It's often said that things happen in threes, I'm afraid to even ponder what the next one might be.
Those who devle into dystopian conspiracy theories of an invisble hand pushing the world into a dark future of one world government subjigating the human population to slavery, they're probably feeling somewhat justified in their beliefs right now.
First we had the novel coronavirus shutting down large segments of public life including closed schools and churches,. Many buisnesses are shuttered with millions tossed from gainful employment to the poverty of government welfare. Despite research showing that the virus spreads almost exclusively indoors most jurisdictions still allow grocery stores, Wal-Marts, Amazon warehouses and many other businesses to continue operating with little more than guidelines about physical distancing.
Meanwhile outdoor spaces are heavily regulated. The city of Coburg just announced that its popular public beach will be closed for the summer. Everyday activity like shooting hoops alone have led to fines, even sitting down in a park. Some of these measures are being eased, but there's still lots of things you cannot do outside without risk of a citation. And don't even think about having kids over for a birthday party for your seven year old, even if its outside in the backyard.
Now we have protests across the United States erupting into violence over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer as other officers stood and watched. Civil liberties have been fruther eroded by the imposition of curfew orders in many American cities.
So what's next?
Its said a house divided cannot stand, and the United States has not been this divided since their Civil War. The U.S. is incredibly split right now. There are those who want lockdown measures eased, if not completely rescinded, and those who want them to contine. Between those who sympathize with the protests and those who want the heavy hand of the state to come hammering down and restore the peace.
Are we just one step removed from the creation of an authoritaian regime on Canada's southern border? What would it take to push our neighbour to impose full martial law, creating a country that would seem more like China and North Korea than the society envisioned by the framers of the U.S. constitution?
We've had pandemics before, as well as riots fueled by racial tension. Thinking about what could happen next, the first thing that springs to mind is something that's also happened before, in places like New York City and Boston. I don't even want to say the word, because I fear it. And I fear what could happen in the wake of such an event at a time such as this.
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2 comments:
I'm still hopeful, albeit not optimistic, that America will step back from the abyss. Sadly, that may depend on whether Trump sees worsening conflict in his personal interests. The economy is buggered. He's botched the Covid-19 problem. His numbers are in the toilet with an election just five months off and facing the very real prospect of a second wave on voting day. Wag the dog. Pick a fight. Try to look tough.
I served in the military, Gord. Third generation. I've had a lifelong interest in military affairs and war studies. I was familiar with Malaya, Algeria, the French Indo-China war and America's Viet Nam debacle but I really got into insurgencies during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
America today is susceptible to the same tactics employed brilliantly by the Viet Cong to undermine successive South Vietnamese regimes. They succeeded in turning public opinion against the government. They learned to strike targets with bombs or assassination. Their objective was to goad the government into over-reacting in ways that suppressed the general population, eventually turning the public against their government.
Any group that wants to sow havoc today merely has to shoot a cop in the midst of a protest. The protesters will be blamed. They'll be suppressed. People will take sides. Groups that can be identified - blacks, the Left, etc. are easily accused, demonized. The rest is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I've been looking for signs that Congressional Republicans would restrain Trump. They won't. That's why George Will, writing in today's WaPo, is calling for the destruction of the GOP. George Will, for Gawd's sake. He wants Congressional Republicans, especially Trump's enablers in the Senate, cast into the eternal fires of Hell. He wants the whole party wiped out in November.
When mild-mannered, understated George proclaims America sliding into the abyss then I think there's reason to worry.
You said these things come in threes. If that doesn't qualify how about the acceleration of the next mass extinction event? Our species is pretty high on the list.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/01/sixth-mass-extinction-of-wildlife-accelerating-scientists-warn
Actually first it was wildfire in Australia, then it was Trump trying to prevoke a war with Iran, a then Pandemic and the lockdown response,then the massacre in Nova Scotia, then the murder of an innocent man in Minnesota, and now it's riots.
It will be interesting/horrifying to see what happens next. Could use good news.
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