A good idea until... Unless you seldom stir from safe surroundings I’d be confident you have experienced the human predicament of seeing a good notion go bad. Profanity is apt to appear as the galling scene sputters into “Why didn’t I see that?” Prime question as walls tumble or pot boils uncontrollably over (two meaningful allusions set in historic and cultural settings that might render you suspect for knowing them, so be cautious). Good or even grand plans not working out is anything but rare. That’s why a second opinion or outside review is useful. It’s also why a functioning two-party system is an effective way to eliminate kinks or in some cases prevent a bad plan from entering reality. Heaven save us from single-minded consensus. I learned the worth of other’s insight by making solo blunders. Afterward asking someone who’d “been there, done that,” my errors in design and execution seemed clear. Less clear was whether I’d remember to think thrice and get input before setting off. Of course I’ve not always been prudent in planning, but much to the good some of my worthier missteps gave neighbors topics and enjoyment good for years to come. “What did he do this time?” “Did you see that?” These are things that have followed me for my entire adult life because I have been slow to grasp a basic truth. Bad ideas often look worthy as good ones. Stupid plans are masters of artful disguise, often aided by PR folk whose job it is to make bad plans look golden. Treasure troves of well-intended aims can be found in use of “peaceful” as a universal salve for doubt. The right-thinking mind applies peaceful as a form of free pass. That is until peacefulness begins trampling their toes. Gentle aggression (like seduction) is acceptable only so far as it should be easier to halt, if you’ve the will to do so. Someone can peacefully get into your online account or peaceably hot wire your car in the night. Each such peaceful act is an assault on an individual. Self-sopping with thoughts that no blood or bruises were involved as you
hoof it to work the next morning is self-deception at its charming best. If we don’t recognize things for what they are and do we can soon be in a position where we applaud “Isn’t it wonderful to live where you can be robbed by gentle persons respectful of your dignity.” It is equally bizarre and off function to hear it’s a form of violence to objecting to being unforcibly stripped of rights or property. Ah, but aren’t people more important than mere property? Try that theory out when it’s minus 20 and someone leaves you shoeless in a field or its blistering hot and you’re deprived of water. Property in some form is necessary. Without the property of a cup our morning coffee is hot brown water on the floor. Property does matter to people, and slow motion violence can have the same result as its speedier form. In my view a special danger in the present is criminalizing disagreement or critical dissent. The Middle East is often in turmoil because religious groups see crime in criticizing dogma and in not practicing the state religion which also regulates eating and sex. Whether it is a religion or a secular state imposing its view the result is tyranny. Are you criminal for saying “I don’t believe that,” or worse a hate-criminal saying “and I don’t like it as well”? A proposal can seem reasonable, conciliatory, and socially constructive but turn out to be a nightmare of trouble. Take the progressive sounding concept of community policing. In that situation what, then is the standard used? Not long ago some cabs at the Twin Cities airport refused to carry passengers who had liquor with them. That’s an example of a community standard. Do we want law and enforcement based on a broad public standard or on the wishes of a particular community wanting to expand the scope of its local control? Community policing means enforcement of standards that should not apply in a public setting. It is a bread-and-butter cause for those who eagerly seek their private standards of speech or dress applied to situations
NORTHSHORE NOTES
Mask cancels smile.
HARRY DRABIK
DuluthReader.com
where the public is served. Community policing takes what was intended as a reasonable accommodation and turns it into behavioral mandates. Any relationship or social bond can be weakened or destroyed by a steady flow of resentful criticism. Try snapping at those you love or work with. See what happens. Even a loyal dog will learn to distrust and avoid a bitter companion. A mobile, diverse, successful multicultural and globalist society is about more than new food options and opportunity for exotic travel. But all the results aren’t positive.
Read the label and list of side effects. You’ll find pandemic included along with levels of social instability as old cultures and traditions reduce to icons. Heaven and Earth. Some believe in the possibility of paradise after death. Others believe in having their paradise on earth. Both ideas carry equal dangers. Masks are what people wear so they don’t give what they don’t have to strangers who don’t want it. If good citizenship wrinkles down to the style, color and wording on masks we might not end up any better off than the days of robes, gowns and guild attire declaring status and station like a fixed human condition. Mask cancels smile. I was recently asked “Why are you being so nice?” That was an easy one. “Every so often I give my evil personality a rest. But not to worry, fake sincerity works same as the real thing.” The Louds’ Prayer Our lives which are on Earth, hallowed be Our names. Our Kingdom come, Our Will be done, on Earth not waiting for heaven. Give us each day our daily Due, and bring us Joy Condemning failings in others, as We have none ourselves, And deliver others onto Evil forever and ever and More. Omen!
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