I was at a Zoom meeting last night and a guy from Texas shared (almost humorously, almost defeatedly) that:
(a) his country was burning to the ground
(b) there's a massive pandemic killing his fellow citizens at a galloping rate
(c) police and blackshirted unidentifiable guys are shooting fellow citizens, focusing on blacks.
(d) there's an asteroid hurtling towards Boston, or maybe what's left of it by the time it gets there
and
(e) there's an absolute lunatic in charge of the biggest asylum in the world, his country
and
(f) any advice as to what he could do?
He was ex-military and one of his kids (military too) was flown back into Texas and armed up and put on mob detail.
There were two other Canadians at the meeting and honestly, our troubles just vanished away. I think most USians must be in a state of paralysis (to be quickly followed by PTSD) as nothing is making sense and the words "MAGA" bandied about so freely as something to return to rings extraordinarily hollow for most thinking USians.
But what a summary, succinctly put.
No advice of course, apart from just stay inside safe, hang in with us, hang in with those of like mind, wait for this nightmare to be over, because over it will be.
As the old wags had it: This too shall pass.
I think your guy from Texas is wrong on every single point. Sure we have our troubles, but there's no burning to the ground; there's no galloping epidemic, in fact, the rate has flattened and vaccines are on the way; the police were identified and are facing justice; and the guy in charge can be voted out of office in just a few months. As for (f) I'd say panic is never an answer to anything.
ReplyDeleteWell he's entitled to his opinion as we all are. I'd like to know about this vaccine of which you speak? I know a friend in California is working on it (she's a head biologist of a lab) and says we are nowhere near and PS, she adds, there may never be a cure.
DeleteXO
WWW
We are working on vaccines here in our country too, they say they may have a reliable one by 2021, which is no use at all right now and we all know how fast viruses can mutate don't we?
DeleteRiver I think they throw out these dates to pacify us. I know my friend says even if they have a vaccine, it takes 2 years to run through every variable, every test and even then.......
DeleteXO
WWW
While I am sympathetic to Tom's perspective I think the final point (beyond (f)) is the most worrisome. Bringing in armed military personnel to deal with protesters is not a good sign, and I sympathize with Texas guy's concern about his kid, I went through that during the first Iraq war. Texas guy is right to be concerned but hopefully waiting it out will be the answer. A lot of us are in suspense about what November will bring. Second term? Second wave? More armed intervention? Or maybe not, let's be hopeful. FYI, no guarantees that a covid vaccine is even possible. ~ElizabethAnn
ReplyDeleteAgreed about the vaccine, see my response to Tom. And more horror today in that awful speech. I am off social media but lawdie it's been blasted everywhere in its massive insensitivity.
DeleteXO
WWW
I'm of the "this too shall pass" school. But still am very cautious about being near people.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad I am Canadian!! But we have the same issues here. The Eaton Centre is closed today and all weekend as a precaution against the anticipated protests in justice for Regis.
Yes, Jackie that Regis killing is appalling. I was horrified when Daughter forwarded me details. We are not exempt from racism here by a long shot. My aborignal friends tell me horror stories.
DeleteXO
WWW
I agree that "this too will pass."
ReplyDeleteMost of the country is just fine, other than having to -- sensibly -- distance from others during the pandemic. Even in the cities, it's not as bad as you see on TV. Unfortunately, for some, even though IT is not HERE (as in local to us) some people are adversely impacted. Older daughter has been suffering from anxiety and depression and current events exacerbate that. Granddaughter got ahead of the curve and has been doing high school remotely for over a year and a half because of her fears of a violent attack on her school... which has never happened.
There may be some changes made because of the terrible death of George Floyd. However, unfortunately, I fear it will be incremental at best.
I agree Mike, it's the same here in Canada, the core issues of racism keeps getting put on the long finger by successive governments.
DeleteIt is a pot boiling over around the world.
XO
WWW
I saw a good comment recently that said "we are all going through the same storm but we are in different boats"......some are ok and can ride it out, others not so lucky.
ReplyDeleteOh I do like that Mary, different boats indeed, and sometimes they feel like flimsy rafts.
DeleteXO
WWW
I hope this will pass. The expense/cleanup is going to be huge and long-lasting.
ReplyDeleteAs I opened by PC this morning I was hit with the headline that the orange buffoon says that the current unrest is going to be 'the greatest thing' for race relations. And that George Floyd would be looking down and smiling.
Sadly I fear that there are many people riding out this storm on rafts and leaky boats, while other well-equipped shifts sail on by.
I know EC each day is something gobsmacking in its awfulness. Our PM frolicked with the peasants today for his photo-op. But I have to say I liked his stunned 21 second silent reaction to the question about our neighbour down south. It will go down in history.
DeleteXO
WWW
stunned 21 second silence, I wish I'd seen that. Haven't heard the Orangeman's speech either, but probably don't need to.
DeleteTom is accuurate. Be careful what you listen to. I'm switching back and forth between liberal news and conservative lately - it's an eye opener seeing what each camp chooses to promote as the most important news of the moment. Not always what you'd think. I recommend the approach to all if we could all be a bit more open. Kim in PA (USA)
ReplyDeleteI am very selective in the newspapers I read and I hear you Kim, we have to be super careful as they are all in click bait mode, the more shocking the story the more ads sold.
DeleteXO
WWW
I think that is part of the problem..."This too will pass". It almost always passes but nothing ever gets solved. P.S. I enjoy your blog. I have read back a year or two...what an interesting life you have had. Plus we always wanted to visit Newfoundland....
ReplyDeleteOh I do hope you come here some day when everything settles down. It is unique and seriously one of a kind place.
DeleteResolution to systemic racism and retraining of cops would be a start.
XO
WWW
I agree
DeleteThere is such a disconnect in the US between decent and caring people and absolute nutters. How did the nutters become so powerful? Well, aside from having the support of HIM.
ReplyDeleteI agree Andrew. The US I know are intelligent and absolutely appalled at the decline of their country. One man has far too much power and it's looking more and more like an empire of old with the mad king at the top of the heap.
DeleteXO
WWW
Yes, this too shall pass, but let it pass quicker please. My heart aches every day for my friends over there.
ReplyDeleteMe too River, even when they put a humourous spin on it, as sometimes that's all one can do. It beggars belief truly what is all going down there.
DeleteXO
WWW
Paralysis and PTSD most certainly here in the U.S.. We Hope this passes and we'll have a Country left when it finally does... no certainty for any of that, which is really disheartening even for incurable Optimists like myself that now only have Guarded Optimism that the whole House of Cards won't collapse.
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry Bohemian, I imagine there would be similar reactions in any country with everything appearing to be so out of control and the blame machine starts up with no solutions to any of it.
DeleteXO
WWW
This too shall indeed pass.
ReplyDeleteIt has to, Ramana, I'm staying well clear of all the news as it affects me so negatively but friends and family fill me in.
DeleteXO
WWW
I guess it will pass, for good or ill, WWW. A lot does depend on where one lives in the USA as to how bad things are, personally, for ordinary folk. In our town of some 24,000 people things are peaceful enough. The pandemic isn't hitting us as badly as in the state's bigger cities (Oklahoma), but we elders and those vulnerable due to medical issues must still follow the lock down guidelines as there's virtually no testing being done here.
ReplyDeleteOur local police are of the "good cop" variety. It was reported that during a demonstration in a local park recently the police joined in and also brought water and hot dogs for the demonstrators - so it ain't all bad all the time and everywhere.
The shadow of the guy in the White House is menacing us all though - that IS scary, wherever one lives. My greatest dread is that he might win the election in November (if I haven't shuffled off myself by then!)
I read a quote somewhere this morning from Robert. Frost - "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
ReplyDeleteIt's a terrifying time in my country to be sure. I am like your Texan friend - just feeling a little shell-shocked and uncertain what to do. I am holding out hope that this will all push people to make a change politically and socially.
ReplyDelete