"Anthony!!!"

They call him, “The Monster.” He is six-year-old Anthony Fremont, a child possessed of great powers with he wields viciously against anyone, or anything that doesn’t like him. His go-to move: Banish them “to the cornfield,” forever. 

Anthony is a television character in an episode of the popular ‘60’s series, “The Twilight Zone.” He could double as our own president, Donald Trump. All of those around Anthony must think happy thoughts and say happy things.

“I hate anybody who doesn’t like me!” he declares. 

“Everybody loves you, Anthony,” his father falsely, and fawningly assures him.

“That dog (barking)”, Anthony says, “doesn’t like me. He is a bad dog.”

Suddenly, the barking dog goes silent – into the cornfield. Afraid for his own safety, the father assures the boy: “That’s good what you did, Anthony… real good.” 

The father becomes a metaphor for Trump apologists across the country. They know that his actions – rescinding checks on Wall Street, rolling back environmental protections, spurning human rights, while sidling up to the dictators (perhaps for no other reason than that he is attracted to authoritarian rule) – are contrary to an enlightened society. The apologists choose to appease Trump, nonetheless – damn the collateral damage – to save themselves and their agendas.

When FBI director, James Comey, fell out of favor with President Trump, it was “to the cornfield” for him. But, it is not just that he was fired; it was tacky – meanly done, as if humiliation and denigration were necessary parts of the process. The apologists stepped forward:  “Well, you know Trump. He’s not steeped in the ways of Washington.” How about decency? Has he any familiarity with that?

Then, as though to outdo himself, the Trump administration went after Michelle Obama’s nutrition initiative for America’s school children. (What sort of people would interfere with children getting better nutrition?) The former first lady was more direct, asking of Trump: “What is wrong with you?” She might have added, “…Anthony!”