Monday Morning

Paris under military authority during WWII. The government had moved to Vichy. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

America chooses autocracy.

During the occupation of Paris, May 1940 to June 1944, Parisians were requested to attend daily marches of German soldiers on the Champs Elysees. Though at first this seemed like an innocent request — who doesn’t mind an occasional outdoor daily break from the routine — went an undetected test of obedience and surrender to authority not of one’s choosing.

“Whether they liked it or not.”

There will be similar requests in the days ahead in America. To borrow a metaphor from Ernest Hemingway describing bankruptcy — ‘what starts out slowly ends up quickly.’

“It can’t happen here” will become “this is not happening here.” Choice will depart; denial will arrive.

Consider the “Monday Morning” conclusion, ‘America chooses autocracy.’ Can one not feel the ensuing challenge — “this” is not autocracy, “this” is change, “this” is betterment.

“This is what we decided was best.”

But consider not all of us did. Half of us didn’t. In some states, in some counties, most of us didn’t. Will we remember what half of us did vote for?

There will be similar reprisals looming in our minds. What if? What if we challenge the new discipline? What if we challenge the conventional responses — ‘this too shall pass,’ ‘they don’t mean it,’…