If Forbes says it, then it must be true.
During self-defense against headlocks from a particularly exuberant red belt who wouldn't break or loosen his lock no matter how much pain I inflicted, I strained my lower back trying to ridge-hand strike his groin while he extended his hips upward, on his toes, to make it difficult for me to make contact. It took me three days of stretching and taekwondo to be able to hoist my foot into my shorts without bracing myself. I wonder how long it would have taken if I had rested or taken it easy? I wonder how long it would have taken if I had weak legs? My future is calling me to tell me to load up and squat.
Trying to perform taekwondo forms is terribly difficult on the soft sand of Hulupoe Beach. It's next to impossible knee deep in Manele Bay. Thus, I strained my right big toe resisting the current. After getting home, I was just lying down for a nap when my wife informed me there was a Black Lives Matter demonstration to be held in Dole Park in fifteen minutes. So, I covered as much of myself in black clothing as possible, slathered some reef-friendly sunscreen on my already reddened visage, and we joined the fray. Protests on Lanai are rare, but always peaceful. The police just park and watch. My daughter did not like this as she gets physically ill when in the proximity of police. I explained to her that they are there to respond to any emergency, -- outbreaks of violence as well as medical emergencies or unfortunate acts of God -- not just to crack our skulls. Thankfully, I have never known Lanai police to use unnecessary force against the locals. Where's their riot gear? Why aren't they pushing us around for the hell of it? Is it because they are just more laid back from the island vibe? Is it because Lanai folks are mostly hard working and community minded? Is it just that there aren't enough police to form a line? For the most part, Lanai residents don't protest. When they do, it is always permitted and only a show of solidarity with those in the front lines. We are too far removed from Metropolis for us to make any impact. So, why get naughty? We chose this place to get away from it all. That doesn't mean we don't want to be on the right side of history. It doesn't mean we don't sometimes wish we were in the thick of it. We simply are too remote and small a community to disrupt anything. Usually, we are concerned about disruption of food shipments to our island.
Our local economy is fragile and highly dependent on the grace of one man: Larry Ellison. We are a company town. We serve the rich and famous. Uncle Larry could give each of the roughly three thousand residents on his island ten million dollars and still be a thirty billionaire. Wouldn't that be an interesting social and economic experiment? It would certainly respond to the assumptions we make about the intelligence and drive of people of a certain class or race. What would happen if, suddenly, every one on the island is a multi-millionaire? First of all, Patron Ellison would get some of that money back for owning 98% of Lanai land. Anyone who started a brick-and-mortar would have to pay him rent. How much of that ten million dollars would eventually find its way back into his coffers?
I know, this is a rather broken stream of consciousness, but I haven't written in many days. Brace yourself.
Most senators and representatives no longer serve us because our taxes pale in comparison to the pocket linings they get from corporations. Has this become the case for police?
Many would blame protesters for indoctrinating the children they bring to demonstrations and would therefore conclude that they are bad parents. This only betrays ignorance. We are all indocrinating our children. There is no way around it. The best we can do is simultaneously arm our children with courage to question our choices and actions while we indoctrinate them. Yes, I am indoctrinating my child to question authority, stand for justice, and work for peace. Is that bad? Into what are you indoctrinating your children? Black Lives Matter does not claim other lives don't matter. Its central claim is that their lives don't seem to matter. So, we could shorten their central claim to Blacks Don't Seem to Matter -- BDSM -- but that would be irreverent. To infer from "Black lives matter." that anyone saying so is implying other lives don't matter doesn't deserve to be described as mental gymnastics. It's just plain dumb. Why is it that we so rarely see opposition to BLM attempt to debate the position during protest? No, it's usually violent reaction. The arguments offered to oppose BLM are merely prejudicial and the opposed know it. That is why they refuse to debate. Much is being made of the fact that BLM is aligned with enemies of the state and so should be destroyed. What, exactly, is BLM? Is it an organization? Is it simply one or more people speaking out about racial injustice in general and the rise in police brutality recently? If I display or speak the words 'Black Lives Matter' in public, does that make me a member? If I stand opposed to fascism, does that make me a member of Antifa? If I wear a shirt demanding, "Hey Cop! Police your own!", does that make me a cop killer? Or am I sloganeering? I'm afraid that the verb 'police' has become so sullied that I fear suggesting cops police each other or their consciences, for it would only exacerbate the problem of police corruption and brutality. I can imagine the police's inner monologue: "Shut up, better angel! I have a fucking job to do! So, grab your sac and let's rock and roll!" Or, to another cop, "You don't have time for conscience. You'll do what you're told, if you know what's good for you." Or worse.
Some guy in a blue pickup, cigarette dangling from his lips, drove by with his thumb down, and called out "Go home, fucking commies!" I wondered aloud how we could be communists when most of us work for the crafty capitalist, Larry Ellison. I think it's safe to assume good 'ol blue pickup boy supports the police. To him I would say
Well, my strange and ignorant friend, the police are paid by taxes to 'serve' and 'protect' you. That makes the institution of policing a social program. Thus you support at least one socialist ideal if you support police. Why not other social programs? Why are social programs which benefit you good and all the others bad?
"Show me where a man gets his cornpone and I'll tell you what his 'pinions is." There are those who do not support public demand of justice for black Americans and that's just something I'll have to live with. They're not going away any time soon. I will defend their right to be wrong because this is a country which struggles to defend the provisions of The Constitution. Nevertheless, can we at least treat folks who drive by and throw smears, epithets, bottles, or otherwise assault peaceful protesters, for what they are... mentally ill?
You folks who demonize Antifa because they're destructive... so, you oppose groups who use or promote violence, do you? What about the KKK? Neo-Nazis? Police? FBI? CIA? Pentagon? Defense contractors? Are they not groups who use or promote violence? I suppose the difference comes down to who they're attacking and why. I suppose it's acceptable as long as they're attacking the people they insist are your enemies. I suppose the problem is that Antifa is attacking you or people you care about to protect your enemies from you and those who would put the black boots of fascist stooges on their necks. The lumpen-proletariat you hide behind. Maybe Jimmy Dore is right: you're all boot lickers.
Boot Licker Mathematics: peaceful protester = socialist = communist = Russia = evil. And that's all there is to it. Indoctrinate your children immediately, before it's too late.