Stale. Metallic. A little salty. Such was the taste left in my mouth after watching the Inauguration of the 45th POTUS on tv last night.

Traces of salt were left from crying a little, when watching the predecessor leaving in that helicopter with his beautiful wife.

I am in two minds about the metallic taste. Either it stems from visions of blank weaponry and the sound of sabre-rattling coming up on the horizon. For:

“We assembled here today our issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power, from this day forward: a new vision will govern our land, from this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. America first. … We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.“

Or else it is just the taste of coins, watching the POTUS45 leaving the limousine during the parade only once: in front of his own, new hotel on Pennsilvania avenue. Boy, do I wish, this were just about the coins…

The staleness I can identify clearly. Wasn’t it all the same just one generation back, when an outsider came to power in an economically shaken country? Here’s a quote of another speech, a certain Mr. Hitler held on March 21st, 1933, accepting his chancellorship:

“Schwere Sorgen lasten seit Jahren auf unserem Volk. […] Trotz Fleiß und Arbeitswillen, trotz Tatkraft, einem reichen Wissen und bestem Wollen such Millionen Deutsche heute vergebens das tägliche Brot. Die Wirtschaft verödet, die Finanzen sind zerrüttet, Millionen sind ohne Arbeit! […] Während so das Deutsche Volk und Deutsche Reich in inneren politischen Zwiespalt und Hader versanken, die Wirtschaft dem Elend entgegentrieb, begann die neue Sammlung der deutschen Menschen, die in einem gläubigen Vertrauen auf das eigene Volk dieses zu einer neuen Gemeinschaft formen wollen. […] Im Bewusstsein, im Sinne des Willens der Nation zu handeln, erwartet die Nationale Regierung von den Parteien der Volkesvertretung, dass sie nach fünfzehnjähriger Not sich emporheben mögen über die Beengtheit eines doktrinären parteimäßigen Denkens, um sich dem eisernen Zwang unterzuordnen, den die Not und ihre drohenden Folgen uns allen auferlegt. […] Wir wollen wiederherstellen die Einheit des Geistes und des Willens der deutschen Nation!“

I’ll try and translate: A heavy burden weighs down our people since years. … In spite of diligence and willingness to work, moxie, a rich understanding and best of intentions, millions of Germans seek their daily bread in vain. The economy has become deserted, public finances are in disorder, millions are unemployed! … While thus the German People and the Reich doused itself in internal political discord and quarrel and the  economy is floating toward misery, the unification of the German people started, who want to form a new community with a believing trust in their own people. … Knowing to act in accordance to the will of the nation, the National Government expects from the governmental parties, that they lift themselseves – after fifteen years of privation – above doctrinaire partisan thinking to subdue to the adamantine forces, that poverty and it’s impending consequences impose. … We want to reinstall the unity of the spirit and the volition of the German Nation!
That sounds an awful lot just like what I heard yesterday:

“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government, while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs, and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes, starting right here and right now […] January 20th, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country, will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now. […]  Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving. We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it. The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action. Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.“

As I said – stale. And frightening.
I wish, I could be in Washington today to join the women protesting. For another view on the topic, you might also want to read circumstance’s post “Hail to the chief“.