Trump’s Unwillingness to “Sing First”
Singing first stinks, and stings, but in the grand scheme of things, it is both ok and important to be present when someone is singing second.
Most of you are probably wondering what I am talking about. It is my favorite tradition from the Army-Navy game. At the end of every game, each alma mater is sung. The loser’s alma mater is sung first — with every player, cadet, and midshipmen standing. Then the winner’s alma mater is sung second with every player, cadet, and midshipmen standing.
Singing second is pure joy for the winner and pure agony for the loser. The joy of beating a worthy rival.
Singing first brings no one joy. The loser is thinking about what could have been. The winner just wants to sing its alma mater.
But the tradition matters. It reminds both Army and Navy that they are ONE TEAM, a team that has sworn to defend the nation. It reminds us that the rivalry can never break that belief. If it does, we move from rivalry to hatred — and nothing good ever comes from hate.
Our past Presidents recognized a similar tradition on a far grander scale by sitting at inauguration with the next President — whether it be a President elect who beat him or merely the next President after 8 years in office, whether it be a President-elect from the same party or a different party. It is tradition. It is recognition that we are one country despite being members of two parties. It is important.
And Trump’s decision today to not attend is wrong. It is a recognition that he learned nothing from attending several Army — Navy games, which is not surprising since he never stayed to see the end of a game. He clearly is more fearful of legal action than chastised after Tuesday’s seditious invasion of Capitol Hill. He has no apparent true interest in calming passions and uniting the nation. It is a reminder as to why he still must be rebuked. We can never again have a President such as Trump.
Most importantly, it is a call for us all to work to unify our nation towards a brighter day. We will certainly roll up our sleeves and do so together. That has been and always will be what makes our country great.