America walks onto thin ice

The ice had holes in it where people had fallen through. Big cracks were visible. Even a couple sections of open water.

Despite this, Americans walked on it anyway.

This isn’t a very subtle metaphor, I thought to myself, as I watched families step on the thin ice of the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. They gleefully danced around and posed for selfies, heedless the danger.

Americans made another dangerous choice last November when they elected Donald Trump as President.

It wasn’t a landslide; Trump didn’t even crack 50% of the popular vote. But in our skewed electoral system (designed by slaveholders to protect their rights) it was enough to claim a mandate.

DC is now a landscape of fences, from the Washington Monument to the Capitol and up past the White House, even stretching out one rude finger to encompass the Convention Center. It’s a maze, with black fences, vehicle barriers and police officers from numerous jurisdictions all to ensure that the Inauguration happens peacefully.

With the election of a man who sent a mob to sack the Capitol, political violence has been normalized.

What would Martin Luther King, Jr, think? This inauguration occurs on his holiday. He devoted his life both to nonviolence and the better angels of our character, both of which seem like very quaint notions right now.

I grew up in America where the side that used violence lost. It was condemned by Republicans and Democrats who were committed to the peaceful transfer of power.

But, if I was coming of age today, what would I think? America has elected a convicted felon, rapist and mob leader as its President. I’d conclude that if you’re rich and powerful, you can get away with anything in this country.

After watching people walk on the ice, I needed a drink.

Navigating my way past the fences and checkpoints, I went to Lost and Found, a bar in Shaw which is fortunate to be just outside the security perimeter.

They have Snowpants, an oatmeal stout and a winter tradition for me.

I talked to the bartender about all the fencing, both of us careful not to spell out our political affiliation. Those are the times we live in. She didn’t want to offend me if I was a MAGA chud; the reason that DC needs to be an armed camp now. This city has not forgotten January 6th.

“Blagden Alley is its own destination,” she said, in response to my question about whether the inauguration would impact business.

Lost and Found backs up to Blagden Alley, a historic alley complex that is very photogenic. Once filled with car repair shops and, for a brief moment, art galleries, it is now decidedly upscale.

The people going to the alley for a coffee at La Colombe or ceviche at Amazonia will not be going to the inauguration. They are DC people, who want to avoid all mention of Trump.

The inaugural crowd is not likely to stray from their hotel lobbies, believing Trump’s absurd lies that you’ll be raped if you cross the street for a loaf of bread. They would not dare walk down a dark DC alley, no matter the rumored delights.

America has made its choice. We’re all on the ice with them. In a few days, we’ll find out if it cracks.