How many deaths will it take? was an earlier question, but we seem the proverbial frog in a slow-boiling pot of water. The more we are abused, the more we acclimate to it. The press conferences continue to grow brazen, and soon we shall find ourselves amid pure barbarism.

Consider how obstinately the issue of mental health—the central issue—is avoided. Because the moment you bring the experts in, the verdict would be clear. Soon, we may be walking over dead bodies but unable to speak about them, praising the “dear leader” for protecting us.

These societies evolve astonishingly consistently, all over the world (my law students represent asylum seekers, who truly come from all over, and these are the stories they tell). I never imagined we would become one.