I read a novel “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood (translated into Japanese by Yukiko Kounosu, and published by Hayakawa Publishing Corporation). This is a continuation of “The Handmaid's Tale” (translated into Japanese by Eiji Saito, and published by Hayakawa Publishing Corporation), and is a story about three women living in the period of the “Republic of Gilead” totalitarian nation with patriarchy based on Christian fundamentalism.

After the collapse of the U.S. due to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters, economic failure, and an extreme decline in the birthrate, Gilead is established by a military coup that took advantage of the collapse. “People became frightened. Then they became angry. The absence of viable remedies. The search for someone to blame.” (cited from the original text) – Those kind of atmospheres in the society produces an insidious nation that monitors and controls people.

On January 6, supporters of Trump breached the U.S. Capitol. The demonstrators included an armed ultra-rightist group and an antigovernment private army group. This was an unprecedented incident that is reminiscent of the above-mentioned novel. Biden mentioned this incident, “Democracy is fragile.” and appealed to the nation, “We must be ever vigilant.”

As expected, attacks from those who opposed to the democracy never stop. The democracy in Myanmar had collapsed in one night. 47 former assembly members and pro-democracy activists were charged for an attempt to the overthrow of the government in Hong Kong. Activity of Islamic extremists is gaining momentum in Africa. The violation of human rights has been serious in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny has not yet realized in Russia.

Today, it seems that the situation of “quasi-pre-Gilead” has been sprung up here and there in this world. In the current unstable state of affairs such as climate change, economic disparity, terrorism, or the pandemic, anger and resentful behavior directed toward the weak; minority opinions are excluded; people are uncritically allegiant to the authority; political conspiracy is spread: concealing, falsifying, or window-dressing data often occur, fraud and back-scratching are widespread; and deep-seated prejudice against races or women never ends – All of these look like preparation for accepting a Gilead-like nation.

On February 28, Trump stepped out onto the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in Florida. He called the news about him starting a new party “fake news,” and mentioned that he would purge those who voted to impeach Trump     from the Republican Party. A rumor of a militia group planning an attack on March 4 had been spread among the supporters.

Gilead’s mobocracy with an iron hand collapses ending up with decay and ugly rumors. What about the real world? This is not someone else’s business.

 

This Week’s Focus, March 5

Takashi Mizukoshi, the President