SICK AT HEART

  Sorry for being late again. But I simply could not drag myself to the keyboard and stare at that screen, waiting for me to fill it with words. My heart was, is, breaking. Everything that I have been warning about. Everything that I have said since this man first came on to the political forefront. Everything I predicted. Of his ambitions. Of his anti-democratic viewpoint and goals. Everything of which I spoke about. His nastiness. His insanity. His lack of humanity. It is all here. It is on the front page of every newspaper around the world. It is on every panel, every news broadcast. And yet. Nothing ever seems to get better, does it? In fact, it seems to march on steadily along the path that he is digging. For the death of this nation. For the death of democracy. And who knows, perhaps for the death of this planet?

Where have our souls gone? When did we all lose our minds? Or cede them over to him and his disgusting flock of baa, baa, black sheep, those with hearts equally as black and corrupted as his. Why have we given up on a brave new world, not that of dystopia, but of one heading towards a beautiful place to live. Where we do not corrupt the earth along with the corruption of our souls. Where we do not engage in power struggles and power games which never end well for anyone. Why have we given up the dream and substituted a nightmare for it instead.

This is a man who has substituted his voice, his authority for that of the people. He has dismissed, for all intents and purposes, our Supreme Court. Has made trash of both Houses of Congress. He has demeaned good people and taken on instead      people who are ignorant of that which they are tasked to watch and to keep safe for the generations to come. We have an education department which opposes education. We have a health department which endangers the health of every single citizen within this nation and among others as well, for we   helped many nations with their medical needs. which benefited us as well. We have armed forces that are roiling within themselves, caught with nowhere to turn, between a crazed commander and the commands given, verging on the cusp of illegal and immoral.

We are turning into a nation ruled by a dictator. A    militia which supports him. A dictator who listens to no one other than his own sick mind. And to those who only wish to gain favor with him. For their own benefit and advancement. He is destroying our physical plant as well as our moral stature and composition, destroying our ethics, our very history. 

The buildings and the people which we held sacred, integral to the ethos of this nation, are being smashed or covered with the poor and distasteful taste of an ignorant boor who violates his own limits on an hourly basis. He is an equal opportunity abuser of all that comes before him.   Almost all he touches deteriorates into trash and mistrust and uncertainty. 

This morning alone, the news from yesterday, printed at length in the papers, to peruse at leisure, or expounded upon in panels and podcasts, took their responsibility very seriously and ruined today as well. Within one afternoon he defamed a woman who had done nothing but engage in peaceful manner to allow immigrants to pass by, distance themselves from the brutes of ICE. When told to leave, when an ICE officer stuck his hand inside the car to try to pull her out, she very carefully reversed and turned to the right so as to avoid any confrontation more physical than had already occurred.  For those efforts, she was shot and killed. 

Not satisfied with demeaning her, he took the day to cancel our nation's membership in dozens of international organizations meant to preserve this planet and safeguard the lives of its inhabitants. It was to serve as safety precautions, as fences, against the deadly, selfish incursions of humanity onto the physical integrity of this planet. It was meant to keep fighting, at least to a dull roar, so that we did not blow ourselves up when engaged in our own stupidity. 

He boldly took occasion to remark that there was only one voice on this earth that he listens to. HIS AND HIS ALONE.  He not only seemingly has adopted the position of dictator for this nation, but dictator for the world at large. There are very few people throughout history who had the temerity to consider themselves as such. Neither they nor he were qualified.  

 There is much more ugliness and danger to follow. from this man and those who follow him slavishly. Robots without even the capability of having a chat box conversation.  Do we really think that if we allow him to continue in this path, that the nations of the world will not unite? In defiance of him and his maniacal behavior? For their own safety and in responsibility to their citizens?  Well, think again, for the inevitable end along this road is WAR.

War raged upon us, at us. 

 You, me, everyone we love.

No more yesterdays. 

No more todays.

No more tomorrows.

"And the world was in Chaos"

"In the Beginning ..."

AND SO?

  "Another fine mess you've gotten us into." I can just hear the classic comic duo going at each other for exactly that. Another mess of their own making through which they had to navigate safely along with an ending which pleased all and left nothing with a bad taste behind. Good clean laughter. Always a positive feelgood ending.

However, that is not the way of real life, is it? Watching Laurel and Hardy go at each other, one knew there would be a happy ending. They were two best buds, and nothing could ever sever their tie. Abbott and Costello. The Three Stooges. All followed a similar path. And America laughed. All would be well. But she is not laughing today. 

While we have stooges aplenty within the administration, too many, we have nary a one who can reach out, would reach out, to the people of this nation and be heard. That would require trust in the speaker and where is such a being now? We now sit in our homes and wonder. What is the future after these rash, mad deeds of Trump and his flock of sheep?  What will be forthcoming presently? 

How will this nation handle the tension, the dissension? Can it even begin to try, let alone succeed? Are we safe. and more importantly, are our kids safe or are we going to have a Vietnam era once again, where the streets roil and boil and myriad numbers of our young men leave the nation, refusing to fight in a war which never had to take place? Think this is over the top? Think not so, for any number of online news site are already discussing the draft process?

Is this unilateral unannounced to the nation and Congress, Declaration of War enough to be the final step, the final nail needed to permanently exile Trump from politics? Now. Unfortunately, I doubt that would take place. This nation is not prepared to do that. Not when we have the likes of Senator Markwayne toeing the line. Praising a briefing granted to a bipartisan committee, albeit late in its taking place - after the deed was done and after more such deeds were suggested to follow.

Sure, why not go after Greenland and Denmark, bust up NATO and then what? Perhaps we will all learn Russian and Chinese for the New World.   Or we have the likes of Josh Hawley. He who ran away like a frightened chicken when his compatriots of the same political outlook chased after him. Just as much as they chased after anyone who knew the whereabouts of Nancy Pelosi or Mike Pence. Anyone they deemed a traitor to Trump in his thankfully defeated aborted   rebellion. 

This nation has been torn asunder for the past decade, if not longer than that. But it has come to a head during this decade. We have a consummate liar at the top of the heap. A man who rattles off dangerous inanities. A man who spouts words of hate. A man who is a foe of democracy? A man who runs this nation as a dictator. Seeking to benefit his own needs and desires along with those of his buddies. A man clearly in the throes of a growing dementia and a declining state of physical well-being. 

Now there are rumors that way back when he was promised by Putin to make a trade. Venezuela for Ukraine. Aha, if so, this actually makes some sense of what actually has occurred over the years and is still occurring today. It makes me shake when I wonder if he has made similar long-term deals. For example, he stands by Israel, then allows it to weaken, and then appears the deal made years before. To desert Israel, abandon her to the hands of some Arab nation or another and he gets whatever he desired in that trade. I shake at the thought. But anything is possible within his twisted mind and soul. Simply take a look around and see with clear eyes what he has already wrought and sent into motion.         

I don't know; I just do not trust that man. Neither do millions within this nation. And add to that those around the world who agree. Winds of mistrust and distrust flow violently round this world of ours and the future is unclear as the winds batter all and the future is not rosy at all.  

An observer from outer space watching what is going on now, listening to the words being bandied about, would be justified in thinking that this must be an epic.  A remake of those iconic books of dystopian times. 1984. Brave New World. Even Animal Farm. Yeah, that's what that is. It couldn't be real. It must be movie making. That makes sense. For certainly the nations of the world would not cede their freedom and democracy so easily. 

But that is not so, is it? We had a once upon a time strong democratic nation which wavered. Fell in line. Confused. And that strong once role model of a nation, not perfect, began a process of deterioration and disappearance.  Other nations followed and a return process, a healing pathway, has not yet been perfected nor successful.  

Trump and his followers are totally inimical to the continuation of a strong, safe, confident Democratic nation. The word democracy has already shifted from that capital 'D' to the small 'd'. I am beginning to believe, unfortunately, that the population of this nation does not contain within it a solid core of those who would resist the transformation of this nation from democracy to autocracy. There are too many who revel in Trump's new strictures. In the deliberate allowance for ugliness and hate to spew forth, to be praised. These haters are rejuvenated by and with their newborn freedom, the license to be deliberately offensive and hurtful of others.  By the violent expression of this hate. Approved of and urged on by no less than the federal government.   They beat about themselves with well-oiled sticks of brutality. They pull out their guns easily, along with all the weapons available to them. Powered pressurized water hoses. Pepper spray. Tear gas. Stink bombs. Violent arrests. Even to the point of disappearing some people, including children.

Who are these people? These are men and women who perhaps needed a job. So why not? These are men and women who perhaps needed an outlet of violence which allowed them to reduce their inner pressure. Or are these people who are simply nasty, inborn bullies, who now glory in the permission they received to do whatever the hell they want. To spew forth whatever lies they can concoct. And have the President and his lackeys back them up.

There were those who say that perhaps this is the time to take it all down. Rebuild it from the very start. From basement level. Once again. But we cannot afford to do that. We must take other steps quickly now. We must, in the next elections, oust those who would toss out America. We must make it very clear to those who run for office that they had better understand the people of this nation. That they had better take their temperatures right and get it right. Immediately. 

We need to pursue the course of justice and take those who rebelled against this nation, those who refused to admit their guilt, take those who allowed a president to go wild and broke the bulwarks of the law, the Constitution, to break before their charge to face the consequences of their treachery.          

And finally, not only the people of this nation, not only Americans, but people of all the nation states around the world, be it Great Britain. Bosnia or Slovenia, Canada or Mexico, or the Netherlands, or the Seychelles it matters not. The choice is the same all over. Will we, the human species, understand our responsibilities to ourselves and to others? Do what is right. What is a must? And take our nations back. Exile those leaders who mean us only harm. Fight against tyranny. And stand for democracy. Will we finally stand up and say loudly, clearly, positively and determinedly - Enough. 

We had all this yesterday. We thought that today would be a different time. Now we are finding out that tomorrow is also broken. That is, unless we act. Unless we take the proper steps. The quicker we do it, the cleverer our use of legal means, the sooner we will be better off. And safe. Trusting once again to the rule of law. And to the return of democracy to the nations of the world which once had and to those who are seeking it.

And once again, a reminder. The power of tyranny remains strong only when those who must resist it do not do so. We must have the will to do so. And we must find that will now. There is no longer any time to wait. I and most others would prefer to do this bloodlessly. With arms open to welcome those who truly regret their misdeeds. We truly wish to avoid that. It's Trump and his bagatelle of sheep who are pushing for violence. They had one try at it and will go at it again. They want to push us to the barricades. 

We must avoid that. 

We must. 

But time and determination are of the essence.

WELCOME TO THE NEW WORLD

  What new world? This is the same old world, is it not? A very tired Earth. Wobbling around the sun. Wondering how long it has until it implodes or explodes. Whichever comes first? Whichever, cancels out the long-term problems with which it has been plagued for ever so long, and increasingly problematic and resistant of solutions.   

Well, yes and no. This is the same physical planet, though clearly not at the same grade level. Between natural deteriorations contained within Nature, and    their glaringly obvious, increased rate of occurrence and the level of their strength and impact, the problematic compromised ozone layer, the increased lack of water resources and disappearing other natural resources and add to that the damage inflicted by mankind upon this poor besieged planet.  what have we got - major existential problems which, mind you, we are not so eager to fix at the moment. But ignoring a problem is never an answer. 

However. Be that as it may. As it might. We do have some people understanding that the physical problems of the Earth must be addressed. Perhaps it will be later rather than sooner. Most probably there will have to be some major adjustments of life, possibly not particularly pleasant, as we live in a changed planet. 

However. A huge, however. That is not the problem that is eating away at my soul. That has me shaking my head, banging my head, saying how could this be? This cannot be. Being aware of a problem, certainly helps to address that problem, does it not? Making believe it is not so, does not make it go away. And accepting it as a matter of truth, as a given =NO!! 

No. I cannot, I cannot accept this. It boggles the mind. Beyond any kind of level of belief and understanding. How could this be happening? We all attended similar schools. Covering similar content. We studied the American Revolution. What led up to it, and what followed? We read of the. Movements throughout the lands of the globe, throughout the centuries. Edging, pushing, yearning, fighting for Democracy. For freedom to raise their voices, to cast the vote. To run their lives and the country in which they live. Enough. With the rule of the elites. Enough. With the ever-growing distance between the haves and the have nots. Just as always, The United States of America stood in the forefront of these movements. Lending their enthusiasm, their expertise and their resources. Standing tall and proud when the American national anthem came on. 

Not so today, is it? And if we continue on this path, it will only get worse and worse. Until we are finally not to be living in the same nation. If that nation even continues to exist in whatever manner, shape or form. We will no longer be living in a democracy. We will no longer have the choice as to whether we will stand up at the national anthem. Or remain seated. In fact. we will have nary any choice in our lives. All will have been taken away by an autocratic. dictatorial political machine in a man eats man world. The leader of this fractured nation will be a Leader for Life, or a Monarch, or the Great Leader or some such accursed term that will have been foisted upon us.

Let's get a bit more into specifics. Via our Constitution, we know that war must be made with the acquiescence of Congress. At the very least. they must be notified, along with the people of the nation at the same time, as did FDR and others during our history. Not this time. 

This lack of transparency, lack of including the people within the government of their nation is growing by the second. It seems that more and more, the business of the government is conducted in secret. Decisions are made in secret. Opinions are not solicited. Nor is the political structure of this nation concerned with their positions. They could care less.

No, what only is cared for here is what the master wants. Who is the master? Donald J Trump. This is a man who should never have been elected to this office. This man is a consummate liar. And a fascist at heart. He has no concern for anything, for nothing, for naught, unless it somehow works for his benefit. Not the country's benefit, his benefits. Increasingly so, this nation is being run as a private fiefdom, and he is the Lord of the Manor.  

 What the hell are we doing in Venezuela? They did not attack us. Perhaps they enable some drug shipments, very possibly could be so. But to invade a nation? An independent integral nation? On a flimsy accusation along with a false one that the head of it was the leader of a cartel which actually never was, never existed? This, my friends, this is a violation of international law. 

To compound the offense. this man then struts his butt in public, his prissy gleeful smirk on his face, so pleased as he pulls yet another illegal action, so proud of his accomplishment. Then adds salt to the wound by boasting that we will "run" Venezuela. I don't want this nation to take over another nation, nor do most people. One of the benefits, we are told, will be that we can take all their shipments of oil. Folks, that is highway robbery. On both sea and land. And an obscene step to take. There are other Ways and Means to impose pressure on a nation if it offends and harms our nation. 

That is the purpose of diplomacy. There are also limits on both sides crossing those lines, and we did so, escalating the situation into war.  Nothing more, nothing less than war. A totally unjustified war. A war in which you can be sure that none of Donald Trump's grandsons, or granddaughters for that matter, will be on the frontline. For sure they will probably have the same bone spur that he had.

However, we are not done yet. Trump and his baa, baa black sheep will not be satisfied until they force that war upon the nation. And in fact, upon the world. But this war will be different. It will be foisted upon us via blatant lies of a crooked man. Because this man talks of running a foreign nation, stealing their oil, and then stating how we will be able to use that money. This is merely the same old crap that comes out of this man, day after day after day. Year after year after year. Obscene as ever. Where do you think that money will end up? Not in your pocket, not in mine. Not into a plan to improve the health situation. Not anywhere other than into his pockets, his family's pockets. And those who enable him to commit these crimes, these moral and legal crimes to which he has never been held to account. In fact, he should be in a cell right now if justice was upheld.

Venezuela is not enough for this greedy, immoral man. No, he needs more. He is the little piggy who turned into a big piggy. Whose appetite is never sated. Always, this piggy has an eye out for more and more and more. No matter the consequences to others. So why does our little piggy sing? He is seeing Greenland. Whose image he warps. on a map. And states it really belongs to us. How, in the name of all that's holy, or in the name of all that's not, does Greenland belong to the United States of America? It does not. It never did. And if we remain true to our ethos as a nation, it never will. It is open hijacking of a piece of a nation. Another nation. No different and no less than the intentions and actions of Putin with Ukraine. No different in motivation and deviant behavior than Hitler with Sudetenland and Austria and Czechoslovakia? No different than China and Tibet or Nepal. Are we presently to send boots on the ground into South America and say these countries belong to us too? Because they are close in distance? Are we going to do that to any other islands out there that touch upon us or we say, well, we're including it within our sphere of influence? Tough!

Along with his warped vision of the world. this fascist at heart talks of cancelling elections because his sheep might not be elected. He deems all elections wherein he or his lose as crooked. He continues to deny his loss in 2016 and is grossly attempting to wipe clean the stain of his attempted rebellion, his treason, against this nation. He has pardoned some of the worst felons, white collar buddies, and the traitors who broke into the Capitol with blood and violence in heart and twisted soul, to hang several people who had displeased Trump and to reinstate Trump as president, even though he had clearly lost the election. 

We all must wake up and smell all the multiple urns of coffee being brewed. We must understand how close we are to the edge of that crumbling cliff. This man has no end to his chutzpah. To his megalomaniac plans? He is a mega narcissistic person who bodes no good for this nation. And G-d willing we should get a new Congress finally honest and willing and courageous enough to opposes this man and do what should have been done years ago. willing to follow through and punish him for his crimes. His treason. His perverted sexual behavior. His stinky deals with banks and businesses and alleged extortion of money for access and influence even as he now damages our nation and its history with his lowlife changes in Federal buildings sacred to the nation.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

This is not who we need in office, in position to serve the nation.

 Our political structure is presently mainly   benefitting those who go along with the man who calls for the death of those who oppose him. Who just called for the death of a senator. Who frightens those who disagree with him into "retiring.” forced out by pledges of retribution fierce and real enough to frighten them off.  

No, this man must be impeached. Sent out to pasture. He is a huge threat to the soul of this nation. Would that we can find among the members of Congress, those with the courage to do what should be done, what should have been done. Those who will not fall by the wayside, subdued, cowed by his threats. Come into the open. Let people know what he does. Save this nation from itself. 

Unless we act, the future of this nation does not bode well for its inhabitants.

Donald Trump. I appreciate what you did to help Israel in its moments of dire need, and for the release of its hostages brutally stolen from their lives. I will forever be grateful.

However, it does not excuse nor make up for the plans for this nation and its citizens, for the destruction of our democracy, nor for the shameful manner in which immigrants were rounded up as cattle. And sent away as if all were criminals. As if there were no criminals before they ever even arrived on our shores. 

Denying the truth of the Emma Lazarus poem. upon the Lady of the Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, wherein we welcomed immigrants to our shores. Including your grandfather.

  We are a nation of immigrants and/or the descendants of immigrants.

And blessed for that fact, that blessed truth. 

You, too, Donald.  Even you.

GOOD MORNING

  Well, to be totally honest, this is not really a good morning. But I shall leave that there as a salutation to my readers. Unfortunately, this morning's posting is taking a bit more time to formulate and I must go away for a few hours, so please. Come back in about 3 hours or so when I hope I will have the posting complete and up.

Full disclosure. I will also have to gather my thoughts in some cohesive, coherent manner, so upset am I at what is going on in this world today. 

Thank you for your patience.

A CONFESSION

 Every once in a while, a person has to cut themselves some slack. Even in times of great stress and pressure, one cannot run on all spark plugs plus some extra ones you found in a closet and somehow managed to connect, so as to double the speed and the outcome. Just impossible if one wants to remain sane. But -

 ...if there is a functioning brain and a whole lot of care and concern, how does one achieve that moment of nirvana when troubles are 'disappeared', at least for a while, and some peace and quiet enters the picture. How does one ignore the outside world even as it is impossible to do so in this crazed hyperfunctioning world of ours?

  I am finding unfortunately that there is no way out. To totally cut oneself off. If one is watching that which appears to be no brain strain, such as the short illuminating videos of woodworking or thrift shipping, not really working, does it? A nice mindless little daily adventure, easing the pain of the reality, and boom! Some blurb comes in from the side, or something runs across the bottom of the screen, the infamous crawl, the eye is caught, the brain is engaged and there we go again.  

So, we turn to other outlets, though definitely running out of them. The papers and magazines. I like the real paper and actual 'in your hands' magazines, so I make sure I get some to read at moments of leisure or running away from the real world. But even there, even when I know there are certain specialties within or articles outside the current events, my eyes and mind are inevitably engaged with a "catch the eye" insertion and there we go again! So, I read it. Brain restarted and lists of concern start scrolling within the head. Nope.  No good. Another?  

 No way out is there.

But wait! Take a walk. Oops, here comes the friend, neighbor, self-declared maven and interpreter of the day's events and here we go again. No escape as current events, politicians, their misdeeds, etc..., etc.., etc., are served up, cold or hot does not make a difference, does it? Searching...searching...searching...

Got it. The movies. Let me find some non-brain challenging movie. A comedy with male humor.  All slapstick. And foolish behavior. Nah, so   dumb, I generally walk out. OK. How about a rom/com? Nah. I guess I've grown too old to appreciate those rather tasteless grappling scenes of two adults finding themselves with their newly discovered love and they promptly go at each other like wrestling deep in heat creatures. Actually, does nothing for the story line either. People today! 

Next? What remains? A mindless action movie. Where I can sit there and flinch at the punches and kicks inflicted upon the enemy and not really figuring out - nor care - as to why there is that fight. But. Here is a problem - These days many of these movies are made with the characters speaking Chinese. Makes sense, as many of the characters are Chinese. English subscripts below. Then I have to squint to read the script. Read it fast and miss the action anyway. No distraction here. Other than a bit of mumbling under the breath curses as I leave yet another failed attempt at distraction. Even the coming attractions touched on topics manifestly not within your desired topics of the day. It goes something like this: I heard about that movie. It's about that, that, that...why are they making a movie about that so controversial topic!

Gotta shut the brain down again. Veering too close to the temptation to return to the keyboard and engage brain. And then, yes, Captain Picard, make it so. One more try, one more - a Disney movie. None around.   Perhaps some mindless action movie. Nope, been there before.  

 OK. Try something else.  That quaint thing called reading. In a real live book. One where perhaps you skip to the ending to find it out as to guilty person or method, then go back to see how clever the author was at reaching that ending. Very intriguing.  However, unfortunately, even as one can take the teacher out of the classroom, one cannot take the teacher out of the brain and the habitual reactions to movies and books and articles. That is: how can I use this in teaching? How can this be used to make the kids think? And there we go. Reality intrudes and whoosh! The escape, the joy, the freedom of it. 

All gone. Or mostly gone. Along with that great lesson that would have gone on with it. 

And that is the end of yet another lost effort to turn the head off. To shake out the worries. To lower the level of the boiling pressure. And yet - I will continue to call out all that I see as wrong. Even though perhaps. it is spitting into the wind in any effort to change the world or even any single person who runs it. Perhaps someone will figure out with just a little push and somewhere there will be a change for the better and hopefully set off a chain of such consequences.

One can only but hope.    

I got it. Time to make a Facetime or zoom call to find engaging conversation. With my lovely little babies! Squeak there, squeak here. Another goofy smile. Now that does it. Every time. 

Bye now. 

OF COURSE NOT!

 Oh, for sure. Why would anybody doubt anything that any of the people in the political sphere of this country would lie. For sure, they're telling us the truth about everything. And for those of you who kind of doubt that, you are so very right. I believe there must be a secret test which all who would enter the political arena must take. It is a test which examines and evaluates how much of a consummate liar one is and can that score be improved upon. 

I believe the majority of our politicians today, even if they entered the fray with good intentions, begin quickly to lose the sense of truth and its difference from falsehood. They deteriorate, devolve, to the point where if truth came up and slapped them on both sides of the face at the same time, they would not understand what had just happened.  

Nancy Sinatra, many years ago in her hit “These Boots Are Made for Walking", denounced her partner for "lying when you ought to be truthing'". There you have it in a nutshell. That lie/truth confusion has overwhelmed this nation. They do not even understand when they are actually doing that lying; hence when the officials tell them that from now on A=B and B=Z, there is not a whimper of protest.

That moral vacuum is apparent in so many ways. Let's examine just a few. Trump ran for office on a vociferous America First program. It tends to isolate a nation, keep its nose out of any other nation's business. Builds up the borders, literal and figurative, around that nation. The rest of the world can go to pot. He swore this was his policy.

And now what? We have interfered in the national affairs of so many people. of so many nations, that I am wondering if Trump even knows, understands the philosophy of America First. Oh, he knows the nasty ones, the ones where we turn our backs on the immigrants. Where we disremember the ethos of this country. Where we sand off the letters on the Lady of the Harbor as to how we welcome immigrants into this nation. As if!! And what the hell are we doing in Venezuela!

Even worse is when Trump goes off on one of his rants and chants of lies and self-praise. How he has worked wonders in the world, ended wars that went on for centuries. In eight warfare zones! But peace now, thanks to him. Deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Well, I guess when these nations supposedly at peace 're-engaged' in war, it kind of canceled that possibility. But at least FIFA gave him a peace prize. Not quite sure what peace it was, but there it is.    

And of course, how could we possibly leave out the new champion liar to everyone's face. Mamdani. He who is not anti-Semitic. No, he doesn't hate Jews. I guess that's why he took away the protection from the embattled and besieged and bloodied Jewish institutions. The synagogues. The schools. Deeming it a violation of international law to hold a rally in a synagogue. Or for security to check those who are loitering in front of those buildings or sites. Oh, for sure, there's no anti Semitism here.  

No, he is 'only' anti-Zionist. How could we have missed that? Why should there be a Jewish state? Why must they have one all of their own? Where they practice “apartheid. And genocide.” I just read the other day that there are 57 Muslim states. There are numerous Catholic states. There is one Jewish state. One teeny tiny state. And within that one state apartheid does not play a part! There are no rules and regulations barring Muslims from anywhere within the nation, other than for terrorist plans and attacks. Gee, how unreasonable a demand and concern of Israel! The only demand is that they follow the laws, be honest and are free to work and manage, hold positions of authority be it in factories, in restaurants, in hotels, in government and military. It matters not. Only that they do a good job.

As for genocide? Those who claim that, are egregiously violating the truth of genocide.  Genocide is a planned organized operation with the goal of eliminating, totally and completely, an extermination of every single one of the targeted groups. That was Hitler's plan for the Jews. That was the fate meant for the. Rohingya. For the Uighurs. That was the fate meant for the Armenians. That was a fate meant for the Gypsies. There is absolutely no genocide meant for anyone on the part of Israel. In fact, saying that they do so is an egregiously violent and vicious lie.

So too is it a dastardly lie to deny the viral infection of the world with a toxic anti Semitism that is heading straight for extremism and the application of the principles of genocide and venomous JewHatred. However, that would be a genocide, once again, meant and planned to wreak upon the Jews round the world. Apparently, they have no place, no right, to live upon this globe. 

Even as the haters deny it. Even as their noses grow longer than Pinocchio's. This Jew hatred grows and grows. A brand-new example: Spain. Along with some other allies in this most nefarious program, it has sent out maps identifying each and every individual Jewish institution, business, be it a small store or a factory. Anything and everything that has to do with Jews, with Israel. Oh, yes. Jews and Israel. Israel and Jews. Hitler would be so proud of them. These nasty activists always conflate the two. No air, no space between. They call for death to the Jews. They call for death of Israel. Where and what is the difference?

The answer is there is no difference. Though they deny it. Though Mamdani denies it. Even as he would not criticize Global Intifada. Even as he would not criticize the signs calling for the death of Jews. For the dismemberment of Israel. Even as he denied the accepted definition of Anti Semitism. For this would make it clear that he is, most definitely, a bastard, a flagrant, fervent Antisemite and a hater of Israel. Of the highest degree. Its very existence is anathema to him and the presence of Jews equally as disturbing to him unless he can make good use out of them. Our own Judenrat Jews.     

Worse? That he has inveigled so many to buy into his crap. Believe that he will protect the Jews, but we should not need protection, and I do not trust his protection. Most likely, it would consist of a plan to centralize the inhabited areas where Jews would live and lay on heavy security for their "Safety”. Otherwise known as Ghetto and SS or some such similar outfit. No shortage of haters.  

He and his ilk, his brother and sister deniers of the truth, reek of the nastiness of the skunk odor, of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment and the worst goals related to them.  The filth spewed in the college classrooms or in an opinion essay, or a podcast, calling for violence, hate ramped up to death, is deemed permitted, as per the First    Amendment. However, for Jews and pro-Israel groups to hold a speech or event or write an essay - Verboten. No First Amendment here.   

From the right and from the left. This country, the people of this nation, the people of the world, are falling prey, as the kids used to say, when they were younger, to "big fat liars” syndrome. Well, I do not know about bodily builds. But I do know about evil minds. I do know about the fear now being installed within Jews round the world. The trill of terror for themselves and their children. For the necessity to bear up under that environment and walk proudly and openly as a Jewish person, a member of the human race, a contributor to it. 

No more attacks on the street. No more attacks on our professions and businesses. No more attacking our children as they play in the parks. No more violence. No bombs. No guns. No fires. No cars rammed into crowds. 

Do not drive us to repaying in kind.  

Truth and falsehood. 

Oh, for sure. Of course not. 

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

Tell me, please, where there is any difference?

Where there is any hope?

Where there is any honesty?

Where is there any will, a drive, to make a difference?

Apparently not in Congress.

Not in the people of the world.

Tell me, are you as tired and despairing as I am at present?

And ...

ARE YOU SURPRISED? YOU SHOULDN''T BE.

  Damn straight, you shouldn't be. Surprised? Why? For a decade or more, I, and quite a number of people have been spitting into the wind, throwing words of warning into the air, hoping that somebody somewhere out there will actually catch them and understand the fraught with danger situation that has now evolved into an actual time of grave and great danger to the world. No, not only us, nor the Venezuelans, for now he has gone and done it, hasn't he!   And it only foretells of more and much worse to come.

A nation of people sorely dissatisfied with their lives. Who blamed everyone and everything else other than themselves. Who refused to see their own faults. Who denied the consequences of their eminently incorrect foolish decisions and behavior. We grew selfish. We purchased the stocks of denial.  

Unfortunately, the people that we, the public, put into office, were. are, just as bad as the electorate. Perhaps even worse. Yes, worse. They stole the keys to the kingdom and turned it into the plaything of others, of those who screamed and threatened the loudest, who frightened people into blindness, deafness and denial of truth. Who drained our treasury even as they filled their own pockets and bribed their constituents with useless projects even as important topics were left unaddressed, worse off than they were before.

The world stood back agape. How could the most important nation of this world, its defender, it's   haven. How could this have happened to it? Why? Why did the nation cooperate with the worst voices of the nation. To take America down eminently wrong paths which denied our soul. Paths which denied our history. Path which denied all that we held sacred and worthy of sharing with all the nations, all the inhabitants of the world. 

Americans ceded their authority, muted their voices, turned off their functioning brains, and insured our downward path by the placing of incompetent, selfish, ignorant people into offices of power. The result? There, before your eyes. Look outside. Pick up a paper. Boot up the computer. Turn on the TV. There are the results. The infamy of our recent past.   

Is this what America means now? Is this to be our default standing and outlooks? Are these to be the defined lines of what we will stand for? Or back down from? Is this what it means to deny our souls. To deny all that America is, that Americans are supposed to be and act and speak accordingly?  Have we lost our own selves, our souls? All that we held dear as Americans, as America, a nation to be spoken about with pride and admiration? A country which maintained its underpinnings, its ethics, its welcome extended to all who needed the security of this nation, who only wished to become Americans, to build and contribute - as did our parents and grandparents and ourselves.   

We then took what I hope are not to be our final steps as a democratic nation setting an example to the world. We now, whether we like to admit it or not, have become almost an anathema to the world's nations. We have lost our way. We are, at an ever-quicker pace, crazed, maniacal, denying our history. That which has become us. And in so doing, are we indeed burning the bridges behind us? 

Our President, G-d help us, pals around with other dictators. Or rather, the ones he likes. The ones he does not like, well, he merely invades their nation. Disregards rules of warfare. And worse is to come. Zelensky had it right. He stated upon hearing of our invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of Maduro, that basically, if Trump knows what to do with that dictator, he knows what to do with other dictators. He, of course, was referring to Putin. 

Not wrong, but are we now on track to invade all nations led by dictators? Or at least the ones that Trump does not like? Who did not bow to his every demand and threat? Is this where we are now to expend the lifeblood of so many men and women?  Incidentally, according to whom shall this invasion list be drawn?

 According to a man and his sycophants, his baa, baa, black sheep who follow him down into the dungeons of hate and madness? A man who has drawn up a hit list of his enemies. and has instructed his functionaries to basically destroy them by any means possible? A man who has twisted and distorted this nation so, as he uses all departments to attack them, to deny them, even as   he is dismantling the structure and independence of these organs of government, driven opponents on the political playing field off, with damages unable to be healed. 

A man who intends for his family and followers to become the de facto rulers and arbiters of this nation and its fate. His undignified low life destruction even of physical components of this nation and its very being, have shocked and dismayed many, but then again, who gave him that orb and scepter that he has grown and reinforced? 

This would be the time to look in the mirror and see the truth. And acknowledge it. Know that we must act upon it. We must convince those with the legal authority to remove him from office. Along with all who follow in his footsteps. To do otherwise is to shatter this nation. We have an uphill battle or a   swim against the currents if we are to have any possibility of returning to what we should be, to what we have striven to be within our history.

Certainly not perfect. But always trying and willing to go back and fix that which we have done wrong.  

Where the hell are we now? 

How did we actually fall so far?

Can we climb back?

Do we have the willpower to do so?  

We are now within a scarce touch away from losing, no, ceding, giving, this nation over to a man most unfit for office. A man who has gone egregiously way beyond the pale. A man, a coward, a bully, who plays with his 'toy' soldiers because he was not brave enough to be one when his country called for him. and used his father's money and influence to avoid it. A man whose very presence in the Oval Office is a travesty of all that is right and just in this world. Even as the right, the power. the authority to 'de office' him stands cowed and unable to move in the face of his threats of retribution.

But the question arises. Why have we reached this point? Have we not learned anything from the past? Do we actually need more war? Are we to shame ourselves in the face of history of the past? Of that to come? And that in which we live? No more guns and better guns and even better ones. No more incompetents and criminals in office. No more amoral, and immoral in office. We must take up our responsibilities to history and get it right.  

I leave you with three meaningful quotations. 

Read them. Think on them. 

 " .... Presidency Is Unleashed. A power-hungry president had twisted the government into a tool for his personal political benefit."(Mattheew Purdy, News Analysis, NYT, Jan.4, 2020.)

 "Jan. 6 Was Just The Start. ...Years after the Capital riot, lawlessness has triumphed." (Editorial Board., Editorial. NYT. January 4th, 2020.)

 " The strength and powers of despotism consist wholly in the fear of resisting it." (Thomas Paine. Rights of Man. Revolutionary America.)

Well, folks, have I not said so lo these many a year?

Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow.

SAY WHAT? VALUES?

 So, we are still arguing about a birthday party! Evidently, our rather deteriorating president, craves yet another big deal made of him. And this time around, his birthday. Never mind that it is an anniversary of our Armed Forces. For what does that count against the demented old man's birthday of 79? So, let's have a party. Balloons anyone?  

  But what is the cost of that party? Millions and millions of dollars. I am not denying that everybody loves a good parade. It's exciting. It's seeing everything come together. The noise, the music. The marching feet. The floats. But spending that kind of money on a birthday party! C'mon. A military parade at this time is not only absurd but also insulting. 

It is telling all of us that our "managing” problems that so many of us have, are dismissible - particularly when it comes into comparison: a choice between a military parade or an egotistical birthday party for a man in the throes of dementia who has decided he needs to celebrate his 79th birthday on the taxpayers' dimes. Many. many dimes. 

Trying to keep food, nourishing food, on the table. Clothes on the backs of our children and a non-leaky roof over their heads has become harder and harder. Rents have skyrocketed. Houses are impossible to touch. And that is if one can even come up with a down payment, let alone making the mortgage payments every month. So, what the hell are we doing spending this kind of money on something that's over in 4 hours and I'm being generous here with the time expended - but never to forget to add the cost of the man hours involved in setup. Training and cleanup. Repair to broken roads under the weight of military equipment. Fuel usage.

How does that compare to the hunger of a child who has not eaten since dinner last night and that was quite sparse pickings at that. What do we say to the child who comes into school shivering? Because all he has is a light spring jacket. Not the winter jacket he needs. What about down that street where a family has been ejected, forcibly removed from their home. Because they could not pay one month's rent. 

Would it not have been better in so many ways, let alone more humane, to spend the parade/birthday money in helpful manner rather than on a wasteful superfluous parade, all for the sake of a narcissist who sees nothing out there but a reflection of himself. Hence, this draft dodger with a bone spur - quite difficult even to find - gets to play soldier and take the salute of real soldiers. It is an embarrassing moment for America. 

This is not the only situation, or event where this    bloated blimp of a man is so needy of an ego massage. He took over the Kennedy Center. Lowered its class and dignity. Talks with his mouth full, prissy lipped and looks down with what he believes is his manly look. And then sticks his name on it as usual, for G-d forbid he forgets his name. The poor taste in gilt decor round the White House, its destruction of the East Wing in the name of a ridiculous ballroom, now at $400 millions, and financed via "blackmail" of rich muckety- mucks afraid of being on the receiving end of his retributions, of a "so sayeth, Donald" moment. d heads. So sayeth Trump. 

I do not understand this man. I do not understand how there are that many people who follow his lead. Who enable him? Who back up his rather immoral morals. Who think he is fine doing his huckstering out of the Oval Office.  Even as he prostitutes himself round the world for a trophy! For a prize?  So that he could look at it and pat himself on the back and say, "what a good boy am I"?  As if he actually was a peacemaker! Far more likely the other side of the coin. 

The question now is, what do we do with this man? This so incompetent, dangerous man in his ignorance, surrounding himself with similarly incompetent, unknowing appointees who endanger our health and well-being. He is definitely, clearly, out of place in the Oval Office. Needs to be farmed out to where he can do no harm. Simply gather ever more trophies for his ego.  

Can we yet find someone out there who has the courage, the knowledge, the ability and the charisma to gather around him those who will help this nation. Who will remove this dangerously demented man from any position of authority? And do so via the legal means. Making use of our brave judges who withstand him at present. 

Do we hear anyone knocking at the door?

No, only silence.

Think what would have been if America had remained silent under the yoke of King George III.

If America had remained silent and had not taken her place as leader of the western free world. 

If America, if Americans are content to risk, to dishonor, to spurn, the proper actions we took then, well then hear it ... 

Ever more silence. 

Deeper. 

More thunderous and deafening than ever.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

  And that would be today. January 1st. 2026. We all do try, don't we, to find something good about the new year, despite the fact that we know, so deeply feel, that this New Year's Day does not necessarily signify a new, new year. In fact, if we don't term it, same old, same old, we will be forced to say same new, same old. In a most downcast tone or voice.

We have long read in the Psalms or sung along with the Byrds how for everything there is a time under the sun. And it would follow that not everything is allotted the same time for its particular activity. Hence, we must be patient. We must be hopeful. However, it does get to be a bit difficult when it seems that if one blinks for a second, whoosh! The good times have gone by and rushing fast into our faces are the bad times. The difficult ones that challenge us and push us to points even beyond our breaking point.

Take a look at last year. Compare it to what we have today. And what we expect to continue to have tomorrow and tomorrow, and for the rest of this year. It is, unfortunately, a rather bloody intimidating vista, which will be presented before us as a scene of ugliness. Dead trees. Broken, shouldered people. A scene right out of Dante's Inferno. Only this scene is literal, not figurative.

There is no possibility anytime soon of a dearth of pictures of hundreds of people desperate to get out. To bring their families to safety, to live. Crushing and cramming themselves into and onto boats clearly not made for such loads. They fall prey to the brutal winds of the ocean and the crashing waves of the Seas. They fall into swamps. Or tramp through snow. Poorly clothed, as they climb mountains into safety or flail their arms and call out for help as they flounder in bogs and keep an eye on their children at the same time.

Actually, I'm wondering, if during these ugly periods of time of constant warfare and millions upon millions of refugees fleeing for their lives, if we are not simply exchanging one boatload one Coyote led desperate group for another coming from the other direction. Then, as quickly as possible, at least here in the United States - much to our shame - we rush to jam them back as soon as possible. And in the meanwhile, into crammed, unhealthy punishment cells. Yes, there is collateral damage, but what's a few dead or injured amongst there being so many of them?! Certainly not on the same ranking of us on the human scale, are they?!

 Now let's turn to within the countries that sent forth so many refugees. Why is that so? While throughout the millennia there have always been people wandering, by accident, on purpose, out of a sense of adventure, it does not matter, for whatever reason. But never before has there been such a callous out spewing of people from within their native borne countries. 

And if they remain within those countries? They find themselves involved in civil wars. So vicious, so bloody that anything is better than that. And so, they leave. But left behind. are the civil wars. Wars which cause so much bloodshed so as to overwhelm the earth into which it sinks and turns the waterways red as well. So much agony, and pain and loss. Beyond the ability of words to fully express nor to comprehend the tragedies emerging and the consequences, long and short term to be forthcoming. No, mankind simply keeps on blindly slashing and crashing, determined to get its own way over any and all.

After the civil war is crushed and over, if ever, truly over, the bloodlust continues to rage. Nations turn on each other. Ironically, these constant back and forth bloody wars are more prevalent among the more poverty stricken and weaker nations. I have no idea why. Bottom line, they're simply exchanging refugees, precluding any chance of developing their resources. Pulling themselves out of their misery, much of it self-induced and self-generated - the poverty, starvation, illness, deaths of children, diseases running rampant. 

Would it not have been much better for them to work together as a regional group, to develop their resources and be stronger against those nations which take advantage of them. But it seems there is no talking to the leaders within these nations. Thus, instead of peace and prosperity, we have war. And death. And poverty.  And intensity of fervor to amass power, such as it is, in these challenged, bleeding nations.

We here in the supposedly more developed, more civilized, more advanced nations, we are no better. And in fact, should probably be considered worse. We should know better. We do know better. And we should be better. But we aren't. We engage in stupidity inimical to our survival. We retrieve from the dustpan of history diseases that we defeated. Using some flimsy fraudulent statement to justify that action which places so many in danger for their lives. Including, very much so, our children. We forfeit the functioning of our government in the name of economy. An economy which never is improved and in fact is worsened by this lack of efficiency and people to be there to do the job.

We were promised the sky and instead were handed barrels of mud. Instead of progressing along the road of equality, of resources shared, we have turned to the road of selfishness. Husbanded much to ourselves, thus raising the level of hatred and unfairness in this world beyond any kind of acceptability. We have pushed farther apart the top one percent from the rest of the nation. Why? Because.  Because we are so very wrong, and so very ignorant of what we are doing, what we are forcing upon this world. We increase and exacerbate enmity. Between nations. Between groups of people.

We bring the taint of poor thinking from yesterday. Heave it into today. And then gather our "Rosebuds while we may" and heave that ugly stinking bundle. into the future, into the tomorrows to come. Why? So that the obscenely rich can become even more fabulously, unconscionably rich? So that children can go to bed hungry? So that people go homeless? And children do not receive the education which would help them move forward? 

We most emphatically are going the wrong way. And the chief reason for that? Number one through a billion is the fact that we have false leaders. Deficient and faulty leaders. Dangerously compromised leaders. Amoral Leaders. Leaders who care not a whit for the people of the nation over which they preside. As these crooks, incapable, ignorant people assume their leadership roles which have empowered them, things go from bad to worse. 

That is the only way open to them. and we get what we deserve. Crooks and cheats. Selfish people who have an eye out only for themselves. People suffering from dementia. People who have an ego as large as the universe. People who cannot even speak their native language correctly. I just sat through a small conference of Trump and, oh, my God, my English teacher nerves stood on end. He desperately needs a proper English language class, heavily stressed with proper usage of tenses and words appropriately applied.

Folks, we have a long way to go before we get anywhere within binocular vision of the world we should have. But we are far, far, away.

So, what is there to be looking forward to in the new year? We bleed heavily already with. shouts of hate. Civil, National, International Crises.  A worldwide spread of vicious JewHatred such as we have neither seen nor experienced in multiple decades. And folks, I'm not seeing any clear path to get the hell out of here. To get out of Dodge and work our way back into whatever place of comfort and righteous life you seek - Eden Valhalla, or Heaven. At least to approach it closer than we are to it right now.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Folks, we gotta' get with the program.

There is no alternative. 

Not a one.  

ON BECOMING

  We are always in this state of “becoming”. We are always changing. Altering greatly or in small bites. Always dependent upon what is happening around us. With whom are we maintaining contact and how strong or weak are the ties between? Are they deep and strong or are they tenuous, not quite sure of its future or lack of one.

Last night I spent several hours watching Wicked for Good, the sequel to the first Wicked. Yes, I've been told that it is not as good as the first one, but it is a different presentation than the first one and while it is possible to compare acting and actors, the quality of the songs, the music, the aim, or goal, of this movie differs from that of the first. 

The first Wicked presented a society which on the surface, appeared to be one of the best one could imagine. An all powerful but benevolent Wizard ruled with a velvet fist and the inhabitants were    happy, skipping along. It is only as the movie progressed that one could find the cracks in the veneer and wonder how and why they were present in an otherwise seemingly perfect society. False values could be discerned, but still a society which allowed people to come together. To change their views and beliefs. Though it was sometimes difficult, the flexibility was there and apparently was enabling of change, albeit without huge changes in the paradigm of this society. Thus, an outsider was able to be accommodated within the folds of the society, but for how long and how secure was this acceptance?

Unfortunately, that is not the case in the sequel.  The meaning of the title Wicked for Good is only made clear as we approach the ending. Or is it an ending? Out of the "wicked" come some good. The evil beneath the surface is exposed. Huge cracks in the fabric of that society appear. Unimaginable steps are taken. New truths are forcibly presented to the people and though it seems they are accepted, one wonders how long and how true this new society can be if based on a founding lie. 

 "Evil" was defeated, burned, by water, and hence all will be good now. But how could such an anomaly take place and be true? We discover at the end of the movie that it was not "defeated" but rather goes on to live two new lives. One is the sudden twist that turns this rather tragic movie into a "happily ever after" version   even as we know the second version awaits a society still living in their own "bubble", waiting for it to be burst. 

Then there will be troubles, for sure. One cannot hide from the truth and when that truth is uncovered, bared to the air, inevitable wobbles in the foundation of that society occur, inducing great panic and a rougher, longer, harder road to the heights of a 'good' society. One where water does not burn, but is instead, a factor towards a good life in the best sense of the word. But also, a road which can lead to the salvation of that society.

 Among the tears and the hugs and the repentance, the sorrows of the ending of the sequel, we finally understand the title. Apparently, this society (and perhaps ours as well) need to find a scapegoat, or at the very least some presentation of that which is evil and wicked as opposed to the 'good' within the society, even if it is a rather flimsy technique and not necessarily a solid stable one in the long run. 

Good must come from within, honestly, with understanding of one's role in building a society based on the good without need for a contrast figure of Evil. Do we actually need that wicked for there to be good? Are we all so morally challenged that without that figure we cannot know nor act upon true recognition of 'good'? Our creature of 'evil' is so not evil that it boggles the mind how people can be so swayed as to believe the opposite of the truth and be willing to join in with the mob to cauterize their society, even as they are instead inflicting further wounds upon it.

Unfortunately, she has come to understand that some people need that wicked as contrast to what they believe is good within their lives. How so very 'good' they are. They assume, so wrongly, that their leaders are as good as they boast they are. Hence, they follow every suggestion made. Even as they, as we are today, cutting our own throats with our insistence upon following the clearly misleading leaders of our time. Many societies need, desire, crave, even, a leader and will follow the next one who promises them pie in the sky and an answer to every problem. For they are "good". They deserve to be followed. So goes the thinking. Even if there is an intent to be exactly that, it never ends that way, does it?

Power corrupts is a maxim of truth that we must remember, particularly in selecting and supporting the leaders of society. Too often we fall for the glitz and the promises. The empty promises Which die of neglect and we find ourselves back in the same old world. A stagnant society capable and desirous of accepting as truth the bare faced lies presented to them via the false leaders and the coterie of followers 

We go so far astray. Those who know the truth. Those who understand what society needs. What it does not. They reach the point of true understanding of what a strong and positive society based on Good needs but are so disheartened that they leave. They must walk away to save their sanity and take the chance to live a good life for themselves, even as the others reject their thinking.

The question arises then. What will be the future of this society? Will its present leader appearing to wear the cloak of Good remain true or is the society already cracked, based on a seemingly harmless lie? Can good be based on a primary founding lie?

According to the tears of the ending and then the smile, the chance fo success is up to us. Do we keep the Good but need the Evil in contrast rather than an innate sense of right and wrong? Are we weak if that is so?

What will we choose to make of our yesterdays? What will we change for the better in our todays? How will we ensure that our tomorrows have shorn themselves of the weaknesses of society and have built a better one for the future of mankind?

Or must the good be forced, as ever, to flee for their lives?

Up to us, folks. Up to us and to fall down on the job is to doom our future, the future tomorrows for our kids. UP TO US. We cannot fail.

What will be our "becoming"?

IS IT ME OR IS IT THE KOOL-AID

  I'm not quite sure these days whether it is I who have taken huge quaffs of forget it all juice or is it rather the others out there who have taken many, many gulps of the strange Kool-Aid remaining after the Rev. Jones and his poor deluded parishioners ingested their share and more of that toxic drink. The tragic deaths following their community wide drink session transmitted a message to tie rest of the world, the sane part of it anyway.  

Be ye one of the residents and followers of a warped person or a mere unfortunate visitor to that place, be careful of what you swallow, in drinks or beliefs. Of course, the larger question looms before our eyes, challenging our brains, and raises great gobs of doubt as to the level and strength of seemingly dubious levels of sanity.  

 Exactly why is it that we allow ourselves to drift or go purposelessly into situations clearly fraught with danger, imperiling our very existence. be it as individuals responsible for ourselves or worse, more consequential, affecting the wellbeing of others.  Even if we must do some force feeding or strong talk to induce a higher level within their challenged level of sanity and resistance to the smarmy words of those who wish them harm, in so many ways possible.  

Do we seek out the people and times in tragic manner, and if so, why, for Heaven's sake why? Is it a flaw inserted within humans at the time of their creation, in the first mold? Was it put there to test comprehension of their responsibilities to the world, not only to themselves? Even if so, in either case or for some unknown reason we have not yet discovered, is it not time enough, more than enough, that by now, in three millennia of existence, we should have learned and internalized the situation? Had better protected ourselves in the world in general, both for its inhabitants and its physical self?  How and why did we remain so oblivious to the truth and necessity of the above.

 While I would hope that by now most of us know not to take drinks from strangers, or from rather dubious friends, unfortunately, we still, on occasion, read of cults preparing to face the apocalypse. Heeding blindly the words of s rather lunatic leader, they take themselves out of the equation before it takes place. Or if it doesn't take place. They, literally and figuratively, have supped foolishly of the words and food, taken it deep into the fabric of their souls and hearts. I, personally, cannot fathom the reasons for these deeds. 

However. Think not that this refers only to 'Them or they'. It is not so. It refers to much of the world today. People who stand and shout in support of   those who would gladly do harm to them. More and more frequently, these demonstrations of proposed 'suicide', are violent in manner and dangerous to body and soul. Minor to major harm. Imprisonment. Torture. Disappear them. Even kill them. 

We create excuses in our heads and belittle and discount their evil so as to alleviate any doubt that we have. Their words permit us to let loose the dogs of war, to wreak havoc upon each other, on so deemed enemies of ours, claiming all the while that we are doing it not merely for our own benefit, but for the benefit of all else. We partake mightily of the tainted food, glom onto the one or two possibly positive action, even as their positivity fades into the ethernet.

This is what mankind has done throughout its existence on this planet. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. One can find frequent examples of such situations. But the question today is this. Surely, we are more educated, more aware, alert, and understanding of life decisions, political decisions, and their import to us. And to others. We surely can recognize the lies, the falsehoods, the dirty games played every day. The twisted social media that we now face.

And for sure, we should be able to recognize the signs of physical and mental deterioration. And in this particular case, ugly. nasty and crude in its presentation. Soaking in the sickness of a massive case of toxic narcissism and an overblown ego which demands that all revolve asround him, obey him as KING. 

His character - or lack thereof - was apparent from the beginning. From before the beginning. And it has taken too long for too many people who should have known better, who probably did know better, to speak up and out. To protest the machinations of this man. Only now is there a growing engagement of those who disapprove, have regained their courage and speak out of the wrong that he is trying to perpetrate upon us. Judges, some lawmakers, some people of influence and excellent reputation, are waking up. Opening their eyes, ears and minds.

 My only fear is that this is not soon enough. Not powerful enough. Not strong enough to stop his plans and goals to a dead, deprived of any power to move forward. To stop forthwith the campaign to shred our Constitution and destroy our democracy.   And finally, to rid this administration of all its incompetent, ignorant, malevolent enablers. 

Time to retire them all, put them out to pasture, along with their equally flawed and more, boss.  

Yesterday. Today.  Tomorrow.

What do we wish to leave behind in history, live in our todays, and leave for our kids in the tomorrows to come?

Again, the burden and responsibility is upon us.

NASTY IS AS NASTY DOES

  I obviously have not been present during the presidential administrations of the vast majority throughout the history of America. I also have not paid attention to some where I have been physically present but not necessarily paying close attention to the political Going Ons. Life does have a way of interfering, does it not. In any case, the past is the past and though there certainly is much blame to go around as to why Americans, including you and me, were not paying the same degree of attention that should have been the order of the day, we must move forward now and improve on the current situation - or at least give it a try. 

No administration within our nation or the vast majority of other nations of the world can point to themselves and boast of their purity and moral cleanliness, their own commitment to sincere presentation of humanity at its best. We humans are a selfish bunch of people, weak in our resistance to temptation. Too many of us take the easy way, the easy path and fail to pay attention to the consequences inherent within those choices. Then we appear to be shocked at the miserable results. We then look around as to where we can lay blame, find the scapegoat that enables the rest of us to go free and emerge with clean hands and purity of heart - false as that might be.

However, the moral filth polluting our nation these days, the stench of its corruption, is overwhelming. I believe that even in the worst days of the Nixon administration we had not fallen as low as we have today. There is a blatant misogynistic. misanthropic creature at the head of government within these United States of ours who has nary a good word to say about anyone or anything other than himself. 

His twisted motivations and beliefs, his Hitleresque demonization of all who differ, in his eyes anyway, are soul shattering. What boggles the mind further though, is how so many have bought solidly into his administration, allowed themselves to be bought by visions of power, influence and wealth, and wallowed in the filthy cesspool of his lies and hate.   overfilled with the ugliness, the worst, of mankind.  

 Even more shocking is the leeway he is given, as he stumbles and trips over his own feet, literally, figuratively and morally. He publicly demeans reporters who dared to ask him questions which he would prefer not to answer. He does not have any answer which would prove acceptable in the eyes of most standardly normal people. He makes monsters of immigrants, the people upon whom this nation was built, is built, and will be built. They are less than human in his eyes. They are literally of no importance other than the political benefit he derives from them. 

He portrays himself as a Superman standing there in a rather holey suit with arms akimbo and legs spread wide. As if he, only he, stands in the way, preventing this nation from being overrun by 'criminals, murderers, rapists'. Saving this nation from itself. He forgets that his grandfather was an immigrant. He forgets that Elon Musk, not a favorite of mine, is an immigrant as well. So are the founders of many of the Fortune 500 companies within this nation. As are the many doctors, nurses, store owners and shopkeepers, teachers and artisans sharing their gifts with us. As are your ancestors and mine. As they helped build this nation, moved it forward, helped it grow.

Furthermore, we all forget one critical point within our history. Even as we mostly stood in the right path, tried to do right by others, tried to spread democracy to oppressed nations, we committed many errors. Oftentimes, as a result of our actions or lack of action, nations became embroiled in civil wars which long continued to shred them. As an outgrowth of the damage done, the despair engendered, many of the citizens of these broken nations fled, for their lives, for their children, for a chance at building a new and better life. 

In fact, and in actuality, these are the same reasons for which our ancestors determined to come here. To make that perilous journey. To split families apart. To seek out that which we all seek. A life. Where we can live in peace. With peace. And build foundations to carry ourselves and our families well into the future. To keep this nation as pure at heart as possible. And to always seek a better way. A higher road. And to stand by the higher morals of humanity. 

At times it seems we have succeeded, while at other times we have failed. Often abysmally so. At times we made the situation worse than it was, but at least we tried, generally with good intentions in mind. These days, however, we appear to be willing to. vend our nation. Sell it to the highest bidder. Compromise our morals and ethics. Almost hourly. If not even quicker than that. 

We even go so far as to shred families. Rip them asunder. Create orphans and bereaved parents where there should be none. Instead of welcoming the work ethics, the bravery, the skills and talents, the contributions of these people, we tar them with the blackness within a few of the hearts among them, even as we have the many criminals among our own native born and thrive, they do.

Even as we have made welcomed the many criminals, the many morally deficient and ill-intentioned characters into our own governments at all levels. We disregard the family names indicative of the many foreign nations from whence our American population has developed. How proudly we hang those sepia portraits of our ancestors on the wall. How we praise them. And so why is this any different from the situation today? Other than that, we have allowed for the rules and regulations to be overwhelmed. Or disregarded. Ensuring that we would have a mess at the borders. Though not from the image drawn by Trump, et al of boundless. criminals knocking down our doors, wishing only to inflict harm upon us.

How gullible can we be? How blind can we be? How quickly will we allow a lack of foresight and forethought force this nation into the doldrums. Where there is no thinking out of the box. Where there is no new excitement. No fresh ideas. No exciting new viewpoints and culture. Unfortunately, we are well on the way of allowing that to actually become the reality.

The first step. The middle step and the last step. To own up to our failures. To strive to correct them. Always. To know and to act upon that knowledge - that we must police our own and keep the criminals and the morally lacking out of government, out of positions of authority. 

And say, hey, let's begin with the next election. Let us all take ourselves by the collar, shake ourselves, and look at ourselves in the mirror. And think and wonder and ask and answer with honesty - who are we? Are we that whom we want to be? If not, how do we get there and if yes, how do we maintain it?

For sure, don't go asking Trump these questions. We do not need any more damage for he has already inflicted much upon us. Much that will take a great deal of time, effort and energy to counteract and repair the damage done.

If we do not learn now, then when? When. will. we. learn? Who. will. teach. us?

Eternal questions of Yesterday. 

Remaining prominent in our Today. 

Always to remain so in our Tomorrow.

In the long-term future, what future will there be?

We ask, and I, you, all of us must provide the answers. 

Extension

 Due to holiday laziness will skip today Wishing everyone a great holiday and see you again on Sunday

PEACE AND GOODWILL?

Peace on Earth? Goodwill to men? Why not all men? Why not all humanity or humankind? How do we really define those terms? Is peace an absolute or a term of relativity? The same with goodwill. In fact, how do we even discern whether expressions of peace and goodwill are sincere rather than coated in the usual euphemisms for the sake of political expediency and social harmony.

I do not know the answers to those questions. It boggles the mind even to think of trying to find those answers, to define them to a specificity    clear enough to allow for no misunderstandings. In fact, I don't even believe that humanity is capable of such specificity. Nor interested in it either. It would require too much work, too much effort and too little certainty of a positive and productive outcome.

Let's take peace for the first defining moment of this posting. Is peace contained within the definition off no war. Or is one allowed to wage small wars, little wars, local wars considered not to be so serious. Not so many are dying. Not hundreds of thousands, barely 10s of thousands. Or is that peace allowed to contain within it wars that have been going on for years. Decades. Maybe even longer. So, it doesn't really count, does it? We're used to it already.

Does peace within the world have to arise from peace elsewhere? If we are at peace with ourselves, with each individual, with those with whom we are most in contact and of concern, is that enough to generate at least an impulse towards peace with strangers? And how can we be at peace with strangers? How can we find points of commonality strong enough to overcome the little wars, the little hostilities. The simmering negativity that 'only' bursts into mild explosions from time to time. Can we for sure call this Peace? Peace is at hand.? I don't think so. And when we try to fool ourselves, that peace is indeed at hand, we are merely denying the truth we would rather not see nor know within our hearts.    

Perhaps we need to start over with goodwill as the initiation point. If we look at others and see only negativity. If we think how we are better than they are, whomever 'they' are. If we wonder how we can get one over on them. Or prevent them from getting one over on us. Then what actually do the terms and sentences and vows of goodwill actually mean? Whilst the one hand is shaking a hand with vows of peace and goodwill, of friendship eternal and the other hand is behind the back, counting knives and bullets and for their use, then what is anything we say worth a sou? Or a plugged nickel if you prefer.

This is supposed to be the time of peace and goodwill for all. Between and for all. But take a look around. I believe Trump has claimed he has ended eight wars. Count again. For each and every one of those wars is actually a truce on shaky legs, if any legs remain at all. Or the entities involved. have returned to the past and brought it forward into the present and the future. Reinstated those "little” wars. Those wars between smaller nations. And so directly do not affect us. So, what the hey? Peace is at hand. Goodwill for our fellow Humans. What a crock.

Not only that, and I guess here I am a Grinch. These holidays often colliding into each other with their scheduling are supposed to be days of joy. Of shedding light upon the world. Of reaching out to one another. Of good times and good wishes. But just think. Look. See what is happening around the world. The Jews of Australia and Bondi Beach getting a massacre for all their troubles. Numerous sites related to Judaism and its institutions also have been likewise 'gifted'.  "Christians" of dubious Christianity are shouting to the rooftops, from the rooftops of their JewHatred, their 'justified' anti Semitism.

Christians and Muslims in hostilities with each other. Hindus and Buddhists, the epitome of   "peaceful” religious having at each other with a viciousness one could never have imagined. And within the separate religions, the individual sects   spew venom and contempt upon the others, even consort with the enemies to gain the upper hand. If we cannot even look at each other, how can we then look back to points supportive of indeed having true peace and goodwill. To mean for it to happen, to strive for it to happen? 

No, I don't think peace and goodwill are terms of relevancy to us. Perhaps, once in some unknown time, long ago there actually was a relevancy to it. But upon looking back, I see no time when there was neither war, nor conflict. No true peace. And as I peer into the horoscopes of our todays, I see nothing better.; in fact, I see, only worse coming straight at us. AI chat boxes. More sophisticated weapons. Shouts of triumph at achieving that next level.

 No, this is not the todays we want. These are not todays of peace and of quiet. No true progress has been made and certainly, the efforts, if any, have been weak and mewling. Finally, we look into the tomorrows. Those same days that we are so anxious to see as better times with better opportunities. Truly a time of peace and goodwill. Amongst all, for all, from all, to all. 

At present, though, all the lights of Hanukkah. All the lights of Kwanzaa. All the lights of Christmas. All the lights of all the other religions all lit up at the same time are in actuality lighting up nothing. For the light is cold. And dark.

Would that we would all take a look back and see the truth of our yesterdays, our todays, and our tomorrows as portended by a perusal of our   history.  Take a look!  And damn it! Work. To make that peace on earth and goodwill a reality to all. Practiced. Etched into our souls. 

Would that we would. 

We know we should.

We know we could.

But.

DAYMARES? NIGHTMARES? WHAT LIES BETWEEN?

  We have all had those moments when we suddenly stop, take a look around and wonder. Am I dreaming? Did I dream this before? Is this real? Will I wake up to find that I am reliving a dream? Or perhaps it is more a nightmare than a dream. Certainly not a daydream that one wishes to pursue.

 Perhaps the first daydream nightmare we had was upon the confirmation that Trump actually won that first election, not by popular vote but by electoral votes. These were the same voting numbers he rejected in his second run for office in favor of an armed and violent rebellion, for electorally, he was a gone goose. Thankfully, there were enough people awake in this nation who possessed the power in their hands to cancel Trump and his rebellion and put in place the rightfully elected President of the United States, though he really was not much to write home about at the end of it all, was he?

In any case, this grandiose man indulged in his grandiose dreams and in his second term in office, he began to live our daymares. Those nightmares we had of him walking down an aisle with a long purple cape around his shoulders and a gold crown upon his head, a gilt crown at that. These overstated dreams and plans of his, began to seem ever more real. Horrifyingly so.     

He began to exercise kingly, dictatorial powers. Which never existed. He claimed the rights to rule. basically, as a monarchial figure, with no entity in this nation, no political power, no constitutional amendment or precedents in law stood in his way. He was the boss! Just ask him. And then find yourself with a pink slip. That very day sometimes.  Even worse, as the man began to exercise his nonexistent powers, he convinced many of his right to do so. Or frightened them with his threats to place them on his hit list and then proceed to execute any and all who displeased him or disapproved of his grandiose plans.

And there we were. An entire nation, no, an entire world, walking on tip toes and eggshells around him and his mercurial changes in place and plans and attitude. In support or opposition? Instead of fighting back, resisting, they all gave in as the world's economy was tipped over. Boasts of prices falling, of plenty for all, of reduced taxes and more income, of blue fairy dust inundating the atmosphere all went by the wayside. There we were as well, embroiled in his nightmares made daymares. 

The world erupted in war. Violence and attempts to dominate nations and tribes around them. Even those faraway. We had not seen such turmoil and animosity in quite some time. But all that has come out of his misshapen twisted thoughtless world, is a world erupting, gone mad, overthrowing of all   attempts to try to maintain world order. 

Worse, this new fad of trend toward denial and violence, of one nation calling for rights over another's lands and minerals, to exercise dominance over them, led to the worst outbreak of hate not seen for some time. JewHatred among Muslim   nations, with the rest of the world's nations falling in line, both pursued and reinflamed a toxic hatred, a venomous Anti Semitism such as we have not seen since the Crusades, the pogroms and the demonic plans of Hitler. 

Eschewing all that had gone right in the world over the past few decades. All the steps taken in true progress, not the false ones that people are touting these days. A world gone mad. A tragic turn to the wrong, on both Left and Right. For Jews especially. For the nation of Israel. This has been a returning nightmare morphed rapidly and evilly into daymares which had haunted us through the millennia. A time we had thought, hoped, was gone forever. A shedding of the Hate and the Violence of yesteryears.

Sadly, tragically, not so.

Much of this lies at the feet of Trump. His grossness. His trend toward the crooked and the wrong. His intense disrespect for decency and for people in general. His overblown ego, gilded at that, and the ugly, skewed soul of his. All have combined in an evil synergy which has taken too long for people to acknowledge and attempt to ameliorate and finally, to cast him and his evil cohorts and backers, out, those equally inept creatures who wish only to walk lockstep with Trump, guide him and his misaligned steps and retain power, no matter the cost to the world and to America. 

The only good I can see is that he supported Israel.  But even in that semi positive area, he has gone astray. He has threatened Israel in his attempts to control her, thus, inadvertently or on purpose, aligning himself with the enemies of Israel who claim that it is not a legitimate state. He waxes hot and cold over all matters. Security. Planet destruction. Space force but no funding in adequate manner. Rehabilitation of a battered and bruised planet. Disarm Hamas. One day, yes, one day no, that will never be. But it doesn't matter because he will take North Gaza and reimagine it as a place of luxury, of course, entitled - Trump.

Furthermore, almost 10 years ago when he announced his running for office, when others laughed, I cried. I saw the insanity deep within him. I saw his lack of morals. His ineptitude. His innate nastiness. His just about total inability to do the right thing and maintain that path. His increasing dementia. Increasing physical deterioration. Growing lack of control over emotions. Clear before any eyes wishing to see the truth. But too many refused to admit their error and kept on backing him. Until we are really just about up that Creek without a paddle.

It remains to us, those who retain a degree of sanity, a modicum of intelligence and a sense of responsibility towards the world to refuse to remain complicit and implicit to and in the disaster he is fomenting and inflicting upon this earth. Nor is it only in dealing with people that he runs awry. He is blind, purposely so, to the crisis that we have placed upon this earth and its integrity. To remain solid, to remain as a place for positive inhabitance.

Thank the Lord there are those among the population of the world, among the Americans, who see the truth. Who are trying their best to counteract the damage his kingly edicts leave behind. We see the wreckage his dictates and decrees cause. All of which serve no purpose at all other than to destroy this nation. 

Kudos to the judges who knocked down his unconstitutional plans and actions. Best wishes to Americans, to people of all the nations of the world. 

To all those who yesterday knew the truth. 

To all those who have the courage and ability to fight for our todays.      

And to all those who have the faith to look into that dark tunnel and see the light of the tomorrows to come, looking deep into the future.   

We hope their visions are the ones to succeed rather than the mis-envisioned world of Trump et al.