Marc YachtIn stock market parlance, “the Ghost walks” points to a security that has long been dead having new life.
Watching demonstrations across the country reminds me that an apathetic public can come to life. Has America found its MOJO?
The Middle East wars, the lack of jobs, a broken health care system and the widening gap between the rich and poor created little public response. Perhaps overt acts of police brutality may be the final straw for a nation frustrated with political gridlock and posturing that threaten the middle class and keep the needy locked in poverty.
What’s interesting about the demonstrations is the multi-ethnic and multi-racial makeup of the protesters. There have been no counterdemonstrations. The Vietnam protests had detractors who lined the streets shouting down the demonstrators. But anti-Vietnam protesters marched in ever increasing numbers.
I would further suggest that a handful of photographs did more to end the war than the protesters. Who could forget the naked child seared by napalm running down a dirt road, or the South Vietnamese colonel shooting the Vietcong suspect in the head? America finally had enough of a seemingly endless, costly war.
Whenever there is a pro-life rally, the pro-choice people come out and vice versa. The “Occupy Wall Street” movement had detractors. Unique to the current marches is the lack of visible opposition.
Also heartening is the increasing number of cities participating. Miami, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York are among the dozens of cities that have taken part in the protests of what is perceive as excessive police violence against black men. Perhaps the protests will end, but American apathy is gone and elected officials should take heed.
Politicians know that the demonstrations will die down. There will be some speech-making and a lot playing to the crowd.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks of better police training and government leaders across the country will do the same. Perhaps some change will come.
Unfortunately, the motivation for such change comes from a desire for civic peace rather than to do what is right. However, if police act with more restraint, leaders’ motives don’t matter.
Elected officials must be nervous about the demonstrations. Perhaps the protesters will start questioning our continued presence in the Middle East. The protesters may ask what has been accomplished in 14 years of war.
Perhaps the public will question why every industrialized nation but ours provides health care to all its citizens. Demonstrators may want to understand why someone has to work two and three jobs to barely support a family.
Bob Dylan wrote, “The times they are a changin’”. Maybe they are and maybe they aren’t. That is to be seen.
Photos created enough anger to stop the Vietnam war, and no amount of money in a politician’s pocket can overcome an angry public. The demonstrations against excessive force will end, but I suspect that today’s demonstrators have tasted victory.
What will be the next issue capturing their attention?
Marc Yacht is a semi-retired physician living in Hudson, Fla. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
