What Did You Do Today?

Today, like I'd hope most Americans (although I unfortunately doubt it), my family watched the Inauguration. I didn't make my kids watch every aspect of it, they are only 8 and 5, after all, and there is quite a bit of pomp and circumstance that will not hold their attention. However, I did make them stop working on their jigsaw puzzle and sit and watch as now Vice President J.D. Vance and now President Donald Trump entered The Capitol Rotunda and I made them watch them take their oaths, the President's speech, and Carrie Underwood's singing of America the Beautiful.

I think it's essential to watch the Inauguration every four years regardless of who you voted for or even if you voted at all. It's a celebration of our system of democracy, a nod to our unique and wonderful history, and a reflection of our nation.

While my son really had no clue what was happening (although he could point out which man was President Biden and which man was President Trump), and my daughter understood only slightly more such as what an oath is and that the ladies were all “very pretty”, it provided a great deal of family chit-chat afterward about what we saw and what was talked about.

With that, here are my thoughts just a few hours later.

In terms of having the ceremony indoors due to the weather, I don't really care. It was probably a smart move, but it wasn't out of concern for the safety of law enforcement or the regular American citizens who traveled to DC to watch the event, as I've heard. I think it was likely due to the health concerns related to the old fart distinguished visitors (probably including the President himself).

When it came to the ceremony as a whole, I thought it went well. Other than it seemed like the Chief Justice rushed the oath for President Trump, but that kind of stuff happens and doesn't take away from the oath of office.

I thought Carrie Underwood's rendition of America the Beautiful was awesome. It's great that she sang it even without music due to some glitch. It was memorable and amazing. It even brought a tear to my eye, and that's no small feat.

The President's speech was not quite a typical Inaugural address; it was more like a State of the Union or victory speech. That's not to say I hated it.

I think it's great that he's taking action on our southern border immediately. It's long overdue, and I look forward to seeing swift action when it comes to illegal immigration. I also like that he's designating the drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

While interesting, taking back the Panama Canal isn't likely, or at least is probably typical Trump rhetoric aimed at initiating a deal with Panama over the canal. I'm open to seeing what that looks like.

Renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America is fluff nothingness. I really don't care that much, other than if he really does find a way to rename it; what a pain in my ass. I've literally gone my whole life knowing it as the Gulf of Mexico. I also don't see how that makes my groceries cheaper and keeps me safer.

While I support his promises to take race and politics out of the education system, I'm not so sure how he is going to accomplish that. The teacher's unions and other special interest groups are so deeply ingrained in that world that I don't think he can tear down their influence in just four years.

I am also cautiously optimistic about his promise to remove the same rhetoric from the military. Still, again, I'm not sure he will be able to do that, given the type of influence and deep rot in the military. I'm also not convinced his nominee for Secretary of Defense has what it takes.

I did like his announcement that the U.S. government will only recognize two genders. Like the liberals used to like to shout behind their face masks during COVID, I believe in science, real science, that is, that there are only two genders. That means I won't have to worry about announcing my pronouns before I give a briefing at work. Absolutely ridiculous.

Finally, I loved that he set a goal to put astronauts on Mars. It’s that type of truly shoot for the stars goal that has been missing from every Presidency since one of my favorites, JFK. It’s also incredibly intelligent. We need to become a multiplanetary species if we expect to survive. Yes, I say that in part due to climate change which is a real thing and just the reality of how things go in this universe. All things that live eventually die, to include planets.

What should be worked on in conjunction with traveling to Mars is figuring out how policy and diplomacy will need to work when we become interplanetary. Much like the Arctic and Antarctic have largely been neutral territory on Earth, the Moon has also been neutral territory. However, just as I discussed in a previous piece about Greenland, it is time to no longer look at these areas as neutral. It is naive to believe our adversaries now or in the future will honor neutrality.

But I plan to write much more on intergalactic law, policy, and politics later…

Overall, I liked most of what he said. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can accomplish.

On a side note, President Biden's approval of his family 15 minutes before the ceremony shows the same typical sliminess exhibited by Joe Biden throughout his entire political career. I also think Pardoning Fauci and Milley, was a bad decision because he has now set a precedent for future presidents to pardon their families and whoever else in advance of any charges, convictions, or sentencing.

What a legacy to leave with President Biden. Good riddance.

With all that said, I wish our President the best of luck; I pray he can do what needs to be done to secure our nation and our democracy and that his good fortune becomes the good fortune of us all.