Shakespeare had it right, as usual. Most people are often bit right in their backsides when their words and deeds come back to haunt their own lives. Usually, it is a good thing, for these people deserve it. It is especially not good though, when the petard causes harm to those who are caught in its wake, much as is happening today. So, checking in on the latest growth of petard activity.
Trump et al are screaming themselves hoarse as they try to manipulate the voting process. New rules that smack of Jim Crow. New procedures that reek of bias. As for mail-in ballots- uh oh! Bad, Very bad. At least to Trump camp. And now the petard. This idiot and followers, who would follow him off a cliff - may that happen soon, please, are actually hearing his words and following the plan. Only hitch? It is the Republicans who believe his crapola and who are not using mail-in or absentee voting. Oh, tra, la, la, la, la, la. Fellow friends and adherents to the ideas of democracy, raise your voice in joyous refrain, for that can only lead to more Democratic victories and oh, yes, the flipping of the Senate four seats that we need to recapture and reinvent and return to service of the people, rather than the dictator, Trump. Glory be! Joyous days!
Words. Oh, yes, words can hurt. They can bounce off the intended target and hurt the original speaker. They can convince those who are questioning as to what, exactly, is the truth and how do they stay safe, realistically, in this dangerously challenging world. Some words, please.
The infections and cases of coronavirus are, for the most part, harmless. Oh, yes, for sure. That, as we read story after story not 'only' of the harmless cases, well, okay, death is not so harmless, is it, so skip that one. Uh, okay, back to infections. They are mostly harmless, just like a mild flu. Uh huh. Keep talking as the petard is hoisting away. So, what about the "harmless" cases of continued breathing problems, heart problems, delirium terrors that continue, confusion and mental disorders, the crippling fatigue? Right. Harmless indeed.
As for the numbers that accompany these worse than empty words, well, we now have over 3 million cases - that we know about. There are hundreds of thousands, more we are finding out as we realize that there are asymptomatic cases and early cases that are infecting others, enlarging the spread, even as the idiot fountain keeps flowing.
But what about the death toll? How does one spin that. Every day now we are back to setting new records, new numbers that are ghastly in meaning. These are, for sure, not harmless. The new predictions at this rate are not so harmless either. By Election Day over 3 million infected, 200,000 deaths and possibly more if we continue on the suicidal , yes, suicidal, path we are on right now. Numbers? But not really, for each and every number is a person - a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, a server, a garbage service person, a policeman, a nanny, a father, a mother, a child. These are people! Not numbers!
Those numbers are beginning to penetrate into the deceived Trumpian world of his deluded followers, as the virus spreads into their neighborhoods. No, they are not immune. No, the Trump aura will not protect them. In fact, it will only serve to exacerbate the awful numbers, the growing success of the petards, as these fools do not wear masks, do not social distance, not caring whom they infect, only out to make Trump look good, well, not so successful is that tactic? And those stupid red hats do nothing either!
These 'patriots', having nothing positive or sensible to say, pick up on the horrendous verbal attacks of Trump. So, Tucker Carlson, a believing member of the bone spur army, calls Tammy Duckworth a "coward". Yup, this woman, a biracial woman, you know, 'tainted' by immigrant blood, so of course, she must be a coward, actually lost two legs in service to her country as her helicopter was brought down by enemy fire. She suffered grievous wounds. This coward, challenged Carlson to walk a mile in her shoes, on her feet and then make his comments. He challenges this woman on her patriotism, this combat wounded veteran who then served the government in varied positions, in positive manners, and he calls her unpatriotic!
Oh, yes, the petards grow ever stronger, nourished by the deeds of these definitely unpatriotic followers of Trump, fed by the words meant to hurt and harm, by refusal to obey rules of safety for the nation. The question remaining is thus: will we be able to stop the further deterioration of our nation as Trump sinks it ever deeper into his filthy muck and mire of ignorance, corruption, bribery, old boy networks, cronyism, and on and on. Will we be able to return to the international organizations or will we continue to enlarge and deepen our isolation, much to our detriment. We are already banned by many countries due to our burgeoning virus infections. What more needs to happen before we all come to our senses. If not, we will all be hung, hoisted up there, by the petards of others - and by our own inaction to stifle them, stop them in their tracks.
There is no way our country can be well and safe unless we throw all Trumpian adherents and loyalists out of office. There is no way we can be well and safe unless we bring these people into court to answer for their sins. There will be no safety, no well period unless we accept the fact that democracy needs its watchmen and women to step up, for it is a participatory necessity.
Immediate solution? Get out there and vote. Ask for a mail in ballot. Counter their false hardships placed in the path to voting at the polls. Stand there on line, as is your right and vote. The responsibility is on all of us. I have a mail in ballot sent to me for the same reason I gave up being a clerk in a precinct. I simply cannot stand that long, do not have the strength for that long and hard day. Not any longer, though I do miss it. In any case, however one can vote - do it. Help others to fulfill that responsibility and achieve that privilege, use that right. Only then, only then, will we be well and stay safe. VOTE!!
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