The holidays have been different far from home. What I mean is they’ve been uneventful. There are some nice decorations around town here in northern Brazil, but for the most part I’ve chosen to stay in, work and keep it low-key.
But I did have a visit from a new friend that’s grey and small: a mouse.
I first saw him or her about two weeks ago scampering in here through the tiny crack where the door meets the door jamb. A friend said she would bring over a mouse trap next time she came over but ended up forgetting.
Then on Christmas my mouse friend visited again, nosing in and out briefly and saying hi and maybe nabbing a crumb or two (I’m not a flawless cleaner). My hostility to him was gone and I appreciated the respectful visit.
Now taking name suggestions for my mousemate.
The fall of Rome?
In other news, I woke up from a long nap yesterday to hear that Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building to try to interrupt the Congressional formality of confirming the electoral college’s certification of Joe Biden’s election win…
Things have been headed this direction for awhile now and the violence that the media gave the green light to and helped cover up all summer during the riots in Minneapolis and etc. (and let’s not forget when it was noble and so Democratic for progressive protesters to occupy the Wisconsin statehouse in the past and so on) as well as the lockdowns provided the perfect foil for MAGA folks to let loose.
Therefore what happened on Wednesday was not really a huge surprise but it was still quite dramatic and unprecedented, with lawmakers scrambling for cover and putting on gas masks as gunfire was exchanged in hallways.
Tragically one young woman, unarmed 35-year-old Trump supporter Ashli Babbit also lost her life after being apparently gunned down by Capitol Hill Police. Three others also died in “medical emergencies” related to the violence with dozens of injuries and over 50 arrests.
These scenes look like they’re out of a dystopian movie, but they’re just the opening salvo of 2021.
There’s a lot more to look forward to this year.
You can also check out some of the writing I’ve done in the past weeks on Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum’s “Great Reset,” and on the dissolution of country music, both for Im1776.
Also: Trump’s flip-flop on $2,000 checks for InsideOver.
At the end of the day I think we’re seeing an economic and social collapse in slow motion that’s now close to a boiling point. The old economy is rapidly dying and being shifted by the pandemic into the new, while social ties and bonds are being redefined and lost in many ways, leading to radicalization and violent anger on all sides of the political spectrum against what’s seen as an indifferent bureaucratic state that serves the interests of multinational corporations and weapons companies instead of working families.
Would be interested in anyone else’s thoughts.
How about naming the mouse: Little Mouse.
Reference: "Music" episode of British TV show "Look Around You"
Excellent objective opinion Paul
I have read accountings that a group the may have been Antifa arrived in 3 buses and had security around them
The barriers were opened at the capital and the assault was lead by these people
False Flag to feed the hatred and confusion
We should be very concerned about the events in Hong Kong..we're next in this well orchestrated treasonous communist take over