social media – EvDayDiss

**A Trumper Truck in Powell, Wyoming with a custom tailgate of Shitler and White Jesus.**

I’ve never claimed to be a scholar of The Christian Bible, but I do know a few of its lessons. One of the things that has always stood out to me are the various passages regarding idolatry—which, to be clear, is a bad thing. So, just what is idolatry? Most definitions I’ve looked up are of the following:

An extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone. Immoderate (as in: not sensible or not restrained), excessive attachment or devotion to something.

So with that definition in mind, what does the Bible say about idolatry? According to one source, there are at least 10 passages that address why idolatry is wrong or sinful. One of the references that stand out to me is from Galatians: 5:19–21…

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

You have to admit, idolatry is lumped in there with a pretty impressive list of vile attributes that should keep anyone from entering the kingdom of God should they stray into these “works of the flesh.” And for the record here, I think the Bible has it right in demonizing idolatry, even if I’d be down for some innocent, Harry-Potteresque sorcery if the opportunity came along.

Based on this definition, it’s safe to say idolatry is not a scarce resource when it comes to this “Christian” nation or ours—starting with the obsession (dare I say “idolatry”) of President-former President-and-again-President Donald J. Trump. Go ahead and try to convince me otherwise that his persona isn’t front and center when it comes to being a textbook illustration of idolatry. Are not those Christians who follow (and adore) Trump especially aware of these passages, or are they simply ignoring them for the sake of convenience?

There was a time not too long ago that the political campaign season was pretty short and limited. Short in that it went from early autumn to the first week in November when the elections were held. Limited in that it mostly consisted of campaign signs in yards, campaign buttons on clothes (i.e., “I like Ike.”), campaign bumper stickers, and spotty television commercials. While most still practice the above, today there is a growing contingency that is active year-round with displays for at least one candidate that go way beyond the traditional campaign season and mediums—think red MAGA hats being worn all the time, Trump flags flown year-round from homes and vehicles, and even businesses blatantly professing their allegiance to Trump, but never for any other Presidents in past years.

There is this pick-up truck driving around in my community with a custom paint job of Trump and Jesus on the tailgate. It’s quite impressive regardless of how one might feel about the subject-matter. I always wonder how Jesus feels being idolized next to Trump with the same emphasis. Perhaps the Holy Trinity will be updated to the Holy Quadrinity with the addition of Trump. That should keep Bible scholars going for years.

Whatever the case, it all smacks of idolatry from my perspective, and best of all, being the narcissist he is, Trump can’t get enough of it.

So, where does this idolatry for Trump come from? Is it the need to rub it in the face of those who didn’t vote for Trump? Is it a delayed response to having a Black President for eight years? Surely Trump himself has never demanded such overt loyalty from his supporters (although he certainly expects loyalty when it comes to those working under him). When Trump is finally gone (I hope to be around for that!), will this idolatry vanish, will it carry on over to another like him, or will it just be the norm for all candidates running for national offices whether Republican, Democrat, or other?

More than just Trump

Cleveland Browns fans. Photo courtesy of *Milwaukee Journal Sentinel*

Such idolatry goes far beyond Trump, and anything political as well. Look no further than the ridiculous behavior of sports fans (fans: an abbreviated word for “fanatics”). Might it be a fine, thin line between fandom and idolatry, or maybe they are the same?

Most puzzling to me is the intensity of fans when it comes to their favorite professional football teams. I find this energy peculiar in that the members of any given team are typically not from the city/state/region that is represented in the team name. For example: how many players on the roster of the Los Angeles Rams are actually from Southern California (i.e., played high school football in the region)? College teams are guilty of this as well, but not as outstanding as the professional ranks. I could almost understand the fans and their dedication to a college team. For example, look at the roster for the newly crowned national champions Ohio State football team… many are from Ohio (51 of 122, nearly 42%), while the remainder come from various locations in the country.

Fan or fanatic? It’s a fine line. A fan, according to the American Heritage College Dictionary, is “an ardent devotee, an enthusiast.” Fanatic is defined as “a person marked by an extreme unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause.” The distinction, then, apparently rests on whether the enthusiasm is ardent or unreasoning. No matter how you dress it up, fandom looks like the twin brother of idolatry.

Social media narcissism…no matter what top they wear, no men seem to want them.

Lastly, there is the matter of self-idolatry (a.k.a., narcissism) which has infected our society to the extent that it isn’t questioned, rather accepted, to the point of encouraged. Go no further than the social media settings of Instagram or TicTok and look at the ridiculous numbers of “selfies.” Some accounts are nothing but selfies. My favorites are of the well-endowed women (yeah, yeah, I can just hear the responses to that given I’m pretty much an old geezer) who say they can’t find anyone to date or meet, yet they have over 20,000 followers. Is there a more illustrated example of self-idolatry than this?

I know my accusation here is beyond the look-at-me-self-idolatry because there is money to be made with a large number of followers on social media, but it’s still comes down to, “look-at-me”—making for a fine line between promoting oneself and idolizing oneself.

As for me, I’ve never been that much of an enthusiast for anyone or anything. I may have voted for Biden or Obama, but I’ll never be a fanatic/fan for any former or future Presidential candidate no matter how high they are rated by the experts or the dullards at Fox News. Oh sure, I have some favorite sports teams, but my world doesn’t revolve around them losing or winning. And, I certainly won’t be posting selfies in my speedos… imagine a 64-year-old geezer with an Instagram feed with nothing but selfies? Talk about giving people a reason to “unfollow.” Whatever became of humility and modesty?

Over the years, I’ve often told friends that one of my more odd bucket list items is to spend a night in jail, even if I haven’t worked out a plan to actually pull it off with minimum consequences beyond the actual night in jail. Public intoxication would likely do it, but I’d like to have a clear memory so I can write about the experience afterwards.

Recently I experienced something like this in more of a virtual setting as I was blocked from posting anything on Facebook for 24 hours thanks to some anonymous tattletale. But as my punishment set in, it felt more like standing in the corner during 1st grade then an overnight jail stay.

What did I post? It was actually a short comment on a friend’s post regarding the Trump shutdown. So, here it is in all it’s glory:

Trump needs to do us all a favor and resign but in a way that best suits him—hanging himself in the Oval Office.

Yeah, I suppose it’s a bit distasteful if you’re a Trump fan, but isn’t suicide just a glorious (or “gory”) version of resignation? Besides, I know many that find this particular sentiment as pleasant as a good meal. The truth is, I have several fantasies of Trump’s demise—my favorite version is that he is convicted of treason and tickets are sold for his public beheading on the National Mall where so many people show up, that ticket sales pay off the national debt. In that setting, Trump would finally draw the crowd he wished he had for his “record-setting” inauguration.

Let’s face it, over the course of his life—not just his presidency—Trump is nowhere close to being a model citizen as he has brought pain, misery, and suffering to many, and God knows how many lives he has compromised in a lifetime of underhanded “art-of-the-deals.” And, all of it is well documented along with the greatest collection of lies by any high-level politician. So, the idea of his suicide, public execution or some rogue Secret Service agent greasing him sits just fine with me. There’s nothing redeeming in him as a person or as a president.

• • •

As long as I’m here, another incident came about a couple weeks ago as the result of another Fuckface von Clownstick remark I made on Facebook. Although it didn’t get me banned, a Trump-ass-kissing tattletale sent an email to the college president about my post.

Tim Sedlacek, a resident of North Dakota working in the oil and gas industry (according to his Facebook page) wrote the following:

I am writing you this email about something I find very concerning and very disturbing. You have a professor employed at your institution that is publically (sic) calling for the assassination of President Trump on his Facebook page. I have included a screen shot of said Facebook post. I think the taxpayers of your great state would find it very interesting that they are paying the salary of someone with such radical political views who is not afraid to convey those views publicly. As a professor at a public university he should be held to a higher standard. I hope you take appropriate action on this matter. I will give you a few days to reply to me with your course of action and if I do not hear back from you will be contacting your local newspaper and also other newspapers in Wyoming to inform them about this very disturbing post by an employee of your college.

My offensive post: “Impeachment, incarceration, bullet-in-the-brain… whatever it takes, Trump must go.
First of all, a couple responses on my part:

Hey Tim, why be such a tattletale? You could have taken it up with me if you found it so disturbing—after all, you were my FB friend. You could have left a comment, could have sent me a private message, but instead you responded like a screaming little girl with mud splashed on her Sunday church dress. What an asshole.

Secondly, I was not calling for Trump’s assassination. In fact, immediately after the post, I left a link in the comment section to the Black Key’s “Bullet in the Brain” song/video. It’s about suicide. That said and historically speaking, bullets in the brain have been one of several ways Presidents have been removed from office—those well loved and those not so much. Fact! So, if Trump or someone else were to actually pull that off, it still comes off as a working solution for me. But, for the record (and the vapid intellect of those like Sedlacek), I’m not interested in doing such myself, nor do I even have the ability, know-how, or energy to pull off such a feat. I’m simply open to any means it takes to remove this persona non grata (and his ilk) from the White House.

In deciding to take the post down (although not required), I responded to the college president with the following:

I received notice about my personal FB post on Dec. 21 regarding Donald Trump. I’m sure you are aware, this was not a threatening message of any kind—I was just speaking of the various ways past U.S. Presidents (those well-loved and those reviled) have been or could be removed from office. Distasteful as it may be, I suppose it is what it is depending on one’s political views. Further, I had posted immediately after (in the comment section) the song by the Black Keys “Bullet in the Brain,” which is a song about suicide and what I was referencing in the original post should someone like Sedlacek come along and attempt to spin it otherwise.

Nevertheless, I have removed the post from my public feed in hopes that this will be of no more bother to you. I apologize if this put a crimp in your holiday away from the work place.

The other day, I was having a discussion with a colleague about “spending too much time on Facebook.” In light of these recent events, my hope is that this little expulsion will be an impetus to get away from that platform where tattletales and pollyannas like Sedlacek lurk, and perhaps put more effort into my posts on dissidence. So, I’m thankful even if I still haven’t spent the night in jail.

And one last thing, fuck Facebook and its harboring of Russian trolls and its secret love for Trump.