What a uniter!
2/6/20 10:18![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mahnmut posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
talkpoliticsHere's a scene for you to contemplate. A loud but peaceful protest just across from the White House.
Meanwhile, the president gives a speech on TV, saying he's "allies with peaceful protests".
Next up, police in riot gear meets the protesters, and starts shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at them that can be heard in the White House rose garden. Panic ensues, people start running, rubbing their faces.
Now that the street has been cleared, it transpires what president peaceful-protest-ally's purpose really was. He needed access across the street. He walks past graffiti-covered walls, to reach a historic church nearby, to "pay his respects" and "inspect the damage made by the crowds".
He doesn't use the church for prayer. There's little sense of respect in fact. He gathers some staff (no blacks of course), and just holds a bible for the cameras to see. There aren't many words, but words are not needed. The cameras must clearly see his message to the congregation: "I'm your ally". He's your ally. Not theirs. Not of the "thugs" who just chanted bad words at him from across the street a few minutes ago. He's not their ally. But he's your ally. Or so he claims. But is he really? Whose ally is he really?
Meanwhile, the president gives a speech on TV, saying he's "allies with peaceful protests".
Next up, police in riot gear meets the protesters, and starts shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at them that can be heard in the White House rose garden. Panic ensues, people start running, rubbing their faces.
Now that the street has been cleared, it transpires what president peaceful-protest-ally's purpose really was. He needed access across the street. He walks past graffiti-covered walls, to reach a historic church nearby, to "pay his respects" and "inspect the damage made by the crowds".
He doesn't use the church for prayer. There's little sense of respect in fact. He gathers some staff (no blacks of course), and just holds a bible for the cameras to see. There aren't many words, but words are not needed. The cameras must clearly see his message to the congregation: "I'm your ally". He's your ally. Not theirs. Not of the "thugs" who just chanted bad words at him from across the street a few minutes ago. He's not their ally. But he's your ally. Or so he claims. But is he really? Whose ally is he really?
(no subject)
Date: 2/6/20 13:39 (UTC)From The Guardian:
The Right Rev Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, told the Washington Post: “I am the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and was not given even a courtesy call, that they would be clearing [the area] with tear gas so they could use one of our churches as a prop.”
(no subject)
Date: 2/6/20 15:57 (UTC)