Am I the One Who's Wrong Here?

 

I didn't take a lot of psychology in school, but I took enough to know about a classic experiment from the 50s that tested conformity and how groups can be influenced, even by untruths.  If anyone wants to look them up on the Google machine, they are called the Asch Conformity Experiments.

In a nutshell, a group of students was asked to identify shapes and lines in pictures shown and/or drawn for them.  At first, all the students identified the pictures as shown.  Then all but one of the students would start lying about what they've seen. Three straight lines might be called a straight line and two curved lines.  The one student not in on it would be perplexed - am I not seeing what I think I see?  If everyone else sees it that way, shouldn't I see it that way too?  They would often conform to what the group is saying rather than what the experimented-on student THOUGHT they were initially seeing.  GROUP CONFORMITY CHANGED THEIR POINT OF VIEW.

So, am I the wrong who's wrong here?

We are in the middle of the worst pandemic in a century, and the area I live in is acting more and more like it's OVER, DONE WITH, IN THE PAST!

Some things around here have remained pretty strict and cautious, such as the public library.  Others are very mixed.  Most stores around here have mask requirements, but the compliance rate varies from store to store.  Krogers hits between 50 to 70% compliance - it was slighter higher when Trump was diagnosed, and then dipped back down after Trump's 👉👉👉PATENTED MIRACLE CURE!👈👈👈

Waycross passed a mask ordinance that quickly became THE MOST IGNORED LAW IN THE HISTORY OF WAYCROSS.  Many stores slapped up signs that said, in essence, we're special, and we don't have to obey the law.  Milledgeville had the same type of ordinance in my son's college town, and their stores also had the same snotty, defiant signs that Waycross did.

Visually, there is very little to suggest that this area recognizes there is a crisis.  I've seen pictures from private schools in this area where virtually no one, student or staff, is wearing a mask.  Our local public school system has refused to make masks mandatory.

All of this was highlighted to me at a recent public event I attended, involving people performing without masks.  I wore a mask and sat way more than six feet away from anybody.  A guess at the number of people there was maybe between 40 and 50.  Of that group, I saw a total of three other masks.  Three.

So, am I wrong?  Is this thing over?  I really want to do theatre again, but have passed because of the risk involved.  But am I being silly?  How do I know when so many around me are acting like nothing is going on?  Am I the crazy paranoid one?  Are the three straight lines I see really one straight line and two squiggly ones?

Given everyone's behavior here, the numbers in Ware and Pierce are not accelerating as much I would expect.  So, maybe I am being silly.

But then I hear, anecdotally but from multiple sources, that one of the reasons numbers have not gone through the roof here is because getting tested has been discouraged. I have heard of doctor offices and clinics that have actively discouraged people with symptoms from being tested.  I have heard of a person being told, "Yeah, you got COVID, no need to bother with the test."  So, that case will not get recorded as a case because the numbers come from tested people.  A nurse gleefully told a recovering COVID case, "Just think!  Now you don't have to wear a mask!"  - as if we knew for a certainty about immunity and how long it lasts.

This is terrible if numbers are suppressed because places like my church are trying to make reasoned decisions about re-opening and what cautions to take. 

Suppressing numbers puts us all at risk.  It does help with the little Asch Conformity Experiment conducted in my home/work counties.  It makes even me question what is really going on.

But, then, as any reader of this blog already knows, I hear the beat of a different drummer, and it is harder to make me believe I am seeing what I'm not seeing more than most.  I'm not bragging.  We all have our skills and talents.  I've just always been more resistant to conformity than most, and I have a built-in ConMan detector, honed by years of both professional and educational experience.

So, am I the one that's wrong here?

No. No, I'm not.  Sorry, Ware/Pierce.  I do not buy into your by-default herd immunity experiment.  I will do everything I can to fight it, no matter how isolated and non-conforming I look.

Deal.

The Bear is Cornered: Saturday Political Soap Box 255

 

We are in perilous times.

Polling indicates that Biden has a very substantial lead, even in important battleground states.

That should ease the minds of the majority of us, who are so anxious to see the end of Trump's presidency.

It does not.

Maybe I've seen too many horror movies where the final twist scares us and makes us realize that not everything ends well.

Maybe we still feel the pain from witnessing Hillary's Clinton clear popular victory win get overturned by an electoral college squeaker.

But a cornered bear, a wounded bear, is by far the most dangerous.

Trump is now flailing wildly, and he doesn't care who he hurts or takes down to get his way.  His interviews are becoming more and more unhinged, demanding the immediate arrest of his political opponents.

He has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of COVID, bragging about his health while providing no details. He promotes REGENERON, a medicine developed from fetal cells obtained from an aborted baby, huckstering it like he was a late-night television barker. Yet he provides no real detail about his health,  And he is ready to endanger thousands again with an early, unwarranted return to White House events and political rallies across the country.

Is he well or in roid rage?  No one knows for sure.  We don't even know when he got it and how long he was contagious.

But he sees that he is sinking in the polls and is coming out full scorched Earth.  

He will offer bribes ($200 drug card to Medicare Seniors).  He will call for the rest of his rivals and call them monsters and communists.  He will destabilize our belief in the election results and energize his base's most radical elements to take violent action.

Think I'm kidding?

Why don't we ask Governor Whitmer of Michigan, where the FBI helped bring to arrest a group of domestic terrorists determined to kidnap the Governor of Michigan and put her on trial?

Why?

For DARING to control the spread of COVID in Michigan, for the affrontery of mask mandates and the temporary closing of some businesses.

In April, many involved in this were part of a group that stormed the Capital, protesting, invading legislative sessions while brandishing military-grade weaponry, blocking the entrance to Sparrow Hospital.  And what was Trump's response to this criminality?

His tweet?

LIBERATE MICHIGAN!!!

His response to the arrests this week?  To continue to blame and denigrate Governor Whitmer!

Sadly, the cornered bear is not just Trump.  It is all the right-wing extremists he has hopped up with his support and his special message to "stand back and stand by."

As it becomes more self-evident that Trump is running way behind, and when he does decisively lose the popular vote, I fear many will not fade into the woodwork.  That the FBI is right - the greatest terrorist threat to the US are right-wing extremists.

Trump is uncorking that evil, and I'm not sure it can be put back.

No, even when Biden wins, this will not go away.  It may become more violent than ever.

We cannot stop being vigilant.

We cannot stop sounding the alarm.

The bear is cornered, but he is not gone.

On the Bench

 

I have not seen this yet, but I can attest this is a great play, a fun delight.  I base this on having been in it before, and the cast that I see is in it now.  I hope to go this weekend, although it may be all the way to the last night.

When I go, I will ensure that I am sitting socially distanced (I'm sure that WACT is taking measures for this as well).  I may wear my mask if I feel it is necessary.

I miss performing in theatre.  I have had to pass on the first two plays that WACT has cast.  It is not easy for me, as I wanted to be both in this production and the upcoming Elf the Musical.  

I've been contacted by both people from both plays, wanting me to try out, or even offering specific parts.  It's been very hard for me to pass, but I have felt it necessary to do so.

I'm a card-carrying old person now (yep, I've got my Medicare card in my wallet), and because of my age, hypertension, and prediabetes, my risk is slightly higher than others.  I have always had an excellent immune system, with only one major flu/virus in the last twenty-five years. I'm blessed but not superhuman.  More importantly, I have to consider others in my life.  Alison's parents both have conditions that put them at great risk if they contract the virus.  Benjamin has asthma.  So, I have reasons to be cautious.

I can't judge what others are doing.  I'm sure WACT is doing everything they can to make it as safe as they can.

I look forward to returning to the theatre.  It is in my blood - I love to perform.  I miss my fellow thespians.  I know my age and weight limit the roles I qualify for, but I still would love to contribute where I could.

WACT is one of the longest-running theater groups in the state.  Let's do what we can to support them, even in these tough times.  Even if you are not ready to see a play yet, please become a member and support their efforts.

I Love My Church

I love my church.

We re-opened today, very carefully, with a lot of rules and procedures that should keep us safe. We are re-opening cautiously and correctly.

Alison and I joined Grace Episcopal Church about 22 years ago.  I have attended Grace more than any other church in my lifetime (I likely passed that mark after the first few years).  When we first moved to Blackshear in March of 1997, we sporadically attended Blackshear Presbyterian, the church Alison attended growing up. The church was nice, but we began to feel uncomfortable as our employer also attended that church and would bring up work while we were attending services.  Now, everybody is different, but I had a phobia (neurotic distaste) for discussing work in a church.  It stems from some childhood incidents that I can enumerate in other posts (and may have if I can find them amidst my 2200 posts).

Neither Alison's father nor mother attended Blackshear Presbyterian any more after their divorce.  Alison's father went to more evangelical churches.  We went to Emmanual Baptist with him a couple of times and found that it did not suit us.  Nuff' said. And we tried Grace Episcopal, where Alison's mother went.

Over time, we fell in love.  We had found our church home.  We went more and more often until we found ourselves members.  People were open and kind to us.  There were many, but Anita and Gene Lynn were particularly special, as were Sarah and David Rollison.  

Alison and I attended the special church event at Honey Creek called Cursillo, a significant spiritual and bonding moment in our lives.  And, in attendance with us, was Benjamin.  Yes, Benjamin is not just a cradle Episcopalian but a womb Episcopalian.  

There are many things I love about my church.  The one I will highlight in this post, something that is very important to me, is the church's diversity and tolerance. This is not only demonstrated in our openness to all communities, including LGBTQ members but in our political diversity.

In most other churches in this area, there would be little to no political diversity.  Virtually all white-majority churches in our area are dominantly Republican-only clubs. They are on the Christian Right and the political right.  In the past, when I ask them if Democrats are welcome or, in their language, "saved," they either outright say no, or look very puzzled and uncomfortable.  The county I live in has little political diversity within the white community, and that is largely because of the over-sized role the Christian Right plays.

Grace is different.  It is one of the few churches in the area (maybe the only church) where the congregation is equally divided.  It's hard to tell.  Sometimes I think the progressives have a thin majority, and at other times I think it is the conservatives.  But I love it.  I love it that we are diverse.

It is so easy to demonize people you don't see.  It's so easy to be arrogant and hateful when you only hear one point of view.

That said, I don't understand people who are willing to vote for Trump.  BUT my church's diversity helps me so those Trump supporters as PEOPLE.  I see their kindness.  I see them doing things to help the church and the disadvantaged in our community. So, it makes it harder just to blindly hate.

I've long felt that people can have different political viewpoints, and as long as they keep the care and support of others in their minds, we can have different ways we think that can be achieved.  Admittedly, support of Trump stretches that hope to the limit.

I cherish our political diversity.  I would not want to go to a church that didn't have that.  We learn so much from each other.

As open as our church is, the division on social media is beginning to strain at us.  Too many church members are engaging each other in ways that re not healthy.

To the extent that I have contributed to that, I apologize.

I strive my hardest to express my political opinions strongly, without compromise.  But I strive to never make them personal.  I have general complaints about those who may take positions that I believe are detrimental to our future and our democracy, but I do not make my attacks personal to one person.

I do not, church member or not, individually question anyone's intelligence or faith.

I do not say things like, "I thought you were more intelligent than that" or "when did you, my friend/fellow church member, become so hateful?"

I'm not perfect.  I have fallen short at times. It's a rough political season.  But I will redouble my efforts to be civil WHILE AT THE SAME TIME be clear about my opposition to Trump and his policies.  

Political divisions run deep.  But, thanks to my church, I can see that there is decency and love in many.

I love politics, but I love my church more.  I am looking forward to the time when the election is over, and maybe, just maybe, we can argue about the best way forward to cover all those in need of health care, food, and shelter, and less time around the character defects of our leaders, and our slide towards authoritarian fascism.

P.S.

Our first service went very well.  Around two dozen parishioners participated and did so wearing masks, socially distancing, and following all protocols. It was a joy to be back!

P.P.S.

Yes, the picture above is from pre-COVID times.

 

I Can't Stop It: Saturday Political Soap Box 254

 

I can't stop it.  Every day, I look afresh in the kaleidoscope of events, only to find we have moved on to something new.

Books come every day.  From family members, from former staff, from reputable reporters who have his words on tape.  He calls military people losers and suckers, he acknowledges the virus in private but dismisses it in public, he makes fou of evangelicals behind their backs.

He plots to win the election, even if he loses the vote.  His team censors scientific reports, on coronavirus, on climate change, on a myriad of fronts.  He treats Democrats and others not aligned with him as if they were enemies of the people.

And it all comes so fast and furious that none of it sticks.  Trumpeteers ignore it.  We're horror-struck but are immediately distracted by the next train wreck.

Trump's Tax Returns are a Charlatan Smeared Mess!

There is no good way to spin these obscenities.

Either he cheated big time and he's gonna get caught, unless he stays forever in the White House, I guess.

OR he played that system like a well-tuned fiddle, which says monstrous things about our tax system if the rich can get away with so much.

The numbers are shocking to people.  This self-proclaimed billionaire only paid $750 in 2016 and 2017?  How is that possible?  I bet many of my readers paid much more.  

The reason he's in audit is a $72+ million dollar refund that the IRS feels there is a good possibility he will have to pay that back.  With penalties and interest, we're clocking in at over $100 Million Dollars!

100 Million dollars he probably doesn't have, because...

the same information reveals that he owes $421 Million Dollars! most of which is due in the next four years!

How will he pay it back?  Because when debt is considered, he is not one of the richest men in America, he is one of the POOREST!

There is a lot to be used with here but here are the most important questions -

Who does he owe it to?

How will he get the money to pay it back?

These are super important national security questions, that need to be answered before the election.

But another day passes, and the kaleidoscope turns again, and...

Trump and the debate debacle from Hell!

All of America agrees with this one.  What the hell waa that s---show?

Trump was roaring off the chain - yelling, interrupting, blurting a fountain of lying, diarrhetic crap.

He wouldn't denounce white supremacy.  Worse, he ENABLED it - that's what stand back and stand by meant - keep your powder dry, boys!  I may need you soon!

He denied the legitimacy of the election and refused to accept the results if he loses.

He attacked one of Biden's son as a drug addict of low character and refused t acknowledge the military service of Biden's other son.

He dismissed the virus, and how his large rallies were safe (SPOILER ALERT - that did not turn out well).  He rambled about forest raking, promised a vaccine that he can't deliver on, basically called Biden stupid, and on and on nd on.

And what did Biden do?  The best he could under the circumstances.  Yes, he said Will you shut up, man?  after Trump interrupting for minutes and Joe asking him Donald would you be quiet? Biden put up with a lot more than I would have.

Yes, he called Trump a liar (FACT CHECK - he is).  Yes, he called him a racist (FACT CHECK - he is).  Yes, he called him a clown (as some interviewed decided voters said, "if the clown shoe fits...".

This was not just Trump going off his nut.  This was Trump deliberately trying to bombard and confuse Biden - get him to stumble and stutter, take advantage of the fact that Biden has a speech impediment so that people would think Biden is mentally unfit.

This is more monstrous than even a bad debate performance.  This is pure, motherducking evil.  

But we don't have a chance to dwell on that, because the kaleidoscope twists again, and...

Trump has COVID-19

For real.  Probably.  Unless...they're making it up.

Ok.  I believe it's real.

So, let me first make it clear...

My sincerest thoughts and prayers that the First Couple and others in the White House for a healthy recovery, and to all who are suffering from this dangerous and deadly virus.

Seriously, I don't wish anybody harm.  But he is RESPONSIBLE for the terrible and incompetent reaction to this virus.  His callousness and misinformation have resulted in the US having countless more deaths and cases than we should have.

Some of my friends are worried about the political ramifications this will have.  Will he get an early vaccine and trumpet it?  Will he be like Brazil President Bolsanaro and brag when he beats it, justifying his dismissive attitude towards the disease.  Brazil has paid a price like the US had.  They are No. 3 in cases and Mo. 2 in deaths.  The US is Number One in both categories.

I don't mean to be mean but this is Karma, big time.  He flaunted the rules, ignored the advice of his own scientists and the CDC, and now he and those around him are paying the awful price.

People are strange. Will he pay a political price?  I don't know.  To quote the President, "it is what it is".

And it was terribly predictable based on his behavior.

How will the kaleidoscope shift our picture tomorrow?

I don't know.  But, yes, I am anxious and a little bit afraid.

Please, November 3rd, hurry up and bring us good news.

 

WAIT.

I see they're taking him to Walter Reed.

The Kaleidoscope just keeps shifting.

History of the Trap Vol. 2: Chapter One - Justice Trapped Part 6

 

6

 

Diane, my sister, was already there, in what once was and now was once again, my father’s office.  We hugged briefly and then sat down.

“I know this is going to be hard on you,” my Dad began.  He was tall, of medium build, kind eyes with one eyelid partially closed due to a muscular condition. “I really didn’t want to be in charge again. But with everything that happened, and Mr. Tate being more involved in it than he should have been, it was felt that we needed a familiar figure to lead the transition. It’s temporary, I hope, until we can get things on firmer ground.”

“I’m not worried about it being hard on Lance and me,” said my sister.  Diane was a brunette, only a couple of inches shorter than me, which put her in the medium to tall range of the girls here.  She was attractive, at least as far as a brother could tell.  As far as I was concerned, Diane got the good looks of the family.   She had been together with her boyfriend, Mike, the entire time of the Trap, but there was no talk of marriage yet.  “I’m worried about it being hard on you, Dad.”

He took her hand.  “Don’t worry, Diane.  I can handle it.  I promise you; I’ll be safe.”

That did not ease Diane’s mind.  “You don’t know what you’re in for.  Mark Granite has more friends than you can imagine.  They’re going to retaliate sooner or later.”

Dad got up and went towards the window, looking out at the landscape, the same unchanging landscape we had seen for the last year, with no hint besides trees of what lay beyond the school grounds.  “I’m aware that there are dangers.  And we’ll take appropriate measures to mitigate any potential risk.  But the most important thing we need to do is restore normalcy, that we can make life here as good as we can, and continue to hope that we will someday find our way out of this..trap, and that when we do, we are still decent and kind, that we have maintained as much of what is good about civilization as we can.”

He sounded wistful as he looked into the limited horizon.  “I know everyone has been through so much.  I know thee has been so much tragedy and heartbreak.  But I am praying that we could hold on to our best traits and instincts.”

I appreciated my father’s dreams but I couldn’t help but speak out.  “I appreciate what you’re saying, Dad.  But I’ve seen the horrible things that so many seem to be capable of, and I don’t know how much we can hold them in check.”

“I don’t know either, son.  But we’ve got to try.  I don’t know if I can live with myself if we don’t even try.”

And he did try.  He tried very hard.  It was not his fault that it was not enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Politics Wednesday Wanderings

 

Although I have plenty to say about Trump's taxes and last night's debacle (I mean debate), I'm going to do my best for this final post of September to talk about things besides politics.

Ok, this is tougher than I thought.

Let me try again.

Here's my doggies attending a Cheerio's party.  They like me being home more.  I'm not sure why.

Anything else?

I found two of my books at Waycross Ware County Public Library, History of the Trap, and Crowley Stories!  They are in the back of the library, in a section for local authors.  So you can see there is quite a collection of us.  Do yourself a favor, if this is your public library, check any of these books today! My books are also available for purchase at the Okefenokee Heritage Center and Amazon.  Buy enough, and I'll be able to quit accounting and concentrate full time on writing.

Anything else non-political?

Look, I'm trying.

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We may have to take down some damaged trees.  That will cost money.  I am so thrilled.

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It's been a frustrating season for Atlanta United fans.  At least they're not becoming legendary like the Atlanta Falcons, who may be forever etching themselves as the go-to team for sports announcers when a team is blowing a big lead.  As in, "Are the Buffalo Bills pulling a Falcons today?"

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I'm watching TV some.  I watched one of the worst shows ever last night.  It featured an uncontrolled bully running roughshod over everybody.  It was...

Crap.  Swore I wouldn't talk about that.

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Ok.  The struggle is real.  I've tried to be sweet and stretch my brain as much as possible.

112 more days until...well...you know.

Wanderingly yours,

T. M. Strait