YEAH! WHY NOT? WHY NOT!!

  And there it is. Well, there it was, but whatever the tense, that was the moment in which I signed on to blog writing. My blog. My opinions and thoughts. If someone, anywhere, was interested in what I wrote, that was a plus. However, for me it was a sanity saving device, putting a halt to shouting at the paper and/or the tv screen.  It was my outlet. Others did the same so why not me?

 People pushed me to do so and hey, this is a free country, is it not - or it was, once upon a time, pre-Trump and his gang. Hence, the conclusion and the result: my almost daily blog postings leading to an unbelievable blog site, no advertising, no seeking ads. This is and was to be my outlet, with no undue influence or pressure from ought, other than myself.

In the beginning, I wondered. Who would actually read what I wrote? Would actually find what I wrote! And who would care? Did I think that someone would actually pay attention?   How did people actually find it and continue to do so?  This question was particularly on target at the beginning, for it basically began as a result of frustration in the immediate case of a dictator minor tyrant here in the Village, the mismanagement, the damage to my place of retirement, the insecurities generated by this critter and his egregious mismanagement, causing great harm to both monetary survival along with social survival of our small piece of paradise on a  budget for we who lived here. 

Only after his exit from this plain of existence was a total picture uncovered and the work ongoing to repair the damage left behind by years of his mismanagement and neglect. A great start and the massive undertaking are well on their way, under new auspices, along with fresh thinking and proper attention. 

Gradually over the years, blog content began to skew in a different direction with more general observations. What exactly was happening in this nation? What was happening in the world? And particularly anything relevant to Israel. The concerns grew in the width and depth. This nation apparently lost its way, forgot its underpinnings, cut itself loose from its historical roles, much to its detriment. 

My concern of local, national and world affairs became entangled with my own self-examination and evaluation. This was a natural step to take as one ages and looks back. Tries to define one's legacy, if any indeed be there. To make amends. To raise one's voice. In hopes of somehow, some way, leaving this world a better place for me having been here. Have I succeeded? Not for me to tell. I hope, and I will continue to hope and to try. Perhaps to succeed to some degree and within those efforts and those of likeminded individuals in these efforts, that we can indeed develop a certainty that there is hope for a future of mankind. For a series of tomorrows better than our yesterdays and todays. 

Frankly. I am proud of my efforts and hope to continue to move forward on this road. That forward movement will be closely tied to this blog and my writings within. Somehow, some way, I have managed to make contact with literally thousands of people. Both in this country and around the world. How has this happened? Not a clue. Why people continue to read my daily postings. perhaps because they agree with me, share the same concerns. Or perhaps they disagree vehemently with me. And are keeping track. Does that sound paranoid? Well, this is 2025. A second term of a demented and cruel dangerous man. A man who refuses to acknowledge truth. Who grows the streak of cruelty ever larger and deeper within his soul. Whose rate of unpopularity is growing by leaps and bounds. Even as he has paralyzed the lawmakers of this nation, using fear and intimidation as his weapons of war. Along with the growing dissolution of the structure of this nation.

These days, generally after, if I have written a rather over the top posting, I do indeed have that little niggling worm of uncertainty. Will someone actually point me out to him? Will he sic his forces of intimidation upon me? Lordy, but I hope not. but this world today, this man ...  However, I do hope that someone, somewhere perusing this blog and its contents will have a fire lit within and step forward. To lead this world back to sanity. Back to an atmosphere of hope, of proper forward progression. Not backwards movement disguised as one of true positive maneuverings.

What I do know is that this world is once again a hostile place. Concerns of safety and continued existence. Concerns over the poor qualities of leaders of the world. The worry for people of sanity. For people who are Jewish. For immigrants run out of town, tarred and feathered. For all those now deemed the "other”, legitimate targets. For the rampant and toxic hate overwhelming the peoples of the world. For our challenged and neglected planet. The overwhelming necessity, critical, to retrench. To reevaluate. To replace all that is no good with that which is good. And encouraging. And hope inducing. All to take deep root within all of us and return us to at least a modicum of sanity and humanity.  

  Do I seriously think that someone of power and influence will let loose the dogs of war upon me? No. However, there are moments of chills down my spine, wondering, always, how far will we fall before we regain and reestablish our proper steady footing. There is now unbelievable, but so sadly true, an over layer rife with sparks of fear within our society. Frankly, when a crazed cruel man has been set in place, given scepter and orb, set loose, to wreak havoc, ...   Well, read that sentence again. 

Understand where we are. Understand what we must do. Understand the necessity of the timing. The minions of hate, of dictatorship, of destruction of democracy and denial of rights to all humanity, must be replaced with leaders of the proper view, the proper work ethic and determination to right the wrongs now profuse over and in this world of ours.

There are no longer off year elections. Every single one gives us further opportunity to heal our wounds, to return to America. To a world not enmeshed in hate and competition.   

Either we take advantage of the moments able to foster proper change, or we forfeit it all.

Our yesterdays, todays and tomorrows are merging into one blob, shapeless and ominous. Unless we become activists of reshaping and reformation, all our days, all our histories, will be lost to us. 

It is up to us. To you. To me. To our kids. To the peoples of the world. 

Woe upon us if we shirk our duties.

Time grows shorter and shorter.   

     

PEPPER AND SALT DOES IT AGAIN

  You just have to love this cartoon. 99 times out of 100 it hits the spot. It makes one both laugh and almost cry sometimes with its truth. Yesterday's entry did exactly that. “There are no sure things. There are probabilities, possibilities and OMGS.” 

 To understand why that is so, simply check out the front page of any major newspaper and magazine which reports current events. If you prefer, visit sites of social media and tally up and evaluate the reports. Understand the ugly truths of this world we occupy and know this is one weird world we live in. 

Here's a good one.

 Soon there will be a national law regarding the renewal of driver licenses for those over 70, with several different brackets and groupings, with varied requirements including a cognitive test for some. Certainly interesting, as one must wonder as to why we check the cognition of those wishing to drive after a certain age, yet we do not demand a cognitive assessment for the same aged man now the ostensible leader of this nation, G-d help us. A man patently, manifestly, openly, extremely demented. To the point where he cannot function at all without threats, without lies. A brazen, dangerous sly fool of clear intent to assume the role of Leader for Life of this nation and never mind its traditional democracy. Old news, time to change.   Make your choice. Take your choice. The danger is there. Even as no one checks his driving ability to steer this nation on a safe road, obeying the rules of the road and not endangering others on the same road. Clearly not our current situation.  

Instead, we have a man who creates and fabricates. Lies, half-truths, wrongful interpretation. No holds barred, no limits on the sheer outlandish verbiage.   Yet he continues to ensnare others into his rather ugly world, even as there are some sparks for returning sanity to some GOP toadies and some courage seeping into the spineless Democrats who continue to refuse to take righteous stands on so many levels and topics. All the lies and egregiously immoral behavior of Trump are now returning to bite him in his rather large rearend, i.e. Epstein, the economy, the threats of trade wars with the EU, etc.   

Take note of the astounding almost perfect record of the appointments of absolute incompetents to positions of great responsibility. Who have no experience at all relevant to that position. Or who have experience in opposing it, even as they now gut their own departments. Worse is the fact that there are many within Trump's administration of incompetence who wear many hats, thus multiplying the harm inflicted upon this nation.     

In the political sense we now face an existential danger. A time of great peril. The government under Trump et al is undergoing rapid monstrous transformation. Democracy is on its way out. The Legislative branch has ceded much of its power to the Executive branch. The judicial branch now openly endorses its coopting, being used as a political weapon. Judges clearly unqualified are appointed to federal benches. Those such as Cannon, and worse, Bove. Both known for their ignorance and/or for tempers, for sheer unsuitability for their appointments.Cranking up the pace of destruction of democracy keeps Trump and toadies busy. Federalization of the National Guard. Constant threats and plans to mobilize the standing army and use it to maintain 'law and order'. We have some of the most egregious contrasts of what is right and wrong courtesy of this government. 

Funds have been brutally slashed. Almost to the point of disappearance. Feed the hungry, provide medical care? Nope. Including many children and elderly.   Training programs slashed. Safety programs. Slashed. PBS. Slashed. Scientific research. In all areas. Slashed. On the other hand, ICE has been granted billions more. All the better to chase   immigrants. Working. Neighbors. Fellow workers, employees and employers. Fathers, mothers, children who are denied their rights as American citizens. Cages built. To hold hundreds of thousands. No distinguishing between the truly criminal and the falsely accused. Due process right out the window. Its only purpose an assignment to wreak havoc upon the immigrant community And tear people from their families, from their jobs, from their lives.  Those who cheered on this crackdown on immigration, this Safety for Our Borders campaign stand aghast as their neighbor is pulled away in handcuffs. As local economies are destroyed. All that was necessary to shut this horror down, to create better policy of immigration was to have followed the thread and understand.  Too many did not do so.

How can we trust the government?  Even when they purportedly do something right and proper, the stink of corruption and selfish gain suffuses the air.   Foreign policy of threats and illogical demands, to pay obeisance to him, make one think back to the cognitive test for senior drivers. Certainly, a president should be tested for that as well.  

To sum up, what do we have? We have all sorts of possibilities and probabilities for an incompetent, dangerously incompetent government administration, all the harm it will create for all, which has already been implemented in too many aspects of America. No, no denying the truth as we are already in the land of OMGs. Truly nasty, gross ones. Brought to us courtesy of the creators of such trash, those who believe in hate and oppression, those who fail to follow the threads clearly there, who look astounded when the worst happens, and those too apathetic to care.     

One of the most interesting topics right now concerns how this nation is to celebrate its 250th birthday? There are two opposing sides here banging heads. One champions the 1619 Project. Totally woke. Totally slanted. Contains many inaccuracies and exaggerations. However, on the other side there are those who somehow managed to include truth and lies. Downplay, even ignore, contributions of immigrants to this nation. How, in fact, this nation is a nation of immigrants. 

Both sides alone pose a danger to the true history of this nation. It shreds our Constitution and negates the Declaration of Independence. Certainly, every hope and dream that made America, America.   

Where do we go from here? The first question we must answer is what are we going to make of our yesterdays? How are the conflicting views going to create a joint truth of today? And how the hell are we to ensure better tomorrows if we do not shed and reject the current ugliness of hate and suspicion?

I sure wish I had the answers. I wish I had the ability to go Poof!  Disappear the incompetence of this administration. Transform those greedy souls into righteous government servants. Into true Americans. Set aside the ugliness and work hard to recreate our version of a better nation for us all. 

Yesterday, today, tomorrow. 

Up for grabs. 

Which version wins?  

NO BLOG TODAY

 Back on Tuesday

IS IT? REALLY?

   In a recent conversation one participant used the phrase “Better late than never”. Heads all shook in agreement. Certainly, if one wanted something, one needed something, even if the timing was off, surely it was better later than never. But think about it. Perhaps that later is actually simply an extension of the never. Without proper timing, without proper understanding or recognition of the need and immediacy critical, is what we get late actually better, than never having received it at all? Surely the answer to that would be a mix. 

 There are those things or ideas which come late to the party but are welcome no matter the delay. The themes of freedom and equality, of independence, are examples of such. As are the miracles of perhaps winning a prize, or a delayed letter offering employment. Even when running late, the lights are all in your favor. These are the things that light up a life, in big ways and small. Yes, better late than never.

On the other hand, particularly when we are in need of that something, with timing critical, the bitterness of late, too late, arrival can be overwhelming. That is when those awaiting fulfillment of the need indulge in the futile act of immersion in the pool of despair and anger, as with desperation and fuming anger, they hurry to heap blame on shoulders of someone, anyone, but certainly not theirs. In actuality, it matters not at all, for the results are as they are and the only way to continue is to move forward, possibly change the dynamics for another.   In such cases, perhaps we can apply the better late than never thought. 

Can we apply the maxim of the title to the realities of today? A brief summary of the topics of today's newspapers and broadcasts. Trump/Epstein - so gross, yet so not surprising nor unexpected.  The harm inducing actions of Meta and similar giant enterprises. The immediacy of the need of an organ leading to a haste of declaring death when it is not so. Inspector Generals warned against doing their job properly lest they get fired.  A head of a department advised to follow the directives given to her, to lay low, put her head down, and simply follow orders and never mind the immorality, perhaps even the criminality of those orders. The tragic consequences of reversing policy on environment and ecology, as preventive measures against floods, fires, even human brutality are erased. As all too many have left only the memories of what once was. But is no more. The rotten cherry on top - the absolute dismantling of the governmental departments whose responsibility was to ensure the safety of the citizens of America. As the FDA is ripped asunder in the throes of the insanity of RFK Jr, as his father and uncle writhe in shame and anger in their graves.

Two more issues challenging that better late than never. The never seems to be stronger than ever, the better lost in a murky past. Or so far ahead, if even possible, in a future defying vision of such a time.  Can we save, resurrect this once blessed country of ours, America. Or have we lost that battle already? Has a demented man at the head of the country already gained enough power, enough toadies, conquered and coopted the legislative and judicial branches of government so as to actually destroy democracy and install autocracy as our government?  I am growing more and more fearful that such is the case.

Finally, now the highly visible and restrengthened ugly gnashing teeth, sharpened talons, the insatiable lust and thirst for blood of the ravening beast of anti Semitism, of rabid JewHatred. Back again in the open. Now almost, not very far from - or perhaps already there - a return of the pogroms, lynchings, burning and slaughter of Jews. Of denial of humanity. A vicious sidelining and condemnation.   

Far more than a supposedly 'righteous' demand that the nation of Israel be terminated, with no possibility of return. It is a fever. A contamination of the soul leading to extermination. After an increasingly stronger than ever campaign of dehumanization and sidelining of all that is Jewish. Until the end point is reached. 

In the crazed minds of these haters, the better late than never works just fine. After almost three millennia of attempt, their goal is in sight. However, we have a strong faith, a trust in the promises made by Our Lord to us, to our ancestors and into the future as needed. History has endorsed and proven our resilience. Every enemy over the centuries has met with disaster. And here we are. Always. Equally as always, remains the question. We ask, as we look up to the Heavens above - why must this journey to the 'Better' time be so hard, so harsh, so testing. Have we not yet qualified to reach the time of the better. Is it not the time to rip the 'never' away? No more of times rife with woes and bloodshed.   

No answer from above or perhaps one we refuse to hear. A no, not yet. But even in the worst of times, we continue to believe in a better late than never time of goodness, of justice, a world where all are welcome. Rather than the shaking of swords we will have the shaking of hands in friendship and peace. 

But when, dear Lord, when?  

Is there a better late than never in these situations? I guess so. Even as it is so late in arrival.

A gloomy day in our world today. Unable, frankly, to be distinguished by much from the other gloomy days we are living. Will we have a better late than never return to sanity and righteousness? To the dreams and hopes of America. To the world, finally, of no denial of rights. A world of justice. Of dreams, of hope. 

  Yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

When will we see the better? 

REALLY? TRULY? IS THIS OUR CHOSEN LEGACY?

   I wonder. I truly do. You can wonder with me. Place yourselves in the shoes of someone merely 50, 60 years down the road. Not a long time as history goes, but long enough for one to take a look back, and judge for oneself as to the mental acuity and stability of the people of our time. Will someone be seeking a topic for a thesis, for a written and oral presentation before a board of examiners, come across some of today's headlines and pose a question. The question? Simple enough. “Was the world of that (our) time, overcome by a wave of hidden toxicity or by a hidden wave of toxicity and collectively lose their minds?"  

Personally. somewhere within the framing and intent of those two similar questions is the truth. Somewhere, someone, pushed a literal or figurative button and engulfed the world in a wave of insanity. Of dangerous "me-too-ism" and set the world on fire. A conflagration which not only impeded but actually denied sanity, even a modicum of sanity. to display strength and longevity. Instead, we had crowds of people round the world Indulging in Bastille type rioting. Racially biased and based thinking characteristic of lynch mobs of the past. and the equivalent. 

Amid the anxieties and hostilities of the times there grew an exponential growth of hostility which knew no boundaries, which fed on all around, proving the truth of the ancient maxim of warning. Hatred knows no borders, no brakes.     A malignant stew of ingredients grossly inimical to survival of a sane humanity was engendered. Gross hostility. Savagery. Coupled with a loss of independent thinking power. Voila! The years of the teens, 20s and 30s of the 21st century.

At present, all the while within me and any other sane person who can see through the ugly fog of ignorance and hate is the barely suppressed urge to run out in the streets and cry out, as did the prophets of old. Warning all of the errors of our ways. Warning of the inevitability of what is to come. Warning us as was a king of old time, that our sins and offenses have been counted, taken into account we have been found wanting, deserving of punishment severe and harsh. 

It would not be the first time humanity has gone down clearly inappropriate paths and reached the inevitable end results. Certainly, though, we might have hoped that by this point in time we would have had advancement of behavior, of understanding, that we might have reached and practiced higher standards.  We have done exactly the reverse. Returned with great enthusiasm to the memes and tropes of times of savagery and destruction, where threats and warfare were practiced far more than talking and accommodation. The results? Harm perpetrated and perpetuated. There are voices crying out, appealing to the remnants of sanity and humanity remaining within mankind within humanity. However, the   voices embracing and touting violence and hate are stronger, overpowering. Hence. any movement is made in the wrong direction. Ane here we are today - and yesterday and tomorrow, as far as the mind can divine. 

So, here we are. We are at a perhaps final crossroad. If we do not make the right choice and instead walk further down the wrong pathways of life, we are dooming ourselves to be cited as the pariah of centuries. The age which threw humankind backwards, which embraced all that was wrong, all that was immoral, all that was contradictory of the advancements made by humankind with great effort over the ages.

Is that what we wish to leave behind as our legacy to the ages? Is it? I certainly hope not. However, what else can one conclude in this maelstrom of ignorance and selfishness. Of hunger for power. Of hate for all deemed “other”. 

What have we done? 

What. Have. We. Done. 

 Are you frantically shaking your head in denial? Perhaps we all need a reminder of what has become so commonplace in this tortured and torturous world of ours. We have become blind to it. We have become deaf to the cries.

How can we possibly explain to future citizens of the world that we trashed the idea of America. That we turned savagely as barbarians upon each other. Chewed each other down to insignificance. And then stomped on the remains.

How do we explain the election, twice, of a manifestly clearly demented old man. Whose body and soul mirrored each other in decrepitude and ugliness. Who put forth the idea that he had troublesome veins in his legs even as the obvious troubling of the veins to his brain were denied. Despite the obviousness of such a condition. Even as the members of Congress swung to his every change of insanity, enabling the harm he perpetrated upon and to this world, this nation, this once proud America. 

The same man with others of his ilk, those with no morals, those with huge streaks of selfishness and greed for money and power, who practice debauchery, now govern this nation. Who saw it funny, to scribble one's name as if pubic hair on a naked woman. A rather crude imitation of the name Nina to be found in the cartoons of her dad. A man who, along with his coterie of equal wrongdoers, of toadies, who hopped too the words of their master, with no independent thought, who placed thousands, millions, in direct path of danger. Even unto death. America's President.

What do you accept? That this is who we have become? That which we have allowed. A man and his ilk who use the word evil to describe his opponents.  Even as the evil is him. 

 Do we wish to leave behind as an integral and huge part of our legacy this description of a detention camp for immigrants. Is this what we have become today. In 2025, verging on 2026. Is this what, 250   years of America has created. Is this what America, what Americans, what we have become? Read the description. These moral criminals now in seats of power have left us this as our legacy. Take in this horror that they have created and embraced. 

“... There are no pencils, books or television. The lights stay on through the night. When it rains. nearly every day during summer, the tents housing detainees spring leaks and bugs crawl in.... Infrequent showers. Meals little more than snacks. Detainees falling ill. Sleep deprivation. And flu like symptoms.... Unrest over a lack of information and recreation and access to medication."  

This is. Alligator Alcatraz. This is how we embrace. treating those who are simply emulating the actions and dreams of our ancestors. Who enabled their hopes and dreams and our hopes and dreams. And those of our children. And what have we done? What have we done?

Is there time to repent and reform? Is there time for a clear realization and understanding of where we went wrong, of what we have done wrong. Of how to truly atone? Can we? Will we?  Can we resurrect the truth of America?

Are these truly the yesterdays we leave behind?   The todays rank with the ugliness of those days. And the tomorrows bleak. And hopeless. Emblematic of a gray world. Is this what we have done? Is this what we want?

Do we? DO WE?

PEPPER AND SALT

  From my very favorite political cartoon Pepper and Salt comes a rather pithy statement which puts everything into perspective, particularly in the world of today.  "It's nice to have a quiet moment to reconnect. Remind me how we know each other."

There are so many reasons for the aptness of the above statement. For one, with how many people today do we actually 'connect'? In the fast almost feverish pace of life, we have more acquaintances than friends with whom we connect., Hence, our times of knowing one another are far and few in between. Certainly, the rather brusque moments allotted to zoom and face to face do not offer fertile ground for actually getting to meet more than the surface character of the being on the other side of the connection - or if it is even human! 

There are so many consequences of this "unknowing" of each other. How do we know when the truth is front and center? Or is it hidden beneath many layers of lies and purposeful obfuscation? The uncertainty generated by this situation defeats many purposes and intentions before they are truly birthed and foundations of trust and mutuality are few and far between, nor are they firmly cemented.   Hence, the answer to the question of knowing each other is negative and discouraging

The reality of not knowing and not trusting to any point of reliability is fraught with danger. How can one expect pacts and treaties of trade, of peace, of alliance or even undeclared enmity be trusted, particularly as the past reveals the truth of the matter. Ceasefires are violated even before the ink dries. Trade agreements are ignored in the throes of harsh competition and quickly changing needs. We do not learn our lessons from past trade wars in history, nor the frightening errors of peace and alliance treaties which turn sour in a vicious manner. and thus doom ourselves to needless repetition which bodes no good for any involved.

More intimately, do we even know ourselves? Do we actually have principles, lines which cannot be crossed, or do we merely cede our independence of thought, give up the prized ability to think for ourselves, and cede all to a leader? Most notably   leaders of nefarious intentions and ambitions, ones   bearing no good tidings tor one and all. A current example? The GOP of today, the sniveling cowards who have now changed their songs according to the playlist of their master, Trump the I. Epstein - now of no matter. Ukraine and Russia -now we send arms, Israel and the Arabs and surrounding foes - already cracks in the oh so sweet embrace of Bibi and Donald.

 No backbone. No courage. No principles. No honor. The same goes for the Democratic Party who have bought into the rhetoric of hatred, vile and toxic, to JewHatred. And coincidentally, growing that same hate in the ranks of the GOP. Members of both, along with outliers o political parties have bought into the ugly attitude towards immigrants. To all who differ from in thought or origin. Both parties, and much of the public have discarded, disregarded, the truth of the composition of this nation - the sweat and tears, the blood of the immigrants who built America - our ancestors - all of us! Every single one of us. 

How hypocritically, ignorantly do we buy into lies of the haters, among them Trump and millions of ignorant deniers of truth. Accepting of the egregious and outrageous falsehoods that all immigrants are criminals. Crooks, Murderess. Disease ridden. Rapists who desire the women. Child traffickers. Drug pushers. Not a good apple in the barrel. Well, here is the truth. Some are indeed bad, so send them back. Let the others do as our ancestors have done for generations. And not to forget that we have native born no goodniks as well. Among these immigrants are your x-ray technicians, your caretaker, your store owner, roofer, painter, the farmworker, politicians, neighbors and friends. - good and bad in all, so how do we dare to declare ourselves so pure of heart and deed? 

In not "knowing" each other, we have ceded our humanity, our individuality, our individualities we melded and mixed together, for a better result, and instead engaged in drowning ourselves in the miserable nastiness of poorly chosen leaders.  

As the Bard states, we must "screw our courage   to the sticking point" and do what is incumbent upon us to do.

 Clean house. Promptly. Get rid of the trash within   and install in their place those who will truly serve the nation, with honor and courage, with morals and independent thinking.  

"Getting to know you" -a favorite song of many. Why not follow its theme and we might be surprised by the results.

In any case, it can possibly alleviate the errors of our yesterdays.  

Stop the negative effects it had on out todays.  

And enable better tomorrows for us all.

 Whom do you truly know? 

Think - and be honest with yourself.   

NO BLOG TODAY

 Due to unforeseen circumstances no blog today. Will be back on Tuesday 

"DARK AND DREARY PLACE"

  Thus spoke our dear and wonderful Donald Trump as he describes the United States before he was in place as president for his second term. As he   meandered through a huge bowl of word salad, the main garnish consisted of his tired claim of loss of election due to its being rigged against him. Ho-hum. Yawn. Bigger yawn. 

Yep, there he is. Still on the favorite claim of his, for his ego and his rather battered function damaged mind cannot find other hooks upon which to hang points in his favor. Probably because there are very few hooks available which carry even a modicum of truth. On and on he blathers with more and more people finding that they cannot follow any thread of his to any kind of logical path or conclusion. That  is because there isn't any such thing. Try it yourself. The act of creation and disbursement of consistent speech based on shaky foundations of outright lies is quite difficult. Nigh unto impossible particularly if we are discussing long term existence. 

His words are replete with lies, imagined happenings and outright nonsense. He comes across as a person suffering the throes of dementia. Quite challenged, unable to speak truths, for they do not exist in reality, certainly not in his presentation of such claims. Lies heaped upon lies. Within his talk we are in an Abbott and Costello world where confusion reigns and truth and certainty are abhorred, deemed tools of the Devil and his minions, all directly aimed at that poor erstwhile self-proclaimed victim, the whole word conspiring to destroy him. Oh, so pitiful, is it not! 

If this man was an average Joe on the street suffering in the throes of dementia beating at the doors and windows of his mind, it would be sad enough. However, when such a person is President of the United States, then we are in the sharp pincers of inevitable disaster, we and by extension the peoples of the world. It is a woe upon us reality.   The situation deteriorates hour by hour, minute by minute, as people take a bite of the apple he extends to us. 

Similar to the consequences of the apple of Eden are the consequences of the apple today.  However, there is a clear distinction between the two events.  Adam and Eve accepted responsibility for the burdens now placed upon their shoulders and the shoulders of humanity. This man and his groveling sycophants deny the obvious truth and thrust all blame upon the shoulders of others, declaiming their innocence, detailing the persecution they suffer. Worst of all is how many persist in buying into his crap, even as they suffer the consequences of his acts, even as nothing touches him, nor his businesses, as he continues to build his bottom lines, shamelessly using the Oval Office as a place of business. Clearly the very model of all that should not be in a person holding public office.

 Within all that he became the self-declared white knight riding in on a rather tired white nag to 'rescue' this country from its dark and dreary plane of existence. Bursting his bubble, that darkness and weariness and dreariness are creations birthed of his actions. He birthed it with his lies. He birthed it via   crude words. He sired it with great enthusiasm and used it in the most egregious manner. As a result, he has polished his role as exemplar of all that has gone wrong in this nation, of all the ugliness that has come to the fore. Been encouraged and used as a weapon of attack and war. All in order to maintain and improve the path to his clearly desired goal of doing away with the democracy of this nation and installing an autocracy dominated by the Trump family and groveling toadies hopping along behind.

He has clearly spoken of meshing state and church, a clear violation of the words and the spirit of the Constitution and the founding principles of this nation. He has shamed the dignity of the Oval Office by his clear intentions and his ugly behavior. He has become a source of hatred and ugliness as he persists in the persecution of those who have immigrated legally and illegally into this nation, the same as all of our ancestors have done, including his own. He has created an economic crisis and what will be a food shortage crisis when crops are not planted nor reaped if planted, because there are no workers to do so. He has played and continues to play the role of bully and blackmailer and immersed this nation, this once proud nation in a bowl of stupidity with crackers that spread crumbs of hatred and anger and despair and darkness - the very conditions he claims was there prior to his term as president.

His one powerful and proper and good and necessary act of supporting Israel is gradually losing its shine as stories of pressuring Netanyahu on a cease fire of the terms of Hamas the violator, the aggressor, the loser of this war are airing. When does such a thing ever happen? The very opposite of all that is true! When does an outside nation dictate terms, become the one who can determine the life or death of hostages. All the while there is that niggling growing ever larger day by day kernel of mistrust and distrust. Those with dementia are not known to be of steady, consistent actions, words and deeds.

The outward dissipation of his body, the sagging of his jowls and the rather obvious stupidity of his hairdos are merely reflections of the ugliness of soul within him. I am frightened, very much so, at the depths of trust some have in him, thinking he will continue along a pathway of right. I am concerned as he uses antisemitism as a battering ram against the rights guaranteed to the citizens of this nation, allowing blame for the angst of this nation to fall upon the shoulders of Jews.  Without them would he have attacked the universities? Would he have had an excuse to do so? Hence, it is the fault of the Jews, the thinking goes. I worry greatly that when that spoke of his wheel of anti - Semitism grows rusty and inconvenient he will break it off and replace it with something else. I worry about a future on the nation with the top level of government, elected and appointed, are so clearly incompetent and unable to fulfill their roles as they should be. I am extremely frightened by the blatant gutting of the departments of this nation. Those which ensure our safety, our healthcare, education and anything else that is good and proper, from public tv to education to the Veterans Administration, any and all are grist for his ugly mill, crushing them and all that they provide to the American citizen. I fret tirelessly about the attack on the judiciary of this nation. bashing over and over again at the door to their independence and their role as defender of the correct USA and not a pathetic imitation of what it used to be, what it is supposed to remain.

Is there time yet? Is there courage within us still to right the wrongs of this nation, to redirect us back to where we should be, to help us undo the ugliness that this man and his sniveling cowering cowards have thrown over this nation?

How many more times are we going to hear the mantra that once we were proud to be Americans, able to walk the world with shoulders high, body erect? Today, not so much. America, the idea and values of America have tarnished and the ability, the promise of hard work to restore that glow, to defeat the tarnish, diminish exponentially. Will we continue to retain the ability to polish all that has gone dark, restore it to its former glow and status? I don't know. What I do know is that this dark and dreary place has grown deep roots into our reality and I place most of the responsibility upon him and his and ours who have allowed this.

Yesterday is gone.

 Today is here and threatened, wobbling on its foundations. 

Tomorrow awaits its time to come on stage, but its role remains uncertain, awaiting our designation and definition.

Who will do that is up in the air, but it will determine our future. We must do better with choices of leaders and wiser in determining whom to follow and whom to spurn. We are the final determinators of our fate and the fate of our nation.    We must do better.

I WONDER

There has been a recent trend on TV, in the movies, and in many books, novels as well as scientific ponderings, all re time travel. It is a topic which has engaged humanity and inquiring minds and has become ever so much more popular and prominent these days. It makes one wonder, especially as the possibility is edging from the category of science fantasy to science fiction and from there who knows? It is actually not unthinkable these days to ponder the possibilities of time travel.

In fact, indulging in a bit of what if, I really do wonder if certain scenarios ever came to pass, how would we have gotten there and what would be forthcoming? Would the future - or the past, for that matter, be very different? How far afield would the changes take effect, and would humanity then be engaged in global warfare with nation v. nation, who could or would or should capture the power and control of time variations? 

Would humanity succumb to the temptations of controlling humanity, its past, present and future, changing the world in so many different ways we cannot even begin to fathom what the outcome, the consequences would be? Dare we hope that humankind could avoid the temptations of power and wealth and unique control, to hold dominion over the rest of the world? Or will it be the opposite? Will humanity learn how to control the power of time travel and use it in beneficial ways for all? How would that be done? Would we go into the past and eliminate those dictators, the tyrants of history who created ugly times for the world or would some enhance their powers in order to facilitate some nefarious plan of wannabe masters of the Earth?   

 Would the people of the world demand that its governing class eliminate all that was evil? Would it be demanded of them to disappear the worst times of humanity? But think ahead or back to the past as to the consequences of changing time. Would killing the newborn baby Hitler have prevented the horror of the Holocaust and the millions of the dead of World War II or would we have reached a similar era via a differing set of humankind? Might it even be worse? Will the innate seemingly endless attraction of evil and its power always engage mankind, thus simply repeating its errors with similar results?   

Now think of another scenario. Could it be that mankind already has this power? Might we be living merely in one version of it? All the possibilities contained within an impossible to penetrate lab where scientists play the possibilities? Hundreds and hundreds of screens, all displaying a different scenario, the scientists peering into all these futures and all the changed pasts. Delving deep into possibilities and finding what, exactly?

 The same but different? The same but hopeful? Or one precious screen never straying from the proper direction, advancing, developing, becoming the creatures our G-d had always envisioned? Even in that advanced world giving hope to the scientists of a future world of grace and benefit, would there be the inevitable distorting fly in the mix? Would there be those who, like the builders of the Tower of Babel, grow over proud, reek of hubris, and attempt to challenge G-d? Daring, demanding, to become more than human. Demanding to be as the Angels. Then the inevitable smackdown of humanity and poof! Here we go again.   

Think about it, wonder about if we indeed had the power to change the past, to fix the present, would we, in fact, do so; or would we maneuver and fiddle and finagle and arrive back where we began? At this point in time, I am not sure if humanity is worthy of the plea of Abraham to not destroy the cities rife with sin for the sake of the good contained within. There were not enough of those then and I wonder, are there enough of them today? We are so deep in the muck, up to our necks, in the filth of hate, of anger, of greed, even of desire to hurt and dominate. Ruled too many times by those who have not a scintilla of decency within and worse, the multitudes of humanity who go along, with enthusiasm or with apathy, the end results the same. Would the power to change time, to time travel, actually make a difference? Even in the best of times should we actually reach the achievement of the creation of a world where goodness and generosity, peace and prosperity reigned, would we allow it to be thus? Or would we inevitably sabotage it? Is humanity even capable of becoming a truly advanced society with none of the hate, none of the evil, none of the woes that have plagued us and maintain it? 

That would be, in my opinion, a great big no. One cannot page the tomes of history and find such a time that would at least give us a glimmer of hope that someday we might fully achieve that goal. And keep it, its permanent viability.  I highly doubt it.

There is nothing within our many yesterdays to indicate such a possibility.

Certainly, our todays and the evidence laid out before us do not generate optimism.     

For sure our tomorrows are splayed out before us. We must choose. And choose correctly.

Can we? Is that possibility still viable?

I wonder ... 

GROK INDEED!!

  It is truly amazing to see the development of vocabulary from an era to another, from one year to another. Words go in and out of style and use before one even understands them, let alone hears them.  These new words and their definitions and usage are often held close, thus facilitating conversation which others will not understand. It certainly impedes conversation between generations which are difficult enough to begin with. This is a universal issue no matter what language is spoken. However, what makes it more difficult these days is the speed of the change and the twisting and turning of words into bolts meant to hurt and harm, to poison the atmosphere, and unfortunately to demean those espousing opposing/differing views.

Along with that comes the ugliness and enmity of new phrases. A prime example of such is Musk and the various balls he puts into play. None of which seem to have any scintilla of intended decency and in fact, is rather the other way. His words and terms are meant to convey a message. Generally nasty and or are ugly. Even in pronunciation. Here are two prime examples. The first is his infamous DOGE, meant to be an acronym for Department Of Governmental Efficiency. Actually, it contains within the image and the understanding of the autocracies of Middle Ages and Renaissance times in Italy. It certainly functioned as such as people were discarded as used tissues and those remaining alive after the massacre were intimidated, freedom of thought, innovation, and any hint of opposition stifled. The human trash cans were and remain in plain view, even as the efficiency crumbles and the constituents of these governmental offices and departments are stifled as well, connections severed or very limited. Bah, humbug is the truth of the matter.

The second example is the choice of wordage for supposedly new developments. Unfortunately, most of Musk's “new” creations are wrapped in continuing ugliness of themes from the past and the present which long ago should have been discarded. Oh, so much “surprise and astonishment” that such a 'beneficial' advance would have such ugly flaws. But what else can we expect when the supposed advance has a newly created term for it- GROK - ugly on the inside and ugly on the outside as well.   

Rife with antisemitism, this AI chat box spews forth praise of Hitler. Praise of Anti Semitism. Reinforces the 'newly' fashionable antique trope of antisemitism, ramped up to vicious and very hyperreactive Jew Hatred, “globalizing" it, seeding its development round the world, legitimizing slaughter and hate, no end in sight. The miasmic air of a vile never-ending bias and hatred sprints over the world, infuses and diffuses, and once again we have become the cursed and the unwelcome. Our talents and contributions are accepted even as those who contributed are demeaned and sidelined, denied humanity and ripe for use as targets and scapegoating, deemed the basis of all that is wrong with humanity.  

Globalize Rampages Of Killers. GROK. And of course, not to forget the fashionable accessories of personalized masks and kaffiyahs, accoutrements of Hate so necessary for true devotees of Hate. Particularly hatred of Jews, plain and simple, always 'with it'. A language and vocabulary always in flux, the intention and predictability of developments and consequences always the same. Inevitable. 

Where do we go from here? How can we progress if we insist on a constant revival of the 'retro', always refashioning it yet it remains the same. Certainly, autocracies are not good for its termination as Hate ginned up serves as a great deflection device for the government, turning heads and minds of the population to ideas other than the truth of their woes. Certainly, in that case, when the leading nation of the West begins to sour, well, the alert is out there. When a Supreme Court Justice warns the nation as to the need to worry and fear for the future of democracy in this nation, well, the canaries are dying out in rapid number and pace.

When democracy dies it is no good for anyone but certainly not for the Jews, and certainly not for any minority group. History has shown the truth of that. Over and over again. 

When hate is embraced as acceptable, desirable, truth walks out the door. Clear vison is gone, denied, and invaders and oppressors are deemed heroes, victims even, as their victims and targets are demeaned for defending themselves, for demanding the return of their kidnapped, and the bodies of those killed, murdered in captivity, soldiers and civilians alike. But the world denies. 

The world glosses over the deaths and attacks upon the Israelis, upon Jews round the world, children and adults alike. It accepts the strangulation of our babies. It refuses to condemn the killers, the butchers of Jews round the world and their supporters. Enemies encouraged and justified such horror, even as the rest of the world falls over themselves in their eagerness to acquiesce. Those who have forgotten the past, or those who know it very well, grab a place in the lines of these killers, these foes of humanity.  

But remember, history also tells us that what goes around, comes around. New days for us will always arise, always come. So history and our faith have taught us - and the world.

Heed the lessons of yesterday.

Apply the lessons to today. 

Insure a good and peaceful tomorrow.   

 Know the truth and act with it, not against it.  

"IS A PUZZLEMENT!!"

  When Yul Brynner as the King in The King and I, spoke with a somewhat fractured English, it was perfect. Part of the personality of a King trying to do the right thing and figuring out exactly what the "right" thing was. Certainly, a puzzling matter to those brought up in a supposedly modern advanced society. For one brought up in a hugely differing culture, it was nigh unto impossible with many roadblocks of sensibilities and confusing contradictions. Quite difficult to maneuver safely in a sea of rogue waves and inborn prejudices and misconceptions on both sides of the issue. 

However, of one supposedly of such a culture, who has been an entitled person since birth, who has received, supposedly, the best education that money could buy, infused, one presumes with principles and ideals of a modern society, of such a one much is expected. There are expectations of internalized principles of equality, of justice, of acceptance and tolerance, of actualization of dreams, of seeking, constantly, paths leading to improvement of society, of raising it to a higher level. For all.  

Additionally, thoughts and principles were to be presented, orally and written, in proper language usage, with grammatical acuity and sensible presentation. Defiance of these expectations, deliberate or otherwise, indicated a lesser intelligence and/or a form of dementia, a lessening of intelligence and capability and treated accordingly, with expectations tailored to exposed capabilities, positive and negative. Always, though, rights of all were equal, not to be removed or used in threats against them.

Such used to be America, a greatly flawed nation, a society not always living up to its professed principles. A culture with contradictions and confusion, yet always a nation with strong moral spine, with individuals willing to serve the nation, to move it along on those proper roads, to leave the world a better place for having been in it. 

Today, not so much the case. 

It used to be politicians, even if straying off the proper path, remembered often enough that the nation, their constituents were to be served. That was their role. Legislators were to be an independent one third of American governmental structure, voting aye or nay with independent thinking, uncoerced or threatened, to stand before the nation with honesty and pride of doing the job

The Supreme Court, as the second third of our structure, was expected to be above the fray. To use the legal system and the powers   imparted to them   to keep the President, the Congress, and the nation on the straight and narrow, and to do so without improper interference or threats. 

Finally, the man or woman in the seat of power. was to be, absolutely, fit for and capable of meeting the demands and dignity of said office. A high level of intelligence was expected and necessary in order to fulfill responsibilities of the job properly. Harm to the nation was to be avoided. Its economy was to be held steady, progressing properly. The world was not to be thrown into chaos and war.  The President was to be the leader of western nations, an epitome of a servant of the nation. Never, was the office to be used for self-advancement nor self-enrichment.  There are rules in place outlining those rules and the consequences ensuing violations.

America, as a nation, was fumbling and bumbling, erring often, but always striving to perfect itself, to reach higher standards, to be a fair and just society. For the most, we tried to adhere to the standards and principles set forth by our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

 Until something happened. 

 America lost her way. 

She compromised her heart and soul, lost the impetus to strive, to raise itself up and away from areas of suspicious and murky miasmas. America forgot that intelligence, acuity, innate knowledge of propriety and responsibility, a sizeable sense of altruism were necessary traits for a leader of this nation.

At present we have somehow found ourselves a sail on a strange sea. One of confusion. One of burgeoning hate, fractious and whiny. Demanding as a spoiled child. We have steered our ship of state in the wrong direction. We must correct our path. Change the degrees of our turns if we are to find our way back. To build for a better future rather than the ugly one now appearing on our horizon.  

Most important, we must come to our senses. We must choose a proper leader and reject the one we now have in place. The man in office at present time is either uneducated or too thick to have absorbed the education presented to him. He can neither write nor read properly. He stumbles verbally as often as he now stumbles physically. He's actually an embarrassment in this nation as he uses threats of tariffs and more to herd nations of the world onto pathways not good for this nation, but good for his bottom lines. He uses his office to shill, to sell his wares to people, crypto coins, hats, golden figures and more. He treats his office as a platform for traveling on our dime and as he strives for the prize as Huckster #1.  Shameful indeed.

He is so clearly the wrong man for the job. Yet there he is. The man who fomented violent rebellion against his nation's government. The man who is now doing the same thing, only in different manner. This time he is ignoring and/or perverting the laws of our nation. He has manifestly and many times overstepped the limitations of President. Disobeyed and ignored the Supreme Court, an organ of the government which he has almost completely taken over. He has grown oh, such a wonderful crop of sniveling little toadies in the Houses of Congress.   

There are legal ways in which to effect his ouster.  At the very minimum it is incumbent upon the electorate of this nation to understand where they went wrong and in 2026 vote in independent minds, people of courage, honesty, who know what to do and will do it. Take the gavels away from those toads. Hand them to intelligent people of character and understanding.   

We are already far down the road towards authoritarian government. We must not walk farther down that road lest we lose sight of the way to return to a strong democracy. To a government of sane and intelligent people. To a nation which knows that no one is above the law. 

No one. Period.

Our President, our elected and chosen and appointed officials must be the best. They must not be ignorant nor cater to outmoded themes dangerous to us and our children. Our President must not embarrass us before nations of the world. The President must not write nor speak as such, nor be spoken of as such. Though it is indeed a rightly so statement at this time. 

"We invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far," Trump wrote in his letters ...   to all (nations) "If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 40% that we charge."

The letters were met with widespread mockery and ridicule on social media. ...  "This guy is a senile, geriatric, a------. A complete and utter buffoon as President of the United States."

This man has done one positive deed. He aided Israel in its war for survival. But the question remains for how long? This is a man who cannot be trusted. This is a man who does what is good for him. This is a man who turns on a dime. This is a man who wreaks revenge on people who defy his commands. So, for how long will this "good deed" remain in place? Then what?  

At present time, we have alienated our traditional allies. Been harsh to all else. We have forgotten what it is to be an American, to be America. We have abandoned the humane principle necessary in humanity.  

We need to be Americans again.

Leaders of yesterday. 

Leaders of today gone amiss.

Necessary leaders for tomorrow. 

MY SISTER

 

I have been sitting here. Staring at the screen. Wondering. How am I to say goodbye to my sister? My sister is always there. For 15 years we shared a room. Fo all my 77 years   I had a live in adviser. I could always trust you. We were – no, still are- sisters. Always. Your 4 ½ years you had on me allowed for your experiences to benefit me as well. Please note, Tzip, I said 4 ½, not 5, lest you reach down from the heavens and smack me, as you reminded me about that    I learned quickly.   Able to advise me. To allow me to watch and wonder. To admire. And hope to emulate one day. To have the ease she had with meeting new people, winning them over. A smile and a laugh which would make the biggest grump smile back.

When Tzipi moved to Israel a big hole opened in my life. Telephone calls, zooms and now  WhatsApp, which by the way, I can't stand. So much more complicated but for two weeks every year you would come visit and off we went - to concerts of oldies   any form of Mamma Mia. How Tzipi loved to dance and sing  with the music.

 So what is a sister? A sister is someone with whom you share private jokes which no one else gets. On a rainy, gloomy day, I could pick up the phone, call, and say without introduction - another   Dellwood morning. And she would understand, and we would laugh because along with that statement came shared memories and only the two of us remain to understand and share those memories, those jokes, the smiles and even the tears. Who do I tell our private jokes to now? With whom do I share the story of her one. day of misconduct. When she opened the valve on a radiator, those big clumsy things -In Mr. Hoffman's class. And my parents when called in to discuss this terrible, devilish act of their daughter, they could barely contain their laughter. That too became a joke. A joke in the family. And A private joke among sisters.

         A sister. A sister is special. No matter how many times you can argue, no matter how many times you do not think alike, a sister is   a gift from God. All you who are blessed with a sister – treasure her. Always.  My sister and I never argued, never had a fight.  For all the years of our lives, we never argued. We simply couldn't see any benefit in arguing a point. What for?

 She was my sister. She is my big sister. And so she will remain. Here in my heart. I won't have a sister to turn to other than in my heart and head.  And I know she is sitting up there now. In the best seats in the stadium with our parents. With her beloved grandparents, especially Zaidy smiling down and laughing. And sending me a message. “Not to worry. I'm always here with you. Do you always feel me? Deep within your soul. And naturally. I'll send you messages on how to correct yourself when you go wrong. For Sure For always   I am your big sister and for always, you are my little sister.”

   Rest in peace. Tzipi. You fought hard for so long. Take a break. Relax.  We got you. For always.

FUNERAL

  to my readers,

Please note there will be no posting today due to the heartbreaking death of my beloved sister and her funeral. I hope to return tomorrow.

Thank you for your patience and loyalty.

Esther

MY HEART IS BREAKING

 Basically, I am sitting here in the middle of the night awaiting news I don't want to hear. In a last ditch effort, with a high degree of possibility of failure, my brave sister took a chance. To kick start a remission of her multiple myeloma. She has been fighting it for quite a long time, but she is tired, so very tired. All went well until it didn't anymore.  

While I sit here in a dark room lit only by the screen, I find myself wandering through years of memories, warm, funny, sad, loving. Memories of a sister. My big sister, my idol growing up. I watched her laugh and dance to Hebrew music from the rather new state of Israel, where she now resides, a quiet but strong Zionist. And here she is happy.

My sister. Who introduced me to the early years of rock and roll. Songs whose words I know. We sang them quietly in our room, all the while chatting quietly and I think I knew her friends better than they knew themselves!  Tzipi schlepped me to the movies when going there with her friends, never making me feel like a fifth wheel. 

As I watched Tzipi work hard at homework assignments I learned the importance of schoolwork and responsibility. I knew the names of her teachers, sang the songs of the yearly competition, and I believe I vicariously knew her teachers in more detail than I did my own! For how many hours Friday night did we sit on the floor of the dinette on Lefferts Ave and play jacks. All the levels and techniques. Bu she never taught me how to jump rope and still cannot to this day.  

But most of all, Tzipi taught me how to be a good person. How to care for others, to be kind and considerate and yes, OK to get into a bit of mischief but never to cross the line.    

In other words, no matter how far, how much the distance between us, we were always next to each other, right beside each other. Through thick and thin. Always. An ear open to listen. Always arms open and a shoulder prepped to be leaned upon. A heart big enough to embrace both of us. 

I marveled at her professionalism. The years we worked together in the same school were some of my best years. The notes we sent to each other. My raiding her drawer for a piece of chocolate. Always there will be the memories of how we convinced her students she was turning108, even bringing in a cake to that effect. How we laughed when a sweet little boy reassured Tzipi that she looked younger, like maybe only in her 90's. And we laughed more. 

My Tzipi. My big sister. My friend.

I so hope a miracle comes our way and you heal and return to us in the best state of health, to remain with us for many more years. 

But if you cannot, then with love and a broken heart I give you my permission to go, to be at peace, with no more pain. To watch over us from above as you bask in the warmth of Hashem and are welcomed into the arms of all who have gone before you and who love you still.

But I do not want only the memories of our yesterdays. Or our recent todays. Especially the last weekend we spent at the Inbal.  I want our tomorrows. I want them so bad. I need them. I need you. Lord G-d, do You not see my tears splash on the keyboard?  Do You not hear my cries of impending loss?

Please.

 

DO YOU WONDER WHY?

   Have you ever paged through a newspaper or magazine, read an investigatory type of book and when finished, find yourself left in a worse fog than had been there prior to the reading?  Do you find yourself wondering how the hell the situation involved ever grew into such proportions? Or, conversely, why had no one ever paid attention to this prior to it becoming such a monster of alarming proportions and of fewer answers as to solutions?  

I find this especially so when one can trace back the initial kernels of the matter, as it was reported and raised to public scrutiny and/or as it was mainly ignored. Has it ever hit you as to the unfairness and the inequality, the lack of proportional response, the utter disregard of the matter and all relating to the nations involved. Size. Power and importance. Economic standing. History and location. 

Have you then never questioned the possibility or the lack of possibility that one day humanity will ever get it straight?   Understand that fairness, equality, and attention must not be a matter of uniqueness, but rather of commonality. Of the necessity of using equal elbow grease in solving the matter before the tiny grows to massive, and the consequences grow unmanageable, to truly unfortunate proportions for too long a time. Sometimes, never to be fully resolved, always remaining a burr under the saddle of mankind. Unfortunately, I am not too optimistic of this turnaround ever happening, certainly not in my lifetime. And that is just about one of the saddest things that I can think, for it bodes no good for civilization. Not at all. 

This morning, waiting in yet another doctor's office, I read an entire page article re the slaughter of civilians in Ukraine via drones of Russia, working ever so hard to reanimate the Russian Empire and sanctioning the slaughter of civilians - and the world - sshhsshhsshh. See, hear and speak no evil for Russia is powerful, and never mind its gross invasion into an integral nation and its definitely waged war upon civilians, along with its war crimes in dealing with its soldier captives. But ssssshhhh. Russia.

On the other hand. We have Israel, the nation, which "knocks” on the roof to warn inhabitants to leave. Or which risks the lives of Israeli soldiers in order to enable the delivery of food program into Gaza. Even as they deal with the ambushing by Hamas individuals who need those foodstuffs greatly to sell on the black market, or to stock their own wares in their hideaways remaining.  Shall we mention the hostages? Kidnapped. Taken away, dead. Nearly dead. Killed in captivity, tortured. Threatened. Used as pieces on the chess board. As compared to the prisoners held in Israel. Who actually have the right to attend school, to get college degrees, master's degrees. 

And the "innocent" civilians who cheered the "victories" of Hamas, the torture and demeaning, dehumanization of hostages, the abuse of children -even unto brutal murder. Where are the acclaims for Israelis who fight for peace even as their loved ones are on the battlefields, keeping them safe. Or are held captive, who will never return other than to be buried and even that is uncertain.  

Where are the declaimers of errors in history? Who refused to refute the ignorant cries of claims against a genocide conducted by Israel. No one in Israel calls for the demise of each and every single Arab. Of every member of Hamas. Every citizen of Gaza. The only ones whose voices are calling for the complete slaughter from end to end, to the last one, are those of Hamas, those who support Hamas on the corners and streets and avenues of nations of the world. Why? Because it is obviously of no big matter. Kill Jews, you hear. Kill one there. Kill 1000 there, kill a million over there. It's all the same. At the very least, Israel generally agrees to have an investigation into whatever claim is presented and change procedures if necessary.  

No, the situations are clearly treated in unequal manner. In Israel and in Ukraine. And in all the nations of the world where one segment is waging war upon another. Where lives are of no value. And standard pictures of starvation of collateral damage, of hollow-eyed women and children are paraded through all media facets with no resultant outcry. Mind you - those clear indicators of starvation are nowhere in sight in Gaza, despite all the claims otherwise. 

I leave it to you to figure out. I leave it to you the younger, those already in seats of power and the young beginning their careers. Remember your humanity. Remember your joint responsibility to   the peoples of this world. Remember we share this planet, and all have the same fate upon it.  To work on this problem and be better at it than the elders were. 

We, the elderly of the world, those who are in seats of power have betrayed the trust that was entrusted to us. The leaders of the world are mostly unworthy of their positions, using them only to enhance their own power and wealth. That includes the leaders of most, if not all, of the current leaders of the nations of the world. Including, especially including those of the United States of America. They are either incompetent and/or afraid of even the shadow of the Orange Man, the crypto peddler who stumbles and falls but never is called to task.   

Selfishness rules the day, and we and the planet suffer for it.  Would that we could change it.      Would we even if we could?

Doubtful. At least at this point.

The ugliness of yesterday rather than its gifts.

The threats of today rather than action upon avenues of progress.    

 The worst visions for tomorrows directly ahead driven by our deeds and misdeeds. 

Where does it end? Does it end?

Beats me.

YES, YES - NO, NO - THE TIME HAS COME

  Death by a thousand cuts. Itty bitty little snips, here and there, just little sharp tings, so easy to overlook - and then, wakey, wakey, for we are here. Where is here, you ask? Anywhere we should not be, anywhere on the road in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, by the time most of us do indeed wakey, it is too late or demands a greater concerted effort that many are not capable of reaching and/or achieving. What then? Well, just take a look around and honestly, open eyes and ears. See the truth, for we have made it so. WE - and nobody else. Either by cooperation or looking aside, making excuses until the excuses bite us back - and it hurts! And what then? Hmmm.

Simple enough to figure out and we should have done so long ago. From the very first moment we allowed a seemingly ridiculous clown to enter the race we had enrolled our country in the worst race of all. And we have lost. Is there any chance of returning to sanity or at least a modicum of it? Well, at this point I believe the Cassandra part of me has smothered much of the Pollyanna trait within. Sadly, but truly so.   

We should have declared this man ineligible for entry into a contest for the most powerful seat in the world. He clearly demonstrated bizarre and seemingly far off never happen ideas for this nation and we all laughed. And then some of us stopped laughing, stopped discounting his chances. So spoiled were we, the people of this nation, that we allowed a nasty human being to appeal to the worst of us and then elected him to office as a protest.  We thought, voiced or not, that he could do no major harm for that term and then he would be gone and perhaps we could get down to business. 

Realign this nation. Return it to its initial founding beliefs. Reinstall pride within their hearts that we are Americans, with all that entails. Live up to those standards. Remain as the leaders of the free world. How wrong and foolish we were. We refused to learn from history. Successful attempts of "fools” who pulled the wool over everyone's eyes. Who became the "leaders” of their nations. Much to the regret and sorrow of the world. Evil and violence within and without the borders of that nation. The violence went viral with the inevitable results of war, horror, death, poverty, destruction and schisms so deep that most nations never fully recovered - even as they tragically repeated the same errors, again and again. Il Duce, Hitler - Trump. 

Those who did indeed learn from history had their voices drowned out by those who did not. Or who actually wished to repeat it. They sidelined his stupidities. But what seemed to be stupidities were actually foretastes of what he actually had in mind. That was clearly seen in his failed violent and bloody attempt to overthrow this nation's government. A la the failed Putsch of Hitler and then - we know what then, do we not?

Even then he and his followers refused to give up. They bided their time and came back strong in 2024. Much to the dismay of those who saw through his obfuscations. Too many ignored what was clearly his end goal. That was to become the "Leader" of this nation. To cancel the Constitution. To trash the three-branch government. To crush all his opponents. To do all that he must in order to keep Power in his hands and tainted filthy lucre to build in his pockets. No shame. No end to his ambitions. Engages in blackmail and threats. Within and without this nation, of individuals and groups. Shreds families. Destroys economies.     

He caters to the uber, uber wealthy. Yeah, there are those who continue to believe in the false words and promises, swallow whole the lies he spews forth without end. Even as at the same time his most insane statements are encased in laws enacted by his puppet legislature and legally sanctioned by a judiciary afraid of him.  Even as his dementia grows more and more evident, but hey, so were many other leaders throughout history, even as their nations bought into it for so long and the nations and their populations paid the price, the wounds never fully healing nor scarring over completely.     

 He has deeply embedded his roots into the heart of this nation. As he does so he is crushing the heart, destroying the essence of the idea, of the concept of America. Those who continue to follow him trust him despite all that he has done to break that trust. His awful beyond words new "ugly inhumane bill" will break just those same people who voted for him: the western states, the flyover states, The farming states which depend on immigrant labor to work the fields - who have been thrown away, like used tissues; those who rely on Medicaid, food programs, business loans, health care, educational access, job training for new occupations and possibilities. I wonder how violent the quashing of the protests of those will be, those whose kids are hungry, whose spouse is ill, whose college plans are obviated, whose homes have been foreclosed.

There are those who point to good. And he has done. Yes. I appreciate his support for Israel, but always there's the fear and mistrust. This man shifts positions and statements as quickly as he can as     measured against his one permanent value. That is what is good for Trump. That and only that. Disobey his orders, capitalized especially, and you are doomed. 

Trust in this man is a waste of time, a loss of breath. His policies are growing more and more inimical to the masses of Americans, other than the uber-uber wealthy. Even as he more openly exposes his ambitions as he employs the military at will, to a B-52 flyover when he signs the fascistic inhumane bill, to his birthday parade, to the states of his opponents. A bully, as all such as he, and a human chameleon as far as policy, hewing only to what is good for him and his. Period.      

 Voltaire, a disgusting Jew Hater, nevertheless knew men such as he and their plans and consequences. The warnings within are valid till today and well into the future. They are the lessons of history. The history we continue to ignore at our peril.   

  "The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor." This is very quickly going to prove its validity once the awful policies of his new bill are in place and activated. We can then understand another well-known statement of Voltaire and one we must answer. And quickly.

"If this is the best of all possible worlds then what must the others be like?"  

We must differentiate between the good and bad of yesterdays and apply the good and valid to our todays and build a positive foundation for the tomorrows to come.    

If we ignore our responsibilities to our kids, to the future, well, follow the thread.

ICH BIN EIN NEW YORKER

  And so are we all. How is it that the most Jewish city outside of Israel is now on an alarming arc which ends in the installation of a chief icon of JewHatred  into Gracie Mansion, the Mayor of New York City. My city. My birthplace. That of my parents. The city which gave shelter and future to my grandparents. My places of work and play, of workplace and worship. The city where my children were raised. 

The city which has now decided that I and my people are no longer wanted here. Not a new thought or movement but enabled now to be of great consequence. Urged from the mouth of this hatemonger, this moral coward who speaks of hate, who roots for hate, yet who refuses to admit it. Who relies on vocal obfuscation and games of ring around the truth dances. Who in fact sees it as a   wave sweeping the nation and the world in general.

Thus, the inevitable thought: Why not continue in that same path? Build upon its apparent strengths and welcomed into so many homes and organizations. Ignore the vile odors and sights permeating its existence wherever it lands and takes root. In fact, its roots are widespread and deep, able to build upon and move forward in the growth industry of the century. 

And Mamdani is in it up to his neck even as he spouts worthless pie in the sky promises never to come to fruition - other, than the growth industry of JewHatred and the accommodation for all those who espouse it, stand up for it, and trample over those they hated. The very same people who had aided them via organizations they had founded and funded.  How bitter is the ingratitude of the hateful and prideful. How negative the consequences. 

The man does not even have the courage of his misguided ugly principles. He skirts and skates around the truth. "I do not use that language," he states. But he endorses it, justifies it with falsehoods, and refuses categorically to condemn it. He ignores the fact that complicit and implicit are the same coin, not even the other side, so closely are they related and supportive of each other. 

With his own words and actions, or lack of action, he condemns himself. He has openly set up his own tent in their home where he becomes not merely tainted of their ugliness but is stained indelibly with and by their negativity and false debilitating hopes engendered by pie in the sky impossible promises     guaranteed to fail with their empty promises and inevitable meltdowns leading to further unrest and blame games aplenty. 

Frankly, I believe that he and Trump, supposedly from diametrically opposed places on the political spectrum, are equally dangerous. Equally inimical to the concept, the dream and the idea of America. Both, if they remain in power, or worse, gain more, will lead to a nation split or cut with the knives of a thousand cuts, resulting in a degeneration of future hopes. A nation once a strong democracy will, of necessity, as a direct result of policies inimical to the welfare of the population of this nation, will inevitably deteriorate into a hardscrabble life for most, a deep gray future and an elite class, uber-uber wealthy, only distantly aware of the woes besetting the plain folks, and that includes the majority of us, even up to and including the lower wealthy economic classes.

 No one will be immune to the bizarre inhumane policies and their inevitable unavoidable results. All brought to you via the 'courtesy' of those robotic GOP members who sold their souls for a bit more of the Leader and their party in power. As they waited like servants of the King, to bask perhaps in a second of a smile, as he clumsily walks by, even as their constituents suffer greatly from hunger, lack of medical care, denied access to a full and proper education - as the dream of America goes flat and disappears. All enabled, predicted and made into ultimate truth by bills such as the one passed yesterday, so predictive of disaster of so many, many facets, so complex in its ultimately unfortunate results, that no one can yet plumb the depths of its horrors to come.  

Ameria, the once proud United States of America, a leader of nations, will crumble into a deeply unhappy and poor nation, one of struggling lives, hopeless dreams, and a discarded democracy and deep disrespect for individuals and inherent rights. Poof! All gone. The only unknown is the length of time till utter disaster and its boundaries, if indeed there are any. A nation of food shortages. Hunger and helplessness growing exponentially. No safety net, nowhere to turn.  The only path to success will be the already growing clearer slimy bloodstained tear-soaked rungs of ladders one never should have existed in this once proud and decent nation. 

Despite all my gratitude for his Israel policy - at least so far - the concern over our deteriorating national character, the ugliness of our present path through history, rises higher and higher. There is no way to predict this man's modus operandi other than to know that it is based upon one guiding point. That which is good for him generates all laws and policies, rubber stamped by a captive legislature and judiciary. That which has lost its benefits for him goes away. Period. Not resulting in a stable nation, a stable economy, nor a stable prediction of foreign policy, or even if America will be able to play any significant role in the governing and survival of the world for so greatly will it have deteriorated, all is strengths diminished, becoming of lesser and lesser importance.

 As for Israel then   ....   Only the Lord knows, and we can wonder whether He will pay attention or simply blink once again, tired of the misdeeds, squabbles and ingratitude of His creations.   

One spews forth hate with every breathe taken. The other is drenched in selfishness and mistrust. Even his rare, good deeds are tainted by that selfishness. Are bathed in deep mistrust. Both men and their adherents certainly are not predictive of a positive future. Despite their seeming political differences, the end results will be the same. Unless somehow, some way some time soon, we can halt this ugly deterioration into a frightening unknown. The critical level of uncertainty and fear, giving way to Hatred and the dog-eat-dog world of harsh hopeless lives they will create, will, as history has taught us this oh so well, give way to a dictatorship severe and unforgiving. Ultimately not good for the Jews, not good for a once upon a time America, and not good for any soul of the world.  

It is incumbent upon the people of this nation and actually the people of the world, to recognize truth, the reality presented before us. To stand up. Pick up their puddled pants. And do something. For their own sakes and for their children. We must dig deep down and find our courage to do what is right and necessary. To use the remaining power of our votes, our voices and our courts to stand with us and effect the changes we so desperately need. To find some relatively honest legislators, if there remain any, and put all into place before it is too late.

Where and why have we gone so wrong? Wish I could lay out a list and check off the boxes as we repair it. As we rectify the errors we had made.               We need to reach back deep into our yesterdays and find the redeemable, the positive, and bring it back into our todays. Improve and fortify their endurance and then move them into place into our tomorrows now so greatly threatened. 

Either we do so, and soon, for the future to bloom and blossom once again, so we can qvell (take righteous pride) in our success. Or we fail to do so, and the sounds of the wails and moans of humanity will be of powerful decibel never before heard, as we weep deep and too late.   

Again, the choice is ours. The time short. And where the hell are we other than genuflecting to those who espouse the worst of mankind. Who champion violent bloody Hate and greedy selfishness beyond the pale.         

Where are we?  

Who are we?    

Can we turn it around, halt the hands of the Doomsday Clock?

If only.... 

Maybe then we could say with rightful pride -

 Ich bin ein Amerikaner. 

Ich bin ein New Yorker.

Ich bin ein human. 

And qvell.