As if to prove my point that the contemporary United States of America is less a real nation than a particularly elaborate piece of performance art,

First,

The parents of Michael Brown are going to a United Nations meeting in Switzerland to speak against civil rights violations, racial profiling and police violence in the United States, according to a St. Louis University assistant law professor who is helping organize the trip.

Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. will speak before the 53rd Session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture in Geneva on Nov. 12 and 13, said the professor, Justin Hansford, who has been active in Ferguson protests. He said Brown’s parents are taking their grievances to a world stage because they feel they have not gotten justice from state, local and federal governments in the death of their son, who was fatally shot by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9.

Hansford said Brown’s parents are being sponsored by the U.S. Human Rights Network, a nonprofit network of human rights groups. Hansford and others have set up a website to collect donations to send protesters to the conference, he said.  [Michael Brown's parents heading to UN committee on torture, by Jeremy Kohler, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 4, 2014]

Second,

The mother of Michael Brown could be charged with felony armed robbery for allegedly attacking people in a Ferguson, Mo., parking lot because they were selling T-shirts honoring the late teenager.

The Ferguson Police Department is currently investigating claims that Lesley McSpadden brought a group of people — including her own mother — to beat vendors and rob them of their “Justice for Mike Brown” merchandise Oct. 18, The Smoking Gun has learned.

One person was hospitalized in the reported attack and another unidentified alleged victim was reportedly beaten with a pipe.

McSpadden’s former mother-in-law, Pearlie Gordon, was among those beaten by “a large group of about 20-30 subjects” who had “jumped out of vehicles and rushed” the group of sellers, according to the police report.  [Michael Brown's mother may face felony armed robbery charges: report, by Marc Weinreich, Daily News, November 7, 2014]

At least the Gentle Giant's parents will have something to talk about on the plane.