We Are Not Kings

We Are Not Kings
And the Apple

The genesis of this essay begins with Sir Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, on one summer’s evening in 1666. I do the same thing after dinner as Newton did. I sit down in front of my computer and ponder. We both acquire insights as we contemplate. Nearly four centuries ago, Newton was interrupted from his wondering when an apple dropped from the tree.

This grafted apple tree is from the one that dropped an apple on Newton’s head.

According to the story, Newton had an eureka moment, which enabled him to understand gravity. As the apple tree grew, so did the story. The story of the tree and gravity is true, while there is a debate regarding whether Newton saw an apple fall from a tree or the apple hit on the head while sitting.

William Stukely, a professor of archaeology, was a close friend of Newton. This is what he remembered happening while they were together.

After dinner, the weather being warm, we went into the garden, and drank tea under the shade of some apple trees, only he, and myself. Amidst other discourse, he told me, he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind. “Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground,” thought he to himself: Occasion'd by the fall of an apple, as he sat in a contemplative mood: “Why should it not go sideways, or upwards? But constantly to the earths centre? Assuredly, the reason is, that the earth draws it. There must be a drawing power in matter. And, the sum of the drawing power in the matter of the earth must be in the earth’s center, not in any side of the earth. Therefore dos this apple fall perpendicularly, or toward the center. If matter thus draws matter; it must be in proportion of its quantity. Therefore the apple draws the earth, as well as the earth draws the apple.”

That is the backstory. This is a video of a recent Oval Office press conference.

It was a typical Orange President taking center stage to address all the questions that reporters had. One reporter asked Trump about the national protest, No Kings, scheduled for that Saturday. Trump denied being a king. However, he talks so much that talking becomes addictive. On those occasions, he denies something, and in the same breath, he reveals what he really believes. Equally interesting was that I didn’t read or hear reporters mention his closing comment.

“No, no, we’re not a king.” Now, who is the we? In Merry old England, the we meant that the king and God are partners. English royalty began using the Latin term pluralis majestatis in the mid-12^th century, starting with Henry II. The royal we is the basis of the divine right of kings.

American colonists had issues with the royal we, with George III. This is a brief litany of issues that he had against his American colony. He wanted to tax colonist without their input. In the 21^st century, Trump has the Big Beautiful Bill, which taxes non-millionaires while giving the very wealthiest a tax break.

The colonists had issues with the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts. Nevertheless, George III wasn’t happy with the American colonists defying him. He and God were working together for the betterment of the British Empire. George III wanted his colonists to follow his mandate.

Beyond those problems, back during the instability of the British monarchy, the conflict over controlling England's rule led to the Hanoverians taking over. George I was born and raised in Germany. When he became the King of England, he had a very limited ability to speak English. When George II became the British king, he moved from Hanover, Germany, to London.

George III was the first Hanoverian king to be born in England. Since then, all the kings and queens have been from the House of Hanover. Queen Victoria spoke with a German accent as she grew up. However, King George V changed the family name due to WWI. He feared a possible German claim to the British throne.

Our Orange President parallels King George III in that King Trump. Trump’s grandfather came to the States from Kallstadt, Germany, in 1885. However, he had problems with the Bavarian Department of Immigration. He couldn’t immigrate to the US because he was trying to avoid the military draft. Does that sound familiar? Basically, Trump’s grandfather lost his German citizenship due to being a draft dodger. Trump avoided the draft due to a bone spur.

As you ponder this article, remember that under a spreading apple tree, Newton discovered gravity after an apple fell from the tree. Remember also that apples, whether good or bad apples, don’t fall from a good or bad apple tree. So it is with our president.

An Addendum. An estimated 5 million rallied in a nationwide "No Kings" protest march.