People We Don't Want to Think About

In our day-to-day lives it appears there are two things that we can always count on. Well, actually there are four. President Trump seems to be constantly on the minds of a great many people, some positively and some negatively, but I try and refrain from writing about him as there is ample verbiage on that subject to satisfy or pester anyone. And of course, we can always count on God being at hand and hopefully, to save us from ourselves.

I was, however, thinking of Vladimir Putin and the Arab Street. I can feel the quandary in your face through my computer screen. “Why, I never think of the two at all,” you say, “and if they come to mind, it was just a passing thought and it flittered away just as quickly and quietly as it came.” First of all, I think you are too nimble of thought not to recognize their importance, and secondly, these two lurk in the recesses of your mind and worm their way to your consciousness on an all too regular basis.

Let’s take Vladimir. He’s just a light-hearted fellow who enjoys walks on the beach and being photographed with his shirt off.  Some financial publications believe he is by far the world’s richest person with an estimated wealth valued at 200 billion dollars. He has already declared that he will seek reelection, which would mean that, at the end of his next term, he would have controlled (ruled) Russia for 24 years. Don’t ever believe that the wealth he accumulated through power will allow him to give up the reins of power. He believes the greatest mistake Russia ever made was allowing the break up of the Soviet Union. Every political action he takes is designed to reestablish control over those countries that left the USSR. He has no qualms about using military force either overtly or covertly with Syria and Ukraine as the examples. He puts oligarchs in prison if they refuse to come under the Russian Federation’s control, and he murders individuals like Alexander Litvinenko when they get under his skin.  Our politicians in Washington and our media outlets seem shocked that Russia may have meddled in our last election. Of course they did. They meddle in all elections so as to weaken their adversaries. Vladimir Putin may be our biggest bogeyman, but he is not invincible or infallible. He will never be our friend and he could care less who won the election. Putin deals in turmoil.

And then there is that irrepressible Arab Street; just a bunch of guys and gals out to have a little fun with flaming effigies and colorful signage.  President Trump just signed the order to make Jerusalem the location for our embassy, and the world’s media and weak-kneed European leaders brace for the inevitable chaos in the Arab world. So what? When has the Arab Street not been incensed at something?

The term “Arab Street” does not have the connotation that it used to. A term for the opinions of the regular guys on the streets and markets is an illusion undermined by the ability of the local militias to turn out demonstrations at a moment’s notice. It’s amazing what an AK-47 can do for opinion polling.  Our concern, and that of the European countries, is whether or not the visual animosity of the Palestinians, or demonstrators in Turkey, Iran, or Pakistan has the ability to cause damage on Main Street, USA or in London. The answer is yes, it does. But the scary truth is that they had the ability before the declaration by Trump, and they exercised their murderous qualities before they had any specific reason. They want us dead or subdued. They want Israel wiped off the face of the earth. I know this and so do you. We would just rather not think about it.