There are so many things to be tossed back and forth about what is going on in our country, our state and locally that trying to decided on one thing can be difficult. So let us speak about red herrings.
Do you know what a red herring is? Do you know the history the words? Two things I am fascinated with and always have been are words and history so here is the lesson for today: a red herring is "a classic logical fallacy and rhetorical device where irrelevant information is introduced to divert attention from the main argument or issue." People use these tactics to avoid difficult questions or accountibility, to manipulate or control an audience, and to create a smokescreen of irrelavent information to obscure the truth. Sound familar?
I do not watch the network news any longer. I feel that the networks, in order to keep operating, bow to political pressure of the national administration. I did not grow up in that environment. I grew up in a news heavy household where everyone had an opinion and everyone paid attention. I worked in the news business for over half my current lifetime and watched as newspapers fell out of favor, especially with the advent of the internet but also with the power of stockholders and boards of directors wanting to make a higher profit and leaving what the readers wanted in the dust. More entertainment, less news.
The term "red herring" was used by the English polemicist William Cobbett who told a story of using a strong smelling smoked fish to divert and distract hounds from chasing a rabbit. (A polemicist is a person who writes contentious rhetoric intended to support a specific position by forthright claims and to undermine the opposing position.)
There are several things going on in Florida that fall in to the red herring category and when they began to grow, more red herrings were thrown in the mix. The problem I see is there is always truth somewhat for each red herring thrown out. Take the Epstein file that was on Pam Bondi's desk but then disappeared and yesterday the president said it could be released. In the midst of the containment camp the Republicans are calling Alligator Alcatraz protests and lawsuits, let us begin blaming the Democrats for fake papers about Epstein which don't exist but now they do.
The thing that baffles the mind for me is, how people still believe the orange one is doing such a wonderful job. I simply do not understand how people can cheer about the downfall of an office which used to command such respect, not to mention the poor people who are dealing with this on a daily basis.
I just turned 68 and am still as outspoken as I was when I was marching for women's rights in the 1970s. If you are in Florida, get involved. Love animals? Speak out about the bear hunt and let our legislators and the FWC (who are appointed) know you are against it. Call your Representatives and Senators, state and federal, and let them know your positions of what is going on in the state and in the country. If they send you their form letter praising the orange one, write or call again. The fight is not over, despite the smelly fish that keep getting thrown in the mix.
