I’m not worried. This worldwide shared experience is bigger than temporary measures. War has stopped. Stopped in its tracks. That’s power. 20 years from now you can say “where were you during COVID-19 to ANYBODY over a certain age on the planet, and they’ll have their story to tell. Do I worry about today’s travel restrictions? No. These leaders will move on and die and new ones in their place. Except Putin but Russia’s been fucked forever.

I’m not worried. This worldwide shared experience is bigger than temporary measures.

War has stopped. Stopped in its tracks. That’s power.

20 years from now you can say “where were you during COVID-19 to ANYBODY over a certain age on the planet, and they’ll have their story to tell.

Do I worry about today’s travel restrictions? No. These leaders will move on and die and new ones in their place. Except Putin but Russia’s been fucked forever.

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Right wing nationalism has been around as long as I can remember and it’s dumb as it always is.

India’s had me nervous for a time but again – the covid-19 thing is waking folks up there too in greater and greater disappointment with their leader and the India4India thing.

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Well if you’re in the gathering-opinions phase, it’s good to withhold opinions that might work to shush brainstorming of others. Still, I’ll be curious when you’re at a point of satisfaction what your fuller thoughts are

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Borders can be soil, sure. Being an American raised in America though, identity was always more ideological. If I say I’m Irish-American, it’s not about a piece of dirt over the ocean or local turf but about songs, an irish bar, etc.

Identity is also a choice thing, much like chosing a name online (except on Facebook), where you can be anybody you want to be, portray what you wish. Or following an ideology or religion. Choice of identity.

But I never really understood turf wars honestly. Every year as a kid in NJ, the neighborhoring town would throw bottles at our community center just before the yearly big football game between the towns.

Never made a damn bit of sense to me.

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Even me saying “I’m American”, it’s not a reference to the soil but to the civic ideals I believe in as a kid. Melting pot, potential, be yourself, etc. Of course it’s tarnished a lot from Schoolhouse Rock days but the core still sits in there somewhere, right alongside my far left, Star Trek sci-fi one planet ideals and stuff.

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Lots of ass kissing of Saudi arabia from the USA, China, and a lot of the other major players, but at the same time, all have been giving quiet relief efforts as well, just in politically acceptable ways that don’t offend Saudi Arabia.

I don’t know if there’s a massive influx of aid to to Yemen since Saudi declared they were going to cease fire for a while. I’d think so as organizations had been going in there all along and maybe now have a little more freedom of movement, if perhaps an expanded plate having to deal with COVID-19 concerns simutlaneously.
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