The last week has depressed me.

In my adult life, I have rarely- if ever- allowed the tide of current events affect my emotions. I have remained focused on my own duties, my own job, my own goals, my own loved ones, safe in the steadfast belief that I could control my destiny and happiness. But I admit the last week has caused a sense of creeping despair. I haven't lost hope either because of George's death (a criminal act) nor because of the rioting (a predictable series of reciprocal criminal acts). Instead, my hope fades because of the unwillingness or inability of the overwhelming majority of commentators to objectively and reasonably assess the situation. I am mystified by the number of public and media apologists for the rioters. I am troubled by those who blindly propagate social media memes, tropes, talking points, dogmas - without even the slightest reflection on the nuances or consequences of the positions they take. I am absolutely shocked by the number of people willing to blithely disregard evidence and the rule of law in favor of fashionable political correctness. I feel as if they hurtle feverishly towards a future governed by tyrannical, unexamined edicts of self-incrimination from the unfathomable bowels of the internet. I cannot understand the tendency towards reflexive obedience and conformity, especially where the conformity will actually deprive many of its practitioners of economic opportunity and basic liberties. It's a plague of stupidity, and it feels destined to encroach on all of our day-to-day lives.