American Carnage

Watching what is happening in the United States, my adopted home country, is incredibly painful. I have seen the last few days coming for years based on the ever more untenable income and wealth distribution combined with militarization of the police and their ongoing unchecked brutality, especially against black people. You can browse back through Continuations and find many posts speaking to these topics, such as this one from 2014.

I have a lot more thoughts about this moment in history and where it might go, but here are some unequivocal statements I want to make right now.

1. George Floyd was murdered by police officers who need to be prosecuted accordingly.

2. Black Americans continue to suffer from systemic racism that has its roots in slavery.

3. Americans of all races are living increasingly precarious lives, while a small group has accumulated vast wealth.

4. Police forces all around the country are overly militarized, structurally corrupt and unaccountable.

5. Demonstrations against #1 - 4 above are entirely justified and must continue

6. Police violence and escalation have injured and arrested citizens who were engaged in peaceful protest in #5 in violation of their 1st amendment rights

7. Looting and burning businesses is wrong and counterproductive (while yet also being entirely understandable)

8. Some of #7 is caused by groups intent on escalating violence

9. Trump has been inciting violence from the beginning of his candidacy and is reveling in the use of force

10. We must do everything we can to remain peaceful even in the face of state and agitator violence (peaceful does include civil disobedience, such as sitting and blocking an intersection).