Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. Burning Cities for Unity!

 

Yesterday I was driving through Bluffton with my windows down, sunroof open, enjoying the beautiful weather. I didn’t have the radio on, because I was afraid they’d play a political ad, and I was trying to enjoy a pleasant autumn day. There was congestion ahead and I came to a stop well before the intersection. Along the road, there were a bunch of old white people who had Biden signs, Vote Democrat!, local Democrat congressional race signs, and so on. Except for one 70ish slender woman, who as it turns out, was standing right outside my open window where I had stopped for the traffic. Her sign was handmade, and it said, “Vote for Unity.”

She apparently was tired of being ignored all day by a bunch of people who were trying to enjoy the beautiful day and not think about politics for five minutes. Because when I looked at her, she smiled brightly, waved, and said “Hi!” I said, “Hi! I’m really impressed. You’ve got some guts.” When she looked confused and sincerely asked “Why?”, I started to suspect that I might be missing something. But like an idiot, I pressed on:

“You’re the only Republican in a crowd of Democrats. But still you stand here and say what you believe in. Good for you. That takes guts.”

She looked even more confused and said, “I’m a Democrat too!”

I had started to suspect that I was missing something. Now, I knew that I was missing something.

She pulled her sign to the side, and she was wearing a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt.

For a second, we just looked at each other. Both equally confused, I think.

I slowly said, “So your T-shirt promotes ‘Black Lives Matter’, and your sign promotes ‘Unity.’ Um, ok…”

The light had changed up ahead, and I was so thankful to see cars start to move.

She said, “Of course. That’s the whole point.” She was slowly moving from confusion to defensiveness.

Knowing I was about to escape, I responded, “You need a new sign: “Burning Cities for Unity!” Or maybe, “Fighting for Peace! By Beating up People who Disagree with Us About Anything!

Ok, now she’s pissed, yelling, “You’re an idiot!” By this time, thank God, I’m driving away. Those peace-loving, anti-violence, unity types tend to be confrontational and violent, as we’re seeing in cities all over America.

It seems odd that I’m bigger, stronger, and so much better armed than she is, but she’s so much more dangerous than I am.

On the other hand, that’s not odd at all. Never mind.

So this college-educated, wealthy senior citizen, with a lifetime of world experiences, puts on a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt and carries a “Vote for Unity” sign. I just can’t stop thinking about that.

And apparently, she hasn’t yet started thinking about that.


In an unrelated matter, I checked the CNN website on my phone again this morning. This makes five consecutive days that there are multiple pictures of Trump, but no pictures of Biden. The election is only a few days away.

Eh, never mind.


Imagine being a member of a cult that sounded very nice, but it required that you don’t think about things. You can’t even consider other points of view. And any outsiders that have a different point of view are evil and must be eliminated from polite conversation. You don’t know exactly what their views are, but you can’t even ask them, because that is outside the rules of your cult. Which really is very nice, as long as you don’t stray.

Honestly, it might be pretty nice for much of the time. But what would you do with your brain? Wouldn’t you be curious what else was out there? Why those other people seem so happy? I just can’t imagine living my life in such a cult. What would that be like?

Maybe tomorrow, I’ll drive through Bluffton, and see if that lady is still there. I could ask her.

On the other hand, that may be a bad idea.

Never mind.

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  1. Tex929rr Coolidge

    Excellent and appropriate pic.

    • #1
    • October 31, 2020, at 10:38 AM PDT
    • 9 likes
  2. Maguffin Member

    I’ve been jonesing to shut off my brain and not care, but decided it wouldn’t be a good idea.

    • #2
    • October 31, 2020, at 10:39 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  3. MarciN Member

    I am seeing an ugly, irrational, unthinking side of people that I never knew was there. It’s getting hard to hold onto my rose-colored glasses. I am liking the Trump rallies. Frankly, he makes more sense these days than half of my country does. 

    • #3
    • October 31, 2020, at 11:04 AM PDT
    • 12 likes
  4. cdor Member
    cdor Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    MarciN (View Comment):

    I am seeing an ugly, irrational, unthinking side of people that I never knew was there. It’s getting hard to hold onto my rose-colored glasses. I am liking the Trump rallies. Frankly, he makes more sense these days than half of my country does.

    There is so much joy at a Trump rally. The Biden voters surely must miss that.

    • #4
    • October 31, 2020, at 11:21 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  5. Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler Member

    You, of all people, should know the old saying about wrestling with hogs. 

    • #5
    • October 31, 2020, at 11:29 AM PDT
    • 5 likes
  6. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    You, of all people, should know the old saying about wrestling with hogs.

    Would it be better to wrangle weasels?

    • #6
    • October 31, 2020, at 11:30 AM PDT
    • 6 likes
  7. Randy Webster Member

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    Excellent and appropriate pic.

    James Jones?

    • #7
    • October 31, 2020, at 12:01 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  8. Randy Webster Member

    Dr. Bastiat: Fighting for Peace!

    I think that was a slogan from the Viet Nam anti-war protests.

    • #8
    • October 31, 2020, at 12:03 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  9. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    Excellent and appropriate pic.

    James Jones?

    The very same.

    • #9
    • October 31, 2020, at 12:03 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  10. Buckpasser Member
    Buckpasser Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    I’ve said many times that a vote for the d’s is a vote for AOC, BLM and looting.

    • #10
    • October 31, 2020, at 12:19 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  11. David Carroll Thatcher
    David Carroll Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Of course she wants unity. She wants all conservatives dead, so there is not disagreement left.

    • #11
    • October 31, 2020, at 2:52 PM PDT
    • 11 likes
    • This comment has been edited.
  12. TBA Coolidge
    TBA

    cdor (View Comment):

    MarciN (View Comment):

    I am seeing an ugly, irrational, unthinking side of people that I never knew was there. It’s getting hard to hold onto my rose-colored glasses. I am liking the Trump rallies. Frankly, he makes more sense these days than half of my country does.

    There is so much joy at a Trump rally. The Biden voters surely must miss that.

    When the judged are dragged down to hell they won’t feel fear at first because they will be too filled with rage and resentment towards those who attain heaven. 

    • #12
    • October 31, 2020, at 3:09 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  13. TBA Coolidge
    TBA

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler (View Comment):

    You, of all people, should know the old saying about wrestling with hogs.

    Would it be better to wrangle weasels?

    Weasels are more properly panted. 

    • #13
    • October 31, 2020, at 3:10 PM PDT
    • Like
  14. Randy Webster Member

    Could be worse. Could be cat herding.

    https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Cat+herders&docid=608040792536517740&mid=34594E85317A1987E2A334594E85317A1987E2A3&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

    • #14
    • October 31, 2020, at 3:14 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  15. ChrisShearer Inactive

    The unity sign she have had an addendum:

     

    PS We’re right!

    • #15
    • October 31, 2020, at 3:54 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  16. Full Size Tabby Member

    I appreciate your efforts to bring up subtly that it’s the Democrats who are the party of hate and division. 

    On a few occasions I have baffled people who indicate support for “Black Lives Matter” by asking them why they hate the family, and why they think men should be excluded from society formation. Both are prominent elements of BLM goals, but few people who indicate support for BLM are aware of them. 

    • #16
    • October 31, 2020, at 3:58 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  17. The Reticulator Member

    David Carroll (View Comment):

    Of course she wants unity. She wants all conservative dead, so there is not disagreement left.

    Burning dissenters at the stake used to be a way to obtain unity in society. 

    • #17
    • October 31, 2020, at 4:09 PM PDT
    • 5 likes
  18. Rev. Craig S. Stanford Coolidge

    Dr. You have a way of making politics fun, even when they aren’t.

    • #18
    • October 31, 2020, at 4:39 PM PDT
    • 8 likes
  19. Podkayne of Israel Member

    “Mee-eee a-and Reverend, Reverend Jones, Reverend Jones…/ We got a thang goin’ on…

    …We both know that it’s wrong
    But it’s much too strong
    To let it go now

    We gotta be extra careful
    That do we don’t build our hopes up too high
    Because he’s got his own obligations
    And so, and so, do I…”
    • #19
    • November 1, 2020, at 2:14 AM PST
    • 2 likes
    • This comment has been edited.
  20. Muleskinner, Weasel Wrangler Member

    Dr. Bastiat: Imagine being a member of a cult that sounded very nice, but it required that you don’t think about things. You can’t even consider other points of view. And any outsiders that have a different point of view are evil and must be eliminated from polite conversation. You don’t know exactly what their views are, but you can’t even ask them, because that is outside the rules of your cult. Which really is very nice, as long as you don’t stray.

    Back in the day, one of my uncles, a civil engineer, made a proposal to Old Man Skinner and I about going in with him on submitting a grant proposal for teaching engineering and heavy equipment operating and maintenance in South America. I was in College, and he was making a pitch about how I could probably get all sorts of credits from a project like that, and that if we went during the winter, it wouldn’t interfere with most of our main business. Dad finally asked how we’d be able to teach if none of use spoke the language? Uncle Al says, “That’s the best part, the grant is to do the teaching as they build a road to a new city in the jungle. And they are all Americans.” Dad said he’d think about it, in the way I knew meant, “No, but my mind is only 95% made up.” Anyway nearly a year, or maybe two, later the news of the Kool-Aid party became known and the Government didn’t need a road to Jonestown.

    And I don’t think the residents would have appreciated the effort, anyway.

    • #20
    • November 1, 2020, at 8:15 AM PST
    • 7 likes
  21. iWe Reagan
    iWe Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    David Carroll (View Comment):

    Of course she wants unity. She wants all conservative dead, so there is not disagreement left.

    Just like the Soviet Union really just wanted peace. Which is achieved, of course, by eliminating everyone who behaves in an unpeaceful manner by disagreeing with you.

    • #21
    • November 1, 2020, at 9:41 AM PST
    • 6 likes
  22. JayMiller Lincoln

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Randy Webster (View Comment):

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    Excellent and appropriate pic.

    James Jones?

    The very same.

    Looks a bit like James Garner.

    • #22
    • November 2, 2020, at 2:46 PM PST
    • 1 like