Imagine It’s 2005
(Cross posted on WhatBigotsPost)
I shared this little rant on my personal Facebook today…and ya know, no one gives a fuck. Y’all probably won’t either, but I’m resharing it here since I took all the time to type it anyway. Maybe someone will find it of value.
Posting stuff like this is akin to shouting into the the void, I know. I am truly exhausted and tired of trying to think of ways to articulate “this is not ok.” But I can’t stop. It’s too deeply ingrained in me to want to speak out when things are this awry. So I’m going to try a different method. Let’s play a little imagination exercise, in the form of a novella because I have a lot of words to say:
It is the year 2005. Seat your imagination in your own life in that year.
You become aware that international news is covering some scary stuff in a county you’ve never heard of. As you read through the coverage you are horrified to learn a series of increasingly concerning facts:
The country has experienced the rise of an oligarchic authoritarian who only ever showed 20% of the total population’s support a few years ago. Said oligarch then does everything he can to degrade safety nets, equitable healthcare, and social programs…producing wealth divides and inequity like never before. (And the divides were bad before, too, mind you.)
Recently, state actors on behalf of the oligarch have violently attacked peaceful citizens protesting in the streets (once for a photo op for the oligarch.) The reason people were protesting at all? For years and years prior to that, similar state actors were murdering targeted ethnic minority groups in the streets in horrifyingly high numbers, with no repercussions. (Oh by the way, most of said “state actors” are the base of this oligarch’s support.)
The oligarch has an unholy alliance with a media source which has now become a state sponsored propaganda machine. They freely promote misinformation designed to shore up their base to continue to allow them so enact violence on the most powerless. Every other media source both inside and outside this country easily refutes their lies, but the oligarch and his buddies have unfiltered access to this platform to continue to use as needed to create the illusion of legitimacy.
A deadly infectious disease is also now ravaging this county. Their infection and death rates are many times higher (adjusted for population) than anywhere in the world. Steps can be taken to help limit the spread and major successes are seen all over the globe, except for in this country. The disease is most likely to kill folks already on the margins, especially the elderly and the disabled. The illness and death rates are most staggering and startling in the various local communities where the leadership there is part of the oligarch’s cronies and follow his lead.
As the cases of infections rage and it is well known that gatherings cause spread, the oligarch prioritizes political rallies and self aggrandizing fanfare over the simple safety and livelihood of the population. Said oligarch and his inner circle explain things that amount to: “sacrifice the weak so we can gather.” They make their base think of simple acts of human decency (like wearing a mask) as an oppressive evil force and contribute to countless more cases.
The oligarch not only shows a total lack of regard for the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of deaths now, he also gaslights the country by downplaying the situation and creates an environment where local leaders are pressured to manipulate infection data. Scientists speak out. People asked to manipulate data are speak out and are fired. National leaderships ignores all reason, logic, and science from any experts. Infectious disease experts whose critical knowledge and training could contribute to wider national data tracking, health and public safety recommendations, etc. are desperate to be involved…it’s what they’ve trained for their whole careers. But they are never consulted and/or flat out denied access to a national platform to help spread critical, life-saving information.
In most recent reports, hospitals in many communities are now reaching full capacity. Those same race and ethnic minority groups that have been targets of state violence are again hit hardest. Hospital leadership in the most impacted areas beg for policy changes and help to reduce spread. The oligarch and his friends in local government instead only create policies which encourage spread and have direct correlations to higher cases.
Remember those political rallies you read about?? Well, there is an election coming around the corner in this country where this oligarch could be removed from office, but only if the population can freely vote, because he has historically low approval. Unfortunately, everything that would need to be done to enable that to best happen is specifically NOT being done. Election experts warn that if drastic changes are not made to enable nationwide vote by mail, there will be historic low turnout. (Need I remind you an infectious disease is ravaging the people?)
On top of all of this….in this moment of violence, death, and illness, the oligarch amplifies his inherent cruelty by working to try to remove critical access to healthcare for the most vulnerable, completely guaranteeing more loss of life by his actions, if fulfilled.
Do you get a sense of this powder keg?
Ok, stay with me in this imagination exercise: It’s 2005, remember? So let’s also say that this country has (even a paltry) amount of oil in their land (it does.) Are you going to tell me that in 2005, our leadership at the time wouldn’t at least have had passing thoughts that we should invade this county in the name of “defending democracy” or “for humanitarian intervention?”
Because it wouldn’t have surprised me if that was a case made. (I wouldn’t support it mind you, but I would totally believe that it could have happened.)
And yet the same people who would point to this theoretical country and say: WE AS AMERICANS MUST DEFEND FREEDOM EVERYWHERE have allowed its own people to live this hellscape but 15 years later.
If you’ve read this far, I realize there’s a 99% chance you agree with me, which is a really big shame because all those folks who don’t GET THIS are contributing to all this violence, death, and suffering by their complacency and/or gleeful support. And it will only serve to hurt themselves and all of the rest of us in the long run.
Read that list I curated again. Nothing I’ve said here is a lie, although I have used language that cuts through the BS. But a simple Google search would find you a reputable source for any of my general claims.
This is America in 2020. Do you think it’s “GREAT”…good? Fair? Even passable? I don’t. I’m embarrassed and angry and exhausted and over it. We do have the power to change this shit. Stay home. If you can’t, wear a mask. HOLD ALL OF THESE STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE. We’ve got to vote out those who have the blood of our neighbors on their hands in such a demonstrable way. This is a moral imperative.
Ya know…I have a BA in political science from a fancy 4 year liberal arts university. Who cares, right? I can admit, that doesn’t probably qualify me for much, but it sure allows me to say, “HOLY HELL THESE ARE SOME CLASSIC RED FLAGS.” This situation is untenable and if major changes are not made soon, it’s gonna get a lot worse for us all before it ever gets better.
Here’s the simplest version of what I’m trying to say: You should care about other people. You should act and vote in a way that shows you care about other people. If you fundamentally disagree w/that, well, we’re done here