Prolongation
NOTE: Fire is a powerful force. Stoke it long enough, give it oxygen, and it will devour anything in its path. I’d written and scheduled this entire post when I received a text from my brother-in-law—something about an ongoing insurrection. I launched Safari and my heart sank.
I have no words. No words apart from “of course he/they did”. Five years of daily poison on top of twenty years of demonization on top of 40 days of lies...this is what you get. They played with it, they stoked it and it exploded in their faces. A woman is dead and a nation is wounded.
All while the fallen emperor speaks of patriots.
I hope it becomes a learning opportunity. I hope people realize there are real enemies out there, that opponents are a challenge, not beasts to be slaughtered. That democracy should be a conversation between equals, regardless of point of view and regardless of outcome.
And that there should be a baseline for someone to become President of the United States of America.
Back to the original post.
Filed under Essay.
It’s 2021 and the world is so much different. The virus is gone, The US has finally certified an actual human being—with brain cells and empathy and words and everything—as president, and of course...hmmm...none of the above is true.
We watched the ball drop in Times Square on New Year's Eve, after an evening of the new Mulan and playing family games. We tuned in a couple of minutes to midnight, did the countdown, and I popped the bubbly pretty much on sync. Very proud of that one. No spillage either, a perfectly controlled pop, right on cue.
I would love nothing more than to draw a line in the sand, proclaiming the rising of a new dawn. In fact, I hate what I’m currently writing and where it appears to be headed, almost despite myself...but hell. What am I supposed to say? Pence just issued a statement moments ago explaining that no, he can’t legally overturn an election outcome. Go figure. This means he’ll now be the newest persona non grata in MAGALAND: Join the club buddy, there’s a crowd. And according to news networks here in QC, in a few hours a month-long full lockdown will be announced, complete with an 8PM curfew. Details forthcoming.
The number at the top of the calendar may look fresh—reality remains a b(%#c.
But damnit: there IS light ahead. If we stop dicking around and actually cut the virus’ means of transmission once and for all; if we get enough vaccines in enough bloodstreams; if democracy, against all odds, survives in the face of pure idiocy...then we’ll do fine. It won’t be tomorrow or even the day after that...but we’ll do fine.
I honestly believe that.
In the meantime, we may look through the windows and walk deserted neighbourhoods. We may paint the skies and the trees
the colour of an amber rain.
Happy New Year folks.
