I Remember the Red Guard
In June 1982, I traveled with an Art Group to China for a 3 week study of the Chinese cultural arts and historical lectures about painting, and sculpture. The excitement of visiting a culture of 3,500 years old, belonging to the Shang dynasty was a dream realized. After almost 13 hours on the plane, the landing on an airfield that was dark and seemingly way out in the country was a little disquieting. Coming to a stop, all was dark and very quite. The door finally opened to exit, but we were told to stay in our seats. In burst the Red Guard. Their guns extended, and moving quickly through the isles, we were stunned into quiet obedience sitting there much like stone statues.
Well, here we are, in China. Sitting there not knowing if or what was to happen next. Twenty minuets later, it was determined we could deplane. All through our stay, the Red Guard were around, discreetly following us, observing us and being our constant companions in their green uniforms.
The Pentagon has ordered the creation of a National Guard Reaction Force, it is expected to complete civil unrest training and be fully operational by April 1. The total size of the force will be 23,500 troops across all 50 states and three territories, excluding the District of Columbia, the documents say. Most states will supply 500 personnel for the reaction force, with the rest falling between 250 and 450. Executive order 14339.
"If I want to enact a certain act I’m allowed to do it routinely. I’d be allowed to do whatever I want," Trump said in his remarks on Air Force One. "The courts wouldn’t get involved, nobody would get involved. I can send the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. I can send anybody I wanted.”
He did prove this when he sent the Marines to Camp Pendleton to fire live ammunition over the I5 freeway. This was for anyone who is listening, was a shot across the bow of Democracy. No one in Congress cared, The Courts did not care, The People did not care, they went to the beach, and watched the action from their cars which were stopped on the Freeway in the sweltering sun. The CA State Police did stop traffic for several hours. One patrol car was hit with shrapnel.
And so we go along. Nothing has changed in our busy daily lives, and when we wake in the morning our day seems much like the day before. Did we not see the National Guard, and the Marines at the Home Depots spiriting away folks in white vans with no due process, did we not watch the Jan 6th rioters trying to over throw the 2020 election, did we not hear, this man say you will never have to vote again?
Our collective ears, eyes, and minds have been dulled by the constant barrage of hateful rants of a person who won our Nations highest office, and has built his administration on the ideals of hate and revenge. Will our minds wake up, will Congress begin to See, will the Supreme Court finally realize what they created?
Will we, in OUR not too distant future, see ICE and the National Guard come onto the planes when we travel from blue states to red states with guns, masks, and pepper spray going through the isles looking for people they think are illegal immigrants ?
As I remember, the Red Guard in China, they were for me, very polite, and amused at this small blond artist who was painting pictures of their buildings and parks. For as you might surmise, the Chinese Artists are the Masters of Water Color Painting and have been for centuries.
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