The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat. Words to live by according to our President. I guess I am a bad Democrat then, at least for now, though given enough time and perhaps not too much of that the way things are going I shall surely mature into a good Democrat. Not, though, by ingesting bleach.
My brother-in-law sent me an article discussing the ways in which artificial intelligence can be used to create videos and images of people of importance doing things they never did. Soon, if not now, they will be indistinguishable from reality. A presidential tweet of immeasurable bad taste may indeed be produced to denigrate him and not to praise him and no one will know if it is true or not. Madness lies down this path. Shakespeare wrote plays about this lunacy five hundred years ago. Internet your name is Iago.
Truth is malleable, facts are becoming less stubborn, reality is a chimera suited to the point of view of the observer. And so today we will start to see the influx of visitors we dread and desire. The big issue is whether or to wear a mask. The President of the United States has made wearing a mask a symbol of sheepish submission and the refusal to wear a mask the representation of rebellion against the tyranny of the government he leads. How this makes any sense only Shakespeare or Orwell could unravel: I can't. I just watch and wonder at the state of collective madness our nation has sunk into.
I once welcomed the Internet as a way to provide education, information and facts at the touch of a button without the interpretation of third parties. That view seems more and more naive as time goes by and every fact, every truth that is not convenient gets discarded on the pile of history marked fake news or deep state or dark web or some other such nonsense. Conspiracies replace benchmarks at will. Masks aren't a medical recommendation, they are the first step in Bill Gates owning the world by inserting chips into the vaccine we will be offered next year to inoculate ourselves against Covid-19.
I quit being a journalist years ago when I realized that my world of what was known as news was being replaced by entertainment and "tips." At this stage in my life I find myself swept aside by a younger generation that displays the attention span of a firefly, flitting from blade to leaf to branch faster than I can keep up. I probably looked that way once to my elders and betters and I am reaping the inattention the elderly merit. Now that I live with a wife with no immune system the medical certainties of Facebook epidemiologists make me nervous. I have no certainties in this vast sea of confusion but I do know that keeping six feet away and wearing a mask when I can't are simple steps to preserve my family that I must take in the hope they will do some good.
I see people present themselves at anti-mask rallies with guns on display, and where they then announce that they aren't afraid and to my jaundiced eye they look and sound ludicrous. They exude fear and resentment and poverty of ideas. Conflating rights without obligations, self without community makes no sense. I have lived an adventurous life and I have taken risks but I have always calculated the size of the risk, I am not a world record breaker or a pioneer, not a leader in risk taking. I have assumed risks on the backs of those who went before. Therefore not to wear a mask when medical experts, who themselves struggle to understand a new disease, suggest wearing masks and maintaining one's distance I don't understand why wearing a mask is an abdication of personal responsibility.
The City of Key West has issued an order to the effect that public buildings and businesses must require people coming inside to wear masks. Fines and jail time are possible for offenders. Businesses that don't comply can expect a visit from Code Compliance, the people who render life not worth living with rules and permits and minute inspections. I'm sure its a coincidence but the re-opening order came a few days after a protest organized by Ed Swift, who is a man of influence, gained a lot of publicity. It was noticeable masks were in a tiny minority in photographs of the event. Presumably not photoshopped...
I don't live in the Key West of the 1980s but some days, the good days, feel like this community has been a reasonable facsimile set in modern times. People here don't protest coronavirus by parading with guns, food pantries step up where the state falls down, and I see a majority wearing masks without drama to try to do the right thing by their neighbors. I have found a new slogan from my youth, think locally, act locally and stay home as much as possible. Everything else is out of our tiny marginalized no account hands. We are all peons in the post Covid era, heaven help us.
18 comments:
Your Trump quote is inaccurate! Too bad you are falling for the lefts bs. You have ruined a beautiful blog. Good luck and good by.
good bye
‘The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.' ‘When the looting starts, the shooting starts.’ Twice in 25 hours, Trump tweets conspicuous allusions to violence. Washington Post
Good blog today Michael, well balanced.
I remember back in grade school during the cold war practicing getting on the floor under your desk and placing your hands over your head to protect ourselves from a nuclear blast and radioactive fallout. Of course these actions would not do anything to protect you. But the government wanted to give you the belief that you had some control of your ability to survive a nuclear strike, it gave people purpose, hope, a feeling you could take certain steps and survive.
Do you really think that a simple cloth face mask or walking down a grocery store isle in a certain direction is going to save you from getting the virus? Maybe a N95 mask gives you the best protection, at least that is what they are saying.
That can of beans on the store shelf was put there by someone, maybe even wearing surgical gloves. But the virus is now on his surgical glove and therefore on the can of beans. You grab the can of beans and put it in your cart, the virus is now on your hand, gloved or ungloved. You reach into your pocket and grab your wallet to pay, the virus is now on your pants pocket, wallet, credit card.
You go home wash your hands/remove your gloves put your groceries away and sit on your couch, the virus is now transferred from your pants to the couch. You change pants and take your wallet out, the virus is now being spread to another pair of pants and anything else you touch or take your wallet/credit card out to pay for something. Who else sat on the couch? How long does it really survive on a surface? The virus spreads and you think you are stopping the spread.
How do you protect yourself from something you can’t see. Do you spray germ killer on everything before you touch it?
The CDC/WHO/Government is giving you a purpose to focus on with their guidelines, making you feel you have control.
I enjoy your blog about Key West, your stories and images. Do not become another Key West Lou !
PS- All cities have the same political favoritism and perks for a select few. It is worldwide and not just Key West.
Ken in Cleveland
BTW – Yes I lean conservative but I am no fan of Donald Trump and his dump comments and twit’s. Many people including our Politicians suffer from confirmation basis. People give more importance to the voice of those that agree with their point of view or party lines then allowing other points of view to be considered.
But is Joe Biden / Nancy Pelosi the answer ? I think not. Same old, same old from both parties.
I am more agreeable with anyone that puts the welfare of the American people before the letter after their name. So the question is how do we find the person who wants to put the American people and their welfare before party lines? What is best for the people must come first.
Ken in Cleveland
To "Ken in Cleveland"- wow, you don't understand science at all!!
Ken in Cleveland" is a known and persistent pest and troll on the Key West Lou blog. He has a serious problem with facts and the truth and is no stranger to deception and lies. He also posts there under several different deniable names.
Never posted a comment on Key West Lou blog. Stopped reading it a long time ago.
Ken in Cleveland.
Typical and expected denial from Ken, this pompous troll who uses several different deniable names with his posts on other peoples blogs.
....I'm going to give my sweet doggie
a hug and big kiss----we know where loves lives.
To all the anonymous anonymous’ you prove my point on confirmation biases and the ability to be open minded. This is why we will never come to an agreement or have meaningful dialog on what is best for the country.
Ken in Cleveland
Everyone needs to take a deep breath (don’t exhale on anyone). I’m conservative fiscally, what you do that doesn’t reach into my pocketbook doesn’t concern me. Be kind, be polite, mind your own business, obey the laws, and most of all do it quietly. Oh yeah, clean up your own mess. As always, love the pictures, and you, and rusty.
I wish there were easy answers but there aren't. However the divisiveness coming from the White House has really made me tired of this leadership. On economic policy and social policy it's possible to disagree and move on but when the health and welfare of fellow Americans is at stake, I think it's time to step up and say enough. Maybe masks won't save us but NOT using them cannot be good in this situation can it? I wear a mask when I go into a business as required by local laws. On the streets I avoid people and next week I will carry my mask if I face crowded outdoor situations. To not do so seems willfully inconsiderate to me. And this President has made mask wearing a political act and I resent that. I'm sorry but I do.
My concern in the Keys is that the checkpoints are coming down and many many people want to vacation in the Keys and we have seen a total absence of social control Up North, with crowded beaches and public spaces and no masks. We have a very small stable Covid 19 infection rate in the Keys thanks to the Sheriff's determination to protect us. What happens next? Who knows but it can't be good can it?
Who knows what happens next?! I don’t put a lot of faith in anything, or anyone lately. I’m currently on the page that says we have to watch out for ourselves and the people in our house. Seems to me, that people are short sighted and rather self severing. Getting old and tired. Your blog and pictures are a welcome addition to life in this kooky world. All we can do is obey the rules and do our best. For some reason the queen of England has come to my mind lately. She keeps a stiff upper lip and carries on. I say we do the same. Stay safe and carry on. Best to you, Layne, and rusty.
Thank you. In addition to the above I spend a CB lot of time thinking about what the greatest generation went through in terms of sacrifice, unity of purpose and the difficulty of clinging to principles in the face of discomfort danger and indeed temporary suspension of civil rights. I don’t think we have handled our Pearl Harbor moment in a way that does them honor.
Thank you Michael. Those of us with a voice have a responsibility to speak (or write).
Those who refuse to use their names and are content to toss empty rethorical bricks in a sentence or two are best ignored.
All the very best to you, Layne and Rusty.
David
I too feel this way, a Brit perched in my Canadian spot where its quiet and I feel thankful for that.
Your post has put into words all my thoughts. I feel fortunate in a way as I dont identify as a Republican or a Democrat, I feel more free from choosing life through a political lens but rather try to do what is right for the people around me as well as for me and to follow science and the advise from those organizations who specialize in infectious diseases.
I hope this is over soon and I can come back to visit the Keys but I worry we wont be able to for a long time.
warning, these comments have been struck by the editor's pen....anything Michael doesnt agree with is taken down, what does a Donald Trump look alike look like?
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