Society is a Contract

Wow. A lot has happened in the past week. The US has surpassed 100,000 COVID-19 deaths. It’s now June. And the police brutally murdered a black man. But that’s not unusual. What is unusual is that it has precipitated protests, which have spread out nationwide and don’t show signs of stopping.

Last night, Trump gave a speech that basically declared war on the protesters. He wants retribution. He wants to dominate them. He said he’s there to protect your 2nd Amendment rights, all but giving the green light for people to shoot protesters. He’s on a weird fix against Antifa, which is an idea not a group. The entire speech was a textbook example of toxic masculinity. It made me literally sick to my stomach.

And then I learned he had protesters tear-gassed so he could get a photo-op.

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde issued a response to the president’s visit to the church, “The President just used a Bible and one of the churches of my diocese as a backdrop for a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our church stands for. To do so, he sanctioned the use of tear gas by police officers in riot gear to clear the church yard. I am outraged.”

I am at a loss for words. I do not know how to respond. Except to say I support the protests. I don’t want to see more violence but I understand it. When the only action from those in power is death and threats, what else is left?

I’m anti-fascist.

I’m with think Black Lives Matter.

I think the police need to be demilitarized.

I think Trumps response is going to lead to more blood-shed, not less.

I’m listening.

I’ll leave you with a few links along with a clip from Trevor Noah and a small hint of brightness from a Republican governor. 

• Far-right trying to turn protests into Civil War
• Looters linked to White Supremacist groups
• More White people instigating violence
• What you can do for justice
• Examples of excessive violence from police against protesters
• How to respond to “riots never solve anything”
• Look at that, this kind of thing isn’t new. Tulsa 1921