COLUMN: The new arms race By Gerry Dionne Mar 8, 2020 Mar 8, 2020 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Gerry DionnekAmuF=7:==:?8 2 8@2= @FE=:?65 :? :ED a_`g }F4=62C !@DEFC6 #6G:6H C6A@CE[ E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 24<?@H=65865 =2DE >@?E9 E92E E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 92D 56A=@J65 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 2 =@H\J:6=5 ?F4=62C H2C9625 @? D@>6 &]$] DF3>2C:?6\=2F?4965 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6D W${q|DX]k^AmkAm%9:D 255D F?4@?D4:@?23=6 52?86C E@ E9:D A=2?6E’D :?E6C?2E:@?2= H2C 7@@E:?8] %96 >62DFC6 4@>6D 2D E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D AC@A@D:?8 E@ :?4C62D6 DA6?5:?8 E@ >@C6 E92? Scc 3:==:@? ?6IE J62C E@ 4@?E:?F6 2?5[ :? D@>6 42D6D[ 2446=6C2E6 AC@8C2>D E@ C6A=246 2?5 FA8C256 2== E96 >2;@C 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 3=@2E65 &]$] 2CD6?2=] &?=6DD 4FCE2:=65[ E96 A=2?[ H9:49 56A2CED :? :>A@CE2?E H2JD 7C@> =@?8\DE2?5:?8 &]$] A@=:4:6D[ H:== 2446=6C2E6 8=@32= ?F4=62C 4@>A6E:E:@? 2?5 :?4C62D6 E96 C:D< @7 ?F4=62C H2C]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: A fairy walk, new restaurants, a festival and more Extradition hearing delayed in NC Sun Drop murders cold case Commissioners Notebook: Mt. Pleasant creek to be named for Archie Fisher Concord police seek fifth suspect in February double homicide 90,000 soldiers passed through Greensboro during World War II. Here's the story of the Overseas Replacement Depot Concord High students honored for assisting during medical emergency Concord men charged with stealing $591K worth of electricity Cabarrus commissioners select John Eller as next county manager Cabarrus EDC manufacturing docuseries wins multiple Telly Awards Kannapolis to celebrate Juneteenth with day of music, food, vendors and free movie 4 biggest takeaways from Panthers' 2026 mandatory minicamp Amazon, Corning multi-billion dollar pact to yield 1,000 jobs Kannapolis History Associates to present patriotic and spiritual concert Kannapolis and Concord reach agreement to keep Rider bus routes Opportunity House joins Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers Network to expand housing, healthcare, and support services kAm%96 2C>D 4@?EC@= 2C49:E64EFC6 @7 E96 r@=5 (2C[ :?G@=G:?8 E6?D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 ?F4=62C H62A@?D[ H2D =23@C:@FD=J 56D:8?65 @G6C J62CD @7 92C5\7@F89E ?68@E:2E:@?D 36EH66? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 E96 $@G:6E &?:@?] %96 6=23@C2E6 EC62E:6D 96=A65 <66A E96 H@C=5 7C@> ?F4=62C 2??:9:=2E:@?]k^AmkAm%@52J[ E9@D6 EC62E:6D 2C6 36:?8 232?5@?65 3J E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 #FDD:2 ;FDE 2D ?6H DEC2E68:4 4@>A6E:E@CD ?@E 4@G6C65 3J E96 r@=5 (2C 244@C5Dj =:<6 r9:?2[ }@CE9 z@C62 2?5 xC2?j 2C6 2DD6CE:?8 E96>D6=G6D 2D C68:@?2= A@H6CD 2?5 492==6?8:?8 p>6C:42? 9686>@?J]k^AmkAmpD :7 E@ F?56CD4@C6 E96 52?86CD @7 E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D DEC2E68J[ E96 s676?D6 s6A2CE>6?E =65 2? 6I6C4:D6 =2DE >@?E9 D:>F=2E:?8 2 =:>:E65 ?F4=62C H2C] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 !6?E28@?[ “%96 D46?2C:@ :?4=F565 2 tFC@A62? 4@?E:?86?4J…] #FDD:2 564:56D E@ FD6 2 =@H\J:6=5[ =:>:E65 ?F4=62C H62A@? 282:?DE 2 D:E6 @? }p%~ E6CC:E@CJ[” 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 7:C6D 324< H:E9 2 “=:>:E65” ?F4=62C C6DA@?D6] %96 &]$] C6DA@?D6 AC6DF>23=J :?G@=G65 E96 =@H\J:6=5 DF3\=2F?4965 H2C9625[ <?@H? 2D E96 (fe\a]k^Am kAm%96 6I6C4:D6 A6CA6EF2E6D E96 52?86C@FD :==FD:@? E92E 2 ?F4=62C H2C 42? 36 7@F89E 2?5 H@?] %96 ?6H H2C9625[ E96 7:CDE ?6H 56D:8? :? E9:CEJ J62CD[ A24<D 2 7:G6\<:=@E@? 6IA=@D:G6 J:6=5] %92E’D A@H6C7F= 6?@F89 E@ 56DEC@J 2 4:EJ 2?5 <:== >@DE @7 :ED 4:E:K6?D] xE H@F=5 36 56=:G6C65 @? E96 D2>6 EJA6 @7 =@?8\C2?86 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6 =2F?4965 7C@> E96 D2>6 DEC2E68:4 DF3>2C:?6 E92E 42CC:6D >:DD:=6D =@2565 H:E9 @?6 9F?5C65\<:=@E@? DEC2E68:4 H2C9625D] %96 D:8?:7:42?46 @7 E96 56=:G6CJ DJDE6>n #FDD:2? >:=:E2CJ =6256CD H@F=5 36 92C5 AC6DD65 E@ <?@H[ :? E96 962E @7 2 4C:D:D[ H96E96C E96 >:DD:=6 H2D A2CE @7 2 “=:>:E65” DEC:<6 @C E96 7:CDE H2G6 @7 2? 2==\@FE ?F4=62C 2EE24<]k^Am kAm}6G6CE96=6DD[ %CF>A @77:4:2=D :?D:DE E92E E96 AC6D:56?E ?665D “>@C6 4C65:3=6” ?F4=62C FD6 @AE:@?D E@ 56E6C E96 A@DD:3=6 7:CDE FD6 @7 ?F4=62C H62A@?D 3J #FDD:2] x? C62=:EJ[ @?46 ?F4=62C H62A@?D @7 2?J <:?5 2C6 56E@?2E65 :? 2 4@?7=:4E 36EH66? ?F4=62C\2C>65 25G6CD2C:6D[ E96C6 :D ?@ 8F2C2?E66 282:?DE 2 4J4=6 @7 6D42=2E:@? =625:?8 E@ 2==\@FE 8=@32= ?F4=62C H2C] {@H6C:?8 E96 E9C6D9@=5 7@C ?F4=62C FD6 3J >2<:?8 ?F4=62C H62A@?D “>@C6 FD23=6” E2<6D E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 #FDD:2 2?5 E96 H@C=5 :? E96 HC@?8 5:C64E:@?]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 AC@A@D65 6IA6?5:EFC6D 23@G6[ E96 s676?D6 s6A2CE>6?E :D D66<:?8 Sag]h 3:==:@? ?6IE J62C[ 7@C AC@8C2>D E@ DFDE2:? 2?5 C642A:E2=:K6 E96 6I:DE:?8 ?F4=62C 2CD6?2=[ 2 E9:CEJ A6C46?E :?4C62D6]k^Am kAm%96 !6?E28@?’D ?F4=62C >@56C?:K2E:@? DA6?5:?8 3:?86 :?4=F56D Sc]c 3:==:@? E@ 368:? 4@?DECF4E:@? @7 2 7=66E @7 EH6=G6 r@=F>3:2\4=2DD 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6 DF3>2C:?6D WE96 ~9:@\4=2DD C6A=246>6?EXj Sa]g 3:==:@? 7@C E96 ?6H q\a` DE62=E9 3@>36C AC@8C2> WE96 q\a C6A=246>6?EXj S`]d 3:==:@? E@ DE2CE H@C< @? 2 ?6H 8C@F?5\32D65 :?E6C4@?E:?6?E2= 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6 DJDE6>j 2?5 Sd__ >:==:@? E@ 4@?E:?F6 56G6=@A>6?E H@C< @? 2 ?6H ?F4=62C\2C>65[ 2:C\=2F?4965 4CF:D6 >:DD:=6]k^Am kAm%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D 2=D@ 56>2?5:?8 2 EH6?EJ\7:G6 A6C46?E 3@@DE 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= }F4=62C $64FC:EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@?’D H62A@?D 3F586E[ E@ S`d]e 3:==:@?[ E@ 4@G6C E96 8C@H:?8 4@DE @7 ?F4=62C H2C9625 C67FC3:D9>6?E[ 56D:8?[ 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? H@C<] %9:D :?4=F56D 6IA2?5:?8 E96 42A24:EJ E@ 3F:=5 A=FE@?:F> H2C9625 4@C6D E@ 2E =62DE 6:89EJ A6C J62C—2? F?C62=:DE:4 2?5 F??646DD2CJ 8@2=]k^Am kAm%96 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D 8C2?5:@D6 AC@A@D2=D ?@E @?=J H@F=5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ 2 52?86C@FD 8=@32= BF2=:E2E:G6 ?F4=62C 2C>D C246[ 3FE E96J 2C6 6I46DD:G6 2?5 F?277@C523=6] ~G6C E96 ?6IE E9:CEJ J62CD[ E96D6 2?5 @E96C ?F4=62C H62A@?D AC@8C2>D 2C6 6DE:>2E65 E@ 4@DE E2IA2J6CD 2E =62DE S`]d EC:==:@?]k^AmkAm(@CD6 J6E[ E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D AC@8C2> @7 C64@C5 H@F=5 DFDE2:? 56A=@J65 DEC2E68:4 H2C9625 ?F>36CD 2E =6G6=D E9:CEJ A6C46?E 9:896C E92? E96 !6?E28@? :ED6=7 56E6C>:?65 :? a_`b :D ?646DD2CJ E@ 56E6C ?F4=62C 2EE24<] %2<6? E@86E96C[ %CF>A’D A@=:4:6D E@ “8C62E=J DEC6?8E96? 2?5 6IA2?5” E96 &]$] ?F4=62C 42A23:=:EJ 2?5 9:D 72:=FC6 E@ 6?8286 :? 8@@5 72:E9 ?68@E:2E:@?D E@ 6?5 E96 2C>D C246 2?5 AFCDF6 5:D2C>2>6?E 2C6 2 G:@=2E:@? @7 &]$] @3=:82E:@?D F?56C pCE:4=6 'x @7 E96 ?F4=62C }@?AC@=:76C2E:@? %C62EJ]k^Am kAmxE 5@6D?’E 92G6 E@ 36 E9:D H2J] u:CDE[ E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? ?665D E@ =:DE6? E@ C62D@? 7C@> >:=:E2CJ @77:4:2=D[ &]$] 2==:6D[ 2?5 3:A2CE:D2? ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ =6256CD H9@ 25G@42E6 E92E H6 2446AE #FDD:2’D @776C E@ 6IE6?5 E96 a_`_ }6H $EC2E68:4 pC>D #65F4E:@? %C62EJ 3J 7:G6 J62CD 367@C6 :E :D 5F6 E@ 6IA:C6 62C=J :? a_a`] (:E9@FE E96 EC62EJ[ E96 5@@CD E@ 2? @A6?\6?565 8=@32= ?F4=62C 2C>D 4@>A6E:E:@? H:== DH:?8 @A6?] %96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? D9@HD ?@ D:8? @7 92G:?8 =62C?65 7C@> 9:DE@CJj E96C6 2C6 ?@ H:??6CD :? 2? 2C>D C246]k^Am kAm$64@?5[ E96 r@?8C6DD[ 2?5 A6C92AD 2 ?6H AC6D:56?E :? a_a`[ >FDE C6:? :? E96 6IA=@5:?8 4@DE 2?5 D4@A6 @7 E96 &]$] ?F4=62C >@56C?:K2E:@? AC@8C2>[ A2CE:4F=2C=J E96 677@CED E@ 56G6=@A “>@C6 FD23=6” ?F4=62C H62A@?D] wF?5C65D @7 3:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 42? 36 D2G65 3J 56=2J:?8[ EC:>>:?8[ @C 6=:>:?2E:?8 >2;@C 6=6>6?ED @7 E96 4FCC6?E A=2? H9:=6 >2:?E2:?:?8 2 56G2DE2E:?8 ?F4=62C 56E6CC6?E] %9:D H@F=5 2==@H 7@C E9@D6 >@?:6D E@ 36 C65:C64E65 E@ @E96C[ >@C6 FC86?E ?2E:@?2= D64FC:EJ AC@;64ED 2?5 5@>6DE:4 AC@8C2>D E92E 255C6DD C62= 9F>2? ?665]k^Am kAm!2C6?ED :? 6G6CJ ?2E:@? 496C:D9 E96:C 49:=5C6?] p 8@G6C?>6?E E92E AFCA@CED E@ C6AC6D6?E E96 H6=72C6 @7 :ED 4:E:K6?D D9@F=5 2D< H96E96C @C ?@E A=24:?8 E96 7FEFC6 @7 =:76 @? t2CE9 :? >@CE2= A6C:= :D 2 =68:E:>2E6[ @C 6G6? 2 D2?6[ AFCDF:E] %96 #6AF3=:42?D D66> E@ H@?56C H9J D@>6 @7 FD E9:?< E96 4FCC6?E AC6D:56?E :D 2 52?86C E@ FD 2==] w:D 3@2DE7F=[ 9F3C:DE:4 >:=:E2C:D> :D tI9:3:E p]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8m$@FC46Dk^DEC@?8mk6>mi %96 !6?E28@?’D ~77:46 @7 }6E pDD6DD>6?Ei a_`g }F4=62C !@DEFC6 #6G:6Hj s676?D6 }6HD — x?D:56 p>6C:42’D ?6H=J C6G62=65 ?F4=62C 32==:DE:4 >:DD:=6 H2C9625 @7 E96 7FEFC6 3J p2C@? |6CE92 a^ac^a_j pC>D r@?EC@= pDD@4:2E:@? }6HD=6EE6C — |2C49 a_a_j }6H *@C< %:>6D “pC6 (6 w62565 7@C p?@E96C tIA6?D:G6 }F4=62C pC>D #246n r@F=5 q6]” 3J $E6G6? tC=2?86C g^g^`h]k^6>mk^Am kAmv6CCJ s:@??6 :D 2 HC:E6C[ >FD:4:2? 2?5 4@7766\E23=6 A9:=@D@A96C H9@ >@G65 E@ @FC 2C62 H96? 96 H2D `g] w6’D :? 9:D f_D ?@H[ D@ J’2== 8:G6 9:> 2 3C62<]k^Am Dionne Gerry Dionne is a writer, musician and coffee-table philosopher who moved to our area when he was 18. He’s in his 70s now, so y’all give him a break. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story