Ye Mighty

Gold cherry
Story of the week

By airyfairy

Mon, 27 Jan 2025
  • 1016 reads
31 comments
 

Of course it wasn’t a Nazi salute. How could you think such a thing? I mean, the guy’s got Asperger’s. Everyone knows people with Asperger’s have no control over their independently-minded limbs, just as they have no control over their support for extreme right-wing political parties, or their deification of extreme right-wing thugs serving prison time in another country, or their periodic offers to impregnate women they have never met.

Even if he did have control over that arm, everyone knows it was a Roman salute. OK, so the Nazis may have had a thing for the imagery of the Roman empire, eagles and so forth, but saying it was a Nazi salute would be a bit like saying anyone who sports a swastika is a Nazi. They’re far more likely to be a student of Sanskrit who just got the symbol the wrong way round. And, you know, anyone wearing a white robe and pointy hat is probably just a film buff indulging in a bit of Birth of a Nation cosplay.

Of course, no-one associated with any recent event in the USA is connected with swastikas or pointy hats. Although they are quite keen on bald eagles, I’ve been told.

I was a bit puzzled as to why the richest man in the world would choose, as his avatar, an old paunchy guy with weird hair and orange skin, but maybe all the remotely normal-looking ones were taken. And I can kind of see the sense in it. You pick something that looks and sounds so ludicrous that no-one thinks it’s actually going to do all those stupid things, and then it’s too late to stop it and the game is yours, to rewrite and rearrange as you wish.

People will insist on misinterpreting things. Like thinking anything other than concern for the security of the free world would be a motive for purchasing or invading Greenland. That noble endeavour has got nothing, nothing, to do with the mineral wealth, oil and natural gas stored below the surface. As if a bunch of billionaire businessmen would have the slightest interest in getting their hands on somewhere that has, so far, resisted most attempts to mine it, drill it and completely annihilate its flora, fauna and indigenous way of life. Where’s the sense in that?

Of course, the sneaky British Empire got there first. I know the Empire is dead, but you have to admire the forensic precision with which it snaffled other people’s land and cultural artefacts, and apparently some agreement signed in 1917 gives the UK first refusal on Greenland. However, there may be ways round this as the UK hasn’t got sufficient cash to purchase a week’s Airbnb in Nuuk (which is the capital of Greenland, in case, like me, you didn’t know that until you looked it up). If there was any chance of Britain placing paws on a bit of Greenland, I’m sure it would’ve managed to finagle chunks of at least one ice sheet into a freezer at the British Museum.

I really don’t see, either, how you can accuse the richest man in the world and his avatar of being misogynistic shits. It makes no sense. The avatar has just signed a piece of paper stating that sex is determined and immutable from conception, and that has to be the greatest feminist act ever, because all babies are female at conception. America is now a nation of women! This may bring difficulties to a country being transformed into a homophobic theoligarchy, but I’m sure the richest man in the world can find a solution. Perhaps he can invent an electrically charged way of transferring bodily fluids from women with external genitalia over to women with internal genitalia, so that the American people can reproduce without any Sapphic undertones.

I don’t know quite what will happen about marriage, because same-sex marriage is not quite the ticket, is it? As for same-sex sexual congress outside the marriage that isn’t quite the ticket… well, I don’t know, but I’m sure the richest man in the world will sort it out. After all, his avatar never let any previous obstacle prevent him having sexual congress, ticketed or otherwise.

And I’m sure Canada will see sense, eventually. Why the hell do they need all that Arctic? They’re not doing anything useful with it.

I do wonder, sometimes, what will happen if at any point the richest man in the world ceases to be the richest man in the world. I know he’s way out in front at the moment, but lots of people have thought they were uncatchable, until someone caught them. I’m not suggesting we look to history or anything daft like that, because what can history tell us? But there is a poem I learned at school, years ago obviously, with some funny name I can’t remember now. Something about a statue in the desert. I can only recall one complete line, and a couple of fragments, and I’m not quite sure why I keep thinking of them because they’re nothing to do with what’s going on now. ‘Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair’, and something about the decay of a colossal wreck. Perhaps it’s because the wokeocracy is now a colossal wreck and all the snowflakes are in despair. Yes, that’ll be it.

Thank goodness the world has been saved from having to think about despair, or anything else much, ever again. The world’s richest man is already working on something to do all our thinking for us, and the prototypes are doing very well, I hear. Very well indeed.

 

Picture by Paul Sableman, free to use at Wikimedia Commons: File:Bank of America GREED KILLS (4472130898).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Poem: Ozymandias | The Poetry Foundation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate 15
Non-fiction
Rant
Other Non-fiction
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

Joe Biden had one job. Keep the moron's moron out. He failed. We failed. We're stuck with a narcisistic psychopath. I'm not sure if I'm talking about Trump or Musk here. But be very sure, there's no room in the room for two such giant egos to live happily ever after. That's one fight I'm quite looking forward to watching. 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Some pundit somewhere said she gave the bromance three to six months before they started tearing each other to shreds. She may be optimistic, but it has to come sometime.

Thanks for reading, celtic.

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Keep simmering with anger Airy. I think many across the pond are in shock. They'll come out of it soon and simmer along with you. Like celticman I look forward to seeing what happens when the bromance dies (not long now hopefully).

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I'm simmering along nicely and trying not to come to the boil. It may become more difficult. And versions of the crap will end up over here. The only down side to the inevitable lover's tiff is that is may give the richest man in the world more time to stick his nose into our political pot.

Thanks for reading!

Submitted by Kris on

I was in the US this Autumn, training with the US Coast Guard- Seattle WA. Very liberal, international & Democratic area.... as it was told to me....

Most Americans, have the luxury of not paying attention, 15% of independent registered voters, did not even show up to vote...  Theres a lesson Europe can learn form this....

Superb Jane*.... you should be a political debate/speech/policy writer.....

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thanks for reading, Kris. Apathy among voters is such a problem throughout the western democracies. I don't actually believe in compulsory voting, because people should have the right not to participate if that is their choice, but I do want to scream at them sometimes.

Submitted by Ed Crane on

 Never a truer word, Airy 

 

 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thanks for reading, Ed!

Submitted by Ed Crane on

This is a brilliant piece of contra argumenting

i try to avoid reading the news about The Don. It fills me with dread and dismay. The more I read about what is happening the more parallels I draw from Germany in the 1930s. It's very concerning the steps toward totalitarianism in the US are slowly but surely being put in place. I truly hope unlike the German population America will wake up before it's too late.

long before Brexit happened I knew it would be a massive mistake. I hope to god I am wrong about this.

i would love to see your piece published in the Guardian  

thanks for writing ;)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

No, Ed, I had you marked down as a reasonable human being, therefore not a Trump apologist!

In my gloomiest moments I think that it's already too late for America to wake up (although I pity those poor souls who have been fully awake throughout all this and are left gasping with the horror of it). I also want to metaphorically kick the backsides of other governments falling over themselves to appease the oligarchs.

People say we shouldn't underestimate the resilience of American democracy, and I hope they're right. All I can say is, it's looking a bit shaky at the moment.

Submitted by Di_Hard on

So needed to read this! THANK YOU :0)

I have a feeling Vance is encouraging him, in order that he goes too far and Trump has to dump him or lose popularity.

According to information I have received, he might be losing his shine for the Tiktok lot - He used leverage to get into a top e sport competition and was crap. He tried to get into a club in Germany and was turned away, so went online posting stuff like "Do they know who I am?" And rather than being born poor (as was the legend) his dad owned an emerald mine in South Africa.

The way things are going, half expecting him to announce all young people should be rounded up and sent to Mars till they learn to appreciate him

ps you didn't mention his haircut

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

As regards the haircut - there are some horrors even I don't feel able to explore, Di. I may have a warped imagination, but I never imagined anything like that.

I keep trying to find it in my heart to have some sort of pity for him, because he's obviously an extremely disturbed and unhappy man, but my pity reserves have urgent appointments elsewhere. The Vance thing is interesting, because he just hasn't got the bluster to compete with Trump or Musk. On the other hand, it's always the (relatively) quiet ones...

The revelation that Musk may not be quite as good at e sports as he likes to make out is hilarious. The tech bro may be a genius at the tech, but the bro bit seems to elude him.

Thanks for reading, Di.

Submitted by marandina on

I watched Trump's Inauguration. I don't normally watch stuff like that but I did. As I listened I thought that it must have been about as close to a mirror image of a Putin speech as you could get. The US WILL take the Panama Canal, WILL take Greenland. Everyone WILL respect the US or fear us or both. We WILL impose either political/financial/military will on the rest of the world. Elon musk is all part of the new Reich. I see that migrants will be taken to Guantanamo Bay now.

https://news.sky.com/story/trump-latest-president-us-tariff-white-house-...

Having been around the block once, I think Trump may end up being more circumspect and measured.....eventually. We can only hope that the current circus turns out to be mere theatre. I hope..

 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I was determined not to watch the inauguration, although I usually do, but then I did, as if to persuade myself it was actually happening. Completely bonkers. I'm afraid I don't think he'll be more measured. I think there's some clever manoeuvering going on - he announces something completely batshit, the courts or whoever pause it or freeze it, he launches into some crap about the deep state or the will of the people being subverted, there's an outcry among the faithful, everyone else gets terrified and, emboldened, he does the batshit thing anyway. Probably to deafening Maga applause. It's not that I think Trump is clever, but he does know how to work a crowd.

I hope I'm wrong and those who say the guardrails of American government and democracy are strong enough to withstand this are right.

It doesn't surprise me about Guantanamo. To be honest, very little surprises me now.

Thanks for reading, Paul.

Submitted by onemorething on

Brilliant writing, as always, Jane. A perfect swipe. It's our Pick of the Day. Do share on social media. 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Wow, thank you!

Submitted by Di_Hard on

He is a brilliant opportunist, in the way an invasive species is, 'able to spread quickly in a previously unexploited habitat' ie social media
or a virus when the immune system (knowing the facts) has been compromised.

I can't see him toning down, specially now he is not held back by any Republican moderates like last time. Why bother going to Mars if you can change this world however you want

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I see he's leapt straight on the subject of the Washington plane crash, saying it's all the fault of diversity hiring. No sympathy, empathy or compassion at all.

Submitted by Kris on

Its gonna get more bizarre.... I, for one, am optimistic theres going to be a crash here, a kind of implosion in the White House..... a bit of patients, but a capsize none the less.... Meantime-enjoy the show*

 

Submitted by Schubert on

I really love a good rant and this is right up my street. Truth, irony, sinicism and wit rolled into one. I hope you have another go when the Orwellian man-child orders the destruction of books and the thought police arrest anyone blushing!

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thank you for such a kind comment, Schubert. I find a rant every now and again is good for the soul so, for better or worse, there will almost certainly be another at some point!

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Story of the Week - Congratulations!

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thank you! That's made my week and my January.

Submitted by Mark Say on

a big part of Trump's support has come from people who think the sun shines out of his rear end and will always worship him. But he won the election because he managed to attract enough floating/flakey/non-political voters who just liked the noises about taking strong action and - crucially - didn't like the idea of a black woman as president. I think they'll soon see how dishonest and dangerous he is and he will lose their support. That might make more Republicans in Congress resist his wilder actions, but it will be two years until the mid-term elections that it will really make a big difference.

The other possibility is that Trump collapses mentally or physically, or dies, and Vance takes over. It's hard to say if he will be as bad but I think he will keep a lot of the right wing nutters around him, and maintain the momentum created by Trump.

I can understand that decent, intelligent people need time to absorb what's happened and regroup, but they should be ready to start kicking up shit in opposition to the oragne facist.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Yes, the recent Channel 4 poll, showing that 52% of Gen Z in this country want a 'strong leader' who won't faff about with elections and parliaments, shows that a lot of people just want someone, anyone, to take charge and Make Things Better. It's understandable. They've basically only ever known shit government and chaos here, and in the US Biden never managed to convince people he was more effective (at least to start with) than the internet said he was. Hence Trump, Vance, Musk and Project 25. I think you're completely right - noisy opposition is the only thing that will work. It's bloody appalling that it's come to this, but here we are. It's been well and truly proved that sunny smiles and laughing at them doesn't work. I disagree, too, with those who say calling them fascists is misleading and counterproductive. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...

Sadly, I think it will be some time before America is ready to elect a woman of any colour to the Presidency.

Thanks for reading, Mark.

Submitted by David Kirtley on

A great piece of Rant, full of intelligent humour and satire. You are describing the unfortunate times we are entering well. As you airyfairy and all of you are saying this chaotic new administration in America is getting very dangerous. The normal checks and balances of politics, and law, don't seem to be applying all of a sudden since Trump won the election. I can't believe the American people have been so stupid. Don't they value their constitution and their democracy? There does seem to be a serious takeover of everything going on, which does suggest that Americans need to fight politically, and legally to contain this administration within their proper boundaries. Unfortunately they seem to be dismantling the normal checks and balances, so Americans are in for some kind of real fight if they wish to hold onto real democracy and free speech! I would have never thought it possible that it would come towards this.

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thanks for reading, David. Sadly, the Americans have not got the monopoly on unwise decisions, but theirs have such immense consequences for the rest of us. I have faith that they will mount a real fight against Trump, I just hope he hasn't already managed to dismantle enough of the checks and balances to make that far more difficult that it should be.

Submitted by McMedusa on

You're going to have to be patient with me, forewarning! I don't live by many rules, but no politics at the table is one of them, particularly when there's a beer glass handy to be thrown.

Musk did jump into bed with Farage over their mutual agreement over, I guess, I can only refer to it as white supremacy. There is a strong movement in the UK against Muslims and immigrants. It is disturbingly growing in popularity as TalkSport (a popular radio station) gave Farage airtime (whereby he talked about our sports transitioning to Saudi). I hate to say it but Farage has a rather large TikTok following, something which has attracted Musk like a moth to a flame.

However, was it truly a Nazi salute? It's debatable, but not what the pro-right wing propaganda ascertains. Is there a middle ground and reasonable judgement as to whatever the hell that was, sheer excitement possibly, or a genuine 'hangover fear' moment?

And Trump, well, I will watch with bated breath to see if he can get Putin to negotiate over the atrocities in Ukraine as the death toll continues to rise on both sides. However, I highly doubt even the most skilled Western politician could ever get Putin tried for war crimes. And what right do we have to do that after Blair and Bush?

I am still baffled as to why any American woman would vote for him after you know what and deny a first female president for the second time, it is truly baffling to me as a woman.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Hello! Thanks for dropping by. No beer glasses here, I promise.

What inclines me to think Musk knew exactly what he was doing is his support for right wing extremists like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) and the fact that a few days after the inauguration he appeared via video link at an event for Alternative fur Deutschland, where he encouraged the German people not to be constrained by misplaced guilt for the past. Again, that could be construed as a perfectly reasonable statement that people in Germany now are not in any way responsible for what happened in the past, but I think takes on a different complexion when bellowed at an audience full of Holocaust deniers and minimisers.

No, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of getting Putin tried for war crimes, but perhaps someone should still try? Completely agree with you about Blair and Brown but I'm inclined to think that just because they got away with it, that isn't a reason for Putin to do so.

Politics, eh? But that's what it should be about. Agreeing on some things, disagreeing on others. My son and I had a lively discussion during the pre-show ads at the cinema the other day, about whether taking a (at this stage very hypothetical) job in Saudi Arabia was acceptable if it was cultural thing aimed at broadening the minds of Saudi young people. Me: No. Him: Possibly. Me: Would you go to Afghanistan and basically play to segregated (ie entirely male) audiences? Him: Who mentioned Afghanistan? Me: Would you have gone to apartheid South Africa? Him: WTF has South Africa got to do with it? Then we settled down to watch Nosferatu, which we both agreed wasn't nearly as good as it's cracked up to be.

Thanks again for reading!

Submitted by McMedusa on

I didn't realise Musk met with Tommy Robinson! Well, that changes my opinion entirely. I watched a podcast with Tommy Robinson and a documentary about German extremists, both of which aimed their hatred at the Islamic faith, could it be classified as scapegoating once again?

Very much so, one of the arguments I find the most difficult to counter however is that why should immigrants get shelter and a set budget to spend every week when there are ex-military homeless on our streets. I do attempt to do so by stating the government doesn't fund or contribute to charities like Erskine, where they look after our military, some of whom are injured or mentally scarred. So, who is in the wrong?

I had a history teacher who taught in Saudi Arabia where she was accosted by local police for shopping in a mall without a man, so that's a hard pass for me. Also, I watch travel blogs on YouTube where men can travel freely in Afghanistan but never a female travel blog, again for obvious reasons.

I travelled to Moscow in 2003 or 2004 as a teenager. One of my travelling companions and a very good friend is a black female, who was also a teenager at the time, and her mum (from Zimbabwe) flat-out refused to travel with us, so we were stuck with our dads haha. I found it all very interesting visiting a preserved Lenin in his tomb with armed Russian guards shouting at me to get out when my Nokia 3210 started to ring! But, I was never in any real danger whereas my friend was stared at everywhere we went and even stopped by ex-KGB demanding to see her passport.

I think racism and sexism are something we will never eradicate, and it could be to our demise, as well as sectarianism. We seem to become more and more divided by opposing views, even in my home where my husband seems to think a white woman is more under threat from immigrant men than domestic abuse!

However, Musk and the men in power do not help whatsoever with segregation amongst the world population.

It was a pleasure to read and debate :) thanks for posting your story and not throwing any beer glasses haha.

 

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