Have you, or have any of your friends, ever been members of the Republican (Trump) Party? If yes, did you post that? Did you tweet that? What did you mean when you said that? How do you know those people on your wall? We were told that in 2015 you stayed at a Trump Hotel, who did you meet there and what were the purposes of your visit? You believe in God, right? You’re skeptical of climate change? How long have you been a member of the Republican (Trump) Party? Just name names and everything will be OK. Who in your family, who at work? Just help us help you.
Yes, my friends, the Trump Scare has started!
There were reports this week that Justin Bieber, under the advice of his management and social justice warrior and political guru LeBron James, declined a $5 million offer to put on a 45-minute performance at one of the Republican convention’s unsanctioned events. They told him all he had to do was play, not mention a word of politics, just play. Just playing an event is construed under the liberal law as being a subversive. Oh, I’m sure his camp will come out and say that this didn’t happen. That’s not the point, though, is it? We all know that it could happen, and has happened. No, I don’t blame Justin Bieber for not standing up to his management. He’s a child.
There was Debra Messing, who attempted to cyber bully Blake Shelton last week for his non-endorsement/endorsement of Donald Trump. She soon found out that she’d messed with the wrong cowboy. But for every Blake Shelton there are thousands who don’t have that courage. Imagine if it had been the other way around. He would have been called every name in the book, at the very least warned by NBC. He probably would have had to say he was drunk, enter rehab, and go on the apology circuit. All Messing had to do was apologize and that’s that. Saying this is a double standard is an insult to double standards.
A few years ago I was watching one of my favorite shows The Black List — please don’t judge, I’m a huge James Spader fan. There was a great scene where James Spader was killing someone while “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot was playing in the background. Honestly I’d never heard the song before, it was a little before my time, but I immediately googled and bought it. No, I don’t think Gordon Lightfoot sanctioned murder, just as I don’t think Eric Clapton did as Joe Pesci was getting murdered in Goodfellas. So too when I hear any song played at a Donald Trump rally, I’m not stupid enough to think that band supports Mr. Trump. Sadly, those bands are so scared of being associated with anything Trump, that they immediately tell the press they did not in any way support or condone Donald Trump. Yes, we all would have thought that Queen were Trump supporters. We have now come to guilt by association. The Ojays, yes the Ojays, filed a cease and desist letter. First off, I have no idea who they are, and honestly I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of a Google search. Then again maybe I will, maybe they will one day have to explain why I searched them. To paraphrase Trent Rezner — and no, he’s in no way supporting or affiliated with Mr. Trump or me — what have we become, my sweetest friends?
Music and sports are truly the great uniters. Now sadly like everything else in our culture they have become another divider. Yes, Bruce Springsteen, yes, Queen, I will still listen to your music even though you would never listen to mine. Justin Bieber, that’s a definite no, but I promise that has nothing to do with your choices.
There is actually a sponsored teaser link on many websites, 21 celebrities who you will not believe are voting for Donald Trump. I get it, it’s a catchy way to bring in traffic. Heck, I’ve clicked on it a few times to see who’s in our corner. Of course it’s a mash of celebrities I wouldn’t invite home to meet the family, and a few other icons of yesteryear. It’s of course meant to embarrass and shame us. It’s meant to show that this is who we are associating with and this is who associates with Donald Trump. What these people do not realize, though, is with every knock and every slur headed in our direction, many of us just become more defiant and more resolute. They do not realize that it’s not just about Donald Trump anymore. He’s but a vessel. We have already been branded, we have already been named.
Last week a friend of mine who is a conservative asked about another friend, and who that friend supported politically. My response was no comment. His automatic gleeful response was, “Oh, wow, he’s Trump fan.” I told him he would have to ask said friend, but that he wouldn’t be disappointed. I don’t name names. So if you are a friend of mine on Facebook, or one of my few Twitter followers @Judahmfriedman, and yes that was a shameless plug (dammit, I need more than 13 followers), I’m giving you a heads-up. It might not be today or next month or next year, but it will happen when you get that call, when they say how do you know Judah Friedman and why did you like or comment on one of his posts. You will say he’s a friend, yeah he’s a tad strange but funny, yeah he supported Trump but he’s a friend. You will say he took me to my first 12-step meeting, you will say he spoke to me all night when I wanted to drink, you will say he marched for marriage equality, that we have been to Dodger games together, that he’s been a friend. Or will you?
