ICE’s impact in US’ cities today is similar to what happened in Iraq twenty-two years ago.
This just occurred to me as I was having a morning chat with my niece, over coffee. With me, the way my brain is wired, one thing (topic) leads quickly to another. Trump calls this “the weave”.
[In session, Psych-girl will refocus me back to the fundamental topic–my health and well-being. However, she does get it and understands the way I am. Which does abate my intellectual loneliness … temporarily.]
Setting that aside 🙂 it’s (ICE and war) worth thinking about. Regardless of which side of the divide, any divide, you’re on. War is hell is a universal fact, except if you’re a sociopath or sadist. Can we agree on that?
The Imprint of War
was an essay I wrote twenty-two years ago and published in my first book Sounding Off In Echo Hills: Essays, Letters, & Arguments. The essay was inspired by an article I read from an embedded journalist during the Iraq war. At the time, I had just shuttered my bookstore in Evergreen, Colorado. Because of lack of traffic and sales following 9/11.
Most people then, as now, (even readers) were incurious as to the ultimate causes of events. We in the US were at war, having just been ruthlessly attacked. We wanted to feel safe. Nearly everyone was for the war. I wasn’t.
Then, I was very much a liberal, progressive, feminist, Democrat. Now, the opposite. I’ve switched sides. Which makes me … ? Unmoored? Adrift? No; but yes–intellectually lonely. Because today you have to pick a side and adhere to their beliefs/values. Maybe that’s always been the case.
Then and now
war is hell, especially for children. They cannot pick a side and are totally helpless, dependent on powerful others. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong; but war’s impact imprints them as all trauma does all of us. (To varying degrees.)
In Conclusion
Now as then, I want this war to end. The “War on Terror” has now come home to our American cities. I don’t think it’s been like this since the Civil War. Moreover, that ‘s 160 some years ago. Eight generations! Before we even gave names to generations.
This is crazy. And, it’s something I can’t work out in therapy. It’s not about me. I don’t live in the war zone.
In Thomas Sowell’s book A Conflict of Visions (1987), he argues that there are two basic world views–restrained and unrestrained. The former is that human nature is fixed–unchangeable. Selfish. The later is that that is untrue. Because people are malleable and perfectible. It’s that old nature/nurture debate.
Sowell’s not wrong. However, the argument is, ironically, simplistic. Nevertheless, it is a good place to start. We as individuals are far more complex. Which is really far too complicated, ambiguous, and time consuming for people to grasp, especially politicians. And academics. And scientists, engineers, etc.. We like right and wrong. Additionally, we believe that right makes might and will fight because of that.
And but so, I’m scared. And sorry. ICE’s impact on US’ cities is like war, and war is hell.
Interesting take on our society. I will say I agree that ALL war is hell. However, I wouldn’t describe what ICE is doing as hell. I’d describe it as a normal correction over what the Biden administration did by not following the rule of law. I would also suggest that while Sowell’s view of the world (restrained and unrestrained) is correct, it’s not ICE that’s unrestrained. In fact, I don’t know if I could restrain myself from taking someone down in that situation.
Is the whole ICE deportation thing a war? No, not yet. Anymore than the George Floyd riots, or the burning of cities was a war. Riots typically are not considered war. ICE agents are only doing their job of removing people that have no legal business being here because they came here illegally.
Thanks for reading, Rich; and I think we’re pretty much in agreement. The point I was making in my 2003 essay was from the POV of children and in *that* regard the comparison is apt. Not that what ICE is doing (necessary) is war; but that there are unintended consequences for innocents (children) with no power/say/choice in the matter whatsoever. Moreover, that the impact – the imprint – on who they become as adults is unknowable and variable from child to child.
But overall the effect will be negative–just as is war. Which is necessary sometimes *because* we (humans) are not perfectible – (the unrestrained) world view. Or progressive/liberal/left POV.
I’m sorry because it sucks and there’s nothing I can do about it. I tried, and failed. I’m scared because what is *not* war could become war down the road–which will effect everyone, everywhere.
We (adults) have made “things” worse w/r/t the health and well being of children and future generations. Because we are, when push-comes-to-shove – selfish. “The proof is in the pudding.”
Following up: The Left’s position is that *if only* we could perfect our systems, via science and technology, and then through government via laws – we could have a perfect world (here on earth). The other side’s position is that we have to work with what we’ve got (human nature), do the best we can, and slowly make the world better. Not perfect, but better than today. THAT’S the American Dream.