These Strange, Brutal Times

cowboat
July 27, 2024

Two weeks ago the former President of the United States narrowly survived an assassination attempt. The event, beyond boosting his popularity, showcased a stunning failure by what is supposed to be the world’s premier security agency. Equally bizzare were the performative acts of solidarity undertaken by his supporters, who wore fake ear bandages in reference to the injury he sustained.

Last week the current President of the United States announced he will no longer seek re-election. The announcement was made first not the official campaign website, nor even on the administration’s website, but on the website of the private social media company owned by an erratic billionaire whom the administration has placed in its justice department’s crosshairs. The President’s party, which for months had stubbornly insisted he was the best and only choice, made a whiplash-inducing about-face to endorse his ticket-mate as the new presumptive nominee. There was no primary; there was no vote; there was no other option presented. This is the party “defending democracy” while trying to jail its primary political opponent.

This week a cybersecurity company that promises to protect the vital digital infrastructure of the world accidentally brought all of it down. Transportation, medical, logistics, and financial systems across the globe ground completely to a halt for several hours, with aftershocks rippling disruptively through the system for days. The world shrugged.

Later France shamelessly debased itself on the world stage with an Olympic opening ceremony that glorified depravity and celebrated bloody and shameful moments from its past. The world cheered.

Most recently a terrorist organization massacred a group of children playing soccer in Israel and the world teetered ever more closely toward falling into yet another war. The world barely noticed.

In the Free World, liars, felons, and egosists promise the only alternative to silver-tongued, Orwellian statists.

The Light grows dimmer, and we are adapting to it. We do not question it or interrogate it. These are dark times. These are strange and brutal times.

Keep your head about you.

-cowboat