The answer? (From last April.) Yes, there seems to be a new rebel – or Maverick – in town…
* * * *
I have to admit I’ve been pretty much stymied since the election, last November 8. The best I could come up with since then was “Trump is like a box of chocolates.” (Posted November 13, nine days ago.)
It’s as if the Muses have abandoned me. On the one hand I want to be fair and not cranky. (Like so many other people my age.) But on the other hand I have this deep sense of foreboding…
Anyway, one project I’m working on is the recent hubbub about Mike Pence [being] ‘harassed’ by the cast of ‘Hamilton,’ the Broadway musical. My point there would be that that was simply an exercise of the First Amendment’s right to petition in the United States:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Another project was inspired by a recent comment from my wacko lady friend. (See ‘Mi Dulce’ – and Donald Trump – made me a Contrarian.) It was about Donald Trump basically saying to Obama, “You’re fired!” The point there would be that according to her reasoning – “and I use the term loosely*” – the American people will be able to say the same thing to DJT within four years. (See Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution.)
But both projects are slow-going.
Then I hit on the idea of comparing Donald Trump to “Johnny Yuma,” the original Rebel from the TV show back in the early 1960s. (1959-1961.) But first a word about the photo at the top of the page.
There’s a simple explanation. I like the top image in any post to be a full column wide. But the best photo I could find of “Johnny Yuma” was a half-column wide. See On “Johnny YUMA was a rebel.”
So instead I borrowed a photo from “Is there a new ‘Maverick’ in town?” That post from last April was about mavericks in general:
Originally the term referred to “Texas lawyer Samuel Maverick, who refused to brand his cattle. The surname Maverick is of Welsh origin, from Welsh mawr-rwyce, meaning ‘valiant hero…” As an adjective the term applies to someone who shows “independence in thoughts or actions.” As a noun the term means someone “who does not abide by rules.” Either that, or someone who “creates or uses unconventional and/or controversial ideas or practices.”
It also asked the musical question: “Can you say prescient?”
But we digress! Speaking of Donald Trump, I Googled the words “Donald Trump rebel” and got 46,300,00 results. Of course some results were about something different than my idea. (Things like Donald Trump Likely to End Aid for Rebels Fighting Syrian Government, and Donald Trump‘s wife, daughters rebel in ‘SNL’ parody.) But others were more on point. Kind of…
From June 2015 came this: Donald Trump’s announcement “refreshing,” “inspiring.” It was about immigration and “the current situation in Iraq,” courtesy of The Rebel Media. (The “conservative Canadian online political and social commentary media platform founded in February 2015 by former Sun News Network host Ezra Levant.”)
Another one was How the Rebel Flag Rose Again – and Is Helping Trump. That title pretty much speaks for itself.
But what about “Johnny YUMA,” the rebel we knew and loved from 1959 to 1961? That post had two key points, the first being that true rebels tend to die young. (Think James Dean.)
The second was that we’re fascinated by rebels, a term defined at least two ways. One says a rebel is a person who “refuses allegiance to, resists, or rises in arms against the government or ruler of his or her country.” The alternate definition is of a “person who stands up for their own personal opinions despite what anyone else says.” See Urban Dictionary, which added:
It’s all about being an individual and refusing to follow a crowd that forces you to think the same way they do even if it means becoming an outcast to society. True rebels know who they are and do not compromise their individuality…
All of which could apply to Donald Trump.
But then there was this observation, from The Rebel | Television Obscurities:
Yuma faced down intolerance, distrust, greed, confusion and revenge. Despite his rebellious nature, Yuma respected law and order and despised abuse of power. He stood up for the weak and downtrodden. He traveled alone and was often forced to work alone because he was the only one willing to stand up to the bad guys. (E.A.)
Which brought up The Establishment. “Remember that? Also known as The Man? Either refers to a ‘dominant group or elite that holds power or authority in a nation.’ And either can also be used to describe oppression, and that seemed to be what Johnny Yuma pledged to face down.”
Which raises the question: Is “The Donald” a Johnny Yuma kind of rebel? The kind that Johnny Cash sang about? (And exemplified himself.) Or will he be just another version of The Man?
* * * *
* * * *
Notes:
The upper image – borrowed from “Is there a new ‘Maverick’ in town?” – is courtesy of Maverick (TV series) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. “Note” also that an asterisk in the main text indicates a statement supported by a reference detailed in this “notes” section. Thus, as to “according to her reasoning – ‘and I use the term loosely:’” I borrowed that phrase from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, another old TV series. It aired from 1959 to 1963, for two years concurrently with “The Rebel.” Mr. Pomfrit – Dobie’s English teacher, played by William Schallert – routinely began his classes by saying, “Students – and I use that term loosely…” He also referred to them as “my young barbarians.”
The lower image is courtesy of popsike.com – JOHNNY CASH – THE REBEL – JOHNNY YUMA … popsike.com. See also Johnny Cash – Wikipedia:
Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice … a rebelliousness coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts, and a trademark look… Much of Cash’s music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation and redemption, especially in the later stages of his career.