Rant #1,825: Too Much Talk

First, let me congratulate my parents, who celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary on Sunday.

That is quite an accomplishment! I hope they have at least 61 more anniversaries together.

And today is my father in law's 85th birthday.

We had a shindig for him last Sunday, and he was a little under the weather, and I hope he feels better, and that is quite an accomplishment too! Many happy returns.

Now, since we talked about bananas yesterday, today, let's talk about ice cream.

I like vanilla ice cream. Always have, always will.

You like chocolate.

But I REALLY like vanilla, so if you like chocolate, you must be wrong.

No, you REALLY like chocolate, and I am wrong.

We both think we are correct in what we like, the other side is wrong, period, and we jump up and down proclaiming our side is right.

Statistics show that vanilla is a more popular ice cream flavor than vanilla, so I must be right, and you must be wrong.

It doesn't matter, because everyone that you know loves chocolate, so I must be wrong.

And again, we both jump up and down asserting our preferable flavor.

"But the statistics show ... "

"It doesn't matter. I am right and you are wrong!"

"Won't you at least give vanilla a try?"

"No, I don't like vanilla, and vanilla is terrible, vile and disgusting. I won't ever like it!"

"Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah!"

Does this patter sound familiar?

Today is inauguration day in Washington, and Donald Trump, the kid from Queens who made a name for himself in the real estate market, became a celebrity, and eventually rose to the top of the class when he was voted in as our 45th president, takes his oath.

This riles so many people, and conversely, has riled many people to answer back to those who are spouting vile comments about him.

People have forgotten how to agree to disagree, and it is about time that we went back and learned how to do this.

Both sides have to calm down and work to make this presidency a success. And the way we do that is to get together, respect the role and the man who is going to fill it for the next four years, and be unified, even if we don't necessarily agree with the man who is going to be our Commander in Chief.

I have read some vile things on both sides of the coin related to Trump, and it has gotten to the point that I really have had it up to here with all of this.

Enough is enough. To wish the man dead really shows how completely vile people can be.

Yes, yes, yes, I know that Trump did not win the popular vote.

However, the popular vote does not decide the presidency. I have known this since about fourth grade, and like it or not, this is the way our democracy works. It is part of a system of checks and balances put in by our country's forefathers, and it has worked for more than 200 years, and will work for at least 200 more.

I personally don't love Trump, but I am willing to give him my respect.

Others won't give him a minute of their time.

Now IS the time to come together, because united we stand, divided we fall.

I am going to leave you with a quote from Martin Luther King III, the son of the slain civil rights leader, who met with Trump on the holiday honoring his father to discuss several topics and themes, including the John Lewis fiasco.

Like his dad, King gets it, understands it, and what he said really should be read by all Americans on both sides of the coin as Trump takes office.

“Well, first of all I think that in the heat of emotion a lot of things get said on both sides. And I think that at some point — I am, as John Lewis and many others, a bridge builder.

“The goal is to bring America together and Americans. We are a great nation but we must become a greater nation. And what my father represented, my mother represented through her life, what I hope that I am trying to do is always bring people together.”

Have a good weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.