Comments on Army of the Republic Stuart Archer Cohen (2008)

This book is a political story and a personal story.  It is about about anti-"regime," anti-corporate radicals who attack America.  The personal part of it is revealed toward the end of the book and I won't say it here.  You might be able to guess.


It is interesting how he describes the US.  It is somewhere between America during the Bush years and a South or Central American right wing dictatorship. The Matthews Administration has a secret corporate paramilitary force-- think Halliburton but worse-- that not only goes after the violent radicals but also the "civils" as well- those groups engaged in non-violent and peaceful resistance.  The radicals and civils are lumped together as domestic terrorists.  Perhaps that's the direction this country is headed.


The book anticipates the 99% occupy protest, which doesn't happen for another three years after the book was written. This direction, however, was all too apparent for someone paying attention.  I remember going to an anti-war demonstration with the Taoster in 2008 and seeing the kids with bandanas over their faces and seeing those signs for "end the empire" etc.


Perhaps the author is right.  In another 10-20 years we may have a government that cancels elections and has death squads sicked on those who oppose them, and they won't distinguish between lawful and unlawful opposition. 


It's a good read both for the prediction and also for the personal part of the story, which brings it all back home at the end. James, try it and see if he's describing the America you live in.

Life Comes Full Circle, sort of

Yesterday, I picked up an equipment bag from Hamilton Park in Pasadena.  I will be one of the T-Ball managers of the Pasadena American Little League.

I played at Hamilton Park, from 1978-1981, the first year in Farm, the second in Minors, and third and fourth in Majors.  My Dad was my coach for many of these years, so life comes full circle.

James is starting a little younger, at 4.  Kids just start younger these days.  And there's less sharing.  Each kid is encouraged  to get their own helmet for fear of lice. I don't remember lice as a kid, and no one had their own helmet.  But other than these minor changes, which mirror changes in our society, it seems like pretty much the same deal.

I suppose you could say that little league represents Civil Society. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society.  And I am delighted to see that it seems to be flourishing.  How can anyone condemn this as suburban mediocrity?  Try going without it, or relying on business or government for child rearing.

Hopefully there will be more on this in the coming months.