Anti-Protest Protest

Good afternoon.

I've been bumbling around for something good to write lately, and I've batted around ideas concerning body positivity and general nonsense concerning the American maelstrom that is political life there and also the messes that we have in our own back yard concerning free speech and so on. Something popped into my head, however, and I'd like to take a bit to discuss. It is this:

Protests.

So many protests.

University protests.

Statue protests.

Police protests.

Environmental protests.

Left protests.

Right protests.

All of these people coming from so far afield to be parts of these gatherings.  My experiences with protests have taught me that there's an ugliness to all of it.  It's not the pure, idealistic, spontaneous exercise that I, or people, believe it to be.  It's angry people.

Quite so.

Worse, in Charolettesville, it's angry people across the line from other angry people.  It's angry vs. angry.

So, I have to ask: why be angry?

What's to gain from picking a side between hard right and hard left?  Not a whole lot. What's the difference between a DPRK prison camp and a Syrian one?  Ideology?  One has oil pipelines?  One has a higher minimum wage?  Let's be real here.Worse than that is the fact.  They're two sides of the same ugly, old, battered coin.

And these are the ANTI-fascist protesters!  With friends like these...

Worse, these protests.  They're organized by unions, political operatives, business interests, and just generally people with agendas.  Sad to say, but protesters are pawns.  The larger the crowds, the more cameras, the more clicks, the more names on the petition and the larger the donations means a more successful protest. If you're a protester, you don't see a dime of the donations.  It's not a 50/50 draw, it's a 0/100 swindle.  These groups take issues that reasonable people find important and sympathetic...

Like so.

...and torque them into manufactured outrage to get paid off of your back.  It's a scam.

It sounds cynical.  It is cynical.

Here's the deal.  If you're out protesting, if you're out hating, if you're out chanting, you're not home. You're not vacuuming or cutting the grass.  You're not watching a ballgame or listening to an old album you've never got around to.  You're not...

...baking awesome cookies.

You're not...

...doing cool art.

You're not...

...calling your grandparents.

You're not...

...spending time with the kids.

You're not...

...enjoying your pets.

In other words, be happy.  Live life.  Love thy neighbour.

Hey.  I have an idea.

Well, I guess that's a good one.  But I have another!

Voting.

Cha-ching!

There's one form of protest that I engage in every chance I get.  I vote.  Federally, provincially and municipally I make sure my voice is heard.  Why, I was pivotal in the federal elections of...

Roy Bailey

Ralph Goodale

Ralph a second time

Erin Weir

I let them do the talking for me.  That's what a representative democracy is.  I pay people to represent my interests.  For example, Mr. Weir, since his election a couple of years ago, has gone and protested for people with disabilities, stopping cuts to government services, peace in the Middle East, and more.  I did all this protesting from the comfort of my own couch, and it was great.

Mine aren't.

As for donations and party affiliations and stuff like that, sure.  I could donate my hard-earned cash to politicians, but I have a brain.  I don't really need a party to tell me what to think.  I'm perfectly happy exercising my right to protect every four years or so in the only way that truly matters, at the ballot box.  Besides, donating even more funds voluntarily to politicians won't by that shop vac I've been meaning to get or pay for a vacation any sooner.  It may get a meager tax break as a reward, but I'll live.

And but so since I'm slagging politicians left and right, you may ask yourself why do I even vote if it's such a cynical exercise.  Well, to quote Winston Churchill, 

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."  

So, you know, it could be worse. and I've always espoused the theory that if you don't vote you can't complain.  Worse, could you only imagine if you protest, but don't vote?  What a waste!

I believe that the state has a responsibility to look after people who require assistance to get by every day.  I feel strongly about it, so I voted for someone to be my voice, and they are my voice.  That's what I pay him to do.  I pay him to do it, because I have a life.

Indeed not.

I have my own job, a family to look after, some good baseball to watch, and a dishwasher that needs repairs.  Also...

PREACH!

These things don't distract me from "the real issues" in a bread-and-circuses kind of way, they are my real issues in my life.  If I need anything at all, I'll get one of my employees on it.  They're good at that kind of thing.  That's why I hired them.

And that's it for today, folks.  Thank you for reading!

War of Words

Good aftern-

...oon.  Hm!  Well, you don't see that every day.  At least, we all hope that we don't see it any day, but the recent posturing (nonsense?) between North Korea and the United States raises the specter of this scenario becoming a reality.  It's been a pretty good show lately!

We can hit America with our nuclear missiles now!

You'd better stop making threats or we'll rain fire and fury down upon you!

Specifically, we can nuke Guam.

Maybe I wasn't clear.  Any more threats will be met with FIRE and FURY.

Here's precisely how we'll be nuking Guam in mid-August.

And back and forth and around and around we go, each side seeming to up their rhetoric.  As I've said, a pretty good show!  But while the president is opting for inflammatory language, others in the administration are urging for calm.

Secretary of State Tex Rillerson, who sounds precisely as he looks in a most charming way.

Tex has urged for calm, and rightly so.

“Americans should sleep well at night. I have no concerns about this particular rhetoric over the last few days.”

An entirely reasonable response, and probably a correct one.  I've been seeing lately that as bonkers as a lot of the United States is seeming lately, Secretary Rillerson has been unusually professional. Ten points to Tex!

However, to contrast this message, here's Dr. Gorka...

...who also sounds exactly as he looks, and is at his most effective when he's achieved a state of peak smug.

"The idea that Secretary Tillerson is going to discuss military matters is simply nonsensical."

Say what you like about this administration, but there is no shortage of opposing viewpoints.  Doc Sebastian is a helluva treat to watch and listen to.  Just a phenomenal talent of saying ridiculous things with a straight face.  I haven't seen such a gutsy performance since...

...this gentleman right here graced us with his verbal gymnastics.

No, there's no accusing the Trump administration of myopic group think.

Dr. Gorka continued...

"It is the job of Secretary Mattis, the Secretary of Defense, to talk about the military options, and he has done so unequivocally today.  He said, 'Woe betide anyone who militarily challenges the United States,' and that is his portfolio. That is his mandate."

Gen. Mattis, by the way...

...is another man who sounds precisely as he looks.

The man is as tough as tough as they come and he has the language to back it up.  Here's his full statement on North Korea's recent missile-related threats:

"The United States and our allies have the demonstrated capabilities and unquestionable commitment to defend ourselves from attack. Kim Jong Un should take heed of the United Nations Security Council's unified voice, and statements from governments the world over, who agree the DPRK poses a threat to global security and stability. The DPRK must choose to stop isolating itself and stand down its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The DPRK should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people.

"President Trump was informed of the growing threat last December and on taking office his first orders to me emphasized the readiness of our ballistic missile defense and nuclear deterrent forces. While our State Department is making every effort to resolve this global threat through diplomatic means, it must be noted that the combined allied militaries now posses the most precise, rehearsed, and robust defensive and offensive capabilities on earth. The DPRK regime's actions will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict it initiates."

Take a moment to breathe it in,  Pretty straightforward.  Very tough and very clear.  Provocative? Maybe.  Mushy?  Not a chance. What you see is what you get.

But is all of this tough talk recklessly spawning World War III, or is there a little bit of a method to the madness?  A hint can be found in China's recent announcement that is the United Stated attacks North Korea, that China will come to North Korea's aid.  However, if North Korea attacks the United States or its allies, that North Korea is on its own to suffer the "precise, rehearsed and robust" consequences.

And here lies the nub of the issue.  If North Korea shoots first, it will be alone and will soon find that the remainder of the world will, at the least, not be unhappy to see the end of the Kim family.  If the United States goads North Korea into military retaliation, then...

...oh well!  It's not like we didn't warn you.

Sometimes, it must be said, a war of words is not necessarily a bad thing.  Trump is certainly welcome to keep his big mouth running, as long as that's all he does.

Gen. von Drumpf

Talk tough all you want, but please leave the war-making to the professionals.

Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

Indeed.  Chirp away, I say!  Until next time!  We hope.