What happens when an authoritarian, vainglorious ruler with a tyrannical streak demands submission by a venerable cultural institution, and the institution fails to comply?
Why, destroy the institution, of course.
This is what Henry VIII did when he dissolved the monasteries of England, Wales and Ireland.
Glastonbury Abbey, dissolved 1539
Failure to recognize the ruler’s supremacy is a death sentence. The institution cannot be allowed to survive.
We are witnessing that same thing today in the United States of America. The Kennedy Center — one of America’s most venerable cultural institutions, which could not be renamed, despite an earnest effort of its hand-picked, pro-Trump Board of Trustees, to have it bear Trump’s name — is now indefinitely closed.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, September 16, 2026
The sheer vulgarity of what is taking place boggles the mind.
This wave of “renamings” inspires great aversion :( Something not in line with real historical greatness of America (how many times I noticed US keeping toponyms “inherited” from native tribes).
It seems that renaming is often the sign of impotence, helplessness to do anything more useful. My hometown was renamed for the first time during WW1 “due to anti-germans sentiment” and for the last time – during the fall and destruction of USSR. Well, many streets etc were then renamed and honestly not always to the better. Sure, when people were losing jobs and had hardly anything to eat, inflation soared, criminals feasted – and it was just the time to go with renaming everything.
We giggled at some Biden’s queer motions or words, regarding them as signs of mental deterioration. But now I think this wave of “rename everything” is much more looking like a sign of person’s mind going delirious. Unless I’m much mistaken Trump haven’t renamed anything during his first term. Now he is older, well, perhaps not so far from impeachment or demise – and how can any sane man in such situation believe that any of such a rush renamings will hold much longer?
But what is really puzzling – how the big crowd of sane people (firstly – the “concert” of republicans party, and in wider sense – general americans) can stand having a person showing sings of falling into “childlike behavior” as the head of state. It’s so much beyond vulgarity – some degree of disgust so deep that I can’t find find a word for it.
P.S. today CNN and others are discussing Mr Carney’s expressed thoughts about Canada becoming “associate member” of EU – and particularly phrase about “manners”. So it seems not only we, poor simple people, consider Trump’s behavior as outstandingly awful.
Needless to say, His Imperial Orangeness was personally offended. We were supposed to submit, not seek improved alliances elsewhere.