Plague Journal, The Problem With Ignorance
Thursday afternoon was hot, summer-like. For a change of scene I took a short drive to Geneva to find a quiet spot outside to continue my reading in Simulacra and Simulation. Walking along State Street I felt depression, 
saddened by the view of boarded up store fronts. The property owners, no doubt called in board-up services as a preventative measure. Just in case rioting breaks out, they’d be better off to pay a board-up service than a window replacement company, not even to think about possible looting… These are troubled times squared!
If you are a pissed off and grieving Black person the business district of Geneva is not likely to be a high priority site for demonstrating. The likelihood of a phalanx of sign-waving, chanting demonstrators on 3rd Street or State Street, Geneva is nill. All that plywood is a symbol of defensive, close-minded attitude. All that brown wood in the afternoon sun, a seige-look, those not at risk hunkered down, imagining the worst.
I was heartened that Starbucks was not boarded up. I can think of no better symbol of open mindedness, an invitation to engagement, — than to welcome everyone to stop by and have a beverage or a treat.
I visited again the site for The Leo, the Louisville publication that is unafraid to risk speaking the truth to and about the community it serves. I read these words by columnist Bennie Ivory.
When I arrived in Louisville 23 years ago, the then-head of what serves as Louisville’s chamber of commerce told me over lunch he didn’t know anybody who had been discriminated against. He went on to say that he didn’t know anybody who knew anybody who had been discriminated against.
That’s the problem with ignorance. He didn’t realize he was espousing racism as he spoke.
I recommend reading Ivory’s entire piece. The link to Racism ‘If we don’t get it at this point, we really are in trouble’ is HERE.
I read the transcript of Attorney General William Barr’s press conference yesterday. Barr is now the President’s war-time consigliere to “deal with” the protests, the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Barr acknowledged the horror of Floyd’s murder on video for all to see. He stated that, for reason many African American’s lack confidence in the American Criminal justice system, and this must change. However, Barr went on at some length about the “witches brew of different organizations” that are fomenting lawlessness, violence. In my opinion this is what Barr truly cares about. Priority one is to identify and eliminate any forceful opposition to the President’s intention to keep his job for another four years, and any opposition to the president’s daily words and actions to divide Americans. This crisis will not be wasted.
From the press conference we learned that Barr has sent specialized Federal teams to control protests in Washington D.C. and Miami. Also that the FBI is setting up command posts in cities across the country. The authorities are preparing defensive positions in depth. If you’d like to read a report on Barr’s press conference CLICK HERE.
4 thoughts on “Plague Journal, The Problem With Ignorance”
First modest sigh of relief in quite a while…….
Witnessing the reaction, by three (present or past) high ranking (Four Star and Flag Officer Admiral) military officials to the ‘Mutt in Chiefs’ recent attempt to further erode our Constitutionally endowed rights and freedoms was the first modest sigh of relief I have felt in a very long time. One stated that our ‘American Experiment’ was in jeopardy and another said citizens should be VERY CAREFUL about who they elect president.
And one ‘just up and moved’ his troops back to Alabama (while not being ‘ordered’ to do such).
Y’all have heard my fear, if The Mutt is reelected, he will refuse to leave when that term expires. I have also encountered the notion put forth, after loosing the coming election, he’ll refuse to leave (believe me, this nut job’s thinking (?) process does go that far).
I have often’ d speculated that some where in our country a small group of such men gather and discuss what action should be taken if he does indeed refuse to leave. At the very least I do now believe any such action undertaken by The Mutt will lack military support.
Thailand has a track record of what I feel is how a ‘proper’ coup should take place: as a crisis unfolds, the military steps in, takes power and leaves as soon as order is restored and a ‘truthful’ election takes place. At least that is what has seen to been their action. BTW, FWIW, (isn’t this great, we no longer have to learn how to write, but now we don’t even have to spell) an award winning view of the opposite side of this coin can be seen in the award winning 1969 movie ‘Z’ , by Costa-Gavras, chronicling the ‘Colonels Coup’ in Greece during the late 60’s. The letter ‘Z’ was actually one of the many things banned by those who had taken power (along with the many non-sensical things banned was Beatle’s music – that’s a low blow, but the letter, ‘Z’ ?).
BTW (buy tha whey?), Jerry, aren’t you tired of hearing Lou- E- ville instead of Lou-Ah- ville? I sure am. I’ll give you a ‘hollar’ down the road !
Blessings
Keep the faith Al!
Please pardon the double post, but I forgot one serious matter:
It is my opinion that much of the destruction and looting recently was at the hands of Right Wing infiltrators and local opportunists. It was my experience that the extreme left groups do not make a practice of breaking windows and looting. They rob banks and blow things up. Don’t forget all the undercover police identified in liberal organizations during the sixties.
Blessings
Seems that way to me as well. A “left minded” person is not one that collects guns, or parades around in public armed-up as if they were going to celebrate the apocalypse.