Short Takes on Our Times

Violent Protests?  The liberal media ties the adjective to the noun as if that sanitizes the violence.  Traditionally American society has treated the combination as an oxymoron.  Protests in a democratic society are to be civil – the First Amendment to the U.S. protects  that right:  “Congress shall make no law… abridging… the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”.

Violence is violence.  The purported reason for it is not justifiable in America.  Excuses for it merely sanction more of it.

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Is patriotism dying?   In recent decades, the split between Republicans and Democrats over feelings of pride in America have widened (GOP more; Dems less).  But in the past few years, the absence of patriotism among the young has become obvious.  Two years ago, fewer than half of those under 30 “were extremely proud to be American”.  Now only 20% feel that way.

Why?  Certainly the lack of civic education in schools is a large factor.  (If you don’t “know” America, what’s there to love?)  And the current drumbeat permeating the culture (of the young in particular) that America is racist is a contributor as well.

Where are the voices of reason and sensibility countering these largely false and malicious attacks?

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The image of the GOP is not served well by the positions of several Republican governors (think of Florida and Oklahoma, for instance) who refuse to mandate mask-wearing.  Sure facial coverings can be uncomfortable during the heat of summer, but the potential unpleasantness pales into utter insignificance when contemplating the potential life-saving benefits.  Such Republicans cast their party as one of non-seriousness.  Doesn’t the GOP already suffer too much in the public eye from that aspect of our President?