Stasis and Stasis, Home and Abroad

Sameness and Change in Political Events

Words can have primary and secondary meanings, often in tension with one another. “Stasis” is one of those words. It commonly means, especially in a medical context, that nothing is changing, the condition is neither improving nor declining. But some of the ancient Greek authors from whom we get the word, such as Aristotle and Thucydides, also used the word to mean the opposite. For them, στάσις (stasis) could also mean discord, factionalism, civil strife and even violence.

We can use stasis in both meanings to describe the world around us. The military action in Iran is continuing, but we are seeing very few changes. The US and Israel continue to bomb various sites and, last I heard, five Americans were injured and one died [in the last 24 hours — ed.] . Things are changing and yet nothing is changing since last I wrote. Is this “stasis” or “stasis”?

Here at home the meaning is less ambiguous, unfortunately. On the same day, two different acts of Islamic terrorism occurred in the country. In one, a Lebanese man drove a car filled with explosives into a synagogue and Jewish school in Michigan. He was shot and killed by the armed guards that are, alas, all too necessary at Jewish centers around the world. The second involved a Muslim man from Sierra Leone, a naturalized American citizen, who was previously convicted for aiding ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a terrorist group that has killed Americans and other around the world). He attacked an ROTC class at Old Dominion University in Virginia where he shot and killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah. Students fought back, unarmed, and killed the terrorist.

All of this comes just days after two Muslim Americans threw bombs into a demonstration in New York City. A small group was demonstrating against Muslim influence in the city in front of Gracie Mansion, the official home of the mayor of NYC who is a Muslim. A larger group formed to protest the demonstrators, calling them fascists and white supremacists. As one of the (white, liberal) demonstrators was chanting on his bullhorn, a young Muslim man climbed over his back and threw an improvised explosive device (a small bomb filled with nails) into the demonstration. Fortunately, it and another similar bomb did not detonate.

There was also an attack on a bar in Austin, TX on March 1 where four people were killed and fifteen wounded. The terrorist was, again, Muslim. And, like all the above cases, was a US citizen. The two young men from New Jersey who had their pleasant trip to the City disrupted (see below) were born here to immigrant parents. The others were all immigrants who became citizens. Is there a part of the government that should be looking into this?

You might remember that the Department of Homeland Security is currently going unfunded by the government. DHS is a counter terrorism office as well as the home of TSA, the airport security division. There is pressure on Democrats to resume funding it during this time of increased terrorism, but bills to do so have failed in the Senate as recently as yesterday. This means that everyone checking your bags at the airport is not getting paid, nor are those looking for terrorist networks. Some are quitting so they can find jobs that will pay their rent.

We can hope that those charged with oversight do not overlook this.

Suicidal Empathy

The term “suicidal empathy” is gaining traction and is popping up in discussions throughout the English speaking world. It was coined by Gad Saad, a Canadian evolutionary psychologist who has moved to the United States because, being Jewish, he is no longer safe in Montreal.

The term captures the idea that some people feel so empathetic that they are driven to actions that will bring about their own demise. The photo above of a liberal American demonstrating in support of increased immigration of Muslims, only to be used as a launch pad by a Muslim terrorist is almost too perfect an example of suicidal empathy. Had the bomb detonated, there is a good chance Mr. Launchpad would have been injured or died. Since the incident, he has publicly stated that he still supports mass immigration and does not think that Muslim terrorism is a real danger. You can’t make this up.

Speaking of making things up, CNN’s initial story (since deleted) cast the softest light on the NYC terrorists:

“Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather. But in less than an hour, their lives would drastically change as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs during an anti-Muslim protest outside of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s home.”

This CNN article was written after it was already known that the suspects told authorities that they wanted to cause more damage than the Boston Marathon bombers and wrote out statements pledging their loyalty to ISIS (yes, the same organization as the Old Dominion terrorist joined). If this isn’t suicidal empathy, I don’t know what is.