Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, August 28, 2017

This week saw flooding in Houston and protests in Phoenix and Berkley. Trump is serious about the border, so are smugglers. Border agents found another tunnel, a first so clearly used to smuggle people rather than narcotics.

The TSA is pushing its luck with even more pat-downs. The TSA's end-game of personal invasion is unclear. Perhaps the TSA wants to overwhelm, then back off to a level of incursion "low enough" for people to accept, but higher than before the TSA sported its blue uniforms and machines at airports. On the other hand, the TSA may be trying to reach as far of an incursion as possible before administrative changes from the top force the TSA to back off. The TSA could also be attempting to get more Republicans elected through reactive voting in the midterms. Then, the TSA may also be attempting to provoke more airports to hire private security teams to replace the TSA. They could be aiming for a separate, privatized network of travel altogether, such as hover cars. Whatever the TSA's endgame is, the game doesn't end with the TSA on top.

Frustration against Trump is stirring protests to a point where martial law may be unavoidable. People rioting against Trump only play into the hands they fear. If they were sober in their concerns that Trump was a tyrant, they wouldn't give him any excuse to march. But, critical thinking doesn't seem to be a common thing these days.

We also have the ongoing chess plays of racism and counter-racism. "White shaming" on college campuses isn't completely without warrant. As Howard Moskowitz said, "To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish." White college students discussing multi-ethnic problems amongst themselves is indeed moot. But, the solution is not for professors to blast White students with how wrong they are, but to encourage and empower international lifestyle.

Perhaps Hurricane Harvey might cause Americans to turn their heads to other parts of the world. Then again, not as many people in America were concerned about Typhoon Hato when it hit Macau earlier this week. White people are not the only worms in horseradish. We all have our vegetables and sauces we think the world of.

Symphony

Encore of Revival: America, May 16, 2016

The Obama administration continues to advance its music. Most of it is song and dance, just a show to draw a reaction from the crowds. Much of it can be ignored or circumvented. Everything can be undone with the stroke of a pen via the next President’s executive order. Many are offended—many of whom think Obama’s policies have more weight than they actually do.

The situation raises many questions. Why does Obama push agendas that he does?

Almost everything Obama is doing through executive action can be outright ignored, even Obamacare. Other things could be disputed at State and local levels. Yet, few dissidents push for those options as they focus on trying to put Trump in office, mostly ignoring the Obama policies. Does Obama think that the lack of State and local action against his policies imply support? Does he think the people are too weak to stand up to him? Does he simply want to provoke his dissidents to get excited and angry, even though his policies are mostly bark with little bite? Or, is he like Plankton in SpongeBob SquarePants who doesn’t know how little he is?

At the same time, the people are getting excited about policies that really can’t be enforced. Are they late bloomers? Why didn’t they get angry when Hannity and O’Reilly tried to warn Americans about Obama’s ties to Rev. Wright? Maybe Obama’s noisy song and dance is just waking up drunk America from her slumber.

Issues are stacking up. TSA wait time seem longer than estimated at Airports. Of course, having one’s stuff together can make those times faster. TSA agents might accommodate passengers at risk of missing flights if asked nicely, with all liquids removed from baggage. But a mother with children running around who doesn’t know where her passport is may have some trouble gaining trust of the security agents. Who is to blame? Everyone needs to get their stuff together better. Those who do have fewer problems, TSA and passengers alike. Israel’s security methods have always been preferable and effective, yet, for some reasons, Israel gets little consideration in general from Obama.

Facebook seems to be censoring Conservative stories. Russia complains about US defense in Europe. And many people are having to review their personal beliefs and worldviews, largely on account of needing a better set of arguments to either support or oppose Trump and Hillary.

Symphony