The president tested positive for COVID.
I gloated.
I told myself not to, but I couldn’t stop. I was actually on the verge of rejoicing. (That’s not nice! I told myself.)
So I tried to conjure sympathy.
I told myself he’s president of the United States. I told myself he’s a fellow human being. I told myself he has wives and children.
Still, I felt no sympathy. I just can’t console an unrepentant abuser. That would enable him even more.
And yet it seemed the whole world was praying for him.
I wasn’t.
I revere nature. I believe in natural laws. I don’t believe in a god who saves people from stupidity.
I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing the president initially saw his test result as a compliment, as some sort of praise.
Of course my test was positive. I’m a positive guy. I was weaned on Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. It’s the only way I think.
Think happy thoughts and you will be happy. Say you’re a winner and you will win. Believe a virus will disappear and it will disappear.
The power of positive thinking has never failed me.
Against all odds I was elected president. Despite numerous bankruptcies, a fraudulent university scheme, stiffing contract workers, boasting of adultery, and denigrating Mexicans, Muslims, disabled people, women, and American war heroes, I was elected president. I even got 3 million fewer votes than my opponent and still won.
THINK POSITIVE AND GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
And then someone explained to him that a “positive test” in this case was not a good thing and that he could die.
NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER FACED A CHALLENGE AS GREAT AS THIS. NO PRESIDENT HAS VOLUNTARILY TAKEN ON THE SUFFERING OF HIS PEOPLE. NO PRESIDENT HAS BEEN MORE LIKE JESUS.
And just like that, the president realized this could (AND WOULD) turn out for his benefit because everything always did. EVERYTHING.
The whole world thinks I’m on my deathbed. But I will rise on the third day. I will dominate death. The world will rejoice. Hymns will be sung. Behold, the Dominator!
I stopped gloating and started thinking positive. STRONGLY!
The votes will resound.
The Dominator will deflate.
America will mend.
America will smile.
America will shine from sea to shining sea again.
I’m thinking positive. I’m hopeful. But I ain’t feelin’ it.
Not (quite) yet!
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See Paula’s heron photograph on the home page.
I marveled at how he was able to turn his illness into such a positive in only a day. Like you, I didn’t want the man to die, but it would have felt satisfying to know he suffered at least a little more. When he tried to blame the families of young people killed in war, well, you know.
I’m thinking’ positive: I love my family, present; past; honour their love, their sacrifices, their humor and their love of science and god…stars that shine in the dark night, love and lite against all odds!
I’m thinking positive: I love my friends, present and past… they double my joys and halve my sorrows. We come together to laugh, to cry; to celebrate, to mourn; to work; play; sing; dance & create a space for peace amid the chaos!
I’m thinkin’ positive today – a choice – ? the time has come for us to live, to live together… in love, in peace, in unity… to live, to love, to work, to play, to sing, to build, to BE – TOGETHER… ? Love always wins
In discussions, every friend has expressed the same sentiment: “I am being mean.” I respond that they are being human in the face of terrible abuses. I cannot remember reading of Jesus ever advocating abuse. The anger he acted on was righteous (money-changing in the temple) but not “mean” or dark. Are we “mean” if we push back against an abuser? No. I am steering less toward “positive” and more toward “righteous,” and hope that acting on that anger by voting will prevail and help heal this broken spirit of ours.
Without positive thinking how are things going to be better if Trump is replaced? There are a lot who think as you did originally. However, there were supporters at the hospital.
How does one feel remorse for someone who has treatments available that no one else has access to, who tells 210,000 dead people to not let the virus dominate them, who stands on the balcony like Mussolini (somehow it is OK to say Mussolini but not Hitler, can’t figure that one out) and wants the oppressed and afflicted multitudes to raise their arms to praise the Great Redeemer. He is a man that feels no remorse, no empathy, and has no conscience.
Sad that he believes positive thoughts are magical actions. I believe we need to be positive as we meet challenges. But, positive thoughts are the motivation behind strategic action. That’s the part he totally is missing.
You sure nailed the “thinking” that likely goes on in Trump’s head. Amazing that such shallow and misguided thoughts are so effective among selected categories of people. Then again, maybe not…
Amen and amen.
?❤️
Trump recklessly courted Covid-19. For him to do this for himself is one thing. For him to encourage this reckless behavior in his followers–and yes, it is a cult of personality–is irresponsible and negligent, two traits that democracies need to shun in leaders. It’s easy to say, “Trump made his own bed, now let him lie in it.” This problem is this, the bed he makes is for all of us to lie in.
I, too, had to hold my “Karma” and “justice prevails” notions in check…fearful of the twisted alter reality that followed this situation. It’s just so sad and pathetic that there was no empathy, no feeling for all those who have suffered and many who still are…not to mention the 215,000 who have died a horrid and lonely death without their family at their bedsides. And then to flaunt and attribute to our Creator what a blessing his surreal experience has been….I can’t help but think and hope ….well I just won’t go there now.