Florida’s Governor DeSantis recently said, when speaking about the gay community, “We are going to remain a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy,…” The “we,” of course, refers to the state of Florida.
I have to say I’m shocked to believe that there is some truth in that statement.
At least in half of it.
Not the part about a refuge of sanity. No one with half a brain cell could ever consider what is happening in Florida represents sanity.
But there can be no doubt that he is achieving normalcy.
Hey, I’m not saying that’s good, just correct.
Let’s see what that means.
I’m a mathematician. We weirdos believe in definitions that have to be adhered to in considering the validity of statements. That means we have to define exactly what is meant by “normal.”
A dictionary lookup of “normal” elicits words like conforming, typical, and average.
Perfect! That’s exactly what our goal is here in Florida.
We want everyone to be just like the desired “normal” person. And what is that person?
Definitely white and right wing.
Preferably male.
Preferably Christian.
Preferably accepting and not thinking.
Preferably in the style of the 1800s.
Certainly dull.
And our governor and our legislature and almost the entire Republican party are doing all in their power to encourage the misfits to leave, you know, all those people who don’t fit the governor’s definition of normal.
How are they doing this?
By passing voting restrictions aimed at Blacks and Latinos.
By removing school instruction that paints an accurate history of our not always pristine past.
By passing about 20 bills aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.
By looking the other way when hate groups attack Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Jews, Asians, immigrants, dreamers, and anyone else who is not “normal.”
Unfortunately, it’s all working. Those who don’t fit the definition of normal are leaving our state in droves, and advisories have been issued to Hispanics, Blacks, and gays to avoid coming to our unwelcoming state. Our leaders couldn’t be happier, knowing that the more the “undesirables” leave or don’t come, the closer we will be to normalcy.
Not all of us think being normal is a positive goal.
Some of us believe it’s good to think outside the box. We don’t want young and old minds to be restricted in what they are exposed to. What we want is the kind of thinking that creates an Albert Einstein and a Steve Jobs and so many more innovative thinkers. We think truth is better than propaganda.
Some of us are sure that exposure to people of different backgrounds gives magnificent rewards. Like all the different types of foods available at the various ethnic restaurants.
Some of us have been fortunate enough to view the workings of the great minds, scientific and otherwise, of those trained in other countries and everyone, even the normal, have reaped the benefits of their creativity.
Some of us have formed working relations and friendships with peoples of various ethnicities and reaped the enormous benefits of these experiences.
Some of us believe it’s a good idea to learn from past experiences and so obtaining knowledge of those experiences is essential.
But, alas, our governor blindly ignores these positives. Probably doesn’t even consider them positives. In fact, he not only wants Florida to be normal, he wants to make the entire United States normal. He promises to do that during two terms as president.
So we’re stuck with the goal of normalcy. If our governor is successful in forcing that on the country, we can sit back and watch the rest of the world pass us by while we pretend we are better off.
While all the Republicans push for normal, let’s the rest of us do all in our power to produce abnormal.
I have to say I’m shocked to believe that there is some truth in that statement.
At least in half of it.
Not the part about a refuge of sanity. No one with half a brain cell could ever consider what is happening in Florida represents sanity.
But there can be no doubt that he is achieving normalcy.
Hey, I’m not saying that’s good, just correct.
Let’s see what that means.
I’m a mathematician. We weirdos believe in definitions that have to be adhered to in considering the validity of statements. That means we have to define exactly what is meant by “normal.”
A dictionary lookup of “normal” elicits words like conforming, typical, and average.
Perfect! That’s exactly what our goal is here in Florida.
We want everyone to be just like the desired “normal” person. And what is that person?
Definitely white and right wing.
Preferably male.
Preferably Christian.
Preferably accepting and not thinking.
Preferably in the style of the 1800s.
Certainly dull.
And our governor and our legislature and almost the entire Republican party are doing all in their power to encourage the misfits to leave, you know, all those people who don’t fit the governor’s definition of normal.
How are they doing this?
By passing voting restrictions aimed at Blacks and Latinos.
By removing school instruction that paints an accurate history of our not always pristine past.
By passing about 20 bills aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.
By looking the other way when hate groups attack Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, Jews, Asians, immigrants, dreamers, and anyone else who is not “normal.”
Unfortunately, it’s all working. Those who don’t fit the definition of normal are leaving our state in droves, and advisories have been issued to Hispanics, Blacks, and gays to avoid coming to our unwelcoming state. Our leaders couldn’t be happier, knowing that the more the “undesirables” leave or don’t come, the closer we will be to normalcy.
Not all of us think being normal is a positive goal.
Some of us believe it’s good to think outside the box. We don’t want young and old minds to be restricted in what they are exposed to. What we want is the kind of thinking that creates an Albert Einstein and a Steve Jobs and so many more innovative thinkers. We think truth is better than propaganda.
Some of us are sure that exposure to people of different backgrounds gives magnificent rewards. Like all the different types of foods available at the various ethnic restaurants.
Some of us have been fortunate enough to view the workings of the great minds, scientific and otherwise, of those trained in other countries and everyone, even the normal, have reaped the benefits of their creativity.
Some of us have formed working relations and friendships with peoples of various ethnicities and reaped the enormous benefits of these experiences.
Some of us believe it’s a good idea to learn from past experiences and so obtaining knowledge of those experiences is essential.
But, alas, our governor blindly ignores these positives. Probably doesn’t even consider them positives. In fact, he not only wants Florida to be normal, he wants to make the entire United States normal. He promises to do that during two terms as president.
So we’re stuck with the goal of normalcy. If our governor is successful in forcing that on the country, we can sit back and watch the rest of the world pass us by while we pretend we are better off.
While all the Republicans push for normal, let’s the rest of us do all in our power to produce abnormal.
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