Yesterday afternoon, many of us in Columbia, Missouri, were treated to a view of China's "spy balloon" as it drifted eastward across a clear blue sky. For all the political turmoil that it has unleashed, the white orb offered a pleasing and, some might say, peaceful sight.
In this era of high-tech surveillance, one wonders why China would use such an easily observed tool to gather information on the U.S.; of course, Chinese officials claim that it is merely a weather balloon that got caught up in the jet stream and have apologized for entering our air space.
As one might expect, reaction to the balloon is closely tied to one's political views. A number of Conservatives demanded that it be "shot down" despite the potential risk to those on the ground. The Administration has assured Americans that they are monitoring the balloon's path but have not yet indicated what, if anything, will be done. In the meantime, they have called off a meeting with the President of China; apparently, diplomacy cannot occur while we are under threat from a beautiful balloon.
