Assassination attempt being investigated, and a podcast on extremism and how it unfolds

Posted By: David Fortier July 14, 2024

By David Fortier

Come Sunday morning, there will be the fallout from the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Nothing good comes from an action like this, especially in a country that prides itself on being a democracy.

Again, a former president with a flesh wound that might have been much worse, if for a few inches; one person in the audience, dead; two people in the audience injured, one critically; and a 20-year-old, the suspected shooter, using an AR-15-type rifle, dead.

What this might indicate is stepping back rather than stepping closer into the incident is required–attempting to get a broader picture, perhaps. As it happens, however, the mudslinging has already begun on social media and calls for reflection are being drowned out. And so it goes.

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For listening, something that is appropriate for this particular moment in time might be “Out of the Rabbit Hole,” the latest episode of the Hidden Brain podcast. The show notes state that this podcast “takes a deep dive into the motivations of people on the brink of extremism–and those who have already been radicalized.”

The notes continue: “We examine what prompts people to turn to violence, and how to pull them back from the seductive appeal of extremist ideas.” Click here.

For reading, remarkably, in these volatile times, is a book, “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr, that might just provide some solace. It is simply a magical book, and as all magic, it takes us away from and back to reality, so that, when we return, we are better.

The book revolves around an ancient manuscript that is incomplete and filling in the blanks is not only words but the stories that ally with the effort to complete the translation: in the lives of such characters as a time traveling teen from the future; a disaffected teen from the 2000s; a couple of young people from different sides at the battle for Constantinople in the 1400s; and a young man who comes of age in the Korean War.

It might also help to know that violence is forever present, as one line from the translation states, “One side is dancing, the other side is death” and as another line states, “The world as it is is enough.”

Once more, in library news, starting back in June, Kanopy became available. This streaming service offers a wonderful selection of high-quality movies and documentaries. Sign up with your library card and get access to a bunch of films. Click here.

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City meetings this week include the following:

On Monday, July 15

  • Mayor’s Opioid Task Force, 5 p.m., Meeting Room 1-2, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.

On Tuesday, July 16

  • Real Estate Committee, 5 p.m., Meeting Room 1-1, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.
  • Real Estate Committee Public Hearing, 6:30 p.m., council chambers, city hall. No agenda as of Saturday, July 13.
  • Board of Police Commissioners, 6 p.m., council chambers, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.
  • Board of Sewer Commissioners, 6 p.m., Bristol Water & Sewer Department, Water Filtration Plant, 1080 Terryville Ave.
  • Board of Water Commissioners, 6:15 p.m., Bristol Water & Sewer Department, Water Filtration Plant, 1080 Terryville Ave.

On Wednesday, July 17

  • Code Enforcement Workshop, 3 p.m., Mayor’s Office, city hall. No meeting notes posted as of Saturday, July 13.
  • Board of Park Commissioners: Policy and Strategy Committee, 4:30 p.m., Meeting Room 1-2, city call. For virtual meeting link, click here.
  • Board of Park Commissioners, 6 p.m. Meeting Room 1-2, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.
  • Salary Committee, 5 p.m., Human Resources Conference Room, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.

On Thursday, July 18

  • Commission on Aging, 11 a.m., Room 103, Bristol Senior Center, 240 Stafford Ave. No meeting notes available as of Saturday, July 13.
  • Citation Hearings, 3:30 p.m., city. No meeting notes available as of Saturday, July 13.
  • Animal Control Building Committee, 5 p.m., No meeting files available as of Saturday, July 13.
  • Board of Finance: Purchasing Committee–canceled
  • Board of Public Works, 6 p.m., council chambers, city hall. For virtual meeting link, click here.
  • Energy Commission, 7 p.m., Meeting Room 116, city hall. No meeting notes available as of Saturday, July 13.

On Friday, July 19

  • No meeting scheduled.

TBE will do our best to update meeting times and locations, but it’s a good idea to check the agendas ahead of time for cancellations. Click here for specific meetings and times.

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I can’t say it enough, it doesn’t take much imagination to see that local newspapers of any quality are few and far between. Here at TBE, working under our nonprofit Central Connecticut Online Journalism Project, we aim to make Bristol a community with a vibrant and engaged local community newspaper.

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Enjoy!

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