All Glory is Fleeting

The Roman conqueror rides into Washington, set to announce to Amerika and the world that HE is back, and he will cleanse the soul of the Nation. His will be the biggest inauguration in history, attended by more people than any, following his historic landslide victory and huge mandate. Plans for the great day are progressing, and the administration is working to meet the conqueror's wishes. 

His minions are already doing his bidding, preparing the way for the newest, greatest leader in history. 

Everything is going to plan (even if it doesn't look like it at times). Domestic enemies are cowed, and foreign enemies (and friends) have been put on notice. The great conqueror has big plans. His first administration was about learning what he could get away with while actually trying to be president, sort of. Now he knows, and he is going for glory, or at least for riches.

Just as the triumphal parade is being planned, a small problem: Jimmy Carter decides to die. How inconsiderate.

Now there will be mourning, and a State Funeral. Flags will be lowered to half-staff for thirty days, up to and including the inauguration. 

Worst of all, Trump will have to sit stony-faced in front of the coffin, probably for at least an hour or more. During the ceremony, he will have to listen to speech after speech lauding Jimmy Carter as a wonderful leader and man. The ghost of Carter will hang over the next few weeks, and it will be even more so during the ceremony.

Just thinking about Trump sitting there, the conquering hero, made me think of Patton's speech about Roman conquerors.

“For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting.”

― George Patton

Standing behind Trump holding the golden crown will be the ghost of Jimmy Carter, saying, "All glory is fleeting". If Trump cannot hear that voice, it will not matter; we will all hear the voice.