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| The Grand Inquisitor |
So, I've read a bit about the Republican guy who would "be the first in line" to torture the kid who built the bombs and set them off in Boston last week. I read, too, the opinions of those who think the kid should be tried in a military court despite the fact that he's an American citizen and that's against the law. I read that he is charged with using a "weapon of mass destruction" (and can't help but feel the irony of those illusory WMDs in Iraq so many years ago that launched a thousand ships) despite the seeming humble origins of pressure cooker, nails, metal. I have wondered, with others, why the poor souls of West, Texas who disappeared in an apocalyptic explosion and fire, haven't warranted the same amount of outrage and/or horror of those attending the Boston Marathon last week. I flipped through scores of powerful photos on the internet of refugees, maimed children and grieving men and women in the streets of Syria, where scores die every single day. I shrink from the Facebook posts exclaiming over the kick-ass law enforcement of Boston and all the cliches of bravery and fortitude that have followed. I listened carefully to those who are nervous about traveling to big cities with their children. I even argued a bit over on Maggie May's blog with a guy who was carrying a huge stick and swinging it wildly.
I don't know quite what to make of all of this and wish that I could just turn it all off.
Off.
I read this, though, which put my unease, if not to rest, then at least in perspective.
What we witnessed was a tragic — but sadly – too familiar sequence of events. In a nation of over 340 million, we have a few demented or damaged souls with real or imagined grievances that cause them to wish to harm people whom they do not know. We also have good, brave, and competent local and state police forces that are able and willing to solve these crimes. It was true back in 1977 (and long before), and remains true today.
So what in fact did change? We now have a “War on Terror” that permeates every public news event and action. The immediate leap to the familiar “Terrorists In Our Midst” narrative is facilitated and amplified by a bovine mainstream media amped up by endless alerts issued by a Department of Homeland Security and two Presidential Administrations about insane foreigners here, there, and everywhere. In other words, what’s changed is the presence of a fear-mongering narrative of the War on Terror, along with the billions in expenditures that are used to justify it, that reframe a centuries old story about crime.
I don't know if I agree with the above writer, but it settles my unease a bit.
Reader, what are you thinking about or turning OFF?
