Who Was That Masked Man?

Those of you old enough to remember the old TV series "The Lone Ranger" may remember the stereotyped ending of many episodes, in which the hero rode off into the sunset while the grateful townsfolk look wonderingly at the silver bullet he left behind and asked, "Who was that masked man?"

There's a tradition in literature of the hero who wears a disguise - usually a mask - to keep their identity secret. The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Lone Ranger, Batman, Zorro, and The Copperhead are just a few of the masked heroes who stepped up to uphold the law and defend the oppressed*.

Times have changed, though.

Nowadays, the masked avenger who once worked to save the oppressed is a federal agent, heavily armed and armored, who refuses to identify himself or his agency or confirm his authority by presenting a warrant while rounding up suspected illegal immigrants in Home Depot and 7-Eleven parking lots and the hallways of federal courts.

There may be good reasons for specific individual police officers to conceal their identity. Service as undercover agents is the reason most often cited, but I hardly think that the relatively few officers serving in valuable undercover roles would be exposed to identification in an effort to round up migrants. Fear of malicious doxing is also given as a reason for masking officers, and it's a concern, but considering that every ordinary police officer wears a badge and identifies themselves to document their identity and authority, I think it's a weak reason.

Masked Singer, yes. Masked law enforcement, no.

Have a good day. Insist that those who exercise power over you identify themselves and document their authority. You don't live in a police state.

Yet.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* Okay, The Scarlet Pimpernel rescued French aristocrats from the mob and the guillotine, but just work with me on this.