Day #76 in Epidemic Central
Jun. 1st, 2020 08:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat
After work, I walked through Greenwood Cemetery again to get a little perspective. I needed it. By 4pm today, I had this overwhelming sense of futility. As if no matter what I did - it did not matter. Nothing I did mattered - I was merely pushing rocks up a cliff. I stared bleakly out my window. Hard to focus on work related activities, hard to think.
I did manage to get some work done but not a lot, which means tomorrow will be busy or the day after that. My shoulders ached. And I've not been sleeping well. Outside the clouds roll in and out of the sky, and the breeze ruffles the leaves, although it is still now, and quiet, twilight moving slowly to dusk as the sun dips out of sight in the horizon and the light slowly fades from the night sky.
Online...I've read the stories of last night's protests across our country, our world. And a discernible pattern begins to emerge - the enemy is organized. They've sent people to infiltrate the peaceful protests to sew anarchy and chaos. Carol, a friend of mine (the belly dancer, Doctor Who addict, and IT networker), reported live from the protest in Brooklyn. She streamed it to show how peaceful it was - and it was peaceful up until they hit Manhattan. I'm going to summarize what she said as best I can - apparently they were fine going across the Brooklyn Bridge, social distancing, most wearing masks, and making certain to avoid traffic. But by the time they hit Broadway - something weird happened - this was around 11 PM at night, a bunch of cars came towards them all of a sudden, and they dispersed. After that she no longer saw the diverse group she'd walked with over the Brooklyn Bridge - now it was mostly White Middle Aged Men, the leader in a colorful shirt and cargo pants, and they were inciting violence. Throwing bricks in store windows. She left because she was afraid for her life. People were throwing bricks and heavy objects, not from above - she knew, because she was standing underneath a scaffolding - it came at her. Cars were rushing towards them. And people were looting stores. All of them white people - white middle-aged men.
Across Facebook, I saw the same story told over an over - in Phoenix, Arizona by Superplin, in Scottsdale, Arizona by my old college friend, in Denver, by another friend, in Chicago, in Philadelphia, a friend in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - posted that a gun rally was being held in conjunction with a protest - and was warning people to be wary. There were peaceful ones - but they were in places like Savannah and Sacramento - and the white supremacists and anarchists didn't appear to know about them. The New York Times has a photo gallery of the protests.
At noon, the Governor came on - and what he said had me sitting upright with rapt attention. He said - we have to be "smart" about this. That there are those who will hijack these protests for their own ends - incited by the man in the White House to do so. We did the impossible a few months ago - we locked down. We stayed home. And we flattened the curve. If we want change, he said - we need to come up with a plan of action. It's all fine and well to protest in rage and anger and frustration, but tell them what you want and make a platform, and push it forward. Killer Mike says the same exact thing in a speech in Atlanta. The same thing. In order to change systematic racism, we have to do it at a policy level - we have to fill out the census forms, write our policy makers, donate, and when protesting explain what we want. We have to do it together.
And I realized as I meandered through Greenwood Cemetery and these long days on my own...that I'm not alone. Every where I went in the Cemetery, I stumbled upon people. Various shapes and sizes of people. Some sitting on the grass talking on a phone, a child playing among the tombstones, a woman and man chatting...granted I was alone for long periods of time, but eventually I stumbled upon people, glorious, frustrating, kind and weary people.
I got an emergency alert on my phone that a CityWide Curfew" has been put in place from 11 pm to 5 am for New York City. Essential workers are exempt. It should be noted that no curfew was put in place during the lock-down, and we are due to start opening up next week. People stayed in and home during the lock-down. They don't know if the mob protests have spread the virus or not. Most people wore masks and social distanced, also most were under the age of 55-60.
And then I popped on line and read a long post from my cousin, a veteran, who stated that this war can't be won by raging impotently on social media. And posting political views.
This is what my cousin posted:
It saddens me to witness the condition of our nation. What’s even worse is that all this mess is MY fault…and YOUR fault. It’s not the political leaders that have failed us, it’s the citizens.
Plagues, corruption, pollution and inequalities are not new issues. These matters have been part of human culture since the beginning of time. It is our responsibility as citizens to mitigate these threats, and if possible exterminate them from our society. Whether you have children, or not, it is OUR responsibility to educate the next generation. Whether you own land, or not, it is OUR responsibility to preserve the environment. Whether you are sick, or not, it is OUR responsibility to care for the ill. Whether you have been discriminated against, or not, it is OUR responsibility to protect equality.
The citizens of our nation, govern our nation. Of the People, By the People, For the People…sound familiar? Political leaders are elected to represent our interest. It is our responsibility, as citizens, to ensure those leaders stay on course. How many of you can name more athletes, actors, or comic book heroes than the politicians that represent us? Remember that next time you choose to watch TV instead of attending a city council meeting, school board meeting or political rally. Remember that when you prefer to play video games instead of volunteering for a youth group or community shelter. We have failed ourselves. Stop blaming others!
I enjoy each and every one of you. There’s a reason we’re connected. As much as I enjoy the stories and opinions you share, be reminded that social media is not a government platform. Sharing concerns on Facebook can be informative and an emotional release, but it alone will not change our situation. If you want your voice to be heard than hit the streets with your banner. Call your representatives, talk to them. If you want to strengthen your community than get outside and meet your neighbors. Get involved. And…if you want our nation to persevere, than vote. If you’re not eligible to vote, than hold those members of your household who are accountable. It’s every citizen’s duty.
Our nation is in crisis. Our next election is more important than ever. Injustice leads to protest. Protest leads to riots. Riots lead to rebellion. Rebellion leads to war. See where this is going? And for anyone thinking a burn and rebuild might be the answer. Be careful for what you wish for. The next government may not be democratic.
All that said, I’m ashamed of the condition America is in. I’m ashamed of YOU, the citizen, for not doing more. But MOST OF ALL, I’m ashamed of MYSELF. I’m a veteran. I’m educated. I volunteer. I know better.
And it is an echo of what the Governor of New York stated today - "The reason we were able to climb off this mountain and contain this virus is you, the people. Not leaders. You. The people. The people lead, leaders follow. You have to set the course. The leaders will race after you to catch up."
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Date: 2020-06-02 05:04 am (UTC)Middle-aged white guys? Sounds like the biker gangs in Scottsdale. They've been an armed problem for a long time on the northeast side of Phoenix. I don't know what's going on elsewhere.
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Date: 2020-06-02 12:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-02 03:10 pm (UTC)