All posts by Eric Robert Nolan

Eric Robert Nolan graduated from Mary Washington College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He spent several years a news reporter and editorial writer for the Culpeper Star Exponent in Culpeper, Virginia. His work has also appeared on the front pages of numerous newspapers in Virginia, including The Free Lance – Star and The Daily Progress. Eric entered the field of philanthropy in 1996, as a grant writer for nonprofit healthcare organizations. Eric’s poetry has been featured by Dead Beats Literary Blog, Dagda Publishing, The International War Veterans’ Poetry Archive, and elsewhere. His poetry will also be published by Illumen Magazine in its Spring 2014 issue.

“Der Kuss der Sphinx,” Franz von Stuck, 1896

“The Kiss of the Sphinx.” Oil on canvas.

This is historic (in a terrible way.)

By now you have probably heard Donald Trump’s open refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power should the vote not favor him in November.  (And his statement arrives at the same time as that frightening Atlantic article about how he could bypass the election results altogether.)

I swear that I cannot believe the things that I am hearing. No matter whether there is any substance or viability or real commitment behind Trump’s stance, this is … historic (in a terrible way.)

Yes, a lot of us (including me) saw it coming a million miles away. But it doesn’t diminish the gravity of it.

Before 2016, who would’ve thought we would see any American president — left or right — act like this?

Attacking a free press and attacking free elections are not “American” impulses. There will always be some small part of me that will experience cognitive dissonance when I see Trump supporters carrying an American flag.

They are not patriots, they’re authoritarians — because they are not supporters of our country, they’re devotees of a man.



 

“Covered Wagon Train Crossing Hopi Country, Monument Valley,” Fernand Harvey Lungren, early 1900s

Gouache on paper.

(because the bone spurs set in slowly)

Donald Trump on Ilhan Omar: “She’s telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from?”

Mr. President, she came to this country when she was 12 years old.

When you were 12, you hadn’t even managed to dodge the draft yet.

“Orange is the New Crap”

I called Trump a dirty word.

Here I stand in Facebook jail.

Now my voice remains unheard!

Curse that pompous orange whale!!!

 

 

“Jail: the Only Remedy,” Walter H. Gallaway, circa 1902

Front page of “Scientific American,” July 19, 1856

Munn & Co.

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YOU’D ACTUALLY BE SURPRISED AT THE THINGS I CAN WRITE.

“The Maiden,” Gustav Klimt, 1913

Oil on canvas.

Then again, maybe it’s a mooed point.

I really want a group of my peers to persuade me of something that they already agree upon.

I’ve heard that this “herd mentality” is a good protection against coronavirus.

Think about it — how many cows do you know who’ve caught it?

“Temeridad de Martincho en la Plaza de Zaragoza,” Francisco Goya, circa 1815

“The Recklessness of Martincho in Zarazoga Square.”  Etching.

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