In a weird way this sent me down a train of thinking that these protests are having a greater impact because of Covid. Years and years of symbolic gestures, peaceful protests and lip service have done jack shot to change things. The looting and destruction of police cars that we saw primarily at the start of these protests was an explosion caused by the rage that had been building over this failure to change anything. In a sense, the mass protests in the face of the pandemic are an extension of this nihilistic impulse — “If this doesn’t matter than literally nothing matters.” There is a weight to these protests we haven’t seen before and the police over response has escalated it even further, heightening the sense of danger and the stakes. This doesn’t feel like ineffectual mass gathering as a symbolic gesture. It feels like a war with real stakes.
That Avengers clip from the other day captures it well. Captain America doesn’t go, “Fuck me, this is too dangerous. People could get killed. Let’s back off and start an anti-Thanos letter writing campaign.”
One rare moment of agreement, between right and left. I was switching and heard that smug Watters guy on Fox, railing about how the police unions had too much power and were protecting the bad cops and donating to politicians.
At that exact same time on CNN, a LAPD black female police sergeant was saying the same thing about police union, and urging that we ban politicians from accepting money from police unions.
I’m cautiously optimistic in the next three to five years we will see a lot of cities do this.
But that’s the point. This isn’t a happy Kombuya moment followed by a return to normal. We’ve done that too many times. This is an existential fight. Maybe the odds are too long and it peters out but for now the momentum has to be pushed. This can’t be just another rally. It has to be a watershed moment and with the world feeling apocalyptic people’s heads are in the space to keep pushing, risks be damned.
How many people died in the Civil War? This is a war for similar stakes being fought without guns and if we can change our country the way the civil war did, it will have been worth it. (And I say this as someone whose mother is in a senior living community be ravished by Covid. Her life, my life, is worth the cost if it means real change.)
Ok, I get what you all are saying. I think you all are being naive, but I would be happy to be wrong. Let’s check a year from now. I’m think we will see modest improvement maybe even a 1/2 dozen cities that have reigned in police unions a wee bit, but nothing at the national level.
Like I said, the odds may be too long. Fucking Sandy Hook failed to move the needle on gun violence. This country is all kinds of fucked up. But it’s now or never. We have to try.
CraigM
4281
There are a myriad more viable options to express and explore that religious belief that do not require physical congregations. Virtual church services are a thing, personal study is a thing.
‘Where two or more are gathered in my name, there I am’
@Perky_Goth to your question of religious requirement? Absolutely no. In fact given the origins of Christian faith, where public gatherings were often suppressed and impossible, It goes against the church’s origins. There is a lot going on in the theological origins, but most of the notions of church attendance and requirements of faith are edicts from religious and political leaders of later dates. The biblical requirements are much more personal belief and behavior focused, and communal support oriented, rather than rituals and rules.
Rather the opposite, Paul has multiple passages talking about what is required and what is permitted being more about how your behavior impacts others. In fact Torah banned foods are explicitly allowed, in fact encouraged if abstaining may offend your host. While indulging in things that would offend your neighbor, even if technically permitted otherwise, are disallowed.
magnet
4282
Sure, and there are myriad ways to express your anger at police injustice that do not require public assembly. Social media, writing to elected representatives, letters to the editor, etc.
Understandably, for some people these forms of expression are simply not enough. Not visceral enough. Not loud enough. Not immediate enough. But the same can be true of religious expression.
magnet have you been barred from attending service at a place of religious worship due to Covid-19?
A bundle of over 740 items (not a typo), some of which you may have heard of (tonight we riot, loot rascals, a short hike, super hexagon, midboss, wheels of aurelia, to name age) but many you haven’t. All proceeds will donated to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Community Bail Fund split 50/50.
Religious people should start their own protest movement then.
ShivaX
4286
Meanwhile at the Sacred Fence in Portland.
I think your on to something. They could chant phrases together, kneel and even prostrate themselves for extended periods of time! Sounds very therapeutic.
They did, they had the reagan speech thing. Few days ago?
ShivaX
4289
Robert Evans at the Sacred Fence.
Edit: Use of force threatened.
ShivaX
4290
Aerial shot of Portland shows an absolute fuckload of people.
Edit: Teargaslighting is my new favorite phrase.
CraigM
4292
Gonna be honest, if people could actually get downtown (all exit ramps in the city center are closed to prevent suburbanites like me from joining) there would be more.
Its kinda funny driving the I-5/ 405 loop through downtown and having every single exit closed.
Made me smile though, since last Saturday I found a way.
ShivaX
4293
Flashbangs and gas in Portland.
Police gassed themselves.
Edit: Not tear gas, just smoke atm.
Edit2: Now tear gas being used.
I agree with you.
A good friend of mine died a few weeks ago. His family did not have a wake or a funeral. The church was closed for services as were the local funeral homes. Everyone told themselves that this was for the greater good and that he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to get sick on his behalf.
I believe that there is value in the healing and closure at those events and so did his wife, friends and family.
A wake and a funeral for my friend would have been maybe 75-100 people for a couple of hours on two different days. Now we’re seeing several hundreds, thousands of protesters in close contact for multiple hours at a time and many different locations.
I’m sad my friend didn’t have a funeral like he deserved. It does seem like two different criteria are being applied.
