Monday, December 14, 2020

The Logical Basis of a Coup d'Etat

Much like the tormented phenomenology of quantum physics, with its dimensions and strings and symmetries, there is a logic behind the attempts by lame duck president Trump and his supporters to overthrow the government of the United States. It goes something like this:

We support the Constitution (except when it's, you know, inconvenient), therefore

We support the electoral process - when it isn't fraudulent.

The 2020 presidential (although not, oddly, any down ballot races) election WAS fraudulent because,

Although there is no documentary proof of fraud, it is SELF EVIDENT (as in "these truths") that Trump was such an objectively great and popular president that no fair election could possibly have resulted in anything but a decisive victory for him (or is it Him?).

Therefore there was fraud and corruption on a grand scale (but only in the states that Trump lost).

I have to admit: it makes about as much sense as quarks.

Sunday, July 05, 2020

Remember Bamyan

Let me state at the outset:  I don't think the Confederate flag has any place in our public view.  Not on a state flag, not flying at a sporting event, not on a tee-shirt.  Any official buildings or areas named for civil war traitors, whatever level of public ownership, whatever rank the traitor held, should be immediately renamed, and long overdue.  By the way, I think Washington should change the name of its football team, and Cleveland should change the name of its baseball team.  There.  Fine.

Now let's talk about statues.  Sure, a statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond, VA is offensive.  But don't forget, a statue, or actually several statues, of Siddhartha Gautama was also and equally offensive to the admittedly prickly Taliban.  The world, and I suspect much overlap with those now calling for the destruction of monuments to traitors and oppressors all over the United States, rightfully and righteously condemned the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan as wanton and unconscionable.  If a statue can be moved, move it.  If it can be hidden, hide it.  But, what's good for the goose and all that.