5/31/2020 What's the Endgame?

I understand the anger.

I understand a First Amendment right to assembly and free speech.

The point's been made. The cop's been arrested and charged with murder. Now we have cities in chaos. I've seen more than one scene of a business owner beaten by mobs for the sin of trying to protect their property and livelihoods. Police officers dragged through the streets in Chicago, a black Federal Officer killed by a drive by shooter in California, the Courthouse and City Hall in Nashville set afire. Again and again across America, there's been destruction and violence.

Chicago Cop Dragged Through Streets

Oakland, CA, Where a Federal Officer Was Killed by a Driveby

What's the endgame? What are the terms? This can't keep going on and on. Well it can, actually, but at some point there will be a counteraction and it won't be pretty. The government has been very measured in response, I presume the response has been measured in an effort to avoid escalation. But if the violence, terrorizing, and destruction keep up, either the government will put it down or we will start to see vigilantism. Nobody wants to see that, but there will come a point that that's what will happen.

Who speaks for the mobs and thugs? Yeah, thugs. And a lot of them are white, so don't tell me it's fucking racial to call the violent and destructive rioters and terrorists thugs. (I hate the fact that that term, 'thugs', has been called racial by so many, when it refers to people who display thuggish behavior, and is not a racial pejorative.) What is it they want? And the peaceful protesters, what about them? When do they walk away from the terrorists because they don't agree with, condone, or support their tactics. You want to call them protesters? Fine. But until they make it clear they don't support the terrorists and thugs they're mingling with, giving the terrorists and thugs duck and cover by simply being there for the scum to mingle in with, the protesters have allowed themselves to be used as human shields and are a part of the problem.

Nobody, but nobody I've talked to or read or heard from has tried in any way to justify the murder of George Floyd. None of the victims of terrorism have. None of the business owners whose businesses are ruined have, either, I'm sure. The cop will stand trial. In the meantime, what's it going to take to end the destruction and violence? Are there "terms", or is a counter-uprising and a counterattack going to be made necessary? Because at some point, something's got to give. We've passed one breaking point, which is why the violence started. The next breaking point will be worse. Whether government forces or civilian vigilantes, we just DON'T want that to happen. Do we? I don't.

5/29/2020-3 "How white people should talk to people of color"

Of all the stuff I've seen on social media the last couple of days, one of the most astounding has been advice being given. to us white people on how to talk to black people. It's do's and dont's. Mostly don'ts. Don't ever say this. Don't say that. The list is long, and some of the advice is common sense and common decency. Some of it, though, is preposterous. So, this last post tonight is short and sweet:

Thanks for the advice, helpful black person(s). But I've talked to black people plenty in my 62 years, 9 and 1/2 months. I'm not too stupid to know how to talk to people without causing problems. It's goddamned insulting that you're advising white people what we can and can't, should and shouldn't say to you. Everything has to conform to your narrative, to your truth, to your sensibilities. My narrative, my truth, and my sensibilities? Well, like 'em or not, that's what you get. So thanks, but no thanks for the condescending, self-serving, demeaning advice. I think we will get along fine if I do me and you do you. If we can't, it's not because we're different colors. It's because you think you're the fucking thought police. And you ain't, at least not of my thoughts.

5/29/2020-2 Bias, Discrimination, Prejudice, and Racism: Are They All the Same Thing?

When racial tension flares up like it has over the killing of  George Floyd, I often see written or am told in writing that racism is hiding everywhere in our society. And as I try to wrap my brain around it, I always seem to come back to: There's bias, there's discrimination, there's prejudice, and there's racism. Without using a dictionary, here's how I see the differences between those things. And I do think they're different, and I do think that treating them as the same makes it very hard for us to have the dialogue we need to have about race. If not a dialogue, then at least a sweeping change in mindset for many of us, sometimes of all races and colors. But mostly, because of the Floyd George case, I'm thinking black and white.

Bias is a tendency to lean toward or away from someone or something to satisfy our own comfort or avoid discomfort. It's not necessarily harmful as long as it's simple and innocent. The simplest example I can think of is friendships and love relationships. While it seems to me that interracial friendships and relationships are more common in the US than ever before, many of us still tend to be drawn to friendships and relationships with people who tend to look like ourselves. We're drawn to our own kind. I don't know if it's inherent in our makeup, or cultural, or learned, or what. And while many of us would be much better off and have a much better understanding if we had more good friendships with a diverse group, to say this is racism or discrimination, to me is an overstatement and exaggeration.

Discrimination is a next step past bias. Where bias is more an inclination, discrimination is more of an active decision: Joey and Stevie don't want Kelvin to hang out with them, either because they're not comfortable with being around a black guy or they've been raised to "to keep to their own kind.' So they discriminate against Kelvin: "No, there's no room for you in the car. Find your own way to the game." Or in hiring, "Kelvin, you're just not a good fit here." "But I meet all the requirements, and I really need a job." "Well, I appreciate that, but you're just not a good fit. I don't want to put you in position to fail. That won't be good for you or for us."

Prejudice, as in racial prejudice, is prejudging someone because of race. It's thinking someone is more likely to steal, take extra days off for poor excuses, probably on drugs, all kinds of predetermination without justifiable cause. "I know Kelvin did ok on the interview testing, but do you really think he's smart enough to handle this job?" "I have concerns about Kelvin's reliability. We should go in a different direction." The guy doesn't know Kelvin, his negative attitude is due to unfortunate stereotyping, but not necessarily is there any animosity of hatred behind it. It's more an ignorance.

And then there's racism. Damned died in the wool hatred due to racial background, or a sense of superiority over someone because they're not the same race as you. "Are you f***ing kidding me? You're going to hire a goddamned n***er? Not on my watch! This is a white outfit. We're gonna stay that way. This company was built around a set of values, and it ain't going down the tubes to satisfy NAACP or the EEOC or anyone. F*** that!" The same can be transferred to making a team, to choosing friends, to your treatment of the (black) person your (white) child falls in love with.

All four if these, bias, discrimination, prejudice, and racism exist in our society today. They all exist as to how whites see blacks, and they all exist as to how blacks see whites, too. Since in society today it's fair to say whites hold more of the better cards in the deck that the former is more problematic, but the latter exists, too, and neither is helpful or healthy for any of us.

So, where does this line of thinking lead me? First, the first three are correctable, probably bias most easily, discrimination next, then prejudice the hardest. Racism is a harder nut to crack. It's more rooted in negative emotion and less reliant on anything factual at all. But one thing I know for sure, nobody thinks they're a racist, and most people in the first three categories will probably be insulted, maybe deeply hurt feelings, maybe angry, if you call them one. A full on racist? That f***er probably couldn't give two shits what anyone thinks of him. He's so right in his own mind, it'd be hard to convince him he's wrong.

I know for me, yes I've got biases. If you think you don't, you're either lying to yourself or you're far more enlightened than me or most people. I don't think I discriminate or am prejudiced, but maybe I can be shown an instance where I am and I will feel bad when I come to know and understand that. But if your way of calling it to my attention it to call me a racist motherf***er, all chances of a good outcome in the discussion for everyone have probably diminished for all concerned. Racial inequality is real. And biases, prejudices, discrimination, and racism ALL play a role in fostering continued racial inequality. Biased, prejudicial, and discriminative behaviors can and should change, even when they are mine-my own. Calling me a racist for everything you might dislike or disagree with? It's not helpful. And because I have questions about what killer cop's motive was, is NOT a denial of the possibility that he is a racist piece of sh*t. To me, that presumption is a form of prejudice, a rush to judgement without facts, because why not, right? White cop, black victim, we know all we need to know, don't we? And because I differentiate between protesters and rioters and looters, that isn't a denial of the fact that bias, discrimination, prejudice, and racism are real. My assertions to that effect have been met with numerous, "You just don't understand."

Well, you know what? If "You just don't understand," is the only possible response I can get because I don't agree that robbing or burning the Target and CVS is understandable given circumstances, I guess I just won't ever understand. Burning something else tonight, shooting someone else tonight, stealing something else tonight is NOT going to bring me around. They've already got my attention. The f***ing murderous cop is in jail and has been charged with murder. If that justice isn't good enough, then we're either gone off the cliff or close to the point of no return.

5/29/2020 George Floyd Murdered by Cop, MSP Burns

George Floyd didn't have to die. And George Floyd didn't deserve to die. It's too late now. He's as dead as a person gets, and we only get one crack at it on this Earth. I have no idea why fired policeman Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck until he was dead. I have no idea why the other three fired police officers didn't intervene. I heard a statement by a Minneapolis District Attorney last night say they had other evidence that showed it may not have been a homicide (paraphrasing). Well, I would like to hear what other evidence would make me think to myself, "Oh, now it makes perfect sense why that officer knelt on his neck until he killed him." It'll take quite a tall tale, I'd say. And I'm a huge supporter of the police. So right up front, I support police and I almost always give everyone, including cops, the benefit of the doubt. But, as far as this case goes, there doesn't seem to be much doubt in my mind. If some incredible evidence comes out to convince me it wasn't murder, I'll change my tune. Until then, no.

What I'm not nearly so willing to presume is that because Chauvin is white and Floyd is black, that race was a motive, or that it was a causal factor in the murder. I am NOT saying it's not. I am just saying I'm uncomfortable that a city is on fire, and other people's lives are being ravaged by those fires because there's this seemingly unassailable certainty that that's what this was, even before we know what it was. My friend Steve last night questioned whether I understood the level of anger seething within the black community over this. My aunt explained how so many other episodes lend credibility to the presumption that race plays into it. The Minneapolis Mayor himself said 400 years of history bring us to the place where this angry outpouring (paraphrasing) can be explained and understood. 

To me, what we are seeing is very real anger. It may not be a great analogy, but I think it is. Hopefully I can articulate this well enough that you do, too. The reaction to this reminds me of a bad marriage that's in crisis. Due to one partner's behavior again and again, and the other's repeated co-dependent response to it,. the two have come to a point of complete distrust and short-tempered flareups happen all too often, maybe daily. At that point, almost anything will set the co-dependent responder off. Late coming home from work? "Where the f*** have you been?!?!" Stuck in traffic and then had to fix a flat tire or some other legitimate reason disappears in the anger. Why? Because yesterday and the day before that and the days before that, too, it was drinking and infidelity. neither of which went away today just because the "excuse" was better, And in that bad marriage, as the fireworks of fighting are exploded, who is hurt the worst? The kids. The kids. The kids are the biggest victims. Growing up with no trust and all fighting, the stage is set for their lives to follow a path where dysfunction and ab-normalcy, lack of trust, infidelity, abuse, and substance abuse seem normal: that's what family life is. Well, we are seeing that on a grand scale, as the interracial marriage that is the USA is in crisis.

Well, as I already said, I am not sure this WAS racial. It COULD have been something else. Am I sure? Hell no. All I'm sure of is that it looks pretty certain that Chauvin is a murderer. What his motive may have been, remains to be seen. Why in the f*** the Minneapolis DA seems to be covering for him rather than signing an arrest warrant is beyond me, But for me, I think more facts are in order before a city is burned down to punish innocents for the sins of the guilty. I've always said that police shootings, particularly this and similarly controversial police shootings, should be investigated like an aircraft accident, to peel back the onion through all its layers to find what is really inside, why did it really happen? One Minneapolis television station reported last night that Chauvin and Floyd both worked at the same nightclub in Minneapolis for years, both of them working security for the club, one inside, the other outside. Is it possible they had some conflict related to their work? Instead of Black Guy - White Cop, could it have been Two Guys Who Hated One Another?

As to the Minneapolis Mayor, citing 400 years of history as an explanation, and to any and everyone who feel likewise, I get where you're coming from. There IS racial injustice. There IS racism. Our country has some unfortunate chapters, chapters that include slavery and racial inequality. But we also have one chapter that I don't know any other country in the world has. We had a civil war, nearly uncountable deaths. To end the scourge of slavery. That was us. Our country. Civil War to end slavery. Who else had that?

George Floyd deserved to live. Even if he was a serial axe murderer, I don't see how that would justify kneeling on his neck until he was dead. George Floyd deserves justice now. Justice based on truth and the facts, not based on assumption and presumption. Maybe it was racial. If it is shown to be that that's what it was, then so be it. Treat it as such and find a way for society to learn from it. If by some chance it turns out to have been something else, then who do the victims of the riotous destruction and looting petition to seek their justice?

5/24/2020 Memorial Day

May 16th was Armed Forces Day. Armed Forces Day is the day set aside to recognize all members of our U.S. military.

Veterans Day will be observed on November 11th. Veterans Day is the day set aside every year to recognize all veterans of our US armed services.

Memorial Day, tomorrow, this year May 25th, is set aside to recognize all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives for their country on a field of battle.

This has been a public service announcement. So while your "Thank you for your service" and the like is appreciated and thoughtful, please understand that as a veteran, tomorrow ISN'T my day. So on Memorial Day, please remember all the brave men and women who went into harm's way to protect and defend us, and who perished for that noble cause, so that all of us might enjoy freedom and liberty.

5/21/2020 Meaningless Numbers for Managing Risk

Just browsed my morning newspapers and looked through some news and information stuff online. One thing that stuck me when I went to the Florida Covid-19 site is that the "main" Florida and Charlotte County numbers include the total number of Covid-19 infections. Now that we're 3 or 4 months into this, seems to me that number is somewhat meaningless. Maybe they can't produce the number I'd like to see, but total number currently infected, tracked day by day would be a lot more meaningful. Also useful would be the daily or weekly mortality numbers, not so much the total.

Why? Because cumulative totals tell one story: what the total impact of the virus has been. But the current number of infected people in my county and state, the number of new infections (whether a daily or weekly number), and the daily or weekly fatality numbers would tell me what the risk is now, and how that risk is trending will tell me if things continue to decline, are static, or if there's a spike.

I realize the total infected may be a hard one for them to figure out. They'll know some of the people who had it and have tested negative, and surely the people who had it and have died they'll know, too, but I don't know how many of the people they know had it have had follow-up tests and are now negative. Some, especially early on, may not have had follow up tests at all. I don't know. If so their numbers will just fade into oblivion (or Bolivia, as Mike Tyson once said, "Don't want to fade into Bolivia!"), and still be counted in the total number.

How many people are there who have it now? (Inquiring minds want to know!)

How many new infections this day/week? (Florida currently provides this number.)

How many new fatalities this day/week? (Florida also provides this number.)

All three of those questions will help us manage risk way better than grand/cumulative totals will. Those cumulative statistics on infections and fatalities are helpful for historians, but meaningless to help with our decisions today and tomorrow.

5/20/2020 Conspiracy Theories

I don't subscribe to every conspiracy theory tossed out by partisan.

Right Wing Dumbassery

Do I believe CCP Virus numbers were, are, and will be used by partisans to score points against their rivals? Does a bear shit in the woods?

Do I believe Democrats want prolonged shutdowns to damage the economy and they are pushing policies that will do that in the interest of hurting President Trump's re-election chances? No, I don't. Do I think the damage to the economy will be used to politic against Trump? Yes. That is different from closing the economy for the express purpose of hurting him.

Do I believe Democratic Party governors and legislators are intentionally inflating CCP Virus mortality numbers for the specific purpose of hurting President Trump? No, I don't. I think the numbers are inflated because in their rush to get a relief bill passed, a lot of money was thrown around somewhat recklessly. Hospitals were rewarded financially for each CCP Virus case they handled. So guess what they did? They counted every case they could as a CCP Virus case. Died of a heart attack but tested positive for the virus? Cha-ching! Died of respiratory failure, was never tested for the virus? Ba-zinga!

I kinda like this one though.

Do I believe Comey, Clapper, Brennan and others conspired to frame Donald Trump for crimes? You bet your ass I do!

Do I believe President Obama was the author and leader of the conspiracy to frame him? Nope. My take is Clapper, Comey, and Brennan told him about the crimes they, along with the DNC, Clinton Campaign, and Fusion GPS invented, and sold him on the seriousness of the 'crimes'. He did what any president would have done in that situation. He said to keep him informed. If it turns out he's proven to have been an active conspirator, I'll correct my take. Till then, this is it.

Do I believe the Deep State targeted and took down Gen Mike Flynn? You bet your ass I do!

Do I believe Joe Biden is guilty of a quid pro quo, leveraging US aid to get a prosecutor who was investigating his son fired? You bet your ass I do.

5/18/2020 Pineapple on Pizza?

I don't much care for pineapple on pizza. I would never order it if given a choice. At 62, chances are good I'll never eat it again in my life, and even better that I'll never order it. Of that I'm certain. Some people like pineapple on pizza. I don't hate them for it. If you like pineapple on your pizza and we ever talk about it, will you get mad at me, or call me stupid names because I disagree with you about putting pineapple on pizza? Will you accuse me of hating pineapple growers? What about pineapple pickers, will you accuse me of hating Pacific Islanders who work in pineapple fields in Hawaii? Will you say I'm in the tank for the pepperoni lobby because I'm unwilling to order a pineapple pizza?  Would you say I'm willfully hurting Kroger and Publix workers because of my unwillingness to buy pineapple there for my pizzas?

Why can't the political issues of today be more like pineapple on pizzas? Everything I tend to agree with in the political realm today seems to get characterized that way. I wonder why "I don't like illegal immigration" can't be more like "I don't like pineapple on my pizza."  I wonder if the fact that I support the right to bear arms could be discussed without someone accusing me of wanting mass-murderers to kill school children. Wouldn't it be nice if we could talk about the misdeeds of the FBI, DOJ, and State Dept. during and after to 2016 Presidential Election without being accused of being in the tank for Putin. Imagine if we could question the effectiveness of continued lockdowns to reduce the spread of the CCP Virus without being accused of not caring that people will die from it. And forget about abortion! That's the third rail right there. You might as well accuse someone's mother of being a syphilitic career prostitute. As is the case with abortion, on many of these issues people aren't even talking about the same thing. While I'm saying I don't want pineapple on my pizza, you're arguing that I am opposed to letting people put whatever they want on their pizza.

Recently I've had several friends comment on blog posts that they no longer talk about politics with people with whom they disagree. I don't think this is a good thing, nor do I think it's a healthy thing for society. We NEED (capitalized for emphasis) to understand each other. Today's lack of civil dialogue is poison, no matter what kind of pizza you or I may like.

I don't like pineapple on my pizza. You do? Just pepperoni on my half, ok?

5/15/2020 Irreconcilable Differences?

I'm of my own mind on the CCP Virus and the Federal and various State Governments' responses to it. This morning some quick hitters to express my thoughts on different issues and especially where I break with the thinking of some conservative voices I hear on social media.

As far as Dr. Fauci goes, he's a doctor. It's NOT his job to oversee the economy. When you have a medical problem, let's pretend your knee is acting up. Your doctor says you have a meniscus tear and it needs surgery. He can fit you in on June 15th, at 9:00 a.m. But your company has something very important going on then. Maybe it's an annual audit or maybe it's something else, but you don't feel like you can possible take a week or two off until at least after your July 4th holiday. What do you do? You ask the doctor for an appointment AFTER the 4th. The doctor says he'd really like to get you in sooner, it that's possible. Your knee is continuing to deteriorate, and it may be worse if you delay a few more weeks. What do you do? I'll tell you what you do, you make the decision you think is right for you. Some may opt to go for May 15th, someone else may opt to wait and risk further knee damage. Well, Dr. Fauci isn't in charge of slowing down or picking back up the economy. The scope of his involvement is the virus. What should we do to contain the virus? So, if you think because his recommendation is bad for the economy or your job, as far as how I see it, that's NOT Fauci's concern. And if you subscribe to the conspiracy theories: Fauci wants to tank the economy to tank Trump, Fauci is a George Soros puppet, or Fauci is friends with Hillary Clinton therefore he is working against Trump and the GOP, you need medication. Not for the virus, but for potentially terminal stupidity.

Another favorite is, "Our Governor is trying to throw the election to oust Trump by keeping the state closed." No. Just no. I would say that red state and blue state governors are likely to have different views on our relationships with the government and the scope of government's role in our lives. The distinctions between personal responsibility and government's responsibility, and how much of a role government has in people's lives will be different. So the fact that a red state governor is ready to open up and allow people to manage some of their risks themselves, and the blue state feels it would be irresponsible to do that because it would be too risky and it's government's job to protect you isn't the same thing as "He don't care about the virus killing us", and "She don't care about the economy." It's a different perspective on what the limits are on government's role in our lives, yes. And lastly, on this topic, blue state governors may be dead wrong on not opening back up. Be that as it may, I refuse to believe that their primary motivation is to stay closed, tank the economy, and in doing so defeat Trump in November. Bullshit. That ain't it. Are there political consequences? Yes there are. Are there political strategists with talking points saying that's why governors are doing this? Yes. Are there other strategists saying the virus and our response and everything negative is Trump or your red state governor's fault? Yes. That's the nature of politics in 2020. But sorry, I am not buying the idea that Kentucky still has restrictions because the governor thinks it will hurt Trump in November if the people are broke, and that the Georgia Governor don't care if we live or die. I'm cynical about politicians. But that shit right there is pure stupidity.

Remember a couple of weeks ago now, the protesters who marched on the Michigan Capital? They were protesting the continued closure of businesses and the effect of same on the economy. I saw people refer to them as "Pro Coronavirus protesters". What a crock of shit! People who want the economy opened back up aren't "Pro Coronavirus." That's bullshit and whoever is saying that is just asshole. As in, "You sir, are asshole." But on the other hand, among those same protesters, there were a few who carried unconcealed rifles. I believe in the right to bear arms. I also believe in our right to peaceable assembly. Some of you are going to disagree with me on this, but I felt carring rifles in that situation was provocative and intentionally threatening. I fear our political divide could lead to a second US Civil War if we're not careful. Carrying rifles into state capital buildings seems just short of a headlong rush into that. I don't like it and I don't support it. Right to bear arms? Yes. Intimidating governors of US states by carrying rifles to the state capital? Not so much.

It's a virus. There is no 100% right answer. People have differing views on what's the right and what's the wrong thing to do about it. But ascribing nefarious political motivations to every decision by every public figure in every state every time is stupid, just plain stupid. This is why we can't talk to each other about politics anymore. Every issue, every stance on it is vilified by those opposed to it. Then those of us who agree with that position are vilified right along with whoever decided it. Hydroxy Cloroquine comes to mind. Because Trump advocated it as a possible cure, half the country opposed it with all their might. Big pharma don't like it because there's no money in it. Greedy bastards. I don't like it because Trump said it might work? That's stupid. It's just damned stupid. Stop it. Your politics are clouding your brain.

There is more than enough stupidity going around. We can't talk to each other anymore. The CCP Virus has really laid bare our political and cultural divide. 9/11, forgetting right vs. wrong, was a crisis that at least for a short while brought us together, I'm sad to say that this CCP Virus crisis has driven us further apart. And hell, we already had damned near irreconcilable difference.

5/13/2020 Of Modern Politics and Friendships Lost

As Caroline and I drove up to Louisville from Florida yesterday, I listened to several podcasts, then checked to hear what was on the radio. (I started to say "checked to see what was on the radio", but I think I was going to hear it, not see it.) I came upon the Dennis Prager radio show. I've always liked listening to Prager. He has a relaxed and pleasant delivery, and he is intelligent, articulate, and reasonable. He was talking about recent attacks upon him by some of the mainstream media press, including the New York Daily News. They had twisted his words and taken them out of context, reporting that he "bemoaned the loss of racial epitaphs", which if you've ever listened to Prager you know without having to research it, that it's a fabrication. Dennis went on to talk about it some more, then said something, I wish I had his exact words vebatim, but I'll settle for paraphrasing. He said, "It's a remarkable time, were family relationships and friendships are disposed of because the left is intolerant of anyone who supports President Trump." This gave me pause to ponder that while I drove. What is he getting at, and have I seen it myself?

Yes, I have. Sadly, I have seen it and felt it, a lot of it. Maybe to some extent, I'm guilty, too. First off it's not just because of Trump and Trumpism. Some of it is a social media phenomenon, too. I remember on Inauguration Day, 2017, Caroline, a totally a-political person, made an innocent remark about First Lady Melania Trump's elegance. A former close friend attacked the post, posting nude photos of the First Lady from her modeling days. Shortly thereafter, the "friend" had banished us from her life, blocking us from her phone and from her social media. It was Caroline's friend, although I was fond of her, too. And in the 3-1/2 or so years since, that has remained the situation. I don't see it changing. 'Good riddance?' I don't necessarily think so, but on the other hand, I'm fine with the status quo being the status forever.

Personally, I am guilty of cutting a few people off of my social media for behavior related to their politics. I worded it that way purposely, because in every single case it was for their behavior, and NOT for their politics. People I generally like posted, re-posted is actually a more accurate word, stories from the New York Times or CBS News, or Dan Rather, or some other leftward outpost of though and ideology, stories that insulted me broadside for supporting President Trump. I was 'stupid', 'racist', 'hateful', 'homophobic', 'misogynistic', 'xenophobic', the list goes on. I don't think some of the posters intended to insult me, but they did. And in the case of casual work or social connections that were/are limited to social media, I 'un-friended', muted, or even blocked the most irrational and hateful of them. But most of those connections, I don't really lament losing, not a whole lot, anyway. But not a single one of them, not one, did I cut from my social media because I disagreed with their views on any issue: taxation, immigration, healthcare, abortion, gun control, etc. Not a one. I gave them the boot for the insults. Period.

Social media has put us into a sort of trench warfare situation. Hiding in the safety of our own political fighting trench, the 'enemy', those with whom we disagree, are invisible to us and it becomes a fully impersonal and disconnected from the humanity and dignity of courteous and friendly human interaction. I try, every time I endeavor to express my views, whether on Facebook or here on this blog, to refrain from insulting friends of mine with whom I disagree. Scumbags like Adam Schiff of Eric Swalwell, no. They're scum: not for views they hold with which I disagree, but for lying, and for the insults they and other politicians lob at me and people who disagree with them. Think Hillary Clinton's generalizations about Trump supporters during the 2016 campaign. She leapt from disagreeing with us to insult and casting dispersions. The hell with her. Sadly, many other politicians and media persons have adopted the insulting of Trump supporters, too.

And the right is surely guilty of this, too. "Libtard" is my least favorite of all of them. Many on the right have also insulted friends on the left with these insulting generalizations, but I try always to refrain from using them. The friends who I hold dearest who also hold left-leaning views are intelligent, caring, kind, and good people. Some of them don't realize they insulted me with their posts, and anymore I mostly just ignore it. But, probably as some of them do when friends on the right insult them, early on if the friendship wasn't a meaningful one in some way that transcends a casual social media connection, I ended it.

Well, recently I notice more and more friends on the left disappearing from my circle. I guess it's just an extension of what's been going on. The CCP Virus, Corona-virus, COVID-19, whatever you want to call it today, has had something to do with this. Some people want things opened so they can return to life as they normally live it. Others are much more cautious, and want the closures, social distancing, etc., to carry on until there's a cure and or a vaccine. And you know what? There are arguments that can me made for both that make sense to me. Candidly, as more and more becomes known, I favor re-opening with targeted measures to protect the vulnerable, but I don't think you're a bad person if you favor extended closure. I would welcome an open and honest discussion about that and the other pressing issues of the day if those discussions could be had intellectually without the insults and anger that has come to characterize political disagreement in 2020.

I'll close by saying this: if in the course of expressing my political views, and you disagree with me, I welcome your disagreement as long as it is rational and intelligent, free from generalization and insult., And if I should knowingly or unknowingly have insulted you or do so in the future, I welcome your private message telling me what it was I said and how it hurt your feelings. But if the very fact that I disagree with you on some issue is problematic for our friendship even lacking insult or any hurtful expression of the same, I'd ask you to think about why it is that just plain disagreement causes you heartburn. And if you still can't get past it, then we really are through and that's too goddamned bad, isn't it? Too goddamned bad,

Infringement of our rights, and of common sense

While I’m doing my personal best to follow the social distancing rules, and all that goes with it, unless someone knows that they’re infected, I can’t say that they’re “intentionally risking infecting someone else” by protesting closures, etc. And that's how some people see protests of closures. I saw a Facebook page the other day that called protesters of closures in Michigan "Pro-Coronavirus Protesters." Really? Is that the best we can do to discourse about these extremely important issues of today? The same posted Facebook meme posited that the reason for the protests in Michigan was because the Governor is a woman. That's pure dishonest political spin. There were protests in California, too. People are scared of the virus. People are pissed at the closures. It's not "They're wrong, we're right," it's far more complicated than that. Calling people pro-Coronavirus protestors and labeling them misogynists because they're protesting closures is wrong. Equally wrong is portraying every closure as part of a larger tyrannical scheme to control our lives and to impose dictatorial rule upon us. Surely we can differ about the role of government in our lives and in a crisis, but such characterizations and name calling are far more counterproductive and problem causing than they are solving.

I am especially troubled by government going the route of forced business closure rather than by issuing guidelines for the least risky ways to allow people to work. I saw a report yesterday of a woman who owns a salon who was arrested and will spend 7 days in jail for defying forced closure of her business. Would I go to a salon/barber shop right now? No. Hell no. But I don’t support locking the woman up for trying to protect her livelihood. She’s not intentionally infecting anyone. At the beginning of this thing closing until proper hygiene, sanitation, and distancing requirements were developed was fine with me, but now as the goalposts are moved from “flattening the curve” to “until there’s a cure” or “until there’s a vaccine” at the expense of people losing their businesses is dead wrong, too. And 7 days in jail for her while governments are setting fee criminals from those jails because of the same virus? That’s insanity.

Also troubling is the government threatening religious worship. While I do get that the intent is noble, to reduce the calamity of the virus, the Constitution is clear and absolutely unambiguous with regard to our religious freedom. Meanwhile some of our state governments have arrested pastors for having services. Would I go to a church during the peak of the pandemic? No. Hell no. But in Kentucky, for example, the government even shut down religious services at a drive in theater, where the congregants sat in their own cars. I saw an earlier story about a church in Tampa that was filled early in the pandemic. At the time I thought the poeple there were being reckless with their own health. But arresting the pastor is no less than an unconstitutional infringement on a right the government does not have the authority upon which to infringe.

Our government serves at our pleasure. Far too often in this pandemic it’s been as if it’s the other way around. Do we need more testing, a cure, and a vaccine? Sure. Absolutely. Do we need guidelines that protect workers, customers, public servants, business owners, etc. Yes we do. Will I follow such guidance? Yes I will. But unfortunately I do see infringement on our God given rights and too much intrusion and control of our lives being imposed by well meaning public servants. I don’t buy conspiracy theories about them, although I don’t deny there is fundamental disagreement about the role of our governments in our lives. For our own good? I’m not exactly sure where the line is, but I am sure that what I am seeing is the line being overstepped by people on both sides of this coin in recent days and weeks.

(This post started out as a reply on a Facebook post to my cousin, Diane, but as I wrote the reply, it seemed to me to be taking on a life of its own. So I made it into this blog post instead.)