So many thoughts while reading...
I am reminded of a high school teacher from France who tried to explain the Vichy government to us. She was old enough to have adult memories of it, and she discussed the collaborators with wincing and a sorrow that I did not fathom at 15. But Petain, she really wanted to forgive Petain. He was so ancien…
I am reminded of a high school teacher from France who tried to explain the Vichy government to us. She was old enough to have adult memories of it, and she discussed the collaborators with wincing and a sorrow that I did not fathom at 15. But Petain, she really wanted to forgive Petain. He was so ancient, she stressed, too old to be fully aware of the world, easy to dupe, and he must have thought if he went along with the Nazis he could mitigate the very worst of it all, make things easier on France. I thought of that teacher here, of Noonan strategizing Jesus, this country is about to take a billy club to the skull from my team -- unless I step out in front and point the victims to an offramp. Simply don't participate, Democrats! That way you can avoid so much riotous conflict! That's how deep Team-R loyalty goes I guess. There's no way to change sides if you're Republican, you simply choose between being the Fascist who says Please Let Us Have All the Power and the Fascist who's excited to swing the club when Please doesn't work. And she'll comfort herself she tried. She really tried.
Another thought I had was of the crisis of student IDs not being accepted to vote in my college town in the early 90s. The law said they counted, but us kids all wanted the Green, if I recall, so poll workers loyal to the incumbent mayor (a tinpot dictator) were checking our driver's licenses, and if they didn't match, sending us to court, where a judge had to look at a tuition bill (who had one handy??) and then individually certify us and send us back. A surprise 4-hour process, minimum. I'm sure things have changed since then, it was a different era, etc etc PUNCHLINE: I just looked up the town, and our early 90s mayor is STILL the fucking mayor SO MAYBE NOT.
So many thoughts while reading...
I am reminded of a high school teacher from France who tried to explain the Vichy government to us. She was old enough to have adult memories of it, and she discussed the collaborators with wincing and a sorrow that I did not fathom at 15. But Petain, she really wanted to forgive Petain. He was so ancient, she stressed, too old to be fully aware of the world, easy to dupe, and he must have thought if he went along with the Nazis he could mitigate the very worst of it all, make things easier on France. I thought of that teacher here, of Noonan strategizing Jesus, this country is about to take a billy club to the skull from my team -- unless I step out in front and point the victims to an offramp. Simply don't participate, Democrats! That way you can avoid so much riotous conflict! That's how deep Team-R loyalty goes I guess. There's no way to change sides if you're Republican, you simply choose between being the Fascist who says Please Let Us Have All the Power and the Fascist who's excited to swing the club when Please doesn't work. And she'll comfort herself she tried. She really tried.
Another thought I had was of the crisis of student IDs not being accepted to vote in my college town in the early 90s. The law said they counted, but us kids all wanted the Green, if I recall, so poll workers loyal to the incumbent mayor (a tinpot dictator) were checking our driver's licenses, and if they didn't match, sending us to court, where a judge had to look at a tuition bill (who had one handy??) and then individually certify us and send us back. A surprise 4-hour process, minimum. I'm sure things have changed since then, it was a different era, etc etc PUNCHLINE: I just looked up the town, and our early 90s mayor is STILL the fucking mayor SO MAYBE NOT.
Hearted for "Is this a great country or WHAT?!"