Well, it certainly does. We are now undergoing some of the most radical changes and statements ever. We have a city which says it will disband its police force and others are talking about defunding. We have former military bigwigs, generals, heroes of bin Laden's capture, former appointees of Trump, openly criticizing him. A huge change in so many ways.
We have an Attorney General tasked to protect the USA who interprets that duty as a must to be a shill for Trump, his master. We have Republicans who are finally, too slowly, and where the hell were they till now, finally speaking out about their "unease" with Trump. We also have polls which state that in the 'base', Trump is favored 93%, as compared to the numbers of general polls where it is 54% Biden to 43% Trump. Still. Still and all.
We have a country that is an ever growing sewer of tribal warfare, a country which used to pride itself on being a meld of all, accepting of all, a salad bowl if one wishes, but a united country. Not any more. Stand quietly and you will hear the wind whistling through the ever growing fractures in our structures, our Constitution, our world changing Declaration of Independence almost discarded, lying in the dust, left behind as those rightwingers run from it and its import.
So George Floyd was not an angel. He allegedly walked somewhat on the shady side of the law. So what? Does everyone guilty - or not, but accused of - a wrongdoing deserve the equivalent of a lynching? And it is a matter of record that the Senate could not pass an anti lynching law that was unanimous in the House, because Rand Paul said no!! 2020. Lynching still not a federal crime. Emmett Till, Leo Frank, and the myriad others , the "strange fruit' of the trees memorialized in that powerful song - they all cry out, tears dropping, soaking the land.
It doesn't matter, we are told, how often Trump tweets like a madman. Well, what else, actually, as that is what he is, but seriously, how can what a president tweet so, the amounts, the content, the visual image of the mind of a fat man obsessively tweeting nastiness and lies, - how can that not matter?
The answer is - it matters. It most certainly does. No police force? Are they nuts?! Watch the speeders. Watch the petty crimes grow. Watch major crimes grow. Watch vigilantism grow. Like it or not, we need a recognized official police law enforcement corps. We certainly do. What we do not need is a racially biased system wherein prejudice and out of control behavior is condoned. So what we need is a change, a change from both within and without, a force to indeed serve and protect - with equality, with calm, with new techniques, with ties to the community. But no police force? C'mon. One day, maybe, ever so far off as to be almost unimaginable, maybe, humans will finally reach their best and no police necessary. When? Far, far away. Long time away. Until then let us be realistic rather than foolishly idealistic.
Military in the business of civilians? Whoa!!!! Major no no, and yet, it has been done before. Look back and see how many of our Presidents, Senators, Representatives, all levels of government officials, were former military, of all ranks, so precedence is there. What is not there is the open and distinct criticism of Trump, of any President, and his behavior, his lack of candor, of honor, of empathy, of his constant lies, of anything positive. That line of separation is blurring but who started this now? Trumpie boy did it what with his huge use of former military big wigs as appointees of government, with his threats and acts of calling in huge National Guard contingents, active and armed forces, the use of all military and policing forces, including those used to quell prison riots, some of the most violent ever forces - with no id on them. Bone spurs anyone?
It does matter what a President does. It does matter what is going on now. It does matter when there is an open and blatant attempt to strip voting rights from anyone 'tainted' with the possibility of voting Democrat, certainly for president replacement! It does matter when there is open appeal to foreign powers to mess around with our elections, our most sacrosanct right. It does matter when the highest officer of the land begins, no, continues, his travels ever onward on an ever more direct road to dictatorship, to dangerous populism, to vigilante 'justice', to a return to gun totin' men - and women - and then what - duel at high noon and every hour on the hour?!
It does matter and it does matter greatly that so many of the generation of 20's and 30's remain indifferent, tired of the din, the raucous behavior of supposed older and wiser people, the hypocrisy, the blatant violence, the open acceptance and backing of lies, obvious lies, by Trump. The blind way that he is followed by his lapdogs so eager for a glance, a tap, an atta' boy!
It does matter if we allow all this to continue. It does matter if we do not go to the polls and show the world that once again we are America, their ally, their ace in the hole, their role model, the progressive nation that leads others, that is not a practicing stewpot of bigotry, a country replete with the miasma of hatred and violence.
It does matter. Greatly so. It matters that we choose the right over the wrong. It does matter that those who chose that man and his wrong ways finally admit, to themselves, at least, that they were oh so wrong. It does matter that we try not to paper over the national cracks, but fill them in, repave, smooth the underlying perils of refracture, and do so with brotherliness, with sharing of a country that we all should love.
And until then I will symbolically take a knee along with the new NFL, along with those of the courage to do so, for it has nothing to do with the flag. A flag has been used improperly so many times, calling to those who would honor a red and black fascist flag and banner, or a flag waved by people who trash it with every action and word.
It is about our country. Its fabric. Its morals. Its honoring and hewing to the sentiments, words, and spirit of the Constitution and the Declaration and all that followed. It is a quest, a burning desire to stand tall and proud, belt out that national anthem, try to reach that high note - and stand proud that America has returned. Why symbolically? Because, trust me, getting down is nigh onto impossible and as for getting up - well, 'nuff said about that.
What does matter is that we have the right to protest, to even be somewhat revolutionary in thinking. That is how we came to be and we take pride in our revolutionaries who set us a standard, a pride, a patriotism for all generations to follow. It matters that if we do the right thing, that we take into account that which does matter, that we will finally Be Well and Safe again. Would that we take that turning point on our moral map and soon. Certainly by November. Certainly as we vote, by mail, in person, exercising that precious vote. It does matter that you vote. Each and every one of us. Do not give up that right. Be Safe and vote. It matters.
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