On Friday, vacationers, high rollers, show girls, and service industry workers awoke to a steady stream of rain from rare leaky skies above the desert.
As the pedestrian traffic snarl along the Strip was given an immediate and thorough infusion of insidious device gawking late to the CES expo wall of insatiable social networkers in a rapid fire salvo of selfies, due to the forced shutdown of all escalators, a journey into symbolism was a needed antidote to restoring sanity. As Trump took the television stage at just after 9 am local time, the presence and purpose of the Seattle-like weather was easily explained as a mystical phenomenon composed of a collective symphony of tears of joy and contentment released from the heavens after 8 years in stasis. Only the incessant gaudiness and ceaseless echoes reverberating from the nearly flawless mechanism of commercialized hedonism perfected in Sin City could nearly absorb the ramifications of a nation reunited with hope and the presence of true leadership, if not for the island of reason existing at the Trump International Hotel and saving Las Vegas from the eternal hellfires of purgatory.
The hotel, located a few blocks off the Strip in a truly Trump-like statement to geographical proximity and unique branding tactics, is a still a prominent feature in the city’s skyline and minus the incessant hassle from the hordes of tourists, pan handlers and junkies. Many patriots traveled to Las Vegas and the Trump International Hotel for the end of the week to simply pay homage to the new administration in a subdued and reflective manner. This was not an in-the-face, “we told you so”, street blocking anarchist laden dystopian demonstration of discourse and counter-productivity. However, the inclement weather was not the only offending presence of the day, as in true Vegas style, a gaggle of two dozen protesters strolled by the entrance to the property, but were drowned out by a more than sufficiently staffed escort team of law enforcement professionals.
On Saturday, the sunshine returned along the reality that the next four years could offer pathways into prosperity and the return to the First Amendment and the end to political correctness. Staff and guests at the lobby of the Trump International exuded a quiet and peaceful confidence, a definite antithesis to the chaotic and caustic vibe and reality of the planned protests in select major cities. When informed that Seattle would be a final destination, those enjoying a mimosa or crafted cocktail at the hotel lounge urged a reconsideration of plans.
Eloquence and professionalism did not discriminate, as the diversity in race and gender of Trump’s hotel staff shared their thoughts on the Inauguration in a calm and friendly manner. The majority of the customer service team seemed to truly appreciated the pilgrimage of guests traveling to the property to simply enjoy the historic event with friends, family or those with a similar ideology. Fellow patrons within the lobby and lounge collectively forged a peaceful vibe that felt like the aftermath of political convention and shrouded in grace, rather than a raw and diluted destination in Vegas.
If the influence of Trump’s official appointment to the White House can effectively transform the nightlife-laden translucent surreal and unchecked culture of Sin City to a sensible bastion of enlightenment if even for an extended weekend, the possible ramifications on an entire nation bold well for the immediate future.