Let's see, what day is it? That can be a problem in our current situation. The holidays compound it. We're coming off New Year's Day, an occasion without the usual jubilation. It's usually a secondary holiday to Christmas anyway. You'll see more businesses open on New Year's Day.
We'll hear of new "spikes" of virus cases that are connected to people not following the proper advice and joining in gatherings for the holidays. Our U.S. Supreme Court has insisted that churches be unfettered even in a time of a public health emergency. Donald Trump has appointed three Federalist Society-type justices. This is what we get.
Justice Roberts was for a time a moderating force, keeping the rigid conservatives from taking over. He once had the image of "conservative." The scale has been adjusted. The voices of conservative media might now be inclined to attach the word "liberal" to him. Where is all this taking us?
I just got done having my breakfast bagels which I picked up at our Willie's Super Valu. I was concerned while waiting for my order about a young man who arrived at the order counter, stood a few feet from me. Not wearing a mask. I wonder: have we reached the point now, especially with news bulletins about an extra contagious strain of the virus, where non-mask wearers at Willie's will be admonished? Spoken to in curt fashion? Actually asked to leave?
We have been restrained through much of this crisis. I suppose we have put up with non-mask wearers the same way we once put up with cigarette smokers. It would be interesting to ask a Willie's employee if any confrontations have been necessary. I'd be willing to bet that most of the scofflaws (or scoff-rules) are influenced by politically-tinged thinking. It's the conservative Supreme Court justices who think people should be allowed to gather and worship. Regardless of extenuating circumstances, and I'll emphasize that it's "regardless" and not "irregardless." There is no such word as the latter.
President Trump berated a mask-wearing news reporter at a press conference for being "politically correct." His detached attitude about the health crisis has been on display all along. We should have had a national leader pleading with us to "stay put" for the holidays of Christmas and New Year's, to connect with friends/family with the readily-available alternate means.
By the same token we can all worship using those means. It would not be asking much at all. A normal president - and by that I guess I'd suggest a Democratic president - would have made much-ballyhooed national addresses. We may still have legal holidays - you know, where the mailman still gets paid - but outside of that, forget the holidays. Forget the holidays to protect your own health, and if you don't care about that, as the young man at Caribou Coffee apparently didn't this morning, please protect your friends and family.
As far as sacrifices go, it's not that much. Our national leaders would suggest in a light manner how we can cope with the isolation. Us Americans pride ourselves on being enterprising, flexible and creative. And, to maintain our happiness and optimism in spite of it all. We should have had national "cheerleaders" in this regard. Instead we have had the obviously abhorrent behavior and talk by the president.
The president should be laser-focused on getting the vaccine out and administered, to promote confidence in it. To be on TV getting the shot himself. Even if the vaccine is not 100 percent foolproof, even if it was on the fast-track, getting it is vastly preferable to having the virus cut through our population like a scythe.
Our president has been laser-focused but it has been on other matters, totally political. Toss out the election results. Send his legal "strike force" out to "release the kraken" or whatever, and lose, lose, lose. It sucks up the oxygen. And now there's the distraction of the Georgia special elections.
Is Trump unable to project any happiness about anything? We read regularly about how he's "enraged" about something. Emotions as a rule are not a good basis on which to make decisions. Is he being emotional or is he just being a crybaby? We all ought to cry now as the clock ticks and we must permit the circus to just roll on for an excruciating 2-3 more weeks.
The president continues with long-shot or "hail Mary" attempts to nullify the election. Unfortunately there are stooges within our national leadership who are at least humoring him. Isn't it scary, though, to wonder what's really going on in the minds of these people? Are they really serious? Do they really want to see a legal judgment that will allow Mike Pence to pick the president? Seriously, this is what they are attempting, or say they are attempting.
Such a ludicrous thought process wouldn't even be allowed for a high school kid writing a paper for a civics class. Maybe you'd be sent to the principal's office. But we're talking about people on the national leadership stage, e.g. Louie Gohmert, who call themselves "Republicans." Such people are clearly dominant in our Stevens County. I notice the big "Trump-Pence" sign still most visible between Subway and Greeley Plumbing.
What's the point? They now have a Republican as congressman for our district. Collin Peterson's efforts to distance himself from the Democratic Party didn't work. I condemn him for that. Now he probably has no friends: he assailed the Democratic Party through the campaign and he won't find friends among Republicans anyway. He shouted in one of his campaign commercials "defunding the police is crazy!"
Joe Biden was very concerned about how the phrase in question could be used to "beat the hell" out of Democrats. It originated in a general way out of police misconduct situations. I understand the basic sentiment: community health and safety can be built through more constructive and facilitating ways than by having the dim presence of officers with their guns in holsters. But to literally "defund the police?" I would like to ask Collin Peterson or his spokesman/stooge Sue Dieter: can you name a member of Congress who has called for defunding the police?
I would admire Peterson if he had behaved like a loyal Democrat, to sink or swim as one. First of all, he might be surprised how much support he would have earned. Secondly he'd be able to live with himself better when it was over. What's so terrible about Nancy Pelosi? The Democrats' "Heroes Act" would have left you all with more money in your bank account. Even Trump got on board with the $2000 direct payment, but it met an obstruction in the curmudgeonly Mitch McConnell.
When will the day come, when we have a younger, smarter and more vigorous strain of politicians, people who would attack the virus right from the get-go, aggressively, and yes with spending money. I told a friend the other day that Democrats would spend a ton of money right now to get the vaccine in people's arms. My friend is hopelessly Republican. He answered "yes, the Democrats would spend a lot of money but it wouldn't accomplish any more."
You see, he is just so hopelessly programmed, as are most Stevens County residents, to defer to the Trump crowd, to be cultists. I sent my friend an email last night that had a link to a "Mediaite" article about how Mitt Romney appears to be agreeing with me. Romney is assailing the federal government on its lack of leadership. He once ran for president as the Republican nominee. Imagine that: a Trump critic of today having once run for president as a Republican.
I doubt my friend will adjust this thinking, no matter the background I share with him. Stevens County is dotted with churches that promote the Trump gospel. Christianity is doing this nation a profound disservice. If we would only listen to the atheists.
Look at Josh Hawley's priorities now: to join Trump in challenging the election. What hath God wrought? I will put my trust in God and Jesus even if this puts me at odds with most Stevens County residents.
Addendum: Oh, it's Saturday.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment