Certainly, at this point in history, not only is the United States but the greater world as a whole in a state of conflict. The varying sides are on polar opposites of the equation, and one believes one thing while the other believes the other. But, who is believing what and why?
 
When I was a child and onto coming of age, the United States was then, as well, at a time of strong opposition. Mostly, motivated by Civil Rights and the Vietnam War, people were protesting in the streets and, in fact, in some cases, getting killed by the powers-that-be.
 
Of course, those issues came at a time when there was a cultural revolution taking place. More and more people were believing in the fact that open expression, freedom, and enlightenment was possible.  Of course, times changed but that’s a different story.
 
At least back then, many of the people protesting had a strong reason. The draft here in the U.S. was in full effect. And, at the age of eighteen, if you couldn’t present a strong reason for not joining up, you were sucked into the fray of the military and quite possibly sent to the fight in Vietnam. Many people died. I had a close family member die in Vietnam. Many came back maimed and damaged.
 
There was, of course, the Civil Rights Movement where people of Color were fighting for the rights they should have already been provided. Thus, many of the people protesting at that point in history had a very self-involved reason for their dissent.
 
Sometimes when I am driving home, I pass by the local high school. Today, as I did, I witnessed a massive crowd of young students out in front, walking back and forth across the street, carrying signs, and chanting, all during their lunch break. They were even flanked by a school security guard and, (I guess), a teacher or two controlling their moments.
 
I live in an affluent neighbor. Yet, there they were, all these kids of doctors and lawyer and film-producer, products of old and new money, but none of them suffering in the least, at least not financially. They were all there protesting ICE.
 
Now, I get it, ICE and the detention and deportation of illegal immigrates is a hot topic issue right now. The one thing to keep in mind is, the people, (at least for the most part), that are being detained are here in the U.S. illegally. The key word is, “Illegal.”
 
I’m not here to debate you on this issue. I’m just stating a fact. My grandparents were immigrants who came from Scotland. But, they came here via legal channels. My lady and her family came here from South Korea via legal channels. So, I’m all for immigration, as long as it is done legally and in accordance with the law.
 
But, back to the point… Here were all these White kids, with a few Asians sprinkled in—like a thousand of them protesting against ICE. But, they have no skin in the game. Being from this neighborhood, they probably don’t even know anyone who is worried about being deported unless they are their maid or their gardener. They just want to play the game of protest. They want that rush of adrenaline. They want to belong. Be a part of something. Feel they are guiding the world in the direction that they believe they want it to be directed. But, do they even understand what they are proclaiming or why? Do they understand the truth of the underlying issue(s)?   
 
This whole subject has become a sore issue. And, I get it. A lot of hardcore stuff is going on.
 
The thing is, this is the kind of stuff that Trump proclaimed he was going to do if he returned to the presidency. He was voted into power by the masses. Love or hate his proclamations, isn’t he the elected president? Elected by The People?
 
The fact is, I knew when he returned he was going to reshape the sphere of the world. It’s kind of like that song by Lisa, (of Black Pink Fame), “Fuck up the world.” I knew he was going to do that. In fact, he has done less than I expected he would do.  
 
So, love or hate what’s going on, that’s your choice. But, if you’re a rich White kid living in a McMansion, driving a BMW to high school, and too young to vote, I don’t know, do you really even understand what’s going on in the world or why? Do you actually care?
 
Whenever I see one of these protests taking place, all it makes me think of is the Vanilla Ice song, “Ice, Ice Baby.”