Under the Rock

When I was a young lad, I curiously picked up a rock in the garden. What I found was creepy. Dark, damp, and crawly things were there. At first, I dropped the rock and ran into the house to ask my mother what my discovery was. Her answers calmed my jitters. These things were normal. Curiosity did not abate. Later I learned about such life forms. An interest in science and education began its halting journey.

The big lesson, however, was knowing ‘other’ lifeforms lurked in dark spaces. Under rocks is just one of those spaces. Deep in forests under an accumulation of leaves and pine needs, the ‘other’ lurks. Dark corners of little traveled places are home to the ‘other,’ as well. Just think of such places and conjure the creepy crawlies.

Pandemics call forth such images, but those imaginings are tame compared to what we see on the news these days!

Under the rock of the past White House inhabitant, we find the Steve Bannon’s, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, and a host of other creepy crawlies coming forth. They seem to be everywhere. Florida’s governor is another example, Asa Hutchinson in Arkansas is yet another, and of course, let us not omit Governor Abbott of Texas. So many failed politicians clamoring for national attention. Oh, they are getting that attention; just not sure yet if it is productive for their aims.

The Proud Boys are anything but, however they continue to have effect. Their agenda is not fully understood but it is not good for the rest of us. Disorganized militias lurk in southern states, Texas, Oregon, Washington state and mountainous regions of the upper west. Wyoming and Montana provide haven for such groups, too.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, Homeland Security Department, the FBI, and other federal agencies tell us domestic terrorism is alive and thriving in America. That is what freedom of speech produces when coupled with lazy, inadequate schooling. Whether that is the result of poor schools or bad students can be argued, but I suspect it is on the students.

A hankering for violence and excitement adds zest to the stewed thinking of such people. Eventually it causes bombings like that in Oklahoma City, takeover of public lands in Oregon a few years ago, and of course, the uprising at the Capitol Building on January 6^th of this year. Aimless. Angry. Entitled. Poorly educated. And lazy. Not up to organizing, building, and leading large, complex organizations to achieve their goals. No, just take it by force. Yell and scream for the cameras and scare people half to death. Let the inner child run riot, then complain when authorities arrest and jail you.

Creepy crawly things. Life forms galore come into view. The rock has been overturned and they appear as if by magic.

What now do we do with them? Is a recycling program handy to rid society of this menace? Or do we lay the rock gently back in place?

Perhaps we should drop the rock on them from a high place? You know, crushing force? Or might that be stooping to their low and dark methods?

Just asking.

February 22, 2021