04-19-2020, 05:18 PM
(04-19-2020, 02:36 PM)Classic-Xer Wrote:(04-19-2020, 12:36 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: Because neither racism nor free-floating anger has any rational justification, the violence that comes from their combination offers no exculpation. The mass shootings, whatever their cause, ordinarily result in prosecutions for murder or attempted murder. You project in Eric what may be true about you.
I do not see Eric as an angry or mean-spirited person. He isn't spouting off bigotry. Contempt for Donald Trump? Tens of millions have that in America alone, and his image overseas isn't flattering. Do bad things and exposure becomes infamy. People who admire contemptible behavior are contemptible... Hillary Clinton was right in her assessment of Trump supporters who have treated a 200-year heritage of democracy in contempt as deplorable.
Your language in this paragraph is stochastic terrorism. Get help! I suggest that you take a time-out from posting here. I would not be surprised that the FNI, BATF, Secret Service, and Minnesota state police have programs to detect language like yours. Yes, this is a rough time. It is lonely, boring, and frustrating. Welcome to the club. I chafe under the distress in a bad living arrangement that gives me no obvious or easy escape even in good times. I don't want to go into the detail but for all practical purposes my sole contact with the rest of Humanity other than my brother and his girlfriend is electronic. There's a bad electrical circuit that has cut off the Internet and cable TV for me much of the time.
The near-lockdown of life during this Crisis (and it really is one) tests anyone with any mental problems, including those that most people can cover at the least with some diversion. Get help! Mental illness is real. I know that others depend upon you as employees and as family members. Do not betray them by doing something stupid. The shame comes from failure to address problems that you have because that failure can bring great tragedy to innocent people. There's much that I find contemptible about our economic system and the power structure that intertwines with it. Maybe I have more awareness of the lessons of history -- that self-righteous blood-letting promotes even more blood-letting.
Please -- quit posting until you can calm down. Go for a hike in the woods. Go fishing. Try your hand at painting or music. This is a near-lockdown, and not a complete lockdown as in a prison.
What's true about me? I would or could kick your ass one way or another if necessary. I don't need government assistance or support to accomplish that task. I think Red America has been pretty nice and more tolerant than Blue America has been so far. As I've mentioned before, we aren't really pissed yet. Your side is way more pissed at this point. I won't be walking in the woods for months. I'm waiting for the governor to lift restrictions on public parks and public landings so I'm able to launch a boat along with lots of others and go fishing.
Come to my county and literally kick my derriere, and the sheriff will bust you. Your out-of-state plates will be a dead give-away. I am on good terms with the (Republican) county sheriff. This said I am for law and order as essential for human rights and civil liberties. Non-violence, which includes backing off when necessary, is the right response to hot-headed provocation. Even the website of the Communist Party of the USA has an article:
SLUG A NAZI? DON'T!
My side is obviously peeved with Donald Trump for numerous offenses against human decencies and even fundamental principles of Constitutional government. I need go no further. There was a large anti-Democrat rally in Lansing, and after the fact our Democratic governor addressed the irresponsible behavior of protesters without discussing the content and motivations. Yes, this is a tough time, but do you know what is really tough to deal with? COVID-19, whether one gets it or a loved one gets it. I certainly hope that nobody gets sick and dies after attending that rally as happened after some megachurch in Louisiana held a mass service (no, not a Mass. The Catholic Church has told people to stay home and stay safe).
I expect restrictions to be eased as behaviors are proved safe. Walking in the woods, golf, fishing, and going boating may be deeds that get permitted early -- before going to a movie theater, concert hall, museum, bar, or restaurant. I expect the fish fries at a nearby Knights of Columbus to be slow to return. If the stay-at-home orders don't stop those, then the Catholic Church will.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.