Generational Dynamics World View

[Bob Butler 54]

(06-03-2020, 01:13 PM)John J. Xenakis Wrote: However, that's all changed with the Race Riot Crisis.  As usual, the media are blaming the race riots on Trump, but it's quickly becoming more acceptable to end the lockdowns, for three reasons.  First, time has passed, and some lockdowns were going to end anyway.  Secondly, it's become clear that the lockdowns are hitting minority-owned businesses the hardest, and many businesses that were expected to reopen soon are now destroyed by the race riots, and this has hurt blacks and other minorities the worst.  And third, if mass protests are going on, then certainly other activities can also go on, and a lockdown doesn't make sense.

I would say the above is woefully inadequate, does not show the blue perspective.

Cuomo in one of his daily press conferences made a big point of separating the protesters from the looters.  The major point of the protestors is to exercise their right to assemble and to petition for the redress of grievances.  The grievance in question is centuries of abuse by the police.  They are looking for more equality, for a what we called a cultural reboot.  Simply, what has been tolerated for years they argue will be tolerated no longer.

The Boogaloo Bois are working towards an entirely different motive.  They are using the protests as a cover to instigate their dreamed of civil war.  They are pseudo Marxists, of the belief that revolution is the only way to change a culture dominated by the elites.  The blue mind set as expressed by Cuomo is that protests are good but looting is very bad.  

During one protest against police abuse, one person used a hammer against the blacktop in an attempt to incite a feeling of lawlessness.  Several protesters surrounded him and dragged him to the police.  In another incident, several police men went after people for the crime of driving while black.  The police chief fired and placed charges against the policemen in question.  This is the sort of thing that has to be done often if the culture of police abuse of minorities is to be broken.  Police have to serve and protect the people, not abuse and kill the people.

Trump is blamed for escalating the violence, and for not distinguishing between the two groups, the two entirely different motivations.  He has not covered himself with glory.  The escapade of breaking up peaceful lawful protests for a photo op using the church and Bible as props tops it.  But, the protestors and the looting would have occurred anyway.  These were not caused by Trump.  He only made it worse by his actions.

It is acknowledged that holding protests could aid the spread of the virus, and that lockdown releases in some places occurred too soon, when the cases and deaths were still going up.  I anticipate more attempts at isolation as this becomes more obvious.  We will see if, say, the protests bump the numbers in New York City, and delay the reopening by the numbers.  We will see if the happy talk governors who opened as the numbers were going up continue to do so.

(06-03-2020, 01:13 PM)John J. Xenakis Wrote: The race riots have had another consequence.  The Chinese are really gloating about the riots, and are claiming that the Americans are hypocrites for criticizing the CCP policies in Hong Kong, claiming that American policies in dealing with riots are the same.

Of greater concern is the fear that China may use the American race riots to justify military action in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

I could agree with that.  The Trump policies could be used by China.  Not America’s response, but Trump’s.  You respond to protests against bad policy by fixing the policy, not by show of force.   I suspect that this is not a huge factor.  China will do whatever they do with or without Trump’s bungling.  

I also see Hong Kong as far more likely than Taiwan.