Day of Mourning . . . Ironic

Ironic . . .

 

At least that is how I see the first month of 2025 stacking up . . . lots of irony.

 

On December 29^th, 2024, the longest living president of the United States of America died at the age of 100 years old.  Jimmy Carter was our nation’s 39^th president.  He was the first president I voted for when I was old enough to vote.  He was a decent individual with high morals, ethical standards, and deep faith.  They were the foundation of his life until he died.  A dark horse in the election he was not viewed highly when ranked against previous presidents.  Yet as time went on, he became more esteemed and revered because of the person he was.  He was beloved by many throughout the nation and world.

 

His death has propelled us into a period of irony . . . the death of a great statesperson and human being and the coronation—I mean, inauguration of president-elect (second time) and convicted felon Donald Trump.  The irony is deafening . . . blinding . . . ridiculous.  The two could not be more different than day and night.  How ironic that we enter this season of supposed celebration as a nation in the shadows of these two men. 

 

It is right that President Biden honors Carter.  There was the announcement of the death, the lowering of all flags to half-staff for 30 days, the declaration of a "state” funeral, the declaration of a “day of mourning”, and the actual funeral to be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. before the final burial in Georgia.  Biden declared January 9^th to be the “day of mourning”.  All this is taking place as the election victors are in the midst of planning a coronation—oops, I mean, inauguration—festivities.  I am sure the president-elect is ecstatic to be sharing the spotlight—especially with a previous president he often held in contempt and disdain as the “worse president ever” before Joe Biden.

 

Ironic . . . wouldn’t you say?

 

One would suspect that the “orange one” is seething despite his best attempt at being publicly sympathetic.  Unfortunately, it didn’t last long . . . an hour at best.  Upon the news of Carter’s death, “the Donald” put out a sympathetic and politically correct statement lauding Carter and his legacy.  An hour later, another public statement was released that was less flattering.  Trump had no love for Carter as he constantly mocked Carter as being a “simple man” who only had one term in the White House.  Trump would often suggest that Carter was “the happiest man” because he is now
considered a brilliant president by comparison” to President Biden.  Kind of hypocritical on Trump’s part . . . a complete 180-degree turn. Even his own followers retched at his hypocrisy.

 

Let the irony begin.

 

Flags will be at half-staff for 30 days which will include Trump’s big day.  It will be the first time American flags have flown at half-staff during a presidential inauguration.  Not quite the patriotic picture one wants to project to the nation or world as one’s term as the most powerful leader of the world starts.  With Trump everything is about image.  This is not a good image for Trump.  I am certain that Trump sees the irony and the symbolism of it all.  Is that steam coming out of his ears?  I imagine the “orange one” sees it as many others do . . . it is a slap in the face.  One individual stated that it was “prophetic justice”.  Another said it represented a ”huge middle finger” . . . and “one last F you” from Carter. Carter famously stated that he wanted to live long enough to vote for Trump’s foe—Kamala Harris.  Which he did.  Whatever the case, the image it leaves is not one “the Donald” is embracing.  But you must admit . . . it is ironic.

 

Unfortunately for the nation that mourns the death of the great statesperson, there is a loophole.  Trump has always bragged about his prowess of using loopholes to avoid paying his tazes and following the law as a way around a dilemma.  American flag code is not federal law.  Because of this Trump could, in theory, order flags to be raised for his coronation—I mean, inauguration.  Something I will bet the president-elect is considering since flags are full-staff are a better photo op for the history books and social media.  Whose horn should be tooted . . . a president-elect felon or a Nobel Peace Prize winning humanitarian?  The irony is there in the dilemma.

 

It is ironic the president declared a “day of mourning” during this transitory period between one presidency to the next.  Though it is declared a “day of mourning” for the death of an ex-president, I bet there are many who see the greater picture.  The mourning is for our nation as we enter what could be a magical mystery tour and adventure as a nation.  The potential is there for the “greatest show on earth”—the circus.  Having witnessed the grief of so many over the elections, a “day of mourning” seems appropriate and logical.  There is a great cloud of grief over our nation.  So, did Biden declare subconsciously the day for the nation to grieve the presidential shift or was it to honor a president’s death?  One wonders as Biden used Carter’s death to take a poke at Trump.

 

When asked what his nemesis/rival could learn rom Carter, Biden responded: “Decency, decency, decency.  Can you imagine Jimmy Carter walking by someone who needed something and just keep walking?  Can you imagine Jimmy Carter referring to someone by the way they look or the way they talk?”

 

So, what are we mourning here, folks?

 

The irony is that our nation’s focus has been pulled to a juxtaposition of two individuals who have served as our country’s most important leader.  In the eyes of many the two could not be further apart in what they are and represent.  One is held as a great humanitarian, the other believes himself to be a great humanitarian in his mind.  One’s actions and life proved greatness, the other . . . let’s just say that the “crowning” is marred by lost lawsuits and a felony conviction along with boorish and brutal actions far from the saintly realm he proclaims.  The whole thing reeks of irony.

 

It is fitting that a “day of mourning” be proclaimed.  As a nation we should be banding together with the anticipation of a new era of leadership for our nation.  We should be anxiously awaiting this patriotic event . . . the coronation—dang it, I mean inauguration of our next president.  Mourning fits the bill better.  Many are in mourning for what once was and what could have been being replaced with what we will get.  Cue the music now.  No matter how the day is embraced it is difficult not to see it all in the two engaged in this dance of grief.  They speak for themselves and what they represent—Carter and Trump.

 

You can’t make this stuff up . . . it is ironic.

 

Isn’t It Ironic

An old man turned ninety-eight

He won the lottery and died the next day

It's a black fly in your Chardonnay

It's a death row pardon two minutes too late

And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly

He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye

He waited his whole damn life to take that flight

And as the plane crashed down he thought

"Well isn't this nice..."

And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

When you think everything's okay and everything's going right

And life has a funny way of helping you out when

You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up

In your face

A traffic jam when you're already late

A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break

It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife

It's meeting the man of my dreams

And then meeting his beautiful wife

And isn't it ironic...don't you think

A little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid

It's the good advice that you just didn't take

Who would've thought... it figures

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out

Helping you out

(Ironic by Alanis Morissette)

I couldn’t help but to notice this little tidbit in the news . . . a guy in New York was released from prison after serving 23 years for a crime that he did not commit . . . and then, two days after being released he had a heart-attack.  Kind of ironic . . . don’t you think?

Sounds like the guy has my luck.  On the old television show Hee Haw there was a skit in which a bunch of so-called hillbillies are lounging around the front porch of a run-down shack.  They break out in what I have considered to be my theme song when it comes to luck: “Gloom, despair, excessive misery . . . if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”  Irony and I have been friends for a long time . . . only sort of luck I know.

As a kid if anything could go wrong for me, it did.  One winter day, while playing in the woods, several of us decided to cross the frozen pond in the creek.  The ice looked firm enough . . . especially after three of my friends traipsed across without even a crack . . . so, off I started.  Half way across the pond there was a loud crack, the ice beneath my feet disappeared, and I was up to my chin in ice cold water . . . much to the delight of my three friends.  Kind of ironic wouldn’t you say?

Another time we were playing a soccer game in our neighborhood.   One off the neighbors had two dogs chained in their yard.  They looked pretty harmless as they laid there ignoring all of us noisy kids playing.  Over and over again the ball would get kicked up into the yard with the two dogs . . . and the dogs never moved as one of us ran up to retrieve the ball.  We probably did that five or six times before it was my turn to retrieve the ball.  Buoyed by the fact that no one before me had even gotten one of the dogs to open its eyes or even flinch, I strolled right up there, picked up the ball, turned around, and was immediately bit right in the calf.  Ironic . . . maybe, but what was more ironic is that two nights later someone poisoned those two dogs while they were quarantined.  Yeah, I’d say ironic.

Irony fills my life . . . probably was not the first person from my graduating high school class that people imagined would be a minister . . . now I have been one for 30 years . . . ironic.  Watch as car after car goes speeding by, finally get the courage to put the pedal to the metal, and immediately get pulled over as everyone else goes speeding by.  Have to go to the bathroom at church, the men’s room is occupied and really have to go, so I hop into the women’s room . . . open the door after taking care of business and I am greeted by the one woman in the whole church you wouldn’t want to run into coming out of the women’s room.  Avoid hitting one deer on the road, two miles down . . . hit a deer.  If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all . . . ironic.

I understand the lyrics to Alanis Morissette’s song quite well . . . I have lived them.  I imagine that the guy, David Ranta, understands them too.  From the very beginning he claimed he was innocent . . . even had someone come forward and confess that someone else did the crime . . . but, he still ended up in prison.  His daughter was two years old when he went into prison and she was there when the judge set him free.  Asked what he wanted to do now that he was free, he smiles and said, “Yeah.  Get the hell out of here, maybe.”  Now, he is in the hospital recovering from a heart attack.  Ironic.

Mother Teresa once said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle.  I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.”  I know what she means!  At least I have some sort of luck!