The Latest Drama
If a man only used words that he knew the meaning of, he’d never learn anything. Attributed to Garrison Keillor
I’m not a fan of Garrison Keillor’s politics, but I admire his wordsmithing and his storytelling of Lake Wobegon. Readers have occasionally commented on my choice of words. English is a compendium of words from many cultures. I like that. I’m not trying to be a smarty-pants, but sometimes you find a “mot juste,” a French word/term for the perfect word, now in our English lexicon.
It would be an uninteresting world if everyone had, or was forced to have, the same opinion. And this is an area where I strongly disapprove of the intolerant left who are now resorting to violence by attacking Tesla as part of the Democrat resistance. Obama once told Congressman Paul Ryan that “elections have consequences.” Obama was right, but many Democrats and federal judges refuse to accept reality and the will of the American people.
Everyone is writing and talking about domestic terrorism, but I am conflicted. Is this a topic suitable for the Doctor Is In column? I could do a non-scientific survey of the reader’s opinions, but it would be as invalid as many of the things I read and hear from titular (a mot juste) experts. I once heard that an expert is someone 50 miles from home with a PowerPoint presentation. (Actually, I first heard this when carousel slides were used.)
The real question is, how do you know anything, let alone what is right or true? Is there such a thing as truth? Jesus was asked this question by Pilate (John 18:38). You should read his response. So, meaningful events and truthseeking are the purview of citizens and this doctor’s opinion column. Remember Ferguson’s axiom #36: “Read widely, think carefully and sift everything through your own experience and common sense. This will bring you closer to the truth.”
The purpose of education is to teach the tools necessary for a lifetime of inquiry. I received a good basic education and then more advanced education in science and medicine. However, I have spent the last half of my life in self-education of the humanities to broaden my perspective. Along the way I have collected a compendium of facts which I organized into systems of workable knowledge. And through reflection and careful application of this knowledge, I have acquired a modicum of wisdom. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Therefore, this citizen, doctor and seeker of the truth has the right and duty to reflect on events in his polis, the Greek word for the city-state. By analogy, the city of Knoxville exists within Knox County. The word politics derives from events and issues of the polis, even its dramas.
Admittedly, I am a stickler for words, which are the tools we use to express our thoughts. Terrorism is “the unlawful use of violence to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or government, with the goal of furthering political, social or ideological objectives.” And domestic “relates to one’s own or particular home or country.” So by definition, radical leftists who damage Teslas or businesses are committing domestic terrorism. And subversive elements who financially enable or coerce miscreants to act out their delusions are equally culpable.
Elon Musk said these perpetrators of violence have “some kind of mental illness.” The modern-day DaVinci is right; they have Trump Derangement Syndrome and have been driven delusional by their ideology and hatred. They should be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As President Trump said, “There will be no pardons or commutations.”
A civil society cannot tolerate those who foment unrest, incite violence or finance domestic terrorism. Jimmy Kimmel jokes about burning Teslas. Governor Tim Walz revels in declining Tesla stock without realizing his state employee pension fund has more than a million shares of Tesla and his constituents have lost a lot of money as a result of domestic terrorism.
People are becoming afraid to buy or drive a Tesla due to this subversive rhetoric and intolerance. Kimmel is disgusting but should be allowed to tell his jokes. The people of Minnesota are fools to vote for Tampon Tim. But among the worst is Congressional representative Jasmine Crockett, who was again warned by US Attorney General Pam Bondi that “calling for attacks on Elon Musk” may be prosecuted. Democrat leaders are manipulating their deranged shock troops to utilize intimidation, swatting and doxing. These are all forms of domestic terrorism, and are going to get someone killed.
It is amazing that the Democrat leadership takes the 20% side of every 80/20 issue. In other words, Democrats side with the 20% leftist fringe who support sanctuary cities, trans surgery for kids and criminal aliens. They are opposed to Title IX and investigations of waste, fraud and abuse in the government. Perhaps former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is right: “Trump broke the Democrat party,” and all they have left is resistance.
The Democrats have no policies other than hatred and obstinate opposition to President Trump’s common-sense policies. The Democrats have become peevish, petty, vicious and increasingly dangerous. As Lindsey Graham said, “They hate Trump more than they love the country.” But in reality, there are few Democrats left. Harold Ford Jr. is perhaps one of the few. Most of those who control the party are progressives like AOC or socialists like Bernie Sanders. And leftist street thugs are their Brown Shirt shock troops.
I have a confession. I manipulate the readers of my column! I use the titles of my essays and the header quotes to complement each other. They are like priming a pump. I use them to pique curiosity and to draw the reader in. Writers might say these devices are “hooks.”
The substantive topical issue of this column was domestic terrorism. It is obviously a sensitive topic and some might have avoided the essay. Therefore, I used progressive Garrison Keillor’s quote to draw you in before linking the title and quote in the body of the essay. So, you see, even conservatives can be manipulative, but hopefully to promote thought and reflection.
