Trying Times

"So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war." Abraham Lincoln was alleged to have said to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.  I wonder if there will be an similarly shared sentiment regarding Derek Chauvin as the murdering cop who started America's second civil war.  Maybe that is hyperbole, but it does feel like a seminal moment.   Another famous quote comes to mind as well.  Thomas Paine wrote in the winter of 1776, "These are the times that try men's souls."  I am not sure if "these times" are the same as Paine's, but they are certainly trying.

I am not completely sure what we are currently witnessing in America.  Is this the beginning of seismic political, social, and cultural shift, or is it a short term disturbance?  Right now, it feels more like the latter but I hope for the former.  Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that protests are not justified, or that reforms should not happen, or that black Americans don't have a legitimate grievance.  I am concerned, however, that there are some more sinister undercurrents in the tide of protests who are attempting to reshape American culture.  The evidence of these undercurrents began early with destruction of property, acts of violence, and attempts to silence anyone who questioned either.  Although not quite choreographed, yet not necessarily spontaneous, much of what we saw felt like many protesters were waiting for this moment.  Maybe being sheltered-in-place for nearly three months, or facing the financial stress of the lockdowns, or maybe the constant tribalistic narratives in the media that demean and dehumanize the other side turned the protests into a cathartic release of frustration and anger.   Perhaps all of those played a role.

Now three weeks removed from the initial protests, it is clear that there is a lack of specific clarity as to what exactly the protests hope to achieve in terms of ending racism.  Defunding the police is a ridiculous goal, but not as ridiculous as claiming "defund" doesn't mean what it actually means.  However ridiculous of a goal it may be, I am tempted to see it as a strategy to push the center further to the left.  I hope for a more reasonable approach to reforming the police and there have been some thoughtful ideas about how to go about it.  Unfortunately, having thoughtful, robust, and open dialogue is not an accepted approach by the gatekeepers in the media, or the mob on Twitter.  

The silencing, censoring, and cancelling of people, shows, and ideas for trivial reasons appears to be another goal of these radical leftists.  In reality, however, this is mostly a result of handwringing by milquetoast media types who hope to assuage the rage mob from attacking them, or its just merely virtue signaling idiocy.  Either way, the end result does little to fix any problems.   Lord knows that ridding the world of Paw Patrol or Gone With the Wind will not help end systemic racism.  I would bet that less than five percent of Americans have watched Gone With the End in its entirety, and I can almost certainly bet that all those ADHD millennials couldn't make through the nearly four hour epic.  Frankly, I don't give a damn.  

Not satisfied with just movies or TV shows, these radicals have also decided to take aim at historical statues.  I am not arguing that statues honoring Confederate generals should exist.  I also think that the razing of statues has a place and context (the destruction of Stalin statues following his death, for example) But I am making the point that the toppling of statues has close to zero impact on racism in America.   Although, it does make the mob feel like they have accomplished something and an opportunity to exercise force.  In reality, that seems like the real point.

The most recent turn of events is the ironic and paradoxical creation of "autonomous zones" by Antifa groups.  The irony is that they have fenced off a section of the city and claim it to be outside the authority of the government, which is sort of what the secessionist slave-holding South attempted to do.  Moreover, Donald Trump has been widely criticized for wanting to build a wall along the US-Mexico border and was labeled a racist, xenophobe, and fascist.   They seem to be acting like the very thing they are supposed to hate.

The murder of George Floyd at the hands of someone sworn to serve and protect, should elicit anger, prompt public protests, and a call to find solutions.  It is clear that many involved in the protests or supporters of the protests, are not concerned about finding realistic solutions to racism within the context of our democratic traditions.  Rather, they would promote policies that threaten life, liberty, and property under the guise of social justice and ending racism.   Defunding police, silencing critics, tearing down statues, and attempting to take over cities does not a utopia make.  It does seem to make a less free, less civil, and less democratic America.  Fighting racism and making a more just society is not accomplished by any of the current tactics.  It is certainly not accomplished by merely posting a black square on social media or hashtagging BLM, or some other vapid cliche.  The worst part is that it appears many Americans are not willing to stand up in opposition to all of this out of the well founded fear that the mob may come for them. "These times" are not the times for the sunshine soldier and summer patriot. They have already shrunk back.