As the world emerges from the lock-down I am reminded of a question posed by a You Gov survey which posed the question of how I saw the world being after the crisis was over. Would it be better, worse or the same. The answer I gave was that nothing would change and as events evolve around me I think that was the correct answer.
China is rattling it's new found military prowess and I don't just mean in the continuing subjugation of Tibet but has pushed into India and threatens Taiwan which the comrades still think is part of their empire.
More to the point despite the lock-downs and restrictions demonstrations and riots have broken out in the USA after the actions of a policeman led to the death of yet another black man. The video was disturbing. Criminal he may be but this was not policing this was brutal. That this caused a reaction in the black community is not surprising.
China is rattling it's new found military prowess and I don't just mean in the continuing subjugation of Tibet but has pushed into India and threatens Taiwan which the comrades still think is part of their empire.
More to the point despite the lock-downs and restrictions demonstrations and riots have broken out in the USA after the actions of a policeman led to the death of yet another black man. The video was disturbing. Criminal he may be but this was not policing this was brutal. That this caused a reaction in the black community is not surprising.
Despite a black man becoming President of the United States the racial tension that exists in American society is much more fragile than we in Europe appreciate. Racism exists everywhere to one degree or another in every society. Discrimination and ethnic rivalry is probably as much a cause of global conflict as religion even in these modern times.
The USA is seen as the richest and most developed country on the planet yet there are so many with so little and in particular racism against Blacks has long outlived slavery on a scale that it is difficult for us to imagine.
That the Americans need to get a grip on themselves goes without saying. However the legitimate protests soon turned into rioting and looting as political activists were joined by thieves and chancers. The destruction of the property and in one case life of the innocent is not going to resolve or justify the actions of a rogue cop.
The USA is seen as the richest and most developed country on the planet yet there are so many with so little and in particular racism against Blacks has long outlived slavery on a scale that it is difficult for us to imagine.
That the Americans need to get a grip on themselves goes without saying. However the legitimate protests soon turned into rioting and looting as political activists were joined by thieves and chancers. The destruction of the property and in one case life of the innocent is not going to resolve or justify the actions of a rogue cop.
What emerges from these events that despite all our advances, all our science. philosophy and centres of learning the civilised veneer under which we live is easily broken. It began with hoarding as the pandemic began. It ended with riots and destruction.
Humanity still has a long journey in front of itself.
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