BRRR! AND YOU CAN MAKE THAT A DOUBLE!

  I cannot believe that I am sitting here, February 2nd, 2026, in the state of Florida, the land of sunshine and warmth. I am freezing. Seeking out a pair of gloves. Wrapping a winter jacket around me. Never in all the years that we have been coming down to Florida and/or living here, have we faced such cold. Adding to the nastiness of cold weather, is that we are facing a deep freeze, a true Burrrrr, from the rest of the world.

Once we were the center of a circle of friends and allies. Even those who did not truly want to be there knew it was a must. Today, however, that demented man posing as a president has caused ice to form, causing pressure upon the circle and the alliances among the circle, intruding into the cracks between, breaking this circle apart. Huge chunks of floes and icebergs raise the height of possibility of danger of collision. Alliances are reformatting themselves, with former enemies talking trade deals to replace those lost due to the intransigence and stupidity and arrogance of Trump. 

Strangely enough, even as the temperature around the world gets colder and colder, the temperature within the nation is heating up. At ever a faster pace, faster than even the direst pessimist had thought possible. Paradoxically, the temperature of the nation both plummets to the deep freeze at the same time that it is flaring into flames ever stronger, ever closer, ever more powerful and widespread, eminently more than capable enough to burn this nation apart. Furthermore, the Phoenix will not rise from the ashes of this conflagration.    No heat of creativity and rebirth. Any such possibility will be smothered, frozen, rendered impotent by the ice remaining. 

A major newspaper asked yesterday how did we get here? The answer is truly not difficult. Simply all we need do is look in the mirror. That is how we got here. We, the people of this nation, fell down on the job. Abdicated our responsibilities. Focused on that which need not have a focus and lost focus on that which was desperately calling out for attention. Waves of uncertainty began to waft over the land. They began to grow in size, power and noticeability. Foolishly, as mobs in the street, we just ran after one who called out how wonderful he was and lied about the good he was going to bring forth upon this land, even the world. We did not do the proper research necessary to avoid the catastrophe that he has brought upon this nation. 

We now have more than the beginning, more than the sparks at hand sufficient to incite a Civil Rebellion. Within this nation! Unthinkable, and yet, here we are, at the point where the word revolution begins, where we recreate our own Fort Sumter and the roar of the guns deafen us all. We have deserted our core ethics, the principles that held us together as a nation, that tied us together as one unit, made even stronger by the powerful knitting and weaving together of the various strands that made up this nation.

We glommed onto easy excuses as to why this nation was going through rough times. We forgot who we are. Who we were. Who we are to be. And began to accept the categorization of people as subhuman, not worthy of being called Americans. As we forgot that at one time our ancestors, be they Irish, Italian, Jewish. Polish. Russian. Scottish were also deemed not worthy. But the nature, the very foundation of this nation allowed for the melding together of these strands and we moved on and upward. Accepting the best and building upon it. We all became Americans. No hyphenated forms of that. Until suddenly, the hyphens took over.

Perhaps it had always been there beneath the surface. Either that or nasty names with which they were dubbed. We forgot in our arrogance that we too were not native to this land. That we sprang, originated, from somewhere else. Even the Native Americans, the indigenous, came here from elsewhere. Thus, the question remains as from whence did these hyphens come? Why have we allowed them to separate us? No longer all Americans. But xyz---- Americans.

Perhaps much of this ugliness was given fresh life during the first half of the 20th century when world wars separated the populations of the world. It became Japanese Americans. Irish Americans, Italian Americans. Jewish Americans. Etc. It seems that we never lost the fear or the mistrust of someone who had possibly recently arrived. First or the second generation. And that distrust was exacerbated by the ugliness of World War Two. Japanese Americans. German Americans. Foreign nationals. Dubbed so, even though they had lived here. For decades. Or were even born here. But look different. Live differently

That ugliness has never gone away. It has been exacerbated by the fact that many of the more recent immigrants seeking the same things that our ancestors have different names. Different religions. Different ethnicities. So many differences. Thus, it was easy and remains easy for too many to call them out, to cast suspicion upon them, to blame them for that which they are not to be blamed for.

Their languages set them apart. Their clothing set them apart. Their prayers set them apart. Their skills set them apart. Easy targets. And Trump took that easy target. ratcheted it up in full force. With all his might. And convinced too many of us to follow along. To take the easy way out, rather than to look deep within ourselves, within our nation, and see where we went wrong, what we must do, what we had to do in order to retrieve our true selves. to find our souls once again and cleanse them.

Somewhere within one, then two, then 10, then 20, then a 1000, then tens of thousands found the truth within. Remembered who we are. Reminded ourselves that immigrants are people, just as our immigrant ancestors were. Just as perhaps we ourselves were and are. When and why did this national shame morph into government approved murder. Approval of fascistic traits and tendencies. Masked and armed. Criminals parading around with federal approval. Violence in the streets. Civilians vs federal forces. Forces which disgusted any sane and reasonable person, anyone who saw in those beatings the beatings of others, perhaps their own at other times in other ands.  We allowed this and now must try to find a way to stop it. Before we become what would shame us forever in the annals of history.     

And we woke ourselves up to the other ugliness. The return to dictatorial authoritarian governmental rules, forms and edicts. Of privileged characters of determination to keep the rest down. To take privileges for the privileged. None for the rest. To allow the crudest among us to declare, demand a brutalizing of the levels of culture. Of taste fallen into the deepest depths, the lowest common denominator, garish and tasteless, vulgar and self-serving.

 We allowed these people to do that which was forbidden. To tear down the buildings of our nation. The White House. National Historical Buildings. The Rose Garden. And now the threat to the Kennedy Center which that man has already demeaned, debased and trashed, now planning to tear it down and rebuild in his own image. The American Ramses. Even to the point of interfering with the Smithsonian and its displays, cross the country actually, going deep into the education systems of the nation, far beyond what is necessary and allowable. That imbecile, that boor is singlehandedly along with his coterie of suck-ups, transforming the land into what it was never meant to be.   

Where does this all end? Is there an end that can be seen? Can we pull ourselves out of the muck? Haul ourselves to an erect position and put aside the differences we have ginned up unnecessarily? That had been forced upon us, and that we have swallowed. Can we become Americans, one and all America as it was, as it was dreamed of and fought for and built - until, the destroyers of today arrived on the scene.

If the answers to those questions and concerns do not come up as a positive, as a yes, we can, yes, we will, then in the very near future, nearer than we might be thinking, we will have dissolved our essence. Our 'Americanness' and diluted its value with the pollution generated by Trump and his cohorts. Not only our country, but the entire world as he fractures the world order with bizarreness and havoc.   

Time is a fleeting, folks. At ever faster rate. At ever faster pace. The further we go, the more difficult it will be to find our way back. Perhaps at some point we will not be able to do that. And we'll have lost ourselves to a history which was not what we wanted. Not what we strived for. And not, certainly not, what we wish to pass on to our descendants.

Wake up, folks. The alarm is ringing again and again and again.

When we forget the truth of yesterday.

We lose the integrity of today.

Make impossible the best of tomorrows. 

Ticktock. Ticktock. 

AND SO WHAT ELSE?

 Truthfully, I am not sure of the meaning of that question. What else - What? What are we speaking about? If this person thinks that the 'gifting' of a syndrome or named disease or serious injury causes an automatic change, many changes, serious changes, there is a seriously wrong conception at play. Of course, changes must, should, be made, for adjustment, for treatment, for acceptance. But on the whole, life goes on. Much as it had before, and strange to say, in some ways better. 

People are funny. Not funny as in ha, ha, but rather as funny strange, quite often damaging to the quality of life lived. For example, we swear to ourselves that we will not worry about Matter X. better to focus on Matter Y. But in fact, in reality, we do the opposite. Even if we kept to that decision for a while, we definitely, for the most part, do not remain on that path. 

Soon enough, we return to the same old habits, the same old fretting, the same old aggravation and disturbance to the peace and joy in our lives. More importance and stress are placed, directed, to that which is actually temporary as we often downplay, neglect even, that which is far more likely to enhance our lives and remain with us far longer, tapped into memories and hearts. than that which is more likely to remain with us in pain. 

Adding trouble to troubles, we fool ourselves via a series of inevitably short lived switcheroos. One day, one week, one month we will seek that which will bolster our new resolution, thus convincing us that we are indeed serious about making a change in our life and in fact, have already done so. Pat on the back! 

However, determination eventually begins to give, and one begins to flag in the efforts to maintain change, to avoid the old and so sadly familiar      paths. The weight and the lure of a falsely easier   path in life begin to crush and at varying speeds one is right back in the same old place. Or perhaps even worse, knowing that one has lost that which was good, but too difficult to keep in place.   

However, when one's life is changed, refocused for us, involuntarily, most often there is a permanent shifting of the tracks of life. All that was seemingly oh so important, so critical to one's life loses its luster and attraction, fades back into the background. "Stuff". The vast amounts of items that were of most importance, absolute necessities, so critical to a 'good life' begin to seem like invaders in your home, conducive to thoughts of ' What the hell were we thinking'? 

One begins to pick and choose as values change and worth and importance become quite relative, often clashing and confusing to others who are not at the same point. Connections to tradition, to family and its history, its principles. The need, the drive, to pass this on. To imbue the next generation with this understanding. To share as much as one can with the younger generation. For when one is gone, all that remains untold is forever to be lost. 

Along with all that is the wish to leave something behind which will go further into the future. To leave the world a better place for your contribution. to it. In some way, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. The ways of life are changeable and can shift on a dime. Perhaps that seemingly insignificant contribution would at that time fill a sudden vacuum and be of more importance than had ever been thought possible.    Lead in a positive manner. Perhaps that is egotistical. But it does drive one with that newly diagnosed fate. And believe it or not, it feels good.

That might seem strange for in trying to pass on one's thoughts, one's ethics and principles to a larger audience, there is inevitable aggravation. The terrible wrongs. The lost values. The wrongly valued. Aggravation. Disappointment. However, as these emotions and opinions make their way through to the surface, as they are spoken and/or    written, there actually is a relief. One is finally free to say what one thinks and feels, for there is little of consequence available, powerful enough, to shut that person down. Some do not like it. Some do appreciate. Some do not understand. Some begin to think otherwise. But isn't that one of the purposes, a way and manner via through which one can indeed add to the sum total of Tikun Olam.

What I personally find among my changes is that I do indeed feel free to voice my thoughts and be almost impervious to negativity directed at me due to a difference of opinion. However, that's their problem, not mine. And I am humbled by the numbers of readers I do have, from round the world. It amazes me.

Additionally, one truly learns not to sweat the little things. Better to focus on larger areas of more serious concern. Others might not see it that way, but again, that is their problem - not mine. What is of far more importance to me is to make sure that I live a life complete with joy and strength when the awful or unexpected occurs. 

I have learned how to rid my mind and my heart of that which is truly not important, not worthy of any attention and time, for the time allotted to me must be spent positively rather than in false worlds of false values. To know that family is Family. To take joy when my grandchildren call, when I hear the sweet voices of the greats. When my children call every day, as they do, and we have good conversations. Enjoy all the generations and their interactions, the ties for the future. Have faith that they will remember the necessity of remaining close.  

Enjoy life. In any which way is possible. To remain with laughter and a smile. To share with others the gifts of humor and care and concern. In fact, that is probably a 'gift' of the diagnosis. There's a new world in this life. That is the world of serious critical rehab and maintenance. It is a world of warmth. Of shared concerns. Laughter. And yes. even hope. It is a world of people whom I never would have known but who have enhanced my life and become a most important part of it. And I a part of theirs.

So. No what else. There is so much that remains of absolute value and equally as much that which is new. There are new scales of evaluation and a sense of refreshment. Revalued. Rewarding. Yes, even as one knows the deal, the details, to be realistic. But also yes, to be prepared. To remain as active and connected as possible.     

To remember, with warmth, the good of yesterday.

To live as best as possible in the todays of now.  

To plan for the tomorrow and the tomorrow after that.

To know and have faith that all comes for a reason. Even as that reason might never be understood.

Life is the 'what else' of this world - and the future. as well.

I have life.

SO YOU'RE FINE"

 No, the proper term is not fine but actually maintaining and even improving in some areas.  Everything is in relative terms, but I am also falling back in other areas. My classification remains the same as last year, which in itself is a pretty substantial statement; however, the end result does not really change nor have the expectations -people with PD will eventually end their lives in manners attributable to PD and its consequences.

Yes, we all die. That is part of life, and no one can avoid it. However, the deal or the hope is to reach that end in as peaceful state as possible, after hopefully having lived a life where one made a difference, a positive difference, large or small, to someone or something. I suppose the truth and value of one's life will be made clear at that time of final judgment, but as one, as anyone, nears the end of a lifetime, that is not the time to worry about what you might have left out.

Instead, one has to look forward to the time left, the time remaining during which the idea is not “to eat, drink, and make merry, for tomorrow we might die". It is instead the period when one makes the most or the best use of that time, in the sharing of love and hope and passion, a passion to make a difference, to speak one's mind, no matter how many might oppose it. 

No matter how many might disapprove of it. For that time remaining belongs to the person, not the congregation, not the group, but to that specific individual. That individual has the right, the need, to make the decisions which are most compelling and fulfilling, and those decisions are actually the measure of one's life, an opening statement, shall we say, for that final court date.  

Sitting in the waiting room between appointments one only had to look around and see which people sitting there, patient, relative, or advocate, was comfortable with the state of being and those not. No one welcomes an end to a life with loved ones aplenty and good memories sufficient enough to cancel or at least lighten the unbearable pain of periods of life lived, unless it will be a cessation of unbearable pain and loss. A way or path to reunite with those gone before, a time to make amends in whatever manner possible, which we will have to find out at the right moment. There is a way to approach it calmly and sanely, not fighting that which cannot be fought. The best choice would be    to do one's best to make those final moments, those final answers to the extra credit questions, worthy of consideration and consequence.

That isn't easy. I can tell you that for a fact, at least in my own personal life and thinking. People have asked me why do I expose my inner personal being at this point in time? My answer is why not? If it makes it easier for me, if it possibly helps at least one person out there even a tad, then again, why not? Perhaps this frail little old lady has something good remaining, worthy of sharing and at the very least perhaps assuaging her own inner needs. So, even should you disapprove, as the saying goes - "Tough Bugs! Deal with it."

As I was going through the various drills and tasks assigned to me yesterday as part of the evaluation process, a section of the mind, it's gears and gadgets turning independently, apart from the rest of me, I would catch a moment's glance at the man sitting there looking at me, but not seeing me - not at that moment in time. What is he seeing? The future, the present, the life we have shared together, so intertwined it is often difficult, nigh unto   impossible to distinguish between the two? 

 One life from the time we met as callow silly little youths on the cusp of adulthood, age 14 and 16. Little could we have imagined that one day we would be sitting here, dealing with questions of life and death, of preparations of life skills, life's needs and wondering, hopefully, that we will be able to have a 60th wedding celebration with family and friends, along the lines of the 50th.

Reality hits us. It would never be the same. Half in jest we began to call out names of those with whom we would love to share those moments. We ran head on to the terrible reality. It would indeed never be the same. It was with a shock to the heart, the realization that so many of our friends were either no longer with us or in the midst of their own end of life health crisis, unable to travel, unable to join us physically at that moment. 

That “discovery” shook us. How did this happen? When did it happen? How did we never put it all together? Perhaps because we were so wrapped up in our own changing lives. As we adjusted to our new life parameters and demands, new goals and expectations, as changing limitations and new possibilities made themselves known to us. As our lives shifted, as the inner world of ours became more demanding, necessitating adjustments to what had to be met, and events did not always add up the way they might have at other times. 

I think more of my parents now. How close they were. How close and beloved they were to each other. How they always put each other first. How they always held hands. How they valued the family they had created together.  I think of the moment when I unintentionally came upon them in a moment of deep intimacy and love, not long before my father came home under hospice conditions. They were sitting together, their heads, touching, forehead to forehead, mind-to-mind, heart to heart. I saw the tears roll down their faces as they held each other, sobbing silently. As I said nothing to interfere and backed slowly without a sound out of the room, allowing them their privacy in what perhaps was one of the very last moments of being together, aware of each other, knowing of the separation to come.

 I remember my mother, her gradual withering away even as she laughed and smiled and was loved and loved in turn, for she wanted only my dad, to be together as they were, and always will be, from the ages of fourteen and sixteen.

And rising in my mind's eye, in my heart's core, I see and remember another couple of ages 14 and 16. I have “ordered” Gerry to allow me to go first, spoken many times with the Lord Above how it had to be thus, for a life without him, G-d forbid, would be impossible. And I know that he is thinking the same way, along the same lines, as he looks at me, not seeing me as I am now but as we were, and how we have "decided" to go together, in our sleep, holding hands, to share the future of the new lives awaiting, even as we shared the past and the present, the always and forever

It is a very difficult thing to do to contemplate a future that is unknown. No matter how many legends, how many lectures, how many books have been written about it, about what comes after, it is a frightening concept. Will we be alone? Will we be able to share this new life? Will we reunite with our loved ones gone before? Will I be able to give my grandparents another series of hugs and kisses, simply holding them as I missed them so much.  Will I, we, be able to hold our beautiful Yitzy, our 13-year-old grandson torn from our hearts, from our family, so early, so unfairly.

This most recent evaluation gives us hope that even as there are difficult days, weeks, months, hopefully years remaining, hopefully also remaining are good years. To share our lives and our love. With friends and family. To engage with our kids, the three generations that we have been blessed with. Our children, our grandchildren and our oh so beloved great grandchildren who hold our hearts and souls in their tiny, little hands, who light up our lives with every little squeak and smile, every toy and project they 'gift' us with.

Perhaps we all should not wait until the end nears to take stock of our lives. To understand and accept that those strange people who look back at us from within the mirror are not our parents but are ourselves. We are not those 18-year-olds taking new steps into this world, those kids we still remain inside, for our steps now lead us into another new world, a better world.     

There is, in fact, much to think of, much to consider and still much to live.

It is that time to pack up and return home. We have visited the Institute, and we are hopeful that barring anything unforeseen, we still have good times   awaiting us. To enjoy - and exercise - the prerogative of parents of adult children, to annoy them. Time to spend with our grandchildren now grown up into beautiful people who make us proud. And those blessed little ones around whom we   have wrapped entirely within our arms and hearts and minds and very being and thank G-d for these blessings and more, which God has endowed us with. Far weightier than the problems that we faced in life.

I wish you all a weekend of love and peace and harmony. A weekend on which we can pray for the world to heal itself. A weekend in which we treasure the true moments and cast aside all that is negligible and not worthy of our care or concern or time.

So it was yesterday.

So it is today.

And G-d willing, 

so it will be tomorrow. 

Perhaps even better.

So, yes, darling daughter, may be "fine.   

PS:  A heartfelt thank you and Hakarot Hatov to those who wrote to me after reading this piece on the blog (estherblogspot.blogspot.com) or on Facebook. I remember you all and love you all.

TODAY

 Today is a big day for me Not necessarily in terms of good news but not bad news, I hope. Every six months or so, I go to a place which specializes in issues such as Parkinson's or ALS or any kind of neurodegenerative disease and I get evaluated by people who no connection to me. Therefore, I am hoping that they will be objective and truthful as to where I stand in the five levels of PD.

  Why do I do this when I have at least 4 to 6 active hours a week of PT, boxing, walking, any kind of exercise which demands movement, challenge and courage, so certainly I should have a sense of where I am on he PD Scale. I do, and so do my therapists and boxing coaches, etc. However, when you see someone twice a week, week after week after week a relationship develops and when people get along with each other, it's not so easy sometimes to impart to them statements which are not necessarily encouraging.

 On the previous visit, I was sure that I was at a 4 1/2 out of five, definitely not good news at all. I thought my therapist were not passing on a correct evaluation because they didn't want to hurt me, as they actually liked me as much as I liked them - a great deal. However, when they finished the evaluation at the Institute I was told I basically had remained the same. I had maintained at a two and a half and the biggest problem was what is called retrograde propulsion, which is an involuntary movement of taking steps to the rear. In other words, walking backwards, which is not a good thing to do because it's not exactly contributory to maintaining one's balance and not ending up on the floor. That is a major no-no.

 So here I am today after a 4 hour drive up and two overnights, another 4-hour drive home, waiting to get evaluated in speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, posture, balance, agility, speed of movement, pace and distance of walking, mood and cognition, and outlook on life. My main concern, I believe, is my balance and some involuntary movement. But I don't believe it is too bad, and I am hopeful of not really crashing past a 3 if I have to leave my preferred home of two and a half.

 What I especially like about the Institute is that there is no sense of mourning here that one has been caught, captured by PD, trashing a life and all good things in life are now unreachable. That is a terrible attitude and the Institute along with any good therapist will join you and fight just as fiercely with and for their clients to have an optimistic viewpoint in life. Positive outlooks can be fulfilling and contributing in and of themselves.  In addition, seeing a place like this wholly dedicated to this sector of diseases which afflict people is encouraging. They are up to date, are extremely helpful in suggestions and ideas, and I know because I practice quite a few of them which they have given me during my visits.

 Over the years since my diagnosis, going through at least 4 movement specialists who left for research positions, and numerous other critical health personnel, I have found that there is one aspect of life thing that is the most debilitating of all. FEAR. It is overwhelming when asked to do something which you have not done before, or at least not for quite some time. Or caused you to fall the last time you tried it. Not remaining erect but taking a big whopper down to the floor. This FEAR is the greatest enemy of mine and others and has been most difficult for me to overcome. However, enthusiastic backers encourage one to overcome that feeling, or at least set it aside or tamp it down to just as long that you need in order to be able to do that with you have been asked to do thus allowing you to move forward in another session. And to take pride in yourself as well.

 What has been most encouraging and strengthening is the social interaction that occurs in the clinics. It is not only physical exercise there, but rather, it is also the repartee back and forth between the therapists and the clients and the relationship which develops amongst them. Within those clinics there is no pity. There is no serious whining and for the most part, smiles and laughter and encouragement of each other are plentiful, generously dispensed. A warm feeling of love and concern permeated the air.

 So no, I am not recommending that one go out and figure out a way how to achieve that wonderful status of P. D. Or some other neurodegenerative disease. I am saying this is not the end of the world. No, one does not go tiptoeing through the tulips with Tiny Tim upon diagnosis. In fact, one most probably breaks down and cries as I did. However, I have had wonderful health personnel along the way, who have gotten me over any of the humps and hurdles that I have faced so far. They laugh and struggle along with me, encourage appreciate and push me to continue new activities undertaken over the course of this PD. Painting. Woodworking. I Skills in these areas growing and challenging.   

 The key here is to keep busy, to keep active physically and mentally. Read books, fiction and non-fiction, whatever appeals to you. Take on some physical activities new to you. Watch some TV that makes you think or laugh but is not inane.  Be a volunteer. Join clubs. But do not stay locked in one's home, doing absolutely nothing or feeling sorry for oneself.  

 Indulge yourself. Have a milk shake. Go see two movies a week if you enjoy it. We do. Rediscover the music of your youth and sing and dance along with it in your home. No one is watching. And if they are watching, tell them to join in. Discover a love of walking along  a beach or other forms of art and music. Whatever works for you short of criminal activities - LOL. Don't worry about what you look like or how beginning level your skills are. 

 There is one last thing one must understand. Sometimes because of the stiffness of the muscles, or severe back pain, or weaker legs, and the fear that you have sometimes of the difficult activities that you are asked to do, one begins to restrict the walking, one of the best activities for PD.  Don't fall prey to false, stupid pride, as most of us do or did, for it is both foolish and restrictive of what is best for you. Use that cane. Use the walker. I know I am much more confident if I have a cane when walking outside, and a walker if there is any kind of distance to cover. It enlarges one's world.      

 Life continues. For the most part it is good. What is going to come we hope will be in the far future and will hopefully not come in its full power. In the meanwhile, we have places to go, things to do and people to see. Annoy your children - payback for raising them. I especially enjoy talking with my grown-up grandchildren and find especially most delightful, my great grandchildren, the dividends from the dividends.   

 So, if you are newly diagnosed with some neurodegenerative disease, like Parkinson's, the one I know, yes, you are allowed to cry. Yes, you are allowed to have moments of wondering what the hell! But for the most part you can continue on with good friends and healthy lives and activities and be the person that you were before, even better for the new experiences and lessons that you are learning and undergoing.

 Positive attitudes even with the sprinkling of some negativity at times. Normal is the best way to make one's way through life.

So it was yesterday

So it is today.

And with the help of G-d,

So it will be tomorrow. 

AND THE CHILDREN RETURN

  The Old Testament, the Bible of the Jews, of the Jewish people, is filled with statements, reminders, promises, that the Children of Israel will return, always, to their home, their ancient homeland. The land from which they have been exiled and been returned to so many times over the centuries. From the four corners of the earth, they will return. And the State of Israel has spared no effort to retrieve the bodies of their slain and imprisoned held as hostages to reinforce blackmail demands upon Israel to release the worst of the terrorists held in their prisons, those who had committed terrorist actions against scores, thousands, of Israeli civilians and citizens.

This determination, this commitment to have all of our children, alive, dead or missing to be returned to our homeland is forever. The most recent example of this - the hostages. Taken prisoner, dead and alive, dying or already dead as they were dragged over the Gaza Border. Into crowds of howling, bloodthirsty jubilant Palestinians; no, no innocent civilians here other than the Jews and other innocents they had taken, to be confined to dank dungeons, to be tortured and starved, isolated and demeaned, for two years. Even unto death during their awful beastly imprisonment by beasts in human form.  

Israel, rightfully so, refused to commit to a full pull out from Gaza. Until every single hostage was returned. And despite the obstinacy, the inhumanity of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, they held their stance and two days ago Ran Gvilli, the last hero left in captivity, was returned to his people, to his nation. To his family to receive the honorable burial he so deserves and the honoring of his name. To allow for the final last chair at Hostage Square to be removed. His pictures removed. And the yellow ribbons of our prisoners, of our abused hostages. can be safely removed from our coats, jackets and necklaces. 

We are home. But we are not foolish enough nor naive enough to think that these attempts, these attacks, these kidnapping of Israelis, to slaughter and to hold as prisoners, will end. Hence Israel showed the world their true courage and insistence on the safety and homecoming, the return of all of her people, and all of her people are the Jewish people the world round. 

Now. What now remains is for Hamas and Islamic Jihad and all terrorists within Gaza to put down their arms. To hold up their hands empty of weapons and commit to peaceful coexistence. They within Gaza and we within Israel. To stop inciting terrorist attacks among Palestinians in Israel, including Judea and Sameria and recognize Jerusalem as our eternal and forever Capital of our people. Forever. From the beginning of time to the end of time. To accept normalization with Israel. For it is the best for all people. 

 The nation of Israel, the people of Israel, the majority of the Jewish people around the world, are committed to her survival. No amount of screaming nor threats will change minds and commitment. It is time for the world to accept that as fact. Time to move on. Seek ways to fulfill the command that we have always known and believed and acted upon. Tikkun Olam. The repair of that which is wrong in this world. Time for all to engage in it, to expend the energies we have wasted in the pursuit of that which is wrong, that which is harmful. Imagine what humanity could accomplish if we all cooperated rather than vying for temporary pieces of power. But for that to be, it is not only the Israelis and the Palestinians, the Arabs and the Jews, the Muslims and Christians and all religions, all those with lack of religions to realize and accept the truth. All must do so.

The truth is manifold. The truth is that we must all recognize and accept the humanity of all. Whether they look like us, pray like us. Follow the same customs. Or even at the same level of civilization. Certainly, those of us who appear to be at the peak of civilization of these times had better think again. When we all realize that we are more the same than different and those differences are not really significant in the long run, only then will we be able to build a world of truth and justice. Of understanding of eternal truths. And the necessity to act upon them. 

To understand that we are in trouble in this world because we elect, stand by and abide, the worst leaders we can find. We are blindly. or selfishly, or ignorantly following the hypnotic notes of their pipers, down the path of peril. Listening to their seductive tones.  Until we reach a point of no return. The Doomsday Clock is now set at 85 seconds before midnight. Less than two minutes. It is not even a minute and a half. We must shake ourselves and get rid of those leaders which only endanger us and increase the peril we all face. So close. so nearby in time and place.  

 One of the ways to finally get some peace in this world is to understand that the creation of Israel, its acceptance, its permanence, and its purpose, to serve as a haven for all Jews facing oppression. For all Jews wishing to return home for whatever reason, is in fact in the hands of G-d. The One Above. Not in the hands of the haters. When we realize and accept that, we will begin to accept other eternal truths. Then, please G-d, we will become the best that we can be, with the best leaders we can find. Rather than the pathetic specimens we now have.  

That is one of the eternal truths of this world. Wait for another world if this disagrees with you. But The Lord G-d has never shown any long-term favor to the mighty, the oppressors, the dregs of the world, other than to punish the peoples of the world who will have descended into the lowest depths to which man can fall. He wants the best for us and from us. This is only possible in a world where we acknowledge His rule, His Presence, His Commandments. And learn to live in harmony and acceptance with each other, of and for each other. A world of justice and equity. A world of trust and friendship. 

We are so far distant from that these days. We have leaders who endorse murder. Even of their own. We have leaders and their followers who single out groups for oppression. Even for slaughter. We have leaders who have not a wisp of humanity within. Who are selfish, greedy, and amoral. Beyond any level of acceptance or comprehension.  

I, along with so many others, are arriving or have arrived there already at the conclusion that we are at the end of another cycle in history. Another cycle where we have proven to be undeserving of the gifts that we have been given.   

We must wake up.

We must.

Or others will wake us up.

Not a pleasant thought.

Terrifying, in fact, to think of what we are condemning our future generations to face.

Check history books and the Bible for vivid descriptions of what we have already suffered by our disappointing G-d so grievously that there is no alternative.

Not yesterday.

Not today.

Certainly not tomorrow.       

Alas it is too real

Unfortunately, all that is written in this posting is too true. Events and talk of yesterday added proof to the pudding. As few read this original posting, I am leaving it on for today's reading. It is quite long and full of powerful words and emotion. I cannot wish you happy reading 

 For quite some time now, years, the decade plus, this man and his evil cohorts, all selfish, consumed with greed and lust for power, for influence, for money, have continued their march on America. Yes, they are the ones marching and treading on America. The rest of us, most of us, have kept our heads down. Or professed words of disbelief. That somehow the “government” will step in and return to sanity. But how is one to expect an insane organization to suddenly repair itself and return to sanity. I can't see it happening. Not when those perpetrating this horror upon the American people are fellow Americans. Never. Ever. And yet, we are here. Again. Protests. Violence. For good reason.

Only this time it is not only our kids who were rebelling. Our older teens and young adults. Those who naturally come to rebellion. Even though often times that rebellion is seen as far more serious than it is and then turns it into that. Which it was not. However, at these protests. And yes, they are protests and yes, there is great emotion in them. How could there not be? But in these protests? It is you and I, All of us. Well, most of us. Standing there with wide open eyes. Mouth hanging in disbelief. As we are being shot. Attacked by federal agents.

Yes, attacked. Yes, by federal agents. By poorly trained, if any training at all came their way. Sent out into citizens angry at injustice, at the fate of their fellow Americans, human beings, child and adult. Whether they are "legal" Americans or not. Killed, shot, post haste. Numerous videos of the slaying of Renee Goode, of Alex Petrie, an ICU nurse! Shot and killed by grown men who think they are living their boyhood fantasy. Look at them, standing there with their fingers rolling up and down, back and forth, back and forth. Like the Gunslingers of the movies, waiting for the duel at high noon. Only this is not a duel; these are the outright criminal slaying of two innocent people, criminal, even as the order itself is criminals, and all those tarred with this ugliness must pay the proper penalty. Right up to the very top. The commander in chief of this nation. A man who has clearly been indicted for other criminal acts though he has never been brought to court due to his so undeserved position as president of this nation. So cursed are we. 

We are killing ourselves. We are chasing after fellow Americans, people in our nation. People who work in our nation. We are tired of the angry nasty murderous, literally murderous fever which has been whipped up against them. Murdered despite the fact that they were not guilty of any crime, And. certainly not of one deserving the death penalty wielded in frontier justice with an immediate "lynching".

 No. Renee Goode was not running her car over an ICE officer. Alex fought against his arrest once they began to wrestle him to the hard cement, violently, even as he had walked there peacefully, resisting only with nonviolent moves we all know from the many sources which teach us that technique. Once he saw that they were using violence on him, tackling him down for no reason, he used wrestling technique to remain difficult to move and take down ad beat up, but for all that, as he lay in the cold, defenseless, we heard - Bang!  Bang - Bang, Bang, Bang. He knew what would happen if taken down - and he was right. Yet another American exercising a right granted to all of us and now gone in the ugly sounds of America today. Even as people came to help him. Even as he was down on his back. The officer shot. Bang. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! And another one goes down.

As far as those who think they will be excused for following illegal orders for committing murder, strutting around, holding on to the yellow tape, as if the tape could hold back an angry mob. Stomping behind crowds of protesters that they are pushing away. With their long guns out and up, open for shooting. Into the backs of fellow citizens.  Fellow human beings.

What have we done? What are we doing? Is there in fact any chance, any wisp off a possibility, that the fear that I have. along with many now beginning to express that we have passively begun to accept or have already accepted the horrendous thought that 30 years into the future, when all will have calmed down, hopefully, and perhaps we are even lucky enough to have returned to our senses, returned to an America that we know, that was fought for over the centuries,  historians will call this either the Second American Revolution or the Second Civil War? All capitalized. Words all dripping with blood spilled. Where no blood had to be spilled at all.

This is what happens, unfortunately when we abdicate our responsibilities. When we push it off to somebody else. Do you remember the old advertisement "Give it to Mikey. Let Mikey eat it.". That was when we began saying. "Let him do it. Let her do it. Let them do it. I'm too busy." And so, we neglected ourselves, and we neglected our country. We neglected morality. Gradually, over the years, culminating in the Trumpian Dystopian State we now have. We have currently lost the opportunity for peaceful change. Far too many like the place in which they are now. Having worked themselves up in the corrupt administration. Headed up by the corrupt individuals and the specific individual in DC. The man who is intent on shredding this nation, rending it asunder. Literally and figuratively, be it by words or actions of violence, or destruction. Of important pieces of who we are, of buildings critical to our image and ethos, to our history.  Morals, thoughts, principles. of the America we once knew. Once we thought to be with us forever.  With stupidity. Laziness. Selfishness. Unthinking. We allowed this to happen. And we are reaping the awful consequences of that untoward behavior that we exhibited. Inevitably deeming and delivering ourselves, our families and friends, our neighbors. our country, and the world into an ugliness which seems impossible. And yet. What else can one think?

Widen your vision to take in the nations of the Third World. Even of the Second World. It begins with protests. Brutally put down by police and then armed soldiers. Of the nation. In the name of law and order. Someone in the government, either the one in place or someone who wishes to take his place, then imposes martial law upon the nation. With a vicious venom. After all that, blame can be laid upon any nearby person or group.  Not so gradually that nation turns rotten. A state of dictatorship. Of people of lost hope. Of a depression national in scope. And that wafts in the air, along with the remnants of tear gas and pepper spray. The echoes of bullets and flashes. Eventually consuming another nation. And another nation. And another nation. We, the nations of the West thought that we were immune to this. After all, other than under King George the Third we have had a democracy here. We have always elected our leaders. They have not been imposed upon us, although I tend to question whether that statement is so or not.

But those wafts of poison, of depression, of violence, of repression and protest continue on their way. They seemingly are unable to be stopped. And in fact, rather than die away over there, they appear to strengthen themselves. Feeding upon the ugliness of the nations over whom they pass, and the sounds and the smells are ever clearer, ever louder. Almost before one even understands what   we have allowed to happen, we are involved in the midst of protests gone nuclear. We are not quite there yet in this country. But for sure, folks, we're getting there. At an ever-faster pace. With ever stronger emotions. And few limitations.

What comes next in this posting is a topic I have been thinking for quite some time.  But I have been pushing it out of my mind for how could this be? Not even he. the embodiment of those who would destroy this nation, even he? Has it reached that point? Is this what has happened and is happening and will be happening into the near and possibly not so near future.

Perhaps in an effort to prove to myself that I am not thinking and fearing that which should never be, which can never be, and yet is. Read the following. taken from various media. And then I will make my statement. Shocking myself as I put it into visible words. And yet. What else is left?

The following are words of the media. No effort has been taken to alphabetize or to organize by topic. Simply typing them out in the same order as I found them. Heard them. Or put them in a pile.

"Big companies and firms behind the app have ties to each other and Trump."

(That app would be the American app which apparently is not to be so American. To be the majority, it will be held by foreign nations and individuals, 80% by China.)

"In Minneapolis I glimpsed a civil war?"

"Investors flock back to hedge fund."

"Beijing has intensified its oversight of the technology industry. "

"The coming Trump crack up."

"Americans who protest are ordinary citizens."

"To halt Trump's abuse of power. Vote."

 "5 fronts in Trump's culture war: The Smithsonian Institution; Federal architecture; The Federal Communications Commission; The National Endowment for the Arts/National Endowment for the Humanities. The Kennedy Center." (Details are available anywhere you might feel yourself able to look.)

"A warning of American despair."

"Officials combating China Tech pushed out."

"Trump can't tolerate peace and quiet."

"Tensions unleash Roller Coaster Week in markets."

"Canada's Carney infuriates Trump."

"... A template on how to stand up to the Trump administration's. bullying. Just as the president was   threatening Europe with retribution." (Re Greenland. ETC.")  

A two page plus pictograph of the highly dubious. connections between Trump and all the people with whom he has huckster ties with, enriching them all, from whatever nation of origin. Oh, so edifying to contemplate!  Arab nations. His own family. China, and on and on. All connected in a spider web of ugliness. Not to forget corruptions.

"A year in Trump's economy is worse than the numbers."

"A speech skews the US role in Greenland's history and NATO. "

Trump's open persecution of his opponents. The weaponization of his government to choose and bring to trial those who do not belong in any trials. All for his merriment and oversized love of revenge and retribution.

"Trump puts himself atop Global Panel for peace." (Please note that he is the one single individual with the power to approve and disapprove any statement, any action, any decision emanating from that Board.  In the service of peace? More likely to service his needs and greed and those who join in.)   

"Years under Trump: Claims. Forces and Distortions: Foreign policy; Economy. Trade. Executive power. (That one's a real pip.) Immigration." (And much, much more.)

"Trump's politics are not America First. They're me first."

"Please, world leaders. Don't appease the US."

"Trump's threats to the world order."

A developing crisis for our children. Fringe doctors praising and pushing for independent decision whether to vaccinate a child, exposing all children to horrible diseases we once had eliminated. To horrible consequences for a lifetime. Even unto death.

For invading, yes, invading states of the Union. Vowing with his prissy mouth, stiff head, his nonfunctioning deteriorating body and equally shattered mind, and in his mental deliria vows to ramp it all up. To do even worse. Even against the words of senators, congressmen governors. And citizens of America.

Last but not least. "Trump's plundering of America.- how the president has pocketed.   $1,408, 500, 000." 

Here, folks, we come to the crux of the problem. Of the matter that has been eating away at me for some time. Though he has tried to stifle complaints and accusations, he cannot stifle it all as it grows apace. More and more people are seeing what I have been seeing. In addition to the blatant corruption that has compromised his entire administration, other thoughts are being "thunk", thoughts which should never be in play if all was right with our world.     

For some time now I have been trying to keep the words back. Cancel the thoughts. But it's not possible. For everything adds up to that one shocking thought. These words. These thoughts. are not spoken of in polite society. Possibly whispered about in circles of power and concern.  So much is wrong within this nation. Trump is most probably the point of origin for all that is wrong in his administration, for all that has managed to get together the most incompetent crew ever, all so busily chewing away at our foundations, I thought there would be an end. But I now believe it is more than that. And for the worst reason of all.

This man and the people around him have been thirsting always for wealth, power, and influence. Little people in every which way that counts. But big in his administration. He tried once to keep himself and his foul people in play, but thanks to the brave people who fought back, common citizens, the Capitol Police, this attempt was beaten back. However, that ambition remains and I see no reason, no hindrance to trying this a second time.   Aided and abetted by the fact that he now holds all reins of power, including those belonging to the armed forces, and has already deployed them. So why would he stop? We have very clearly seen the many who eagerly joined in the fray already, given free rein to kill and maim at their will. 

Inciting a rebellion. No, he did not try to incite it. he did incite it. But thanks to the brave people of the Capitol Police and others in the crowd, it was stopped. And he had to back down. There is nothing at present to stop him from doing this. Exponentially more powerful than he has been at the first attempt. before.

I can understand some who commit treason, are traitors to the nation - For political, philosophical reasons. They might be wrong. But at least there was somewhat of a purity, even a surface purity to it, however. this man is willing, has turned traitor. to this nation for the reasons of monetary accumulation. To his bottom line. It is for the filthiest motivation ever. in the history of this nation. His arrogance. His dangerous tactics. Every single thing that he has done and will do. Is connected to the accumulation. To that bottom line. 

I was willing to believe that at the very bottom somewhere squashed in there. was an element of loyalty to this nation. But now I believe there is none. Nothing if ever was.  Definitely absent at the present time. And for all time, I believe.

There, I said it aloud.

Dare I go further? Yes. In for a penny, in for a pound. Despite my reluctance to reach this conclusion the man continues to sell this nation and the world down some river where we will be powerless. Down the road down the river to China. Allows room for Putin to come in. 

Yes, there was nothing else to say other than this conclusion. So. Not a man in the full sense of the word. A man of no morals. A man true only to himself and his bottom line. All actions he takes Have one goal in mind. To increase his monetary worth.  

No.

Yes.

The man is a traitor to the very nation he is sworn to serve and protect. To guard with his life.

He is loyal only to himself and his bottom line.

First, last and always.

Woe upon us.

So, it was yesterday.

So, it is today.

And God help us. if so, it is tomorrow.

NO JOY IN MUDVILLE TODAY

Sorry, folks. At the end, the posting disappeared, eaten by my computer and evidently not giving it back Going to take a mini vacation and be back on Sunday. Feeling under the  weather anyway. 

Have a great weekend and stay warm. Be careful of frostbite in the frigid temperatures, witjh Baltimore ad Chicago being hit bad with negative double digits real feel.

HELLO? ANYONE OUT THERE? HELLO?

  I am not quite sure at this moment as to the answer. to a question which must be asked. Is there anyone out there in the great mass of American citizens who has kept a more or less sane thinking process, who knows how to question and demand reasonable justification and purpose of a proposed idea? If anyone had asked me just a year or two ago if we would be seriously discussing a criminal raid upon the national integrity of another nation, an ally of this country for decades, with serious and absolutely insane policy and the greedy "I want it, so I must have it" attitude of a spoiled brat, entitled beyond any boundaries we have ever come across in any President or serious legislator of America, quite frankly I would have recommended a 72 hour psych evaluation and observation hold on that person. 

Not to forget those who follow along, justifying the unjustifiable, the unthinkable, until dementia ruled the day here in DC and elsewhere in the land of sycophantic berserkers  incapable of thinking for themselves  and distinguishing between bold and insane, between true justification of an unimaginable step and ones of sheer madness, never to be raised in the halls and rooms of policymakers until such conditions, if ever, arise which justify and explain the outrageous remarks and plans being bruited about as if  they were sane from the beginning, necessitated by a crucial shift  and a policy implementation imperatively woven intimately with our very survival. No alternative, no matter how distasteful and outrageous the newly proposed idea is.  

Needless to say, but it must be stated loud and clear, this is not the case here. To actually first. whisper about an insane idea, to simply take, steal, a huge part of the territory of a long-term ally, or even the land of an enemy when there is no declared war, is abominable and unthinkable. Utter madness to even think or give voice to within a world in a supposed state of peace and adhering to legalities. Yet here we are, discussing openly, the bitter policy moves upon a nation, an ally, totally against the wishes of its residents, and that includes many of us. Americans, who have retained our minds and not fallen prey to the apparent mesmerizing trait of an insane brute of one with no boundaries, no limits of sanity and righteousness around to impede the throes of madness and their implementations. 

This madness is frighteningly similar to the utter madness and ego driven character of such as Hitler, who also thought he was the ruler of the world, all subject to his insanity and evil, with no dissent allowed. Opponents harried and worse, and those who deny this similarity, simply take a true look around and check the boxes. Imprisonment of opponents, mad rants and chants, demands and threats. Targeting of groups for deportation, imprisonment, degradation.  and even open season for violence and death. Desire and actions to shatter the Justice system and the laws of the nation. Weaponization of the government, aimed at the opposition. Destroy the legal structure of the nation.   

 Strange moods. Mad rantings. Word salads.  paranoid accusations. Open signs of madness encroaching heavily into the structure and functioning of his troubled and twisted mind. A physical state of being equally shattered.  The fear he has managed to infuse into the thinking and behavior of too many. The utter desolation and depression overlaying the entire United States. Along with much, most, of the rest of the world.  

His behavior. His expressions of twisted desires emanating from a damaged mind, intensified by his demand for entitlement and indulgences. Morally deficient. Mentally challenged. Emotionally wrong. Expressed desires and the 'righteousness ' of them. To rule the world. To force all to do as he says. 

That last one is more frightening. and so indicative of much as to what has gone wrong in this nation and in this world. Over the past decade he has ramped up his influence, unbelievably won a second term as president, and did even worse than the first term. Feeling unfettered, unlimited, in his quest for predominance, to take over the world, to become a literal king and force all to do as he says; it's frightening to say the least. 

It is more so when these ridiculous radical statements of his, the spoiled brat behavior, the wresting of land from others, his unbelievable ability to force other nations, experienced leaders, scholars who know history, to fall in line, to actually seriously discuss his insane desires - it frightens me to the marrow of my bones. It is not "merely” the land grab of Greenland. It is the fact that he has an entire world seriously discussing the granting him his so vastly illegal, immoral, dangerous outrageous land grab of Greenland on the pretext that it is imperative for the defense of HIS nation - my nation - and I reject that falsehood.

 In a time of weapons. capable of flying extremely long distances, or extremely short and low height distances, of advanced weapons once unheard of, able to kill without a single shot, the presence or absence of political control over an island off the coast will have barely if any effect on the defense of this nation. Should it ever even come to that? 

Denmark and Greenland on are our allies, long term. Never a problem. Until now. The truth of the matter is that even if worried that this nation is the crux, the hinge of our defense, which it is not, it would not work that way. In fact, it would hinder us with a line of supply difficult to maintain. Reinforcement of my troops would be highly impacted in a negative manner. It would be a rerun of our defeat in the Philippines in WWII.  The deaths of our soldiers. Our nurses. Civilians. We do not need another such experience. We do not need another Bataan Death March. In fact, we do not need nor have a legal right to Greenland, to wrest it from its parent Denmark. It is not ours and never was, and we have no right to it now. Ever. 

In this mad campaign to steal a piece of a nation, and to do so with the permission of the robbed nation and the acquiescence of the. world, is total anathema. I feel the chills within me. This echo of the outrageous behavior of Hitler. The weak responses of the nations of the world as he was allowed, indulged in his mad rhetoric of threats and actions, over and over and over again to violate the integrity of nations without penalty. Without so much as a hand raised against it. Sudetenland. Czechoslovakia. Free Danzig. Austria. And finally. when the nations of the world finally realized that the time had come, long past time, to put up or shut up, they were already behind the eight ball, and it was only at a huge cost that Germany was finally defeated. 

When one dictator of crazed ambition is not halted in his tracks, it simply postpones the inevitable and encourages other nations to walk the same crooked path. There are those among us overly impressed with their own egos. of being geniuses and righteous rulers. Only, though, within their own minds. Allowing them to fulfill every tainted and destructive dream and ambition of theirs, we are only condemning ourselves. Postponing the inevitable. Giving in at the beginning and then talking as if a great deed was accomplished, well, keep in mind Chamberlain's "Peace in our time" and its utter futility. To indulge is to empower and to rock the existential plane of the world. A bad, very bad idea and track.   

We must be aware and alert. Watch for the signs of a mind deteriorating. Watch for outrageous demands. Be careful of those who are giving too easily. To get, find, our way back, is ever so much more difficult. If even possible. To give in is to fail the people over the world. To stand firm is to defeat a bully and to save the world. Folks. We have trouble, right here in River City., and unless we attempt to heal our city, us, the people, the nation, the world, we will have conceded the battle and the war. We cannot heal ourselves if we remain purposely blind to the need, the immediate need to act, promptly, with vigor and determination. Then the difficult task of return to sanity and rejection of false leaders and liars of the first order. If we try to shirk our responsibilities, we will have only ourselves to blame for the disaster which will befall us.  

I am including several quotes which came out of the Davos Conference. You read them and you tell me. Is this sanity? Is this the truth? Do we not see and recognize madness when we see and hear it? We need leaders who will lead us upon the right ways through life. Frankly, we need younger fresher minds, open to the truth, who are not seeking wealth and power, but to actually engage in public service, to serve the nation. Once we had them. Where have they gone?

"I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland."

"She just rubbed me the wrong way." (In connection with the crazed tariff he threw at Switzerland!!)

"Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements." (The Prime Minister of Canada who stated that US led world order was over. And he is right - Trump gave it up!)

Discussion over the demand of Tromp that the US have literal dominance of the land upon which their bases are, over the world!)

I have said it over and over again. There are legal ways with which we can save ourselves. Gather the proof - not difficult and plentiful. Then take these false leaders, including Trump, possibly the worst one for us at this moment, and take him and the rst of them through the legal process. Imprison or put out to pasture as decided by these who are to judge his guilt or not. Do so with every false leader. Until we finally get what we need to rebuild a better world. 

So, it was yesterday. 

So, it remains today. 

So, it will be in proper tomorrows. 

And again. 

All on us.    

IS IT? THINK ABOUT IT AND BE HONEST

  With deference to two young ladies whom I dearly love, who expressed some difficulty in absorbing some of the messages and its words of transmission via some of my postings, I have decided this might be a good time to simply pose some questions, maybe along with some answers. See if we can reach some kind of understanding, and perhaps submission, admission, acceptance and/or refusal and denial as to what we think, right or wrong, as to what we can observe, absorb, be it right or wrong. And what we must sit down and have a serious talk with our inner selves and come to a realization. What realization, you ask? Who knows, for the human mind is adept at disregarding unpleasant truths or acquiescing in beliefs we hold dear against all comers. Against all evidence to the contrary.

Some of our beliefs and thoughts, our evaluations, are wrong, or partly wrong or right, or totally off the balance beam of sanity in one way or direction or another. Or we might find ourselves dithering, caught in a moment of confusion and perhaps denial as to the truth of the current state of affairs. Perhaps, in asking and answering these questions, having the courage to dig deep within, one might actually find some relief and justification that we have been seeking for a long, long time. Maybe. Maybe not. But worth a try. 

Is it true that the United States is in one of its most difficult periods ever in its history.

Agree or disagree? What are the reasons you believe this is so, or not so? Try them out. Weigh and apply the facts, the details, of events and statements. What fits and what rings loud, interfering with thoughts, jangling, irritating. Which you must address. And neither silence nor justify against all logic and evidence otherwise. 

Is it true? What people say, are beginning to say, or are saying more and more? That our President has entered a land of delirium and dangerous manic behavior? Where he claims royalty and privileges denied to the common people. Who is equally as threatening as those who dream of a World Caliphate and wreak havoc as they attempt to make it a reality, even as this man and his coterie of baa, baa black sheep is actually consolidating his powers, climbing rung after rung to complete control in an autocracy such as we have never thought nor believed to be possible, certainly not in The United States of America!   

People in this nation, people all over the world. have empowered him with what should never have been given, not and never his. Acting upon fear of his blustery words, but when pushed back, he did, does, what all bullies do. They retreat, seek out acceptable and convenient scapegoats, blaming it all on them, incorrect information and advice and he is innocent of all blame and responsibility.     Now he is beginning to claim that he spoke what he did, acted as he did with Greenland because he had been given false information. Once again, he absolves himself from blame and throws his scapegoats under the wheels of that homicidal bus.  Absolved of all the blood and the harm that he has left behind. 

 His rule grows stronger and stronger with each capitulation of others to his demands. Every time. the legislators of this nation bow down before him and refuse to condemn him for his violations of the Constitution. For his egregious offenses against the ethos of this nation. We step ever closer to total and complete annihilation of the entity known as America, the standard bearer for democracy. As nations give validity to his insane utterances and ambitions, as they so futilely engage in attempts guaranteed to fail, for he knows no boundaries and exercises no restrictions on his ambitions, so entrenched in the world of his own making that he hears no one and never will, unless and until we use the power of the law, it's awesome power there for us, to impeach this man,  remove the world from the peril he poses to all via his insanity. No blood, some muss as for sure there will be those in this nation who already are engaged in inciting Civil War, using barbaric methods to inflict harm upon those who displease their Leader. Use the law to bring him and his damage, his erroneous ambitions, down and out. Use the law against this man and save the nation and the people within, all legal and the best way in which to turn us back to the proper paths through life in the least threatening manner.

Or is it true that we are misunderstanding of this man? Perhaps when the future looks back onto our time of today, he will be designated as a great man who was ahead of his time. Or seriously lacking in the mores of sane and civilized society. A man who literally and figuratively engaged in the destruction of the most powerful democratic nation ever, in the history of mankind and tore down its physical monuments as well. You research and think. 

Is this president a man of his words? In which case he can be trusted. Even to the point of endangerment to our very lives. Or is it so very clearly, manifestly outrageous to do that, to commit oneself to a man who in fact poses great peril to all who cross his path and displease him. 

Is it true or not, and please back up with actual events, that this man is in the midst of subverting. the basic foundations of this nation. Causing us to crumble day by day. Bit by bit. More and more. What will emerge at the end of the crumbling? Is it true that no one can actually see that clearly through to the end? Too difficult to comprehend? To accept as the path of our history? Inevitable and unstoppable.

Is the quarrel that this man has picked with our allies of NATO, our allies in keeping this world in one piece rather than shattering, able to remain sane in any which way? Country against country. Tribe against tribe. Man against Man. The inevitable ending for those who cannot see their way clear to the truth, unpleasant as it is, but so desperately in need of remediation.

In other words, is it right? Is it acceptable? Implicitly understood. That a powerful nation might feel, mistakenly or not, that it can take on the world, can impose its desires, its greed and hunger for Lebensraum for itself on others? As if history has taught us nothing!

Are we hearing the truth about our economy and the realization of what is actually happening, rather than what seems to be happening. We are now living off the benefits of what came before. Of the strong economy we had. Even though prices had risen, prices are rising again. But they are disguised, buried under the tariffs. Claiming that we are not being affected by it. 

So very, very erroneous in that thinking. All overseen by a man openly disdainful of obeying laws of a nation, who engages in his own financial deals, forbidden to do so by our laws, But, I guess, it is never mind, for those laws he is so brutally breaking, he is putting the world on in yet another historical wrong path of trade wars in which case no one wins, for all are losers. We must make him and his realize that the true power of the laws remain with us, in our hands, subject only to our courage or cowardice with regard to the legal and lawful manner, way overdue, to an impeachment, indictment, conviction and removal from office. Sent out to a gentle pasture while we organize ourselves and get back on track.  

The famous words of President Abe Lincoln warned us that a house divided against itself cannot long stand. Certainly not in strength, not in any certainty of survival. When great chasms splinter a nation into ever smaller and smaller fractions, the outlook for survival is dim, to say the least. Each fraction insisting on its viewpoints, opens the door for worse to come. We are looking at that moment, at the end of a once great nation. Through the centuries we have seen the collapse of great empires. We are not immune to the meaning of that history. To its truth. We in the United States of America of 2026 are not immune to the lessons of history, even as we have absorbed all the wrong messages and lessons of history and decided to wade our way through the inevitable muck. And we will find nought but woes and disappointment at the end of it all.

In fact, is it true, that we are now at the beginning of the end? That we have systematically crossed off path after path of possible revival. Of acceptable truths. And despicable lies. We wildly burn every bridge, every tunnel behind us. Forcing us to go forward. Into what is simply not there. To contemplate the actuality and truth of what there is out there, has proven to be too difficult for us to accept, so we act ignorant and plunge ever deeper into the morass we have made of our national life. 

Even if all this, all these questions, carry at least a modicum of truth, and acceptance of that truth, whether we like it or not, whether we wish to think that way or not, accept that or not, is it permissible to publicly, in the media or some form of communication, attack those who have wrought this condition? Settled it upon us. And then go blithely on their merry old way, deaf and dumb  to what they have caused. Or worse, congratulatory to themselves for their rather dubious achievements.

Is it the way of civility to honor not necessarily the man or the woman in office, but the office itself? In other words, even if one has the highest level of contempt and concern, must we temper our reactions and criticism in the name of the office?    Or is it better, in fact, to let it all hang out. To see, to hear, to speak, to know. To act. With and upon truth.

And the key question in particular is whether or not can we trust the word, the promises, the “guarantees” that emerge from this mouth but somehow never find their way to completion in reality, to the end promised. To the middle and means promised. How many times has he sworn to bring down the wrath of hell upon Hamas, Hezbollah, any entity which refuses to obey his every command.

 How many times has he opened 'war' on Iran? Promised the brave Protesters that he has their back, so continue with their actions. And left them to be shot, to be killed, to be tortured and imprisoned by the thousands, literally thousands.  Read the promises he has made to Israel, that they were free to go in and finish the job should the terrorists violate the cease fire? Which never actually ceased fire. And yet. Israel has been told to restrain from the promises given and wait - for what? Only Trump knows, it seems. Or, more rightly so perhaps he himself does not know. Nor does he care for anything, in fact, other than proving and exercising his power. His might. And the achievement of all he desires, salivating at the mouth at the thought.  

Few and far between are the number of people and nations who can see through the clouds of obfuscation round his every word. It seems there is no limit to the number of leaders he attempts, and too often succeeds, in bringing down to the floor in their fear of him and his wild outbursts and claims of legitimacy for his oh so very illegitimate perversions of the machinery of government and possibilities of actions. It is the rare nation and cadre of leaders who can see clearly past his blustering, who can slog through all of the filth, all the lies, and understand his exact ambitions and goals and how far he can be pushed back, forced to reset and relent, finding others to blame, for he is eternally blameless.   

With such as he as heads of nations, with the power and the future in their hands, it is imperative that we all reset. Find those better equipped to handle the necessities, who understand truth. We are in dire need of such. People who know how to talk, to compromise, to be positive and forward looking. Who reject the constant turn to violence or "little" wars solving nothing.  We need peacemakers who understand the complexities of being such, and the rewards as peace, fair and equitable, breaks out. Those who are good peacemakers also will be good leaders at war, but prefer peace and goodwill, for a well-tuned world, rather than one constantly embroiled in warfare.  

Is it true, in fact, that we have lost our way? That we have compromised our integrity. Trashed our principles. And based new ways of thinking upon walls which will bear no weight of any consequence, have no possibility of remaining structurally sound under the truth of the pressures of the world today.

The world of yesterday had many troubles. It was not perfect. We repeated error after error, refusing to see our way clear into the lessons learned from history. As a result, we have heaved ourselves into a today most clearly dangerous to the survival of mankind. or even if to survive, it would be in conditions most hostile to our hopes of a better tomorrow. One where we can reach out, discuss and compromise, seek to understand rather than impose.  

We have walked down a long way on the road to perdition. The way back is too far in the distance to espy a tiny little bit of light. The darkness ahead is unable to be pierced, is intimidating beyond description. How do ever find a way out or is it in fact way too late for that possibility and we will have to forge onward and deal with what we must. Who knows? Perhaps it will be a Back to the Future in a good way!

Perhaps we will actually come to understand at least a bit more, know how we have fallen to this level. How we have in pathetic manner fallen to the lowest levels attributed to mankind. We have chosen immorality rather than that which is tight.  Discarded altruism. Embraced selfishness and greed.  We have ceded control of our lives to the most undeserving.  Mortgaged our futures. To the most unqualified bankers.  

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

Time. To sit up. To stand up and speak out. For the future.  For what we know is right, and reject those who have already rejected us, forfeited our todays and tomorrows for the ugliest parts of yesterday. .

What the hell are we doing?

What the hell have we done?

Is it the truth we are denying?

Is it the truth we must accept if we are to find our way out? And soon.

Yesterday, today, tomorrow. 

All so confused.    

So much more difficult, disturbing and discouraging. 

On us, folks.

All on us.

Ours to fix; ours to lose.

All on us. 

TARIFF KING PEACEMAKER DESTROYER OF NATO AND EU INVADER OF NATIONS DICTATOR AND THE DEVIL INCCARNATE

  And the Destroyer of the once upon a time praised and powerful nation. The legendary much admired and emulated democracy, a role model for the world, setting a standard so high, of such height that one wondered how it was ever attained and maintained. Nations of the world looked towards it for support, for advice, for straight thinking and talk, for compassion and advice, with proper goals for all to attempt to imitate. 

It was a country held up as a savior, a rescuer of the world in gravely threatening wars and conflicts which had engulfed the world, to the point of a vast change in the world order. Via its extraordinary efforts, manpower, equipment, determination and     strength, it took on even a larger role in the life and wellbeing of this globe and directed much of its path through the years. It contributed a great deal to mankind in every field known to man and was a leader in many of the areas of concern to humanity, investigated and researched for a better life for all.

It was a nation welcoming of all, for all, accepted all into its ranks, were grateful for their contributions from the sciences to the arts and everywhere in between. We became that which all aspired to and was greatly appreciated for the defense we presented against the evil nations of the world who wished only to convey, impel, and inflict all that was wrong on nations they deemed weaker, open to being conquered, dominated, and face defeat and death at their cruel hands and selfish goals.

Then something terrible happened. We lost our way. We became selfish. Forgot that we were one nation. All together. We became selfish beyond any possible expectation. Once we were a country, a nation composed of those who thought the way we had been taught to think. To respect our founding principles. Our ethos. To better the world for our being in and of it. To accept with open arms and good wishes, positive feelings for and to all who wished to be part of us, join with us to facilitate their dreams, and ours, and to continue to benefit other nations with our efforts and beneficial aims and goals.

Our ways became selfish and self-seeking. We became greedy and overpowering, too sure of what we thought, as the only right way, and we began to impose our will and wishes on others, caring little for their needs and aims. In short, we forgot who we were and who we were supposed to be. 

But far worse was coming our way and all of our own making. We began to mistrust those who were brighter and more responsible than we were and/or wanted and settled for people of lesser quality to take upon themselves the roles of leaders. They were so not what they purported to be. Some   actually were benign, but the spiral was a descending one and the quality never leveled off at a doable level but continued on its perpetual descent and look what we got out of this mess. The worst platoon of pseudo leaders this nation has ever gotten together at one and the same time. 

Most of us would be hard put to come up with the names of five or 10 people who actually take their duties and responsibilities to the nation seriously. Most of us would be hard put to come up with the names of any legislators of quality who were able to remain in office despite being named as targets of the worst president ever, who weaponized the entire administration to carry out attacks upon any and all who dared to disobey him or contradict his words. To double the problem, he appointed morons of the first order to head departments of which they knew nothing and continue to know even less.  

And so, we have ended up with the man who takes many names from the title, and we are certainly not blessed in that occurrence. Not at all. 

Not yesterday, not today, and tomorrow looks even worse.

More on the morrow.        

VENTING iii -- I WISH IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE

Does it ever end? Will it ever end or is there no end to the malfeasance and dementia of this man. This pathetic man who pats himself on the back for weird and dangerous statements and policies, for paragraphs that amount to complete word salads and grins like a Cheshire Cat as he holds the stolen/blackmailed meaningless Nobel Prize from a peace activist who had to escape from her native land in order to collect it.

 In a staged photo of him holding the Prize, standing beside the true and deserving awardee, with one of his ugly prissy grins, smug in what he thinks he has done - pulled the wool over the eyes of all, convinced they would believe he won it, fair and square. But know this fact: None of the eight wars he claims he has ended, brokered a permanent peace, have actually ended their wars and in fact have resumed them almost immediately upon his departure, even raising the temperatures on those battlefields to higher than they had ever been, before his meddling, destructive interference. 

So, say goodbye to those attempted hallucinations, to convince all of his goodness and righteousness, of his meaning to do well for this nation, and on to the rest of his criminally careless and confusing verbal attempts to foil all that works, all that is good in this world of ours, all that tries to implant some optimism, and meet with success in these efforts. To generate hope and faith in the possibility of and for a safe and pleasant future and a fair and equitable conduct to all, from all. 

If one is desperate or foolish enough to find something with any kind of a positive overtone and wish to imply a connection, an overtone to this   highly dangerous man, this opponent of any possibility of a turn to the good, to the positive, they had better shake their heads powerfully and regain their senses and the truth of what they see, and know, that corrective actions are desperately in need of immediate STAT and ASAP remediation.

And it doesn't end there, folks. No way does it end there. The news media is overwhelmed by the crap he lays out upon this world and the people who live within. The reality of Civil War within this nation, grows ever stronger, looming ever closer to a realistic horrid, frightening historic event. People have laid odds, betting that this will indeed happen.

He eggs on his beasts of ICE. To become even more brutal. Crueler than ever before and congratulates them when they increase the level of fear and hurt, to frightful levels of violence, even death. Worse than that is how many people have joined in eagerly, wading into the bloody melees with vigor and enthusiasm, well equipped with weapons, how many are willing, eager, to believe the worst of the victims, the targets of these brutal    instigators, hoodlums all. 

People forget that this nation was built upon and with the energies and enthusiasm of immigrants, how we welcomed them into our midst, intermarried with their offspring. We have forgotten or disclaimed the truth that we too descend from immigrants, are proud of that heritage, and from that we created a vibrant society, a united society. Until we allowed the filth within the haters of others to permeate our nation, heeded the voices and perversions of the lowest of the low, and allowed this all, their inner ugliness, their blackened souls, to corrupt ours, the air we breathed, allowed this corruption to filthy up and influence our ways and thoughts. 

All these wrong steps we took, the giant steps into the wrong paths, the nasty ways in which we treated and related to each other, added up to a gross debit and turned this nation into what it is today. A nation of people who expected and   accepted the worst out of us, out of and from themselves. We spurned and rejected our own history, demeaned and denied it. Trashed our own history, the pride we once had in it. We tore into our Constitution and befouled our Declaration of Independence. We turned against our own principles and refuted the values of the nation, its proud history and instead heaped all the stinking mud the wrong among used to bring us down to the shameful level we have 'gifted' to ourselves.  

We must page through our yesterdays,

"Rediscover the pride we so righteously and   deservedly had in ourselves, in our todays.

Take pride in the tomorrows we can and must rebuild, to heal this wounded nation and the world at large.