Watching the congregation of motorbike enthusiasts growing wildly in Sturgis, S.D., this week, I viewed a television report explaining that tents offering free masks and hand sanitizer were bereft of customers while several sites offering Trump campaign souvenirs were doing brisk business.
Not a surprise, considering the complete dedication of this group to the president's ideology.
It seems the notion of America's rugged individualism combined with Second Amendment rights have encouraged armed militia types to come out in a public show of force, glowering and preening as if their presence is a valid defense of American values. I think their notion of patriotism and "Don't tread on me" flag waving is much confused with the idea of public safety.
Mask wearing and social distancing are undoubtedly seen as liberal behaviors more befitting snowflakes and liberal weenies. With such a worldview, public health concerns and scientific reality become fodder for claims of fake news and hoaxes perpetrated on the public.
I fear for what may lie ahead in terms of public intimidation and violence if the current occupant fails to win reelection and continues on his path of overt lying.
A world gone strange remains ever so vulnerable and weird.
Horst Holstein, Salt Lake City
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3g05SEC
August 16, 2020 at 06:30AM
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