible that talks about God turning his face to us. We don't talk much about turning OUR face back to him, do we? And yet when we do, we find that he's been there waiting for us the whole time and peace is restored in the process. I can relate to that. I've experienced that. That commmon ground is why I took you off ignore and I wish you well in your spiritual journey!

But I'll never understand why hard working business owners would ever ascribe to the politics of Bernie Sanders, a man who was so lazy and worthless they kicked him out of the communist commune he was living in, a man refused to pay child support, etc. And then he has the nerve to attempt to pass laws to confiscate a larger portion of my paycheck and increase the taxes on my mortgaged property while he has three houses of his own?

I don't know about most of those things you mentioned. I guess that when I think of Sanders my thoughts turn to civil rights which is a cause I strongly support. I would have made a good protestor and activist in my own way during the Civil Rights movement. And even though I was really a child back then I knew I related to the movement. I won't be looking up your claims re: Sanders nor will I try to challenge them. That's part of my intentional detox from politics.

One thing I do know is that talking it out with people on the other side of the aisle is the wrong approach.

I think it could be a successful approach if folks weren't out to strong arm the other guy. Trying to convince someone that they're wrong and you're right doesn't seem useful to me. You've been the subject of strong arming on this very board. People bashing you around for your views and all. Is it healthy? Not really. Does that work? Nah. I say the only thing that changes us is experience, whatever that experience may be or mean in our lives.

Meanwhile, and I've said this before I am sure, I pray for every president. I will pray for this president as hard as it feels to find space for that in my heart, I still will do it and do my best to do it sincerely. I can't personally stand the man but how do I know if, when, or how the Lord might be working in his life? God made us because he wanted us, he wanted us from the beginning and still does. I can only assume that he wants Donald Trump as well so who am I not to pray for him?

Anyway, nice talking to you ajax! Be well, be a light and stay on the path!