I’ll try, it’s subtle, but probably appropriate. In colonial America, Christian Theocrats stoked fear and hate among the population of people the government labeled witches. They then used that fear, hate, and religion to solidify their power. They displayed that power by killing innocent women whom they accused of being witches. This both quelled the speech by those who objected and allowed those in charge to murder people who did speak out without repercussion. Whenever you merge religion and government, the religion becomes government unchained.
This is much the same way Trump and his cult are stoking hate and anger against immigrants, gay people, transgender people, minorities, and non-Christians, and anyone who stands up to Trump to justify taking unconstitutional actions without repercussions and to solidify authoritarian power over the nation.
I think it’s funny that more people attended No Kings protests in South Carolina than attended Trump’s birthday dictator parade.
Colonel, you are a military man. I have to ask. Was it a silent protest that the soldiers marching in Trump’s dictator parade did not bother to synchronize their march as they passed by Trump? I assume those guys had been taught how to do that right?
You know, we’ve been talking about that in the office (while retired from the Army, I still work for the Army). I think the absolutely ABYSMAL marching skills of most of our Army actually comes from a focus on what’s important and D&C ain’t it.
In the 1600-1800s, drill was critical in the positioning of forces to mass fires. The adoption of rifles with the increased range and accuracy and the dramatic improvements in artillery made massed ranks suicidal (though the French and English had to relearn the lesson under fire as late as WWI).
When I enlisted 40+ years ago, we did a lot of drill as privates, then later as Cadets in ROTC. By the time I got to the Infantry Officers Basic Course in the mid 80s “drill” was something privates did in basic to learn discipline. We just don’t focus on drill anymore beyond “how to” in basic and holding formations in regular units. Lousy appearance in parades aside, it really isn’t worth the effort. You probably noticed that the Old Guard units were all in perfect step as that is part of what they do and hence it is still important.
I’ll take a Soldier who can lay in a 240B and provide effective grazing fire over one who can do a pretty counter column any day. As for your suspicion that it was a protest of some kind – no, enlistments are WAY up and Soldiers appreciate the efforts of “The bad orange man”.
One thing missed by those saying no one was at the parade is that a: it was raining off and on, b: despite Fox’s TERRIBLE coverage (and the lack of any other MSM coverage) it was heavily watched on Fox and CNN and c: there were a ton of people on the mall looking at all the exhibits and talking with Soldiers. The Navy and USMC parades are next up. I’m betting both will be conducting D&C training in earnest.
I think there was sparse turnout because Trump made the day about him, not the Army. If they had gone through with the Army’s original plan of concerts, fireworks, and displays on the Mall. I think there would have been a bigger turnout. When Trump turned the day into his Russian Style dictator parade, you could not attend without being seen as a supporter of the Orange Menace.
As for the number of people on the Mall, the pictures don’t show a large turnout. In fact, one local said the number of people on the Mall that day was not much more than on a normal weekend day during tourist season.
I had not heard about the two new military parades. This one cost 20+ million dollars. Are we paying for two more like that? Let me say I am a hard no. What a disgusting waste of money. Give the money to health care for Veterans or housing for homeless Veterans. We are already paying 3 million a month for Trump’s golf trips. I have no interest in his toy soldier parades. Perhaps they will teach them to goose-step this time.
The military is making a huge mistake with these displays. No one sees them as honoring our service men and women. They see them as a threat or a tribute to Trump’s vanity.
“Absolutely not. We are the pre-eminent power on Earth. For us to try and imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak.” Dewight D. Eisenhour
I understand Trump blasted the drunk former Fox Anchor for the crappy parade. Said it was not menacing enough, and not what he expected. I guess he was expecting a Putin-style Victory Day parade, with rows of tanks, nuclear missiles, crowds cheering for him, and goose-stepping soldiers loyal to him.
Laurie Quattlebaum Top fanJune 19, 2025 at 6:55 am
The Greenville gathering may have been larger than either Columbia or Charleston – interesting. And despite the warning of unrest and violence, it was mostly just a place to read some really entertaining signs and chat with others who feel the same about what’s going on in our country. If there were counter-protesters, I didn’t see or hear them.
It’s a scary thought having a bunch of delusional people all in one place at the same time protesting. Leave the little kids at home for petes sake. Happy to live in this country and for those who are protesting can certainly go find another place to live; there are far worse places where you have not as many rights. When an illegal kills a member of their family, maybe there will be a different tune.
The Greenville protest was estimated to be 4K-5K. It was very peaceful with some short speeches and patriotic music. It was encouraging to see that people are finally catching on to what Trump is doing! The US has lost the trust and respect of our (former) allies, and the world is laughing at us. DOGE was a joke and now children in the poorest countries are staving to death while food supplies for them sit in a warehouse. We have half-brain RFK, Jr stopping medical research and firing scientists so more of us will be dying of infectious disease and cancer. The list goes on and on. I am also a former Republican (until 2016), but there is no Republican Party anymore – only sycophants to Trump.
Lemme get this straight…The No Kings Protests were in reaction to Trump’s military parade to celebrate his birthday. SOOO, Trump’s juvenile longing to see tanks and helicopters on his birthday not only cost a shitload of taxpayer money. But it also cost many local municipalities a lot of money for police presence. Other than stroking the ego of a man-child, what was the purpose of the Russian-style military parade?
14 comments
Can someone please explain the “they didn’t burn witches, they burned women” sign?
I’ll try, it’s subtle, but probably appropriate. In colonial America, Christian Theocrats stoked fear and hate among the population of people the government labeled witches. They then used that fear, hate, and religion to solidify their power. They displayed that power by killing innocent women whom they accused of being witches. This both quelled the speech by those who objected and allowed those in charge to murder people who did speak out without repercussion. Whenever you merge religion and government, the religion becomes government unchained.
This is much the same way Trump and his cult are stoking hate and anger against immigrants, gay people, transgender people, minorities, and non-Christians, and anyone who stands up to Trump to justify taking unconstitutional actions without repercussions and to solidify authoritarian power over the nation.
So idiotic hyperbole. No one was “burned as a witch” in America – ever. They did hang 14 women (and 5 men (one other man died during torture))
Well, it’s certainly a relief that they only hanged innocent women and men in America and/or tortured them to death. That changes everything.
I think it’s funny that more people attended No Kings protests in South Carolina than attended Trump’s birthday dictator parade.
Colonel, you are a military man. I have to ask. Was it a silent protest that the soldiers marching in Trump’s dictator parade did not bother to synchronize their march as they passed by Trump? I assume those guys had been taught how to do that right?
You know, we’ve been talking about that in the office (while retired from the Army, I still work for the Army). I think the absolutely ABYSMAL marching skills of most of our Army actually comes from a focus on what’s important and D&C ain’t it.
In the 1600-1800s, drill was critical in the positioning of forces to mass fires. The adoption of rifles with the increased range and accuracy and the dramatic improvements in artillery made massed ranks suicidal (though the French and English had to relearn the lesson under fire as late as WWI).
When I enlisted 40+ years ago, we did a lot of drill as privates, then later as Cadets in ROTC. By the time I got to the Infantry Officers Basic Course in the mid 80s “drill” was something privates did in basic to learn discipline. We just don’t focus on drill anymore beyond “how to” in basic and holding formations in regular units. Lousy appearance in parades aside, it really isn’t worth the effort. You probably noticed that the Old Guard units were all in perfect step as that is part of what they do and hence it is still important.
I’ll take a Soldier who can lay in a 240B and provide effective grazing fire over one who can do a pretty counter column any day. As for your suspicion that it was a protest of some kind – no, enlistments are WAY up and Soldiers appreciate the efforts of “The bad orange man”.
One thing missed by those saying no one was at the parade is that a: it was raining off and on, b: despite Fox’s TERRIBLE coverage (and the lack of any other MSM coverage) it was heavily watched on Fox and CNN and c: there were a ton of people on the mall looking at all the exhibits and talking with Soldiers. The Navy and USMC parades are next up. I’m betting both will be conducting D&C training in earnest.
I think there was sparse turnout because Trump made the day about him, not the Army. If they had gone through with the Army’s original plan of concerts, fireworks, and displays on the Mall. I think there would have been a bigger turnout. When Trump turned the day into his Russian Style dictator parade, you could not attend without being seen as a supporter of the Orange Menace.
As for the number of people on the Mall, the pictures don’t show a large turnout. In fact, one local said the number of people on the Mall that day was not much more than on a normal weekend day during tourist season.
I had not heard about the two new military parades. This one cost 20+ million dollars. Are we paying for two more like that? Let me say I am a hard no. What a disgusting waste of money. Give the money to health care for Veterans or housing for homeless Veterans. We are already paying 3 million a month for Trump’s golf trips. I have no interest in his toy soldier parades. Perhaps they will teach them to goose-step this time.
The military is making a huge mistake with these displays. No one sees them as honoring our service men and women. They see them as a threat or a tribute to Trump’s vanity.
“Absolutely not. We are the pre-eminent power on Earth. For us to try and imitate what the Soviets are doing in Red Square would make us look weak.” Dewight D. Eisenhour
I understand Trump blasted the drunk former Fox Anchor for the crappy parade. Said it was not menacing enough, and not what he expected. I guess he was expecting a Putin-style Victory Day parade, with rows of tanks, nuclear missiles, crowds cheering for him, and goose-stepping soldiers loyal to him.
I think it is funny that you think you know it all when it is salient you are full of yourself
You need to get a life.
The Greenville gathering may have been larger than either Columbia or Charleston – interesting. And despite the warning of unrest and violence, it was mostly just a place to read some really entertaining signs and chat with others who feel the same about what’s going on in our country. If there were counter-protesters, I didn’t see or hear them.
It’s a scary thought having a bunch of delusional people all in one place at the same time protesting. Leave the little kids at home for petes sake. Happy to live in this country and for those who are protesting can certainly go find another place to live; there are far worse places where you have not as many rights. When an illegal kills a member of their family, maybe there will be a different tune.
The Greenville protest was estimated to be 4K-5K. It was very peaceful with some short speeches and patriotic music. It was encouraging to see that people are finally catching on to what Trump is doing! The US has lost the trust and respect of our (former) allies, and the world is laughing at us. DOGE was a joke and now children in the poorest countries are staving to death while food supplies for them sit in a warehouse. We have half-brain RFK, Jr stopping medical research and firing scientists so more of us will be dying of infectious disease and cancer. The list goes on and on. I am also a former Republican (until 2016), but there is no Republican Party anymore – only sycophants to Trump.
Lemme get this straight…The No Kings Protests were in reaction to Trump’s military parade to celebrate his birthday. SOOO, Trump’s juvenile longing to see tanks and helicopters on his birthday not only cost a shitload of taxpayer money. But it also cost many local municipalities a lot of money for police presence. Other than stroking the ego of a man-child, what was the purpose of the Russian-style military parade?
Safe to say, MENSA was not on site doing any recruiting