Keeping the Flame As Darkness Falls

TRUMPWORLD

Now-again President Trump has just proclaimed the dawn of America’s Golden Age, and America First, but it feels more like the Tribulation has truly begun. Wrapping himself in the flag, anointing himself as the savior of America, the gaudy show reached heights of sanctimonious hypocrisy rarely seen in this country, crammed into the Capitol Rotunda so it would look even more impressive and united.

Wearing an imperial purple tie, and not placing his hand on the Bible signify nothing good.

Promising paradise to his followers and threatening hell to his foes was worthy of Hitler, and likely all those earnest prayers by the clergy urging him to wisdom and justice were wasted. For while he declared that God saved him to make America great again, he did not put his hand on the Bibles his wife held out for him. That is very likely a most telling sign. We will soon find out, for Trump’s not going to wait for an Enabling Act but immediately vomit out a blizzard of Executive Orders to dictate by decree.

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President Biden, in his farewell address (already removed from the White House website but quoted in an excellent post by Mary Trump), included a story about the “keeper of the flame” – a guy whose job was to polish the torch on the Statue of Liberty. He called on all of us to do the same in our own ways, concluding, “Now it’s your turn to stand guard. May you all be the keeper of the flame. May you keep the faith.”

It’s quite likely, however, that neither the now-former president nor the psychiatrist recognize some implications of that phrase. Keeper of the Flame is a 1942 movie starring Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, chiefly remembered today as marking the beginning of their celebrated affair. Coming out right after Pearl Harbor, its frank warning about rich American fascists duping the people proved uncomfortable to many. But the film was based on a cautionary novel sincerely warning of a peaceful fascist takeover of the United States — and it graphically reveals the playbook Donald Trump is using today in detail.

Keeper of the Flame
Truth must be told

The story begins with Tracy as a writer just returned home from reporting on the war overseas to eulogize the death of revered un-elected civic leader, Robert V. Forrest, who mysteriously drove off a washed-out bridge. Forrest had built up a cult of personality, grounded in a very large hyper-patriotic following which even included a kids auxiliary like the Hitler Youth. On the verge of taking over the country by democratic means, he was on his way to a very important secret meeting to make a final deal when the accident happened.

Central to the story is Hepburn, the grieving widow. She is to be the “keeper of the flame” who would tirelessly keep his memory and ideals alive. But Tracy quickly sees that she obviously knows some disturbing secrets about the great man. It turns out she originally revered Forrest, too, but ultimately realized what a cold, cruel, power-driven monster he had become. If president, he would side with the dictators to destroy the democracy he pretended to love.

She finally reveals to Tracy Forrest’s papers which lay out the full extent of the plot. He was a populist backed by ultra-rich, shadowy industrialists. Using their money, he fed stories to disgruntled newspaper editors to stir up trouble. Forrest would then use this influence in the news media to set off groups against one another, promising each one would get what they wanted only to betray them after their sacrifices in order to use another faction. Sounds rather familiar, doesn’t it?

Eventually figuring out just what’s really happening, she finally decides that “a clean death in the rain was the best thing that could happen to Robert Forrest”. So she deliberately neglects to warn her husband about the bridge which she had seen earlier, and over he goes.

Of course, the characters fall in love even as Tracy and Hepburn were doing then in real life. But alas, a fanatic aide of Forrest discovers what’s afoot, burns the records and shoots the widow. Only the seasoned war correspondent is left to be the real “keeper of the flame” and tell a shocked nation the awful truth.

There’s lots to think about here (and not just for Melania.) To be a keeper of the flame in these days means to be a keeper of the truth. Do not let the falsehoods, the outright lies and the false assumptions of corrupt Republicans and the “Vichy Democrats” who have made their submission to tyranny go by unchallenged. It is up to each person to remember that the true greatness of America lies not in imperial trappings, but in the hearts of those who help.

May God have mercy on us.


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