Over the last couple of years, our politicians in Washington have reminded me of a story my grandmother told me. The story? “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Andersen.
The term “fake news” solidly exists within the realm of this story. No one dares contradict the president — I mean the emperor — to inform him that he is exposed before us.
Currently it seems another story from my childhood is taking center stage. These days we are witnessing the personification of the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll’s classic, “Alice in Wonderland.” As a reminder, the queen is a foul-tempered monarch who is quick to give death sentences (“Off with their head!”) over the slightest perceived offense.
The president isn’t ordering beheadings, but he certainly does seem to want a growing number of people to be removed from office.
In the two examples I’ve cited, the characters were royalty, while the president is not royal, regardless of his actions. Unlike the stories, which are works of fiction, this is our reality.
I hope for our sake that our story will end with the well-known phrase, “They all lived happily ever after.”
Scott Worley, South Jordan