You must be warned that I have a reputation among friends and family as being something of a harbinger of doom, and I often wonder how close to tin-foil hat territory I fly. But I have to say, if things get really ugly in this country, it’s not the government I fear. I fear some of my neighbors.
A lot of people frame Second Amendment debates around the idea that we need firearms to protect us from a tyrannical government. And I believe that’s a good reason, especially with the charlatans in the White House now. But I’m also concerned about how we will treat each other in the event of something cataclysmic, whether a deep economic depression, or another terrorist attack on our soil.
Consider this: The right has been vilifying liberals—quite successfully it seems—for a long time now. Progressives are "terrorist sympathizers," "traitors," even actual terrorists. Because of this campaign, there is a large segment of our society who believes that if Amurka falls from grace in any way, it will be the fault of godless, commie, homosexual, elitist hippies.
And you know how much Americans like to find and place blame.
So what happens if there is a major terrorist attack on the U.S.? And we go to "Code Red" and maybe some form of martial law? I don’t actually fear the government forces so much. Most military and National Guard units are tied up in Iraq, leaving local and state law enforcement agencies with the task of "controlling" the populace. Frankly, I don’t think my local police force (in the liberal SF Bay Area) is going to whole-heartedly enforce edicts from DC. It could happen to some degree, but I really don’t think the feds could clamp down as hard as many people fear they could.
What I fear is a climate that allows persecution of people who are scapegoated because of the color of their skin, or their sexual preferences, or even their political beliefs. Yes, I know that happens now, but we still have systems that fight that. If things turn sour, local systems could be stretched thin, or even fail altogether to protect people.
I, for one, am doing what I can to get to know all my neighbors (and let them know me as well). I figure a neighborhood that has a strong sense of community won’t put up with as much crap as others.
I also truly believe it is important for us to try to find common ground now with "the other side," as much as possible. Yes, even with all their lies and outrageous claims. We don’t have to give any ground, but maybe we can remember that our fellow citizens are not making the lies up themselves. And I’ve fallen for some whoppers in my life, too.
As for "life during wartime," or during martial law, does anyone have any advice or good reading? For all us former Boy Scouts who just want to Be Prepared?