OH, GOOD LORD!

  Just imagine the scene. Shocked faces, but frighteningly too real and defying of any sense of reality, so terrible are they. Awful portrayals of the misadventures of His Creations as they wallow in the very messes they have engendered and the pain and tragedy resultant. The Good Lord had decided to take a deeper, longer look at the situation below, despite His chief Angels advising Him otherwise.  They tried to dissuade him, thinking that He would be greatly grieved at the sights below, but all to no avail. The Good Lord does as He wishes. Always.

 The clouds parted, revealing the entire panorama of the horrific scenes round the world, the self-destructive behavior of those He had created and given the largesse of a world laid out before them, to live upon, to prosper, to always strive for the better, with compassion and wisdom. To use their minds and souls to choose their leaders wisely. Leaders who cared for the people, who set the right example, who inspired them to give of themselves, to share with all, and always keep in mind the gifts humanity had been given, to use them properly.  To always remember and be grateful for those gifts from the most powerful Being - the Lord Himself.

He winced time and time again as He scanned the scenes of the world below. He lowered the volume of the cacophony emanating for below. Rockets and missiles exploding. Drones letting loose their deadly burdens. The screams of the wounded. The weeping of the bereaved. The Good Lord himself had trouble digesting what he saw before His eyes.

   Groups of humans waging war against others, fellow human beings. Fighting for so long that the initial cause was long forgotten. The soldiers and civilians who found themselves in the midst of this violence simply plodded on, shouldering weapons. Placed in these awful situations by their poorly chosen and enabled leaders.  Death. And blood. And grief. And the tears of the Lord flowed in unending streams of grief.

 What had His creations allowed? How and why had they so desecrated His gift to them? The world they were gifted had treasures galore, enough to feed and shelter an entire world living as they should. With time and ability to take that gift to higher levels, to unearth the hidden treasures left there for them by their Lord and Master. 

But they had used those gifts the wrong way and hence the scenes unfolding below. They had failed and fallen to the lowest depth possible and even beyond as they remained insistent upon maintaining that lifestyle so intertwined with death, with the havoc and tragedies of war, the useless violence which served no one other than the cruel, the selfish, the greedy. 

Those who walked upon the earth unseeing of monstrous scenes. Deaf to the screams. Impervious to the tears. Uncaring about the despair. Compatibility and compassion. Partnership. Positive synergy. All glaring in their absence. Their avatars thrust to the side of the road. Trampled upon and over. And this once blessed world became a place of agony and sorrow. Always waging war in its many manifestations against all the "others". Who were actually their brothers and sisters.

 Now the Angels had a most difficult task. To convince the Good Lord that it was not a good idea to give up on these creations. They had much potential within them. They merely had to dig deeper. Harder. Force their way through up and over the blockades before them. They could indeed do so if they wished. The Lord and His Angels sat at a heavenly table to redraw humanity and its future. To discuss strategies to be used to lure them back to the positive, the good, the fair, the righteous. The true path for humanity.

Will they be successful? Will they try and then finally give up? Defeated by the intransigence of these humans?

We have already wasted so many opportunities to turn this show around. To reverse. To U turn. And come back to that which had been laid out before us. All that we had spurned and misused.  

 In our yesterdays we failed.

In our todays we continue to fail.

And those tomorrows rapidly approaching portend only darkness as the screams of pain and grief grow ever louder, ever closer.

This is upon us, folks.

Only and always on us.

When, if ever will we understand that?

It is not for the Good Lord to rescue us. He has so many more demands upon Him. We have been given, blessed, with all that we need to do what is right. To depart from the ways of anger and violence. To expel the worst of humanity, out of the camp of those wishing to return to where we were meant to be.

Upon us to do.  

Upon us to return. 

Upon us to resee that with which we have been gifted.    

Only and always on us.

May it please the Lord Almighty to hear and heed the voices of His creations who wish to return, to do what is right and proper, to shun the hate and the violence of our societies today. 

Please, Lord. There are so may who wish to see a better world.

Help us to seek and find the path, to use Your gifts properly, and return to a better, fairer, joyous and beneficial world. To live within Your gift to us as we were meant to do.

Please.  

GO FIGURE! MAYBE WE CAN UNCOVER SOMEONE WHO CAN!

 What are we trying to figure out? Just about everything in this crazy, topsy, turvy world. It develops more sharp edges overnight than has ever been thought possible. In fact, I am not even sure as to how they manage to fit today's bad news on the front page. There is so much of it and the majority of it isn't relevant or pertaining to only one major event. We are oh so blessed with a plethora of issues from which to choose!  

The question can be asked, why do we not pay attention to the most important of all? However, in fact there is no such thing. One cannot pull apart all the woes and ills of the world and separate one from the other with no leakage. In fact, if one peruses the news, via reading or listening, and with   thought, we can look behind the surface and see the ugly web beneath. That which is slowly but surely strangling the world and its hopes and dreams.  

Furthermore, as much as we hope, try to convince ourselves, that the woes and ills of the world are not of importance to us as individuals. we are thinking foolishly. Ignorantly. Willfully so.  They cannot be looked at separately and dealt with separately. In fact, if one goes back to that same front page of the newspaper and peers closely at it, one can see those invisible lines taut with pressure. Taut with peril. These challenged lines branch out into every nook and cranny. These lines of nasty possibilities reach out to embrace both individual, national and international problems. One cannot separate the woes and ills of the world from the woes and ills of the rest of the world and the individuals within.

Many of us look at government and government policies as something foreign to us. They do not really affect us. After all, we don't have huge savings or large realty holdings that are greatly impacted by the troubles of the world, the economic policies of a nation. However, look closely at one's own economic woes and there are the ties: the difficulty in getting credit and loans, housing prices out of reach, other than for those of the top 1%. The swath of public lands falling into private hands. Even as the rest struggle to keep the budget manageable. Yes, we are tied together, individuals as well as nations, differing only in the size that affects us. Pleasant, progressive, positive? Most definitely not!  

Much of the economic woes derive from the rather blatant lack of morality within the world today, in particular the supposed leaders who are leading us directly into perdition. We have all forgotten that the truth will out. And even if hidden away for years, it will, inevitably rise to the surface. Be bathed in the sunlight. Presented to all. And "thar she be" as all the moral or rather the immoral filth is exposed. Heroes turn out to have not only feet of clay, but entire legs. 

And we, the little people of the world are hit once again with blows to the heart. Those they believed in, those they supported, have lost their luster along with much of their greatness. How much good does it take to outweigh the evil that one perpetrates on others. Cesar Chavez. A hero to the farm workers seeking their rights. Seeking decent conditions of life. But today, it is exposed that he too was a broken soul, like so many men in positions of power and influence. They apparently misconstrue and exaggerate allowances within their ranks and play havoc with the lives of others. In particular, women and even children. And get away with it.   

 Why is it that so many men of high rank in politics, in industry, in education, anyone with power to wield over another think it is a fair game that they are playing. That their victims are fair game for them. People like Epstein did not exist in a vacuum. Nobody made these people take up the filthy offers proffered by Epstein. He did what he did because it was profitable. He did what he did because people allowed him to do it. People bought into it. People thought they were invincible and still continue to think so. Despite all of the ugliness coming to the surface they continued to try to deep clean his reputation and their own as well. They try to sever their ties with him, but the knots are too tightly tied. There is the truth. Deal with it. One cannot run away from the stink clinging to those who play in the filthy mud. 

Once we had pretty much destroyed the bribe methodology of doing business. Now it is back, roaringly back. Our present economy and government are powered by bribery and by crawling before the powers that be. A rebel who tried to overthrow the government of this nation. To deny its democracy is awarded for that twisted loyalty with no bid deals by his overlord, Trump. Business deals are sealed with "donations" to the whims of Trump. The selfish behavior of billionaires has once more come to the fore, a la Victorian and Gilded Age eras.  

Governments and nations are ruled by threats and dissension. There is no more talking with each other. In fact, we cannot talk with each other. We only yell at each other. Those who try to talk words of Compromise are talking into the wind. The kind of hate that we have created within this world precludes any sort of talking with rather than talking to. The only thing it creates is violence. From small skirmishes to major conflagrations which consume the world. We have given in to the temptation to treat others as our inferiors, to carry a bloodstained Big Stick. 

To conquer all before us. And discard wasteful emotions such as sympathy, kindness, all the better traits of humanity. To those of you out there who think you will walk free, through all the disasters   you have engendered, think again. We were not put here to give way to the nasty, the ugly, the immoral and the cruel. 

We have received warnings before of this behavior and its consequences, it's inevitable consequences.  In the Book of Daniel, written on the walls of the palace are these words. 

   "Mene, Mene" - your sins have been counted.

 'T'kayl  oohfarsin" -and they have been found wanting. 

Consequences await. 

Why must we repeat the errors of yesterday?

Why can we not be better today?

Will it be any better tomorrow?

Only we can answer that question.

All on us.

As a piece of information, that expression in the title. "go figure" derives from a Yiddish phrase "gai vays" - go figure it out. We of the Jewish nation have had many centuries of doing just that and we have succeeded and contributed to the world at the same time. 

So 'gai vays' indeed and gai ways all the JewHatred as you spit in the face of those who have enabled you to live the way you can - if you figure it out, the proper way to make one's way through life.

A DAY LATE AND A DOLLAR SHORT

  Actually, that would be incorrect. I am more than a day late in writing this posting. Far more than a dollar short. And unfortunately, so is the world. We, the inhabitants of this world must definitely share in the blame. Be it on small scale or seemingly of little importance and running directly through midlevel crises and outbreaks, all the way through to the world involving major ones such s the Iran ongoing war, we all share in the blame. 

We have neglected much of what we should have paid attention to. We forgot or willingly denied that this ugly heap of inhumanity, of bloodshed, of rampant Hate, is of our making. Ours and no one else. What's more? Is that we continue to pile it on. Barely a break between one outbreak of consequence to another. All the while we seek a way to lay the blame on "Other", that nebulous "They" so well equipped and informed, ever so eager to wreak havoc on "Us", the ones claiming innocence. We bare apparently clean hands, even as our clothing carries the dirt from them. 

We have forgotten that old but still valid maxim:   "Penny wise and pound foolish". In totally ignoring these seemingly minor flare ups, we allow them to rise to unmanageable proportions. Then we shake our heads, wondering how did this happen? Upon whom can we lay the blame? Certainly not us. Only Them. That amorphous blob always at the ready to serve our needs like the Sin Eaters of old.  However, neglect does not make them disappear. We simply have shoved them behind a closet door constantly under attack. From within and without. Until finally it breaks. And the cycle renews itself.

Our perilous times today are extremely so. Domestic issues have merged with international issues. One Nation's problems become the problems of other nations. The world has shrunk, though we deny it. Too many of our supposed leaders claim they can keep us above the conflicts of the day. Of the world. But they are wrong. So very unfortunately wrong. We are the ones who pay the price. But then again, perhaps we deserve to pay that price as we enabled these leaders to rise to power, did we not?

 Without raising a sweat. Without having to work too hard or think too much, one can lay out a terrifying list of quite visible issues roiling this world. The Doomsday Clock ticks away, ever shortening the time between current status and extinction. Even as we continue to deny truth, deny the reality that we are fighting a losing game of Whack-A-Mole, always at least a mole behind, never able to eliminate that perpetual motion cause of aggravation at the very least and conflagration at its worst. 

All the while we continue to ignore that fact. As a result, while we have at least one eye closed, yet another mole pops up. We are simply not ready, do not react in timely or proper manner. As we dawdle the temperature rises. Degree by degree. Day after day, year after year. Until well, here we are. We forget that to ignore that initial wayward mole is to force us to be constantly behind, never able to catch up. What a stupid way in which humanity rules the planet. That would be Us.

Randomly, as they pop into my head and fingers so busy on the keyboard, here are a few of what plagues this world of ours, at least in my head. I am sure I will forget a few dozen or so. Feel free to add some more as they strike the nerves of your body and soul. Not the more, the merrier, but perhaps the more we acknowledge, the more we do what must be done. Quickly. Fairly. Humanly.

- Trump's administration described as Angry, full of Endless Rage.

- America on the precipice, at the end of any safety rope, for those who have inner hate, among the      people within the nation, will rise to Hate demanding, leading, to Civil War and Death.

- Nations around the world finally becoming aware of how wrecked and inadequate their health systems are. Too lethargic and unknowing and immersed so in denial that they have no way in which to move forward and fix the problems. In the meanwhile, people suffer needlessly and die.

- Allies become enemies. Enemies become stronger. Leaders already addled in their brains, become ever more so. They cannot make up their minds and the only 'progress' is to further place the people of that nation in more peril, growing danger, until that balloon pops and its ugly contents are spewed forth over the world. None are immune to its stink and corruption. Instability is not the answer. In fact, it is definitely an instigator of worse to come.

- Politicians. All over the world. Willingly embracing the poison of Hate. Indulging themselves in the most ancient of Hates. Anti Semitism now ramped up to JewHatred. It is now rife upon the face of this earth and ever so fashionable. Even actors feel empowered to speak at an awards ceremony of "crimes" of the Jewish people. 

Hate to the point where leading political figures have eagerly jumped onto the bandwagon dripping of Hate and condemned Jews wherever they can insert a statement to that effect. Blaming the victim, as usual, forever instructing them as to how to change so as to avoid being the target. To give up their identity. Their belief. Give up on life. Go check out the news. And perhaps one might even pin Mamdani to the wall of shame, unqualified to do nothing, other than to breathe - and quietly at that.   

-  The shame, the corruption, so thick in the air. In the ranks of governmental and industrial figures, even in the field of education. In so many nations. And shamefully, especially present, grossly growing by leaps and bounds here in the United States. Certainly, these days money talks. Lots of money talks. Pardons are bought. Infrastructure is destroyed. Protective laws are aborted. Legal structure of the nation is violated by the very ones who have been entrusted to defend it, have sworn an oath to that end. As the truth and facts of history are buried beneath the rubble.

- Certainly, we can see and feel the development of authoritarianism, here, in America. Unfortunately, quite healthy in its growth, aided and abetted by members of the government who cede to the commands and directives, who have forsaken their political morals. We, in America, and so many round the world have denied the deeds of the heroes of the nations who fought for democracy, to remove the dictators.   

- The catastrophic wasting of funds so necessary to help those who are hungry, homeless, devoid of hopes and dreams for themselves, let alone for their children. Instead, we spend those funds on building more weapons of war. More efficient in causing death and harm. Unfortunately, we continue on this path because we need defense against those who would harm us. Would that we could all bury every damn weapon. Every damn bullet and missile. To better talk with each other, not at each other. Find common cause rather than emphasize the negatives, the issues which inflame rather than push for peace.

- The growth industry of the world. Terrorism. Be it one sect of Islam blowing up the mosques of another. Or declaring a sect as Heretics. Abominable. Undeserving of life. Or refocusing ancient hatreds. Simply blowing up anyone with whom one disagrees. A growth industry, indeed.

- A loss of certainty as to who we are. What are our responsibilities? Our duties? How are we to behave as citizens? As members of society. To reinforce the authority of those who are there to help us? To educate us, to raise us, to love us.

- When will we stop abdicating our responsibilities to society as a whole. Crush those who prey on others, white collar or not. Those who inflict    violence on others. Those who for profit forsake any moral boundaries. As for example, allowing filth to be placed online. Or methodology of cheating. Then they claim walls against access by teens or children. But our kids today are smarter in this area than we are. They can and will bust through any wall set up. What are we allowing? What are we doing? Is it any wonder these children feel more empowered to disempower those who are meant to guide and protect them?   

- When will we understand that scapegoating a group of people is not the answer. The hate expended only boomerangs upon us. Till finally, there is no end and it is man against man. Society loses. Humanity loses. Humanity approaches extinction.

ICE in its present formation and instructions.

There is so much more, but I need to end here, at least for today. I must rinse off the filth of the world from its inhumanity. From its growing peril that it forces and reinforces upon us.  Upon themselves.

When will we ever learn?

Can we ever learn?

We were not perfect yesterday.

Unfortunately, we are no better today.

Possibly even worse. 

What will be for our tomorrow? 

I hesitate to think. To imagine.

And remember, folks. 

Always remember. 

It is on us. 

Always and only on us.

Here is a worthwhile quote re peace and what is incumbent upon us to do - as soon as possible.

""... it is wise to recall the wisdom of Ambrose Bierce who defined peace as "a period of cheating between two periods of fighting."

Do we understand the wisdom of that statement? It explains why war is a constant, as we never stop cheating - ourselves and humanity. Unless and until we are honest with all, including our own inner souls, and acknowledge that we all should be fighting for a true peace, a lasting peace, no cheating, and the benefits of peace are shared fairly, humanly, truthfully - well, look around and see what we have now. 

Does anyone truly sane and wise want to  continue this state of being?

As I have stated so many times - 

On us. 

On Us.

WHAT'S THE DATE AND WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES?

   Amongst the most minor problems caused by this war is my rather funny lack of knowledge in certainty as to where I am - which state, which city, which country. What is the date and am I missing appointments? As a matter of fact, where are the locations of these appointments? Worse, my clothes are now in various widely separated locations, and I have no clue as to what is where, and what is contained within the suitcases at the various locations - wherever they are. In fact, I do not even know how many pieces of luggage are out there, waiting for pickup to final destination. Or when that will take place. 

I hope soon. The sooner the better for that will indicate a changed status in the world. Hopefully one of peace, at least one capable of lasting more than a few weeks and without the incidents of terrorism round the world using as false reasoning the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East as permission for excused and "understood" crimes against humanity. Hence, they receive a pass from the nations of the world immersed in the same hatred roiling within the attacker. They spend more airtime and print time on the beast rather than on the attacked, the targeted. Upside down world indeed. With nary a correction of path in sight.

 It is worth noting that the wars that are constantly raging around this world are generally not accompanied by terrorist activities that take place around the world. Most of the violence is confined to the area in question. Whether it is a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, about a 9th century temple. Or Ethiopia and Eritrea. Or Somalia and the numerous countries with which it finds itself in conflict. Apparently, the only area of unease, which is accompanied by around the world terrorism is a conflict in the Middle East. Between Israel and any of the multitudinous nations preferring to see it gone. Wiped out of the memory bank of humanity. Most frustrating is the fact that when these terrorist attack activities take place, they are often excused, 'justified' due to something Israel did or did not do. It matters not. Apparently, violence against Jews round the world is okay, calling forth weak condemnation, if indeed any at all. In many cases it is either ignored or questioned as to being a 'hate crime'!  It is a losing battle from the get-go to combat this contagious, venomous ever ongoing, unjustified condoned JewHatred.

While we are on the topic of hate and hate motivated actions, those powered by irrational fears exaggerated beyond any and all connection to reality and are manned by those with no sense of differentiation between right and wrong. with evil conniving minds and dark souls. They shout over all the other voices of society and body politic and convince others to follow their lead, moves which are always of negative manner for individuals and nations as a whole.  Inevitably it revolves around calls for violence, shouts of hate and the resultant violence as words are put into action. 

Despite the rather chaotic situation in nations of the world and within individuals, or perhaps because of it, certain thoughts and evaluations are coming more to the fore. People are being pushed to the wall, having to make difficult decisions. Hopefully, the decisions made will come down on the proper side of the line. Choosing morality over immorality. Of beliefs and dreams that unite rather than separate and divide with disastrous results. 

 Sheer simple, plain decency rather than the nastiness seemingly growing at rapid pace with no braking in sight. Will mankind see its way through yet another tense and most dangerous situation or will they lose this time around and condemn all to a fate such as that we should not ever have to contemplate.  But what else is one to think when a newspaper publishes an article detailing all that should be done, put in place, before a war situation, including supplies and precautions.  

Personally, I feel as if I am being ripped and pulled and pushed in conflicting directions. I cannot believe that I am the only one to feel this concern, this confusion, this inner conflict. This ever-present worry and anxiety as to the future awaiting all of us. Not so much for me. I am way down on the down slope of life, but for the little ones. For the young. What world are we bequeathing to them? What is the legacy we are to leave behind? 

Has anyone out there in positions of leadership thought these matters all the way through?  Followed the threads to their unavoidable conclusions should we G-d forbid remain on this most dangerous path? There must be millions who must also have similar conflicting thoughts and ideas and principles running through their heads, challenging all.  

Much of the angst in my life arises from two points. One is the Land, the State of Israel. my native ancestral homeland. The other is America. Also, my native-born homeland. By birth, by upbringing, by pride, as a child I never saw any dichotomy, any space between the two. Growing older I began to see space between but never to the point of worry or to be greatly concerned with whatever was the current state of affairs in both countries.     

Now I do. With great concern and fear. A great deal   of air between. Though I believe sincerely and deeply in the eventual coming of the Messiah and a better world to follow, I am definitely motivated to keep the present edition of the world intact, going in the right direction, still capable of and willing to right the wrongs, and keep the world on an even keel supportive of a good and fair life for all. We used to think this was the right thing to do and though highly difficult at times to see our way through, we took it upon us as a responsibility and a duty. One that we owed to humanity and to G-d. 

This was true of and for both nations.  Until things changed. And shifted. And flew in the wrong direction. We lost our way and are having a great deal of trouble as we seek the way back, to an even keel. It is as if all winds, be we on the seas or in the air or treading the ground, seemed to have turned on us and presented no more tail winds, only rough headwinds beating us back at every turn we take.  

There is much more to write on this topic. Much more to say. Much more to think about. But to continue today is not an optimum thing to do, at least not for me. I will continue this tomorrow. In the meanwhile, I hope to clarify my thoughts with more precision and definition. Not easy to do in these matters as it harps back to the yesterdays we lived, through the tumultuous todays we are living, and into the tomorrows left so up in the air. 

WHAT IS LEFT TO SAY?

  Day after day. Night after night. Week after week. Century after century. It's the same damn thing over and over and over again. What is it? It is in constant repetition. Seemingly echoing endlessly down the years of humanity. It is the apparent need, a lust for hate and its manifestation in as many ways as one can think of. It is not difficult. Apparently, humanity is quite open to that nasty emotion and its even nastier manifestations of it. It allows them to let loose all the dogs of war contained within their own selves and then be praised for it.

Hate. It seems to be impervious to all that is thrown against it. Education. Appeals to emotion. Appeals to the better side of humanity, though that is indeed at times extremely difficult to find. Nothing seems to help. Even when one generation is open to if not eliminating, at least weakening its hold on people and the many ways in which it works its way into the heart of society. 

These airs of hate, these rivers of Hate are stronger each time they manage to break through the surface blocking them. The defense against this poisonous defect within Man seems to weaken each time it is called upon. The enemies of hate are the demeaned, debased, deemed outliers of society with intent to destroy the population. Definitely, Enemies of the Nation, hence subject to ostracism, limitations of rights, if any at all and finally a brutal never-ending separation from society inevitably leading to inhumane conditions and finally, death.       

 Even more frightening is the sad fact that we never seem to eliminate all the spokesmen of Hate. Always, crumbs are left behind, and these crumbs manage to find nourishment, grow in strength until once again the world is inundated with all the negativity, all the fright, all the danger that comes with Hate. The next generation rising to power rejects any progress made by the older generation, as it gloms onto the emotions, the liberating feel when cut loose from all restraints. 

It becomes part and parcel of Hate and draws more defective and/or weak souls into its inescapable eddy of Hate encouragement ramped up to levels never before achieved. Conditions grow worse for those subject to, targeted by this malicious and malignant Hate, and society finds itself falling apart at the seams, even those who are apparently invincible. Conditions grow worse and worse, for nothing permanent, nothing steady and secure can be built upon such negativity, such gross inhumanity.   Sanity seems to desert mankind. 

And we prove once again that if we do not learn, do not take to heart the lessons of the past, of history already lived, then we will repeat those mistakes. With even greater zeal. And worse consequences. Going above and beyond any that has come before. And at ever faster pace. More frightening is the fact that the behavior of these new Haters does not only copy those who went before, those whose poison remains on the ground. They cherry pick of and from the worst of their behaviors. They are indeed learning from history. But they are adapting the   fatal errors that were made. Instead of discarding them, they enhance them, adopting and adapting them with vigor and bloody enthusiasm.

Nor does this hate remain static. It is contagious. It has a horrible history of overstaying its welcome. Even as the practitioners of Hate discover the truth of the ugliness and harm of what they have been espousing, the hatred, its practices and consequences, its threats are too well integrated and intertwined with the rest of society. It requires great patience and determination to unweave those threads. To regenerate a new fabric of foundational basis. Neither is the Hate ever fully retrieved.   History validates that statement.

Will we ever learn how to reject that which harms us? Will we ever internalize the fact that temporary relief of whatever concerns one has, via hate, via evil, via violence will never solve the issues. In fact, indeed, this will make the situation worse than ever. It will take a long time, if at all possible, to return to some stage of normal or what is deemed normal. A stage where decency has a chance of survival. And even more than that. A society where hate does not get inhaled with every breath one takes. Where sanity has a chance to reappear and take its proper place in the evolution of mankind.   

When will that be? How strong will it be? Will the population of the world take it to heart? Put it into practice? Fight against the worst of the emotions and traits of mankind. Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully better. For I have very little, if any at all, of a feeling of optimism. When the papers, all facets of media warn us re the supplies needed to stockpile before the oncoming war; when this is openly spoken of, even praised, my hackles are raised and my spine vibrates with chills of deep fear.  

Will we finally reach the end of the road? Have we already reached it? Will this era, this rise in the temperatures of the world in more ways than one inevitably rise to a full-scale war? Will we finally lose all control and kill the world, kill the future for all? With unrestrained use of the weaponry we have already created, with its capability calculated to deliberately kill over and over again, to kill the already dead. We can leave humanity back in the days when we were no better than the beasts of the field. Perhaps even worse, for animals do not turn on their own kind as often and as cruelly as humans do to one another. 

Certainly, there is something very wrong with us these days. Perhaps it always was there in us. Before us. We expended the better side of humanity onto other creatures, created many protective laws and organizations for them, rightfully so, However, in doing so, we forgot, ignored and denied the need for protection of our fellow human beings. When it came to human beings, we came up short.  Very little restraint in the application of all the negativity. All the harm, all the lies, all that hate. Perpetrated upon our fellow men and perpetuated its existence in our rather highly troubled world.  

There is something seriously wrong with us, or at least with those who deem it appropriate, even godly, to kill without compunction. Who aim   weapons of war against those most unable to combat it. These enemies of mankind attack buildings sacrosanct, as places wherein one worships the God they choose. These malevolent. themes merge into attacks at synagogues wherein 140 young children are playing, or where elderly folks are praying, or there are community services inside. 

Places and people which should be sacrosanct rather than deliberate targets of hate and misplaced anger. All with the harm and the hurt magnified and multiplied when others, haters as well, though not as outspoken, seek high and low for excuses with which to justify these abominable acts conceived and carried out with all intent to do harm - deliberately. 

What have we come to? Is this indeed the final stage for us? We have indeed done much wrong to reach this stage of life approaching death, have we not? Is there a chance to turn it around? Who the hell knows?     

What I do know is that among the Jewish nation there is a growing feeling that this is indeed the time of Gog and Magog, when powerful nations wage a war against the Jewish people. Inevitably, the enemies lose the war, bur before victory there are many battles, many horrific times. However, when the dust settles, revealed before us will be a time of glory. The time we have been waiting for all these many millennia. It will be the time of the Messiah. A time when hate is no more. When we live peacefully in our homeland, long promised, long lost and 'refound' time and again, never lost to us, always in our hearts, our prayers, a founding stone of our beliefs.  

It was thus through our yesterdays.

Thus, it is today. 

As for tomorrow - our hope, our faith, our belief, our knowing - will endow those tomorrows with glory.

AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YE FREE

  Telling the truth. Speaking the truth. It's probably the best way one can continue to carry on in a cycle of interaction between oneself and another in conversation or in any kind of social transaction.  Telling the truth means or entails one uncomfortable moment possibly but telling lies sparks many such moments. Why? For the truth is the truth.

 Lies mount up. Quickly.  As does, in direct proportion, the difficulty of remembering which lie was shared with which individual and how deep is the hole one has dug for oneself? How much trouble did one just land oneself in? Most important, how does one get out of this very awkward moment in time? At times the answer is one never gets out of it at all. It is always there. It remains in the mind of those who know the truth, heard you tell the lie or watched with great glee as you struggled to clear the red off your face and consign the overwhelming shame down some nearby sewer. And your social stock value? Tanks even more.

There are some professions conducive to the spreading of lies. We all know about the used car salesman doing that. But sometimes we forget that there are others who also tell lies. Unfortunately, many are in one's own family.  Doubly unlucky is one who has a liar as a family member and is also a practicing active politician. In fact, it seems that politics and lying walk in comfortable tandem partnership, hand in hand. Evidently immune to shame and repercussions as they cross the boundaries of truth and wallow in the lies of the other side.  

A smart man once said this about politics and politicians. So very true. Sadly so.

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies."

Quite correct in understanding the issue and diagnosis; unfortunately, no one has gotten around to the proper remedies and application of such.

Take a look around. Pay attention to the news and the comments made by the individuals enmeshed in that news. Shake your head in disgust when you hear them say one thing which totally and absolutely contradicts what was said yesterday. From the same mouth. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth, yours as well, unless you yourself are the liar or an enabler of his camp.

Consequently, thereupon arises a feeling of despair. If the politicians are the leaders of society. And the leaders are liars. Then what does it leave for us? We believed in the lies dripping so easily from their mouths.  Or have become stupid enough to believe them. Or turned them to our own advantage. Arising now is a feeling of despair. If the politicians are the leaders and the leaders are liars, what does it leave for us? To close our eyes and make believe we believe in the lies? Or are clever enough to turn them to our own advantage? Nothing good here.  

That seems to be the modus operandi of the times we live in. It leaves us hanging out there someplace in the void. Who can we trust? Who can we believe? Who can we turn to for aid and advice in critical moments? In any case, why would we believe? For till now all they have shared with us is the bumper crop of lies, grown afresh every morning and every night and most times in between as well as necessary for their survival.

Soren Kierkegard once stated:

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Is there any real possibility? That we can have eyes in the back of our heads and functioning brains with which to interpret what we see? Then to take what we so desperately need from it and apply it to our eyes and brain on the other side of the head? Those which move us forward in positive manner. 

Or are we forever condemned to be Monday morning quarterbacks with little hope and less opportunities of ever bringing the wisdom and the lessons of the past, of our yesterdays, forward, intact, to the turbulent times of today? Thus, ensuring a better tomorrow for all. Is that a real possibility for mankind, after all these centuries of fooling ourselves, persisting in taking the wrong paths, and following the most unworthy people as our leaders?

My optimism, about this possibility is sorely challenged.

Perhaps it might be so when we finally own up to the fact that all our troubles are of our own making. 

We enable those who lie, who are terrible leaders.

 We did this to ourselves. 

All of us, folks. 

All on us.

SO

 ...no. Definitely not. No way. No how. Simply not in any way, shape, manner, or form. It has been tried before. Many times. Some efforts unfortunately more successful than others. But none ever achieve its final goal. More important    is the fact that we have learned some hard lessons. We know that certain things are not the inevitable. Do not have to be accepted in stoic face and an "it will pass" mien. No. It is different now. Very different.

 And it is time for people to understand that. And what it means for those out there who hate the thought of giving it up and moving off to some other place - my preference being the last circle of Hell, forever, and even that would be far less than they deserve. In fact, I do not believe there is enough out there in our world which can in any way be equated with sufficient consequence   for those who encouraged and incited such horrible events and murderous thoughts and deeds in others. To stand against life itself for those not 'like' them and do their best to do the very worst. And be praised for it.

Thus, it is a solid NO. Your misbegotten pathetic and failing teachers, instructors and spewers of hate 'forgot' to teach you the truth of history. They can print all the false books with all the misinformation. With all the words of hate. But they cannot deny the truth of history in any permanent manner. The truth will always out. And when the truth hits those who bought into false theories and histories, it is a blow to their very inner core. May it forever hurt them with pain insurmountable and everlasting.

 Does that last paragraph sound over the top, certainly not emulating the model of forgive and forget? Well, I hope it does. For such is the anger and the bitterness I feel within me towards those whose constant desire is, remains, to initiate murderous, horrific, unimaginable, ungodly scenes of murder so harsh, so huge in design and manifestation, so close to successful attainment of goal, that there are those who cling to the belief, the need, to refute the truth of those very scenes.  

Documented as the truth is, by photos, memoirs, living witnesses, and the words of the perpetrators of the slaughter, there remain the deniers and worse. They are those who know they lie with every breath they take, every step with which they taint the very ground upon which they tread yet persist in trying to glom onto the souls of others foolish, naive, or hating enough, to join in their devilish accursed plans. In such manner do they clear a pathway, many such ways, for the worm of Hate to continue to eat into the very soul, the very psyche of humanity. Generation after generation, all infected, infested with the dregs of humanity, the very worst of it, and all too successful in their desires.

But no more. Know their most desired goal is to eliminate the nation of Israel. To deny it the right to exist, to thrive and prosper. To do all they have been commanded and inspired to do. To follow their history and have faith in their Lord. Knowing He is always here for them, even if the Presence is at times too hidden by the clouds of the errors and trespasses of humanity. But always, He is there and always, we are rescued from the fires of hate and Hell, the gates of which have been opened time and time again. But - NO. MORE.

We have learned well via harsh instruction and experience that there is no point to stoic   acceptance of fate placed upon us by those who hate us. By those filled with bitterness, who wish to wallow in pools of our blood, and hear   the screams of men, women, children, babies, consigned to fates unspeakable. But no more, for the Jewish people wherever they reside have finally internalized the lessons brutally taught to us by those who wish us gone. Who work very hard to make that evil a reality. 

By now we have learned. We are all one. Our parts make up a strong, solid one and we stand back-to-back, shoulder to shoulder, resist in tandem and foil the vile plans of those wishing to perpetrate and perpetuate only murder, pain, bloodshed and terror upon us. Yes, of course there are outliers. In any situation. But they are only outliers and despite the braying of their loud voices, they bear nothing of any permanence. Nothing of any truth. Nothing that will last beyond their very last breath, their names and memories forgotten or left to remain as curses and lessons to be understood. 

Most important is that we now know that there is always a future for us. Always a path through to safety. Always our defender, the Lord Himself. Standing before and behind us. We have learned to know He is there. Even if we cannot see Him at that moment in time. Nor understand the purposes and paths of what we now face and have faced for all time. But we know that we are entitled to defense. We have become proficient in our defense and offense; whatever is needed. Primary, always, is survival of our people. 

And if the other nations weep at their losses, they need to look to themselves. And to the leaders they have chosen and empowered, and it is upon them to do the right thing. But no longer will we stand passively by and accept the rules of others stating that we must submit. NO! "Nevermore", quoth the Raven and "Nevermore" quoth the people of Israel.  

No matter what, we know there is an end to it all.  And so, from the deepest depths of Hell, the   camps and ghettos of the Holocaust, from forests where we were chased, prey for the human animals wishing to kill us, to the dank dark dungeons and tunnels of Hamas and Hezbollah - we have remained strong in our faith. And it has been strong in its support of us. Giving us breath to breathe, to live where there was none. Giving us strength to survive brutal starvation and torture. Even as the world deserted us yet again, we stood firm for we leave no one behind, not alive nor dead and those who attempt to do the worst to us will reap the very crop they have sown.

Thus, while the bombs and missiles and rockets continue to shatter the air above Israel and shrapnel rains down from intercepted missiles of hate, inside the shelters the people do not stand and cry. Do not shout curses into the sky. No. They prepare. They live on and remain in good temperaments despite the constant sound of alarms and sirens. They leave, inside the shelters, musical instruments, toys, candy, bring food to share, get to know new friends and reunite with older ones. 

Religious ceremonies are joyously celebrated, from entry of Shabbat to its leaving, from baby celebrations to bar mitzvahs and even weddings smoothly transferred from hall to shelter, albeit with an additional crowd equally joyous and a blessing for gratitude for having been allowed to reach this moment.

 NO, we will not give in to despair or defeatism. We know well where we are, who we are, and what we must do. The ranks of Israel hold firm and steady, true to their nation and their faith. We are a resilient people. And with the help of the Lord, we have managed to overcome and outlive all who have wished us harm and did their very best to do exactly that. We will continue to do exactly that until all those who wish us harm will be gone or reformed, the nations of the world will finally acknowledge the truth and its reality and permanence.      

We are here. This is our country. G-d given and promised. Always the home to which we returned over the centuries. Always in our prayers and hearts.

We are home and home we will remain. Finally, the dream of every person in the nation. No more climbing into uniforms to defend the nation. No longer a need to do that for there will be no more fighting. Peace will reign. A productive shared peace.   

No more, haters of humanity. You curdle your insides with your own acids. I hope they eat away inside you with pain never ending, at your body and soul. You are unworthy of the gifts of the Lord. You taint and stain the land. God willing, we, along with those nations who know the right thing to do, will   finally, for once and for all, put paid to all this ugliness. Finally, to live in peace and prosperity. To raise humanity rather than lower it ever deeper into the boiling bubbles of hate below.

So it was in much of our yesterdays.

Sadly, too much remains in our todays.

By the grace of God and with the faith and strength of those who believe, our tomorrows will look different. Be different. And remain different.

How do we ensure that happening? 

By standing up with our brethren.

By knowing that from the first to the last of it all,

it is on us.

Only us.    

We carry the burden. 

We carry the keys to a safe, better tomorrow.

Would that we learn already to open the doors with that key.

Past time already.

    

LIFE IS AS IT IS

  ...And we had better learn to accept that statement, with an understanding that if we begin with that as our baseline, we can then move forward in the proper direction.  Face value and baselines are important for balance in life, but equally as important are the immer urgings and the 'knowing' that we must do something constructive to improve those baselines, to be proactive and creative in setting things in motion with the goal to improve the baselines of life for as many as we can.  

At times understanding and acting on those understandings can be difficult, even contradictory.  One often has to see both sides of the coin, weigh those sides, and put the resultant array of possibilities in some kind of priority listing. That list might be provocative, confusing, and certainly challenging, in difficulty, in realistic terms of possibility and in the contradictions and conflicts highlighted. Decision making can have some sharp edges, can often lead to self-doubting. But if we have to walk down a fresh path there must be that first step, difficult as it might be.

It is not an easy thing to do. For it forces one to look inward. To evaluate oneself and one's life's choices. Even given the fact that at times the choice is presented to us and are most definitely not the choices we sought. But life is as it is. And one must work, at least from the start, with the tools at hand. Perhaps we can even create new ones. But present conditions of reality are the pens drawing the parameters of what we hope to achieve. It is what we do from that starting point to the finish line, which speaks to and of the assessment, the weighing of our lives as individuals and as members of society. 

The legacy left behind will either burnish or smear our lives, the memories we leave behind within others. Did we contribute to the task of Tikkun Olam, of fixing this world in ways both large and small. Noticeable and not so much. It is a difficult thing to assess from behind one's own eyeballs. It demands great introspective honesty, a trait not too many of us have, nor exercise for that matter. 

At present, at this stage and age in life, I try to think back and evaluate. What have I done, what have I contributed? What have I enabled others to contribute? I think I am, I hope I am, definitely on the positive side. Certainly not perfect. Far from it. Even in our todays I find it difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile certain tasks, certain thoughts. I flinch inwardly at the difficult task and wonder: Is this hypocrisy? Or is this reality? 

Is this a cost of "doing business”? But is it not necessary sometimes to hold that going out of business sale and then reopening, refreshed and better able to reconcile or come down definitively on one side of the coin and let the chips fall where they may? Is it a choice of the lesser evil or the more qualitative and quantitative good? Is such as choice a Gordian knot, unable to be undone unless one wields an unforgiving sword? Must the choices, the decisions be based solely on facts? At least as I perceive them to be or is emotion able to be added onto the scales where we weigh our choices. Our decisions. And at the proper time, the results. If any. If for the better or the worse. 

To quote a famous American, these are indeed "the times that try men's souls". Women as well. How does one rate one's own values? How does one truly know the level of sacrifice in truth and is it OK to hope that we never reach that challenging level? Never to be so tested? And worse, if tested, to fail! 

How indeed is it possible for anyone, for me in particular, since it is the me that I am responsible to and for, to hold conditions once thought anathema to my very being. And actually, still are. But something else has come into the fray, has contributed its weight. Rather than helping, it simply is complicating the entire manner.

  At the end of this self-examining session of questions and answers where none seems to be found, I find myself even more confused than ever. How can I possibly compare and contrast, juxtapose the two sides of this coin? Both sides of the matter contain life long held beliefs. Deep beliefs. Beliefs which demand that I remain loyal to them. How can these two so different sides actually be aligned in such manner to keep me sane?  Where and how do I weigh in the negatives that would be activated upon championing one side over the other? How can I be sure which positives will outweigh the others, and which will weigh less? Will the positives of the one outweigh the negatives of the other?  

It is impossible. It is impossible. It is something which demands that I actually take a cleaver to all that I have believed, to all that I have espoused, and then somehow gather the pieces and reformat them into something with which I can live. A new coin which would incorporate all that I hope and pray for, all that I believe. I just don't see that happening. I also don't see how it can continue like this.  My head pounds. My heart beats. I try to think of ways to make this broken coin whole again. In a form I can live with. Justify to those questioning it. Yes, life is as life is, and we have very little to say about it. But the little we can say, must be weighed and carefully judged. And even then ...

If there had been no brave souls in our yesterdays;

if there have not been brave souls who took on the challenge in and of our todays,

where would be the hopes of our tomorrows?  

Not a clue, folks, not a clue.

What I do know is that there are very difficult times with crippling decisions awaiting us, right on top of us, and no one can sit this out. Remember that to say and do nothing in the face of Evil is to abet and enable it, to spew its poison wherever it lives. and its appetite is insatiable.

Remember -

 On. Us.

Only. Always. On. Us.

 

BAD NIGHT

  Sorry, but blog will be posted around 10AM, give or take. Bad night and early morning appts. Not a great combo. Such is life, I guess and others have it far worse. Gotta' be thankful for what we have and what we do not. Think on that and see you a bit later on today. By the way, I just read a terrible weather forecast, another storm, more likely rain but HUGE and can have tornados as well. 

Be safe.

GPS DENIAI

  It seemed there is nothing that man can invent, that man cannot defeat. GPS, that magical tool that has robbed us of our ability to read a map, let alone to fold a map, that has led us to lose our instincts as to where East and West are. North and South, as well as the instinctive knowledge as to where we are heading. 

These days the first thing we do upon entering a car is to enable GPS or Waze, yet another routing adviser. So now the first thing that nations under attack do is to turn off the GPS system and hence the attackers are lost, not knowing up from down and right from left. However, unfortunately. this leaves the Home Army almost as equally in the dark. wandering in the 'wilderness' along with their foes.  

However, one of the most dangerous uses of GPS denial occurs when the system is disabled at airports, leaving pilots flying literally by the seat of their pants. Quite a frightening scenario, for so many younger pilots have learned to depend upon instruments and robotic directions, and when they are gone...  

Think of other pilots in our lives who have been denied GPS or taught to rely on   malfunctioning ones dispensing incorrect, dangerous routes. However, there is one more warning emanating from the fading beeps of another GPS system, quite a critical one too. Perhaps the most important one of our lives. 

We have sadly lost the GPS system for living the right way. for turning away from the wrong. We have, for years now, been following directions and/or commands to take the eminently wrong road and by the time we realize the errors or our ways, if we actually do reach that point, it is too little, too late. and, folks, here we are.

Welcome to the world roaming sans directions in an ever more complicated universe. Pay your money and take your seat to watch the most frightening spectacle ever. Brought to you by the eternal sponsors: Hate and Greed.   

 Anyone reading the news or catching it in varieties of the media, apart from those willfully deaf and blind to the truth of today, would and should have despaired of the world we have created. Indeed, we do not know where we are and refuse to internalize the truth which reveals to us in bold headlines as to exactly how we did arrive here, so distant from what was meant to be, where we are supposed to be rather than at the stations and levels we are at our shameful present. 

In fact, we are at one of several levels, most of which bode no good for us at all. Some are Denial Station, refusing to see that which is playing out before us, at ever faster and more destructive manner. Others are at the Inertia Station, almost paralyzed in their fog and do nothing other than live a shadow life, basically meaningless and noncontributory in any positive manner. 

Others are at the Delighted Station, glorying in the ugly proliferating tide of nastiness and crime and criminals now queuing up for seats in government from top to bottom and back again. The filth, the immorality, the ugliness, flows freely, non-stop and is almost impervious to attempts to slow it down, let alone to halt it. 

Need proof? All over this nation see the sad truth. The convicted felons. cheaters. the immoral perverts. the most prominent convicted felon happily pardoning others of his ilk. The perversion of the structure of our nation, put into play by those in the highest seats of power, all to benefit themselves, their families, their cronies and abettors whose desire for wealth and power are far off any chart of fairness and sanity. This world of fog and obscuring clouds, of persisting denial of truths and embracing of lies, is all meant to deceive and delude. Far too successful for those in yet another station.  

That is the Station of the Concerned. Those who are motivated to effect a change for the better in this woefully embattled nation of ours. It is, unfortunately, lacking in the numbers of people. who must commit to fighting heartbreaking, challenging battles. Battles worthy of the dreams and efforts of many Don Quixotes. There is a growing awareness of the true State of the Union and a corresponding louder rumbling in the towns and cities of this nation. But is it too late? Ate we beyond the point of no return? 

It is said that one must center oneself in order to move forward on an even keel in life. To live a life contributory and productive. To tend to the right, to the good, and stay away from extremes on both the Left and the Right. Extremes forbode no good, and, are in fact, two sides of the same coin.

We can easily see how far we have wandered from the centering so desperately needed both in our personal and national lives. That which was centered both orally and by concrete deeds and actions, in visible format has been hijacked by the extremes who wish to change, to reformat it into their own image. From entryways and porticoes to stairways and surrounding areas. From moderation to excess or wrongful denial. From tradition and history to wild fluctuations, the nation has lost it center, individually and as a nation. 

We have chosen to work with broken GPS. Totally dead or full of misdirection. We need to find those who know how to repair the damage. How to reboot the system in positive manner. And most important, to ensure that such a breakdown is never ever to return. Whatever it takes to avoid that must be put in place. A sense and understanding of the best of traditions and history. Education as to public service and its importance, the respect deserved by those who truly fulfill their responsibilities.   Educate adults as well as children re true patriotism, national pride, along with the values that serve mankind: equity, justice, humanity. Seek the high road rather than the low one.

In our yesterdays there was a slow but steady centering. 

 In our todays we have gotten lost.

For our tomorrows - we are in dire need of correct GPS in working order.

Who will provide that GPS?

It should and must come from within us.

From us.

On us.

Always on us.

A;wys opn us.   

WHY IS IT?

  Why is it that people are stupid. Why is it that they do not take to heart the lessons they should be learning, claim to be learning, and then turn around and dump it, stomp on it and the only lesson learned is that one will, time and time again, discard truths or simply 'unclaim' as unnecessary in the first place, so why go seeking them? Is it because we do not have a strong enough urge to save ourselves, to make a better world for all those upon it? 

Or is it that we constantly think and feel that others are out to get us, hence, we should get them first. But this ugliness should have long ago been discarded, for what have we learned, what have we gained from the seemingly endless wars of humankind. Big or small, worldwide or confined to small areas alone, what is the difference? Was there in fact any difference large enough to demand a war, to desperately need a war to solve the problems faced by life on earth?

It seems that we are too dumb, too stupid, or too vicious in nature to understand that these wars bring upon ourselves only more of the same. Over and over again. In fact, as one scrolls down the centuries, there is nary a time when true peace actually was in place. Even if there were not clearly observed conflicts to the point of war, not to worry, for there it always was and will be, beneath the surface, roiling with the arguments never resolved and perhaps, sadly so, never meant to be resolved. War does much, goes a long way in strengthening the lengths of stay in office of too many despots, creeps, the sagging shameful end of humanity.

These constant times of war, declared or not, barely on the radar of humanity or quite blatant, of disagreements large and small, complicated or simple, suck hope out of the air. It depresses the world to the point where we just about give up, think the worst of ourselves and fall prey to the terrible feeling that we humans are beyond hope. Always there was sniping, arguing and threats and a constant, imaginary but so real noose hanging over us. Waiting to drop down upon our heads.

So foolish, so blind are we that we do not realize nor understand that we need a new plan book. We need to find a natural winner, a hero of clear and clean mind. One who will break a tie, many ties, which ceaselessly entangle us in blood and guts. endless wars of mankind, big or small, between major powers or small states, in actuality and outcome, in severe consequences, there are no differences. Yes, perhaps more lives are lost in one war as opposed to another, or the damage to infrastructure varies as well, but in the end, there is no difference. 

The same flimsy excuses are ginned up to justify. the fighting. The budgets of nations blow up in order to support the fighting. In fact, all those 'critical differences' are generally figments of our imagination, desperately needed to benefit some, but not the majority. We are the enablers of our   own disasters though we are sure to cast the blame on the 'enemy'. We forget that maxim, that warning: “We have met the enemy, and they are us." The truth hurts. And we wish to avoid that hurt. To cancel the truth. We become ever more enmeshed in our own stupidity, so deep, so all-encompassing  that we never learn. 

The good Lord blessed us with functioning minds. Why do we not take advantage of that? Learn from our experience. Be able to separate the right from the wrong, or the good from the bad. Why are we still, in 2026 picking fights with each other. Developing ever more frightening weapons and playing deadly games of chicken which bode no good for anyone, nary a one. Why are we so damn stupid that we do not learn? 

Why do we not develop better ways of thinking, of solving differences? Why can mankind not learn from history that war never solves any problem to a complete, fair and accepted solution. There is always a dangling end. Inevitably, that dangling end or ends, that failure to completely solve the problems inevitably leads to another war and   another and another. A never-ending depressing situation, a state of being with severe absence of hope, squashed optimism and minimal forward thinking. At times, it appears that we are beginning to approach some kind of improvement. but then it generally blows up in our faces. 

The clock is ticking. Our reserves of patience      are being depleted at ever faster rate. Our anger grows apace and still, there is no one to step forward and give us that missing answer, that understanding that has eluded us lo these many millennia. 

Were we always so blockheaded in our thinking and actions?

Looking back at yesterday,

examining today, 

and thinking of tomorrow -

I am afraid so. 

Somewhere along the line we missed the boat.  We found ourselves in a permanent state of confusion and irritation, such that there seems no way through to a solid peace.

Shame on us.

MY BAD!

  So sorry that I have not posted for the past three days. I did not mean for it to happen, but it did. Apparently, writing that I was tired forced me to recognize that I was indeed tired. I needed to take a bit of a sleep vacation. In other words, I indulged myself and slept in. Or took a nap. And thus, somehow my posting of a blog got lost in the shuffle. Today included. I do not want to write something in a rushed manner as there are so many things going on, so many questions to be asked and so many answers to be sought. That behooves me not to write in a hurried manner, but to think about what I have to say, what I wish to say.

 So, for today I will say that tomorrow, sometime in the morning there will be a blog posted. Hopefully it will contain some thought out material. Some questions which need to be answered, and some questions newly raised as to what is going on in this world of ours beset by such problems. In fact, as an aside, I had a "conversation” with Alexa this morning in which the Doomsday Clock was discussed. This inanimate voice of AI actually professed a degree of concern. Not only for myself, but for herself as well. Why has this world become thus. What are we doing with ourselves? And what are we doing to not only our futures, but to the futures of those who are supposed to come after. Those who are to carry this world along, into and with better decisions. Of better events. Of better life for all.

Instead of us concentrating on doing that, we're having to return to modes of thinking and behavior that should have long been wiped off the face of the earth. Why in Springfield do we have a new replication of an underground real time world? Preparing to hide Haitians threatened with deportation as temporary status was denied.   Why are we taking people whose work, whose labor is needed and necessary for our economy to function and throwing them posthaste out of the country? Why are we doing this? At the same time we allow students who entered this country in order to study and are instead calling for "Death to America". To raise trouble. Why are we allowing them to stand there in our streets and call out for death to America? Toss them the hell out. We seem to be pretty good at that lately. So why are these people not being tossed out, kicked out, ejected? This is a question that needs to be asked ever louder, ever stronger, and answers which are solely needed.

Additionally, why are medical schools ceding ground to that insane man RFK Junior. Turning their curriculums inside out in order to appease him and his dangerous protocols. No vaccines. Crazed nutrition demands. Causing hardships for those responsible parents who wish to get their children vaccinated. Against diseases which are once again making their appearances known. Unfortunately. And all due to the insane machinations of RFK Junior. My condolences to his father, now rolling in his grave about his descendant wreaking havoc. Not only upon this nation, but upon the world as a whole.

We have lost our way. In so many ways. We have lost track of what really counts. We spend days arguing about which drug company will dispense GLP-1, and which not. Which company will be deemed the latest Ogre whilst others are allowed to slide by. I am not here to argue whether this is deserved or not, simply to point out that we are not behaving in a fair and equitable manner. To any and all within our purview.

We have so lost our way. We have made enemies of allies and certainly have caused allies that have not yet forsaken us to be quite uneasy in their relationship. Not only uneasy, but queasy. According to Trump, we are allowed to start wars, initiate fighting but not worry about consequences. Interesting way of doing business, is it not? And we wonder why people hate Americans these days. Worse is when we drag other nations into this quagmire, and then shrug our shoulders and say, 'you deal with it'. Not my problem anymore. Not my job. But it is.

 I think it is the job of the world to take us, every nation, every bit of population in this world and shake us by the collar. Hopefully shaking things back into place and understanding of consequences of our behavior. And the truth of the fact that no one will be able to escape these consequences, for we are, like it or not, one planet, one people. Bottom line, one race, for underneath those skin colors, beneath supposedly differing religious beliefs, we are all the same. The same flesh and blood. The same organs. The same dreams. The same hopes. And the same fears. So, what the hell are we doing?

This morning, for a kick, I also asked a question of Alexa, if she thinks that we are the only planet, the only segment of the universe, which has supported life as we know it. Whatever the form or appearance is. I received an emphatic yes. Interesting statement from an AI, along with reasons to support that answer. I am not a particular fan or foe of AI but certainly knowing that we can make use of it and we should make use of it but the right way. Not for the growth of more intolerance, more hatred and more warfare. I am not adept at maneuvering my way through this new world, but I do use what I can. And I do see and understand that we are not making proper use of it. Not at all.

So where do we go from here? Where do we tread? Where do we know that there is land firm beneath our feet? Not waiting to swallow us up. How do we know? How do we ensure the fact that the leaders we have chosen to follow are indeed the ones we should and not the ones we had better cast aside? When will we learn true tolerance? Not tolerance with ifs and ands or buts, but pure undiluted tolerance. An acceptance of the truth of humanity, its similarity. Far more than its differences. A roaring similarity which we have managed to. dampen in sound and consequence.

Will I have the answers to these questions tomorrow? I wish I would. I wish I could. But that is not possible at this point in time. Perhaps a miracle will take place overnight and we will all come to our senses and peace and sense shall reign. Huh. Doubt that, but one can always hope. In any case, G-d willing, sometime tomorrow morning I will be posting a new post. And hopefully you will be there to read it. I beg pardon for having taken these few days off. Unintentionally, but things happen. See you tomorrow. Stay well, stay safe. Stay sane, as we always wished to do.

In our yesterdays.

In our todays.

And in the tomorrows to come.

BECAUSE

  Ever since this past Saturday morning, when we were awakened by a rude noise, neither of us has slept a deep sleep. Through the days and nights that have followed, the noise repeated itself. Signaling a warning to the people of Israel that yet more rockets and missiles were coming their way. Hence, into safety, into the secure room, and stay until told it was safe to leave. At least for a time, a brief time. 

Through the days and nights, when the alarm went off, we knew that somewhere in Israel our friends, our family, were in danger. Even as we worried about them, about the nation, about our home there, we felt pangs of guilt. We were here, relatively safe in this dangerous world of ours, but they were most definitely in harm's way, and I could do nothing to change that. They were the ones who would absorb the consequences of baseless hate, of evil unable to be plumbed to a bottom, so deep and entrenched is it.  

We know that these deranged haters, people who follow the Ayatollah, may his name forever be erased from history, and the evil adherents of Hezbollah are getting what is coming to them.  Both have gotten and are getting more of what they have so clearly asked for. But in the meanwhile, lives of people under siege are vastly and quickly undergoing massive changes. 

No fault of their own, but the challenge is there. How does one live ordinarily in unordinary times? Can we leave the house for shopping? What about the kids? How do we keep them whole and as unaware as possible? How do we live now and for how long will this intolerable situation continue? Most of all, we worry about our loved ones called up once again to serve the nation, to defend it from her enemies.  Are they safe? When will they come home?  

The pressure remains, grows and intensifies, yet the situation must be tolerated for there is no other path forward. At least until we finish with the enemies who have never learned and accepted the facts as they are and the history that backs up those facts. That the people of Israel have returned home to stay. Period.  

What about today? It is Purim. A fast forward from the original Purim to today. When the very same country of today, Persia, became entangled within the evil machinations of a JewHater, that the Jewish people within his empire must be killed. They posed a danger to the emperor and must be eliminated. He fell into the evil words of Haman and great peril now awaited the Jews within the land. 

Only via the courage and understanding of Mordechai and Esther, knowing of their responsibility, knowing that they too were Jews, and would share in the fate of all other Jews, and their faith in the Lord, was the tragedy averted.     Tears turned to rejoicing and celebration of rescue, of permission to defend themselves, and from then on, rather than a day of tears, it is a day of rejoicing and sharing gifts with others.    

And the Jews of Persia fought back, just as the Jews of today, back in their homeland again, fight for their right to have a state of their own, a place   providing a haven for all Jews in need of such. A nation which has contributed much to benefit the world at large.  

Today, we do not worry about fighting back. We are always at the ready to defend our homes and families, our nation. On the land, on the air, on the sea. In the offices of nations round the world. Wherever enemies are found, we remember and we speak out against this baseless hate of centuries. We remember the wars inflicted upon us and we are ready to do what we must to defend ourselves in our own times. Always, to remember.  And so, we do, no matter where our scattered people reside.  The needless hate. Evil machinations that went on. All in service to Evil. And we remember: how we were saved, the courage it took, and the gratitude we owed, always owe to the Lord. Thus, we celebrate, remembering bad and the good. All the people of the Jewish nation, of Am Yisroel.  

Then, inevitably, the question arises. Why is there so much hate? Why so much anti-Semitism? Why are there people who salivate at the thought of wreaking harm and havoc upon Jewish people? Of destroying their infrastructure. Of killing them wherever they stand. Man, woman and child. It makes no matter to them. The answer is "because".  

 Because there is no reason. There's no earthly reason, nor heavenly reason, for that matter for this hatred to continue. Since time immemorial murderous campaigns against us took place.  against the very people who did well for the lands in which they resided and received only smacks for thanks.  Many reasons and underlying causes have been offered. Tomes have been written trying to explain anti Semitism. But that is all a cop out. For there is no reason. It is simply 'because'.  

Evil, vicious hatred, has a self-perpetuating life. But there is no justification for it. There is no justification for anti Semitism. There was no justification for hatred. It is only 'because'.     Hatred should not exist. If we stopped hating each other, we would not have to answer questions of why it was, 'because' and stop. because there is no answer. Because there is no need, no right to demand an answer. Certainly, the targets of this baseless Hate should not be asked the question as to justify why people hate them. There is no rhyme or reason to Hate. There is no rhyme or reason other. than the lust for bloodshed that seems to live within mankind. 

Somewhere, somehow, within a lifetime things become twisted in mind and soul. This perversion of soul causes mankind to turn to constant state of war, to a thirst for bloodshed. We cast aspersions on those we deem different from us and then step it up to welcome that which is always waiting to enter onstage - the perpetrators and perpetuators of war, in full blown ugliness. We justify it by magnifying differences. of actual nonimportance and even manufacture differences if we must. And for what?  Why?

 Because. 

In fact, I think the only place from where you'll get an answer to that why, that contains any sense will be from the Lord Above. Frankly. I am not even sure of that, so confusing is that confounded and accursed need to hate which resides in mankind.  

So even as the festivities of the day go on, there is a taint to it as the darkness of present-day warfare continues. With Hate front and center, alive and unfortunately well. This year we celebrate Purim in shelters. Why and why and why?  

And again - Because.  

 I am tired. So very tired. Physically tired. Because I'm entitled to be tired at my age! But also, tired because I have not slept well, even tonight, with no alerts, but the mind continued to remain alert for them. Toss and turn and stare at the clock.  

I am also tired within my soul. Is there ever going to be an end of this baseless hatred? Not only of the Jewish people, but of all people. It seems nigh unto impossible. I do not think there is more than a token number of those who do not hang on to some Hate within their heart. Why is this the case??   

Because.  

So it has been yesterday. 

So it has continued until today. 

Please let us extinguish it before our tomorrow arrives.

A happy Purim to all. May we know only good and may evil disappear from this earth and from the hearts and souls of humanity.

AND HERE IT IS - AS EXPECTED

  For over a year now, even before Trump was sworn into office again, his statements and behavior were right up there with absurd and 'how dare he'. It was outrageous, but no one seemed to care or even notice other than the few voices shouting into the wind - among whom I was one. His claims and promises and statements grew ever edgier, crossing over the border between sanity and insanity. Many claimed that was simply his persona and not to take it seriously, for surely the law would block it all. We are America, after all. 

Certainly, what he was posing and ranting about were the fragile areas to be found in the nations of the Third World or in countries under fascistic rule, be it of the Left or the Right. Unable or unknowing enough to recognize and adhere to the proper pathways to a stable government. Strict obedience to the law rather than to the whim of the current head of government was not to be found.  But again, surely, this would never happen. 

This was America. We had laws. We have a strong constitution. We have strong traditions to be law abiding citizens. And when we veer too much off that path, we are brought up short by more responsible leaders of the nation and we return to sanity. We are brought back and reminded what it means to be an American. What it means to have American values.  

And yet we went sharply off course. Our body of state train jumped the tracks. Our common sense took a long vacation. Even as his claims became ever more outrageous, openly defiant and violating of the laws which have governed this nation for 250 years, too many of us stood silent. Stood by. Even as his statements were backed up by his actions. no one bucked against it. No matter how absurd his statements and claims were, how clearly exposed were his lies, the tormented twisting of facts, life went on with barely a shiver in its fabric.  

Time and time again he pushed aside restrictions of law. He ignored the traditions of the nation. Trashed them and the strictures contained within the Constitution and its amendments. Not very many seemed to notice. Nor to care. No one spoke up powerfully enough. Strongly enough. Determinately enough. To wake up the people to what was happening to our nation. To do anything about it.

In fact, for the most part, the very opposite occurred. For many, it was a time to close eyes. Not see what was there before their very noses. They failed to follow the threads of life within our America to the inevitable results. Unless we stomp down hard on that runaway train, the inevitable results were clearly visible. The very same results and facts of life we are dealing with at present. And not too well, I might add.  

What did we have? We had the enablers of the GOP who backed up every wrong misstep that he took. Those who even had thoughts of opposing him took the easy way out. When he went to his calls for retribution, when he spouted threats for revenge and worse, evidently the tough here were not so tough and took a sharp turn out the door. There was nothing standing in the way now of that destructive train wreaking disaster after disaster upon the nation. 

And still, the GOP stood silent. Other than those of the extreme MAGA adherents who demanded more and more of the wrong turns. Who sank ever deeper roots into vicious vile JewHatred as they obsessed about the Jewish nation and the land of Israel.

Hope there was none forthcoming from the Democrats. Oh, they mumbled a bit, drooled a bit, but they were too busy. Too busy kowtowing to the misnomered  'progressives'. Those who seemed to have a key to the kingdom that the Dems needed. Who actually were regressive in every meaning, facet, statement, and platform plank. Their platform planks are riddled with hate. And violence. And too many of the Democrats sought a return to power via that dastardly group, even to the point of allowing that ugly crew of women to constantly call out in nasty hate dripping voices and words against Israel and all Jews for that matter.  

The voices of the GOP were silent, full of praise and support. The voices of the Democrats were mumbled, unclear, lacking in power and stamina, rather tremulous. They carried no weight at all. Additionally, there were those in the GOP who are   crazed MAGA adherents, for whom Trump did not go far enough. Or those equally unhinged MAHA adherents who would turn the clock back to quack medicine, who condoned the death of many now and in the future as they opposed, even forbid vaccinations, shuttered labs and medical research, denied climate issues, even as it became more and more hazardous as loud nasty voices called out, reminding all that voiced that America was, is, always will be a "Christian" nation and so where does that leave the rest of us?

So, what is the point of this posting? Is it to excoriate Trump and his previous over running, outstretching of powers that do not belong to him, of action grossly deleterious to the infrastructure of this nation. To the unity of its peoples. No, my point is that despite all that has gone before, with either support quiet or vocal, or silence and refusal to condemn, with weakness and silence when those who should object do not - things have turned uglier, more dangerous. Things are now different.

How many times has this man sent armed forces to nations around the world. Without consulting Congress. How many times has Congress stood by and done nothing? How many times has the Supreme Court given him wide leeway. Excused him from responsibility and consequences.  What is different now? He said yes. He has sent more planes into combat areas without consulting Congress. It didn't seem to bother too many in Congress at the various times that had happened already. Only now. Why now? Think.

But why now? It is because this is a joining in combat with the State of Israel which faces extreme existential peril. A true possibility of extermination at the hands of the crazed religious maniacs and the secular haters and all their allies. Those with homicidal horrid wishes and goals. The Houthi. Hezbollah. Hamas. Islamic Jihad. Terrorists who live within Israel. haters and bigots round the world. 

Israel is used to fighting alone. Is used to the. disdain with which nations of the world speak about Israel. About its legality. It's right to exist. Apparently, its very existence is anathema to the world at large, to provide aid in its battle to remain alive and well, viable, contributing to the world. As much as we are used to fighting alone, it is nice to have company. At this time, that means the USA, Israel's traditional ally, since the time of Truman and his recognition of the State of Israel.   

Apparently, when Israel shows her strength and determination to remain within our land, our ancestral homeland, the world kicks back. They like it better when we are on the defeated weaker side, to be seen as the underdog, to remain as victims.    Apparently, when Israel is victorious, able to overcome great odds, multiple armies, some find that offensive to their preconceived ideas and emotions.   

And that is why, suddenly, there were voices raised, against the sending of weapons and people to work in tandem with Israel. Trump is doing what he's always done. He goes his own way. He pays no never mind to any rule or regulation, to any law that might stand in his way. And he does what he wants to do. What he wills to do no matter what. I don't like when he tramples over our laws and traditions and ignores the Constitution. But in this case Right triumphs. Perhaps it can be called wrong, but he did a wrong thing for the right reason. So why now the uproar missing in other similar moments? Because this is working with the Jewish nation - a major no-no to some, to many.

 Evidently that annoys too many people, including traitors of the Jewish people who deny their own. membership in the tribe. Who choose to condemn their own people in the name of retention of their position. All around the world there are despicable beings who do this. But they are self-defeating poor thinkers along with the rest of their defects.

For those of you who forget that you are Jewish, there will be plenty of people who will remind you. And know that if you turn your back on your people, your people will turn their backs to you. It is a well-known stricture that we learn from childhood. That all of Israel is responsible to watch over the welfare of other Jews. You and your egregiously wrong actions remove yourself from this equation. 

Should the worst, God forbid, ever come to be, you will find yourself in an extremely unfriendly dark world. You will wander alone. Without light, without air, without hope. Seeking that which will not be there. And for all people of the world, know this. It is time. For all of you, all of us, to measure up. To reclaim our responsibilities. The duties placed on all of us. To be human. To treat all as equals. To see that equality. fairness and justice. govern the lands in this world. Not hate. Nor violence. 

 It was so yesterday. 

As it remains today,

And so it appears to have life in our tomorrows.

 Would that we could take the remains of today. and the times of tomorrow and imbue them with   goodness and justice, with the humanity we owe ourselves. 

Why are we so insistent upon remaining foolish and self-defeating?

It is indeed incumbent upon us to answer that question and change its reality.