Over 225 years ago at the Champ de Mars, Maximilien Robespierre rose to the top of a man-made mountain in Paris appearing as the champion of the revolution in France. The revolution successfully challenges the power of the monarchy, but over time, Robespierre abandoned many who were part of this revolution as he departed from reality as he rose above the center of Paris. The festival of the Supreme Being, as Robespierre stood high above those around him, may have felt like a moment of grandeur, but to those around him, it was a realization that he had gone too far. Soon thereafter, Robespierre was no more. Today felt surreal. As I heard the news of a possibility of Trump returning back to the White House, I didn't think it would be true, as he was still dealing with Covid. However, with his little joy ride yesterday, exposing the USSS members, I wasn't surprised of his return, as he cares not about those around him (even those closest to him). He landed on the lawn of the White House, directed a photographer to a specific location and despite being highly contagious, took off his mask when the wind from the chopper could blow the virus in who knows what direction. He stood proudly saluting and not too long thereafter, a "patriotic" video of Trump returning home popped up on his Twitter feed. He put so many at risk to get back to the White House for something of this sort. Much like Robespierre, this felt like Trump's departure from reality (although he has had many), this felt like the last straw. There will be those that defend him, but if you truly see what is happening, not only is he risking his own health (which I do still pray for), he now has risked the health of so many around him and it begins with this "photo op." He started on a platform of challenging this system that abuses the people of this country. In some ways, he was right, the system in place must change. However, unlike Robespierre, the majority of this nation never bought into his "revolution." In fact, it created division and today, displayed that it was never about fighting the system, but fighting to get himself in the spotlight time after time. Many of us saw through it, but I hope after today, we all can see it, because I know outside these borders, it's quite evident, much like Robespierre, he has departed from reality. I bring this up not to downplay Trump, but to remind us all that we have to keep our eyes open. Even if the person we follow has done good for us, eventually that benefit will wear off. Historically, it's been consistent with dictators. Today paralleled a nation under a dictators rule. Today was all about Trump. How do you know? Look at his Twitter feed. While he has the same messages he had all along, do you see any messages reaching out to people like Kayleigh McEnany, his advisors or staff or even his wife who all suffered the same fate as him, infected with Covid? Did he show any empathy for the 200k+ people affected by Covid? No, in fact, he said not to be afraid of Covid and not let it dominate your life. As a "student of Covid" after this experience, I am not sure how much he learned. He stood on the balcony of the White House looking as if he was restraining his cough or facing shortness of breath, but it mattered not that he might infect others around (or cause greater harm to himself), as he needed to appear as if he championed this virus. I hope that I am wrong and that he will come back into full health and that no one else around him contracts the virus, but today displayed more than ever, that he is unfit for this position, much like Robespierre had lost his way. If you want to continue to follow Trump after today, be my guest, however, at least do us all this favor and take this virus seriously and no I am not talking about Covid. One of the reporters said, the virus has arrived at the White House and while he said that in regards to Trump having Covid, I am saying it in a way about Trump. He has gotten so many to believe the lies he tells and has infected our lives, our relationships and even our daily routines and lives. It goes beyond the virus. During my senior year in college, my senior project was a video installation called Viral Infection. The pieced discussed how politics infected us. Strangely enough, that idea has come full circle. It's time we wake up and realize just where we are headed and denounce this threat. He is a threat to our health and safety and also to our democracy. I hate using my posts for politics, but I also vowed that I must speak out against him, as this is far greater than politics. Our country is not someone else's reality show especially when lives are at mistake. We must demand that the only thing that Trump and this administration unmasks from now on is the truth.
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