The Weirdness Continues

June 6.

I’m not going to be the first one to mention this, but I couldn’t help notice that some actions or items that have become symbols are now taking on increased meaning.  Three of these recently jumped out at me.

The first is kneeling.  This was of course made famous by Colin Kapernick about 4 years ago to protest the treatment of minorities during the playing of the national anthem during football games.  Of course, kneeling was misinterpreted as a slam again the flag and veterans.  And at the time, the NFL agreed and blackballed Kap.  Today, it’s becoming the action that sparked the recent protests.  A cop knelt on George Floyd’s neck until he passed out.  More people are kneeling as a symbol of protest, made ever more prevalent since that Minneapolis arrest.  As someone said, before the knee on the neck, there was the knee on the ground.

What did George Floyd say when under that officers knee?  “I can’t breathe.”  And of course, people who have COVID are dying from respiratory issues.  They can’t breathe either unless assisted by a ventilator.  Two pandemics and both can be identified with the same saying...”I can’t breathe”.

Finally, we need to mention bibles. Bibles have always had strong symbolic meaning as the word of god.  And for President Trump maybe more.  Like a prop to please his base.  He certainly is no religious person.  I won’t explain the details here, but suffice it to say......quiet protest between White House and church, teargassing protesters before curfew hour to clear a path, then trump’s entourage (including military men and Ivanka carrying the Bible) arriving at the church with a bible for a photo op.  It doesn’t diss the Bible, but certainly gave many a reason to either further hate trump or for the first time, for some Repugs to dismiss him.  Even some former big name party affiliates who say they won’t vote for him this November.  Has the first domino finally fallen?  Well see.


More days of economic and social turmoil. Oh, and health turmoil. The infection rates continue to rise in places that didn’t want to listen to the experts.  Like Brazil.  And some Southern states.  And the Tesla plant.  Ugh.

Is anyone else burned out on the news?  Does hearing about more Covid deaths still register with people?  Seems that we just want to open up businesses, at least those ones not damaged by looting in the recent troubles.  But is there a second wave approaching from all of the protests?  I think soon we’ll know.  Random thoughts about random thought processes.

C got her new bike from Italy!  Finally!  The story is after many months of delay due to the shutdown in northern Italy, it took two days to get to Oakland from Italy.  But then it took another 5 or 6 days to get from Oakland to our house in Berkeley, 10 miles away.  Fedex fails!  So frustrating!  But the first ride was nice, with the new carbon fiber beauty.  Hopefully, many more fun rides will follow!

One more memorable line, as written in a poem in the SF Chron (by Jay Manson of Berkeley)
Our orange sociopath-in-chief wants me to wear a holster but not a mask.

That’s enough.  I’m beginning to think that this blog needs to move on from political discourse and return to cycling. Partly because there is no keeping up with 45’s daily BS and the COVID and social unrest news is just too depressing. Cycling is the antidote and since we can still ride, why not concentrate on it?  It’s been a year since our trip to Spain and good memories remain.  Why not stick to those good thoughts?  Back to bikes.....thank you!