Across the country, the children play hooky. They’ll probably get dinged for leaving to demonstrate for freedom from being shot. But they’ll raise a stink that can only smother their enemies.
You know who you are.
And in many ways this country was built on the backs of people in the streets.
If it weren’t for public demonstrations, we’d still be living under British rule. Well, you might say, at least we’d have universal health care and likely no “big beautiful wall.” And we’d be driving on the left.
But it was the call to the streets that started and won the American Revolution. And the formation of the America we love and are tearing apart today.
Demonstrations in major cities brought about safety for workers. They brought about the labor movement which was what gave employees’ rights that now are law.
They brought about a civil rights movement which at the very least raised awareness of civil wrongs and gave us some legal tools to fix this. Some of those tools have been left out in the rain too long and have rusted. But still…
Demonstrations ended the Vietnam war. (No, it wasn’t Paul Harvey and Walter Cronkite. But they helped bring on board the lame, the halt and the chicken.)
Now we have school children leaving the building and demonstrate against gun violence. And once again, the cowards of the right are distorting their purpose and chiding them for “leaving school instead of staying inside and ‘learning.’”
Learning?
Let’s stop here and throw in ...
TODAY’S QUOTE:
“If I think back to all the crap I learned in high school, it’s a wonder I can think at all.” --Paul Simon (“Kodachrome.”)
Okay, we’re back. Simon’s view is extreme. But it’s not completely wrong, either. Hands-on experience sometimes is a greater educator than school.
This demonstration is different from some other protests. These kids don’t have a solution. They look to their family values parents for some guidance. The fact is the only way to stop gun violence is to stop guns. And that’s not going to happen.
But note that the people who are bowing to the power of the second amendment don’t have the same lust for the 8th (excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishment,) or the 16th (income tax.)
And there are people who aren’t crazy about the 13th, 14th or 15th, the civil rights and discrimination amendments, either.
And when members of the Second Amendment Marching Society also embrace the first amendment, it’s not with the same enthusiasm. Their own free speech is okay, they say. They’re not wild about the part that bars establishment of a state religion or group of religions.
But, then, hypocrisy and selective embrace are as American as amber waves of GMOs.
SHRAPNEL:
--Another reason to love Equifax known far and wide as the outfit that papers-over its massive data breach by offering an all-knowing search for your name on the dark web. The company that knows which side of your behind itches and when finally got a change of address. It was sent 12 years ago.
--That’s even better than the New York City Parking Violations Bureau. After paying a parking ticket I shouldn’t have received, they sent a refund… nine years later. I am NOT making this up.
--Those old fuddy duddy scientists at Consumer Reports Magazine have swung a heavy bat at the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies. They cite some dangerous ingredients, deceptive packaging and study after study that shows homeopathics are no better than sugar pills for what ails ya. But since we no longer accept science -- or any facts, for that matter, don’t bother spending eight bucks for a newsstand copy of this tool of Big Pharma and the makers of cars, refrigerators, TV sets and other stuff that is unnecessary knowledge in the era of anti-science.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
Please address comments to wesrichards@gmail.com
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© WJR 2018
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