And a war was just fought, was it not? First, against Donald Trump, and then–in a related conflict the propagandists found it impossible to separate from the war on Donald Trump–in the battle for control of the COVID-19 narrative.
Around here, what I feel is the smoke settling, but I can see where there were recent flames, minds on fire, and trouble in the water.
There is a Day After sort of quality going on, that something major just happened, and is not quite gone, but no longer fully present.
And I am wondering–when I see things like the renewed discussion about the origin of a virus which came from bats, and which cannot have come from a wet market where that type of bat was not sold–if the narcotic of war, and daily terror, is starting to wear off among some elements of those who have been pushing the propaganda so hard.
I have no doubt that even those WITH doubts felt that they HAD to do it; had to induce panic; had to make sure only a single narrative got played; had to use every tool of censorship, the abuse of the law, and personal attack to ensure that everyone was on the same page or marginalized as much as possible.
Those people are looking now over a scarred battlefield. They are beginning to see, I feel, most likely for the first time, just how damaging their manias have been, how many lives they have wrecked, how much living they made impossible, how many minds have been permanently twisted in fear and paranoia. They are realizing, perhaps for the first time, that KIDS, even small kids, are wearing masks to–it’s unclear–either protect them from a disease they can’t get, or protect others from a disease they can’t transmit. They KNEW this, of course, but they didn’t contemplate it, feel it, “grok” it.
If there is enough sanity remaining on their part, there will be a lot of soul searching, and wondering if, in the end, they really DID do the right thing. Obviously, I feel and think and have often argued that NO, they did not do the right thing.
Apologies are in order, the world over, in my view. Don’t hold your breath for them, but we can hope for a relaxation of the cultish behavior, and perhaps one day, an amount of regret proportionate to the crimes committed.