DOES IT EVER END?

  The truth is, it is ever more draining, debilitating and depressing. It saps one's optimism, one's security in a time or for a time when this ugliness is over, done with. When people will finally see through all that has long, too long, way overlong, obscured the truth, hidden beneath deep millennia long clouds of filth and lies, truth almost strangled from the toxins surrounding it. A time when the oldest hatred of humanity, that of Hate pursued against the people of the Jewish nation, is recognized as irrelevant, falsely contrived to deflect truth, when all those long held prejudices of humanity, will be recognized as deep state falsehoods, unnatural and undeserved.

Can there, will there, ever be such a time? As of now I am not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel; in fact, the tunnel appears to have elongated in length and deepened its elemental darkness.  How is it possible that the worst has become even more worse, grown into a mammoth hole in the conscience and morality of humanity?

 I believe the only answer possible, is that certain people are born without conscience, without any sense of morality. They use any and all tools and pathways, devote all their innate intelligence to achieve and maintain positions of power and wealth. In so doing, all else is disregarded. In their intense driven urge to be on top, if they need a    'deflector', then so be it. Truth, morality, justice, are all concepts irrelevant and regrets of harm to others not even a wisp of appearance on the horizon.  

Jews have been deemed as appropriate targets of these drives for success. Since the beginning of time, since Abraham, most Jews have maintained a life differing in its evaluation of the necessities of life, of that which is incumbent on them to do, to achieve. To better the world. To have a work ethic and a strong sense of morality. To practice that morality via behavior and contribution to society. It is the precept of Tikkun Olam. To at least begin the work even as others will follow upon one's beginning. A chain of doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.

In so doing and for the most part, in adopting those precepts as their foundational base, and in many cases dressing and eating somewhat differently, they have drawn attention. Some of that attention is based on jealousy. Some of that attention is directed at them specifically with a purpose in mind to lay upon these people, this Jewish nation, any and all blame for all that has gone wrong in this world. For all the innate unfairness and inequity. Never mind, or perhaps even stress, that Jews have traditionally been at the forefront of amending society. To make it better for all. In fact, it seems that the very existence creates a divide from others. At times this division is wider and then at other times less so. But always, be it openly expressed or just beneath a thin overlaying surface level of disguise, it is there for the use by others to see their pathway to success.

These people, this stubborn, ornery people, this tribe spread throughout the world, have refused to give up, lay down and accept the fate that others deem appropriate for them. They have managed to survive, to remain vital and alive, always contributing to forward movement. Through thick and thin, constant oppression and repression, through physical attacks, along with 'illegal legality', of being declared fair game with permanent open season upon them, they have survived and have intent to continue to do so.

It is easier for most people to lay blame upon others; to point out “Others” and to refuse to look inward to their own flaws, to their own stubbornness, their own contributions to their unsatisfactory status, and position in life. It is easy and convenient for those in charge to direct all attention from their flaws of nature, of government, to those they deemed irrelevant and in fact eminently worthy of dispersion and annihilation. So it has been from the very beginning and so it has continued until this very day.

Continued and continual court cases wherein descendants of people killed, whose possessions were plundered, with precious properties stolen from them, still ongoing almost a century later. As recently as yesterday and probably today, more continues, never seemingly ever at an end. More attacks upon Jews as a high school hockey team sends anti-Semitic slurs and comments via social media against members of the hockey team of a Jewish high school. Once again quotas of Jews being accepted into universities rife wirth renewed toxic JewHatred. Blatant discrimination within the classrooms of universities, victims of a long-planned sneak attack upon the education available at our institutes of higher education, victims of it's increased toxicity. Children afraid to walk in the streets wearing any signs of relation to Jews and Judaism. People obviously Jewish and/or Israeli attacked and beaten. By gangs. And no one protests, merely continuing to eat their lunch. 

More and more books being published which maintain the lies of the century that there never was, nor ever will be nor should be a state of the Jewish people. Even though it is clearly so signified within the Old Testament, which all religions claim to venerate. Through our history it is a central pole in the religion of Judaism, in its belief and yet we have Israel undergoing bombardment by cluster barbs. Deemed illegal, deemed a war crime when Israel used it years ago. Now dead silence, a deafening silence, when used in multitudes against Israel. When shot into well-known areas of dense population inside Israel, nary a word said in the world's media. Two people die as a military or economic target is hit by a carefully calculated Israeli rocket, the world raises its hands up to the skies, don sackcloth and pours ashes over their heads.

Indeed, you tell me. How many Jews deaths and lifelong wounds equal the worth of one dead foe? How many more Jews must die before the world is satisfied? Think of all that the Jews have contributed from the beginning of time, in culture and literature, in art, in research, in medicine, in science and then deduct these contributions from the world of today and we will be nigh upon the stone age again.

Why is this the war that nobody wanted? Why is this the war condemned beyond any other war? Is it because the people of the world turn a blind eye to the deaths of Jews, to their planned extinction and their land to be grabbed, appropriated by their enemies? Where is the condemnation of the world when students are kidnapped in Nigeria? Where is the indignation of the world when thousands of people are killed in Haiti? Where are the tears of the world when the women and children are starved to death, within that never ending brutal war? Where are the eyes of the world when Muslims wage war against sects of other religions or sects of Islam not prevalent within that nation. 

Where are the eyes of the world indeed? No one decries books with "excuses or justification" for JewHatred? There are none. No one protests books wherein Jews are advised to behave in order to alleviate some of the pressure upon them. No, it is the eyes and minds and souls and consciousness of the world that need remediation and reorienting, able to distinguish truth from lies, good from evil. 

Throughout the years of our exile, Jews dispersed worldwide, we managed, intended, and succeeded to create and maintain deep ties with each other. To raise funds to redeem those kidnapped and held hostage throughout the millennia. Even as they constantly spoke of, dreamed of, prayed for their return to their G-d given and promised homeland. Even under Papal incitements of hate, of Papal decrees and church officials screaming from the pulpit with ugly blood libel claims. Even with all that we have survived and will continue to do so.   

Why do we know that? Why are we secure in that knowledge despite all that has been laid upon us, done to us? 

Because we have the most powerful defender as our ally. He has led us out of Egypt, out of famine and war and murder. He has chosen us as His Chosen People. His Children. And despite the times of anger from the Lord above as His people on Earth displease Him, His smiles for us return along with   open arms. He's always with us and will always be with us.

So it was yesterday.

So it is today.

So it will be into the infinity of tomorrows.

Am Yisroel Chai.

The nation of Israel lives.

Lanetzach!

Forever!

Amen   Selah.

 

" THE WAR NOBODY WANTED"

  I just read that line in a piece somewhere online, and it struck me. Is there actually anybody who wants war other than a crazed person or one who sees no other way to alleviate a dire situation? The Old Testament makes it very clear that to go to war is a serious commitment. Wars themselves are divided into two kinds. One is a war of necessity, a war of mitzvah, a commanded one. It must be undertaken for righteous reasons. Even then, it is very strictly regulated as to what is permissible and what is not. Who may go to war and who may not. These wars arise due to extremely serious existential reasons, from or for causes which cannot be addressed in any other manner.

The second category of war, not particularly looked on with favor, is a war undertaken for reasons of power or increasing wealth or from coveting the land of others, which clearly does not belong to them. Even a favored nation, such as the children of Israel, had to know the distinction between them. A reading of the books of the Prophets will clearly draw that distinction between those two types of wars and the results as well.

If one was to delve into the history of mankind these distinctions of war will also be clearly found and delineated. Even not going far back Many, if not most, of the wars from the 16th century on to our times arose from the wrong reasons and were fought in manner most obscene and inhumane. Most were fought in the name of annexing territories valuable for the amount of land or for the minerals that they provided or even for the glory of war as seen through the eyes of the instigators. Even if they knew that these claims were bogus and inevitably would result in oceans of blood, shed for nought. They persisted in manner sometimes driving those attacked to declare war, to defend themselves, their integrity as an independent and legitimate nation. 

Three such wars were WWI, WWII, and the Korean War wherein nations were attacked, invaded, and citizens were under deep threat to survival. 

However, if one were to dig a bit one would also discover an underlying selfish machinations and personal greed of the industrial, financial and banking world which highly profited from war. By the time these wars engulfed its combatants within itself, righteous reasons for joining in the war had risen to critical point. I leave it up to the historians and to G-d Himself to categorize these wars.

 In full disclosure it must be said or reminded that during the course of both wars the Jewish people were deemed worthy of being sacrificed in the name of placing blame, creating scapegoats and plain old Traditional Hate and Evil. Most people know of the horror of the Holocaust and the continuation of these hostilities after the war ended. World War One was not much better in the havoc and the horror and the slaughter wreaked upon the Jewish people in the combat nations of these wars.

Now we come to the elephant in the room. At present one of the wars, large and small, which are being waged round the world, is the one garnering the most attention and opposition. For several reasons. There is much greed involved. There is much religious hatred involved. There is a huge coveting of the land of others. And the desire to see those within gone forever. Along with their cousins and members of the family in the rest of the world. It is due to a mad desire for power, to impose upon others strictures which would damage them greatly, even bring them to the point of economic ruin.

And yet even as this war is critical and been denied and put off for so many years, too many years, allowing for the growth of power in the hands of those with dastardly deeds in mind, people have come out chanting and ranting against this war. Why is that? There is fear. There is also that human emotion of trying to avoid bloodshed, at least of their own. It is because the standard scapegoat for all that is wrong in the world has proven to be a convenient receptacle for hate, for antagonism, for rapid wishes for them to be gone. This, they think, will alleviate all that is wrong in the world. Certainly, all that is wrong in the Middle East. Certainly, all the threats that emanate from this area of the world gifted as it is by the oil which greases the wheels of the world.

So who or what is the elephant in all the rooms of the world? It is that tiny nation, a nation so small that its name cannot fit within its borders on a map. A nation which many dare to deny. Refuse to call it by its legitimate name, its ancestral name, its G=d given name. They even defy and deny the words of the Bible they profess to hold as holy and truthful - that is, other than in this matter. 

Why is this so? There are enough fallacious reasons and excuses to fill a library, but it all means nothing for there's actually one reason unjustifiable and that is rampant, vehement, virally toxic JewHatred.

I will continue this tomorrow for I must gather my thoughts before I place them online in this matter.

Yesterday we had all these same problems.

Today, unfortunately, we continue to remain in that ugly rut.

As for tomorrow I dare not, will not, make any predictions in this matter.

This is a rot that lies deep within humankind. It is time to cast it aside. Way about time.

There is no more room for it on this earth. 

SORRY, BUT I DID WARN YOU

  As usual it all comes out in the wash or it all hits the fan. Whatever phrase you use, it all comes out the same. The truth will out. The grievances will be aired. Errors will be highlighted and consequences will be immeasurable. And despite the fact that much of the blame derives from those who are supposed to be in positions of leadership and responsibility, we, the people, cannot avoid our share in the blame for this horrendous debacle now upon us.

There are those among us who fell for all the lies, the smears, the exaggerations, the enormous ego, the bluster and the incompetence. His claim to be one of the people, even as he was born on 3rd base, with several silver spoons in his mouth and several more within his already grasping hands were and remain lies of the first order. It is amazing how many people continue to believe those falsehoods. 

There are those among us who initially fell for it all, perhaps reaching out desperately to find someone who could create a path back to sanity and stability. But, oh boy, that was some mistake and we are reaping the rather sour and rank crop arising from the nasty seeds planted. Some reneged on that belief sooner and others later but all of the consequences of these misplaced beliefs are unavoidable, and in fact, are up front and center, in our faces. All we can do right now is maintain a united front against awful repetitions awaiting us should we continue to walk blindly, dangerously, foolishly in his footsteps on that murky, muddy road.

Then there are those of us who spoke out in growing numbers but too slowly, too quietly, too hesitantly, too optimistic and hopeful that people would catch on to the truth and let go of all the nastiness and hate claiming the world as its home. However, part and parcel of being members of the human race, we are rather prone to making serious errors of judgment and then instead of remedying these errors we compound them by trying to excuse or twist them some way into a more positive outlook. But it doesn't work, certainly not to the extent that is needed.

So bottom line, what is the current situation? We are left with the rather, dubious 'honor' of living with all our faults, trying to improve ourselves or at least limit the seriousness and the consequences of these errors of judgment or of their ineffectiveness. We must grow and gather around adherents to the proper cause. A most important and frightening task almost insurmountable. However, that is where we stand today.

The best way or path to understanding how we got here, why we got here, is to take a clear look back to the past, the recent past. During this period of time, we have managed to allow some of the worst ever leaders to get into office and worse, maintain that position, in that office, only to create further issues. They inevitably become more and more convoluted until they are just about too complex to set straight. And we go ever deeper into the ugly murky waters of ineptitude, despair, spiced with huge dollops of corruption and negativity.

What do we do now? What do we do with our current situation? How can we correct this massive error that we have committed? How do we heal the boo-boos of our nation, already infected, with constant emission of pain to heart and soul and mind? We look around in confusion. How did we get here? How did we fall so low? What did we do to enable this critical situation, one that bodes no good for the nation, for the individuals within and for the world at large.

I wish I knew the answer. Day by day the cracks within my heart widen, lengthen. How do we proceed with any kind of assurance as we deal with the situation that is so shameful that I cringe for us within the annals of history. How can we possibly explain to those in the future who will look back and wonder. Was it something in the air? Is it something in the water? Where in fact did this nation break with humanity begin and why? How can we avoid this in the future? How do we ensure that those in the future do not make the same errors that we have made and find themselves in the same awful situation?

For those who cannot remember or who can lie, deny the truth, here were some terms that might spark your memory as to what was and now is. A president and/or cronies, partners in crime, constantly within a courtroom, even to a personal trip when the issue of birthright citizenship was being challenged. This issue, questioning the Constitution's 14th Amendment, that being born in this nation, for whatever reason, part of the life one lives, and the inherent citizenship within this nation is being denied. How far back does that go? Do we now have to follow the times of Hitler? How many generations to prove that our ancestors who came here, who preceded us, came legally according to who's dictates? How does one prove it? Do we stand in a line waiting for a chance at a computer to do some genealogical tracing? What if what we find out bodes no good for us? Why? What if we find out that which is "questionable", particularly if we are of some race or creed or skin color? Do we then 'uncitizen' a citizen, their right denied?

In the WSJ in their Pepper... and Salt cartoon, there is a telling caption beneath. "If we're confronted for breaking the law, we'll handle it, as we always do - with a settlement and a bunch of empty promises." This is our status quo. The president and those he appointed to be around him, to cater to his every whim, quite 'helpful' to the health of this nation. The richest nation in the world, and yet we cannot find within neither the urge nor the willingness to fund all that we need. Certainly not. We now have toxic relations with countries, even our allies and the economic competition among the nations in the world are untenable, with no one benefiting. In fact, all are being harmed.

General Powell, when looking back upon his life, regretted what had happened when this nation plunged into war without secure, safe, wise planning, or even any thought which would have precluded that harmful war which engulfed this nation for too many years. He said, “If you break it, you own it.” This administration under which we toil has broken much. Traditions of the nation. Laws of the nation. It has maintained an insane campaign to refight an election of 2020. Which Trump clearly lost, deservedly so. Sends out mad posses to confiscate votes of the time, to confiscate ballots and voting lists of towns and cities and states, looking for an ability to move backwards rather than forward, to deny rights which are manifestly etched into our constitution. Etched into the ethos of our nation.

We have lost our humanity. We have lost our feeling of friendship, of trust, a bettering the lives of all, not just that of ourselves. We have resorted once again to a time rife with corruption and the most corrupt is our cult leader. We have divided our nation into MAGA and MAHA. Left and Right.   Republicans and New Republicans. Democrats forgetting what their party once represented. There is barely a soul within our political leaders who have not been tainted by misthinking, by 'mis' seeking and striving. Not for what is right but instead they opt in to that which is manifestly so wrong that it rips at the soul of our nation. 

Even our religious leaders, those we look to for guidance in so many matters, for reassurance, for wise counseling, have too often now enmeshed themselves where they do not belong and when they get there, they spew the same tainted words. Most disappointing political and religious leaders.

When we have headlines in real times, and editorial pages referring to the "Moral Rot Beneath Trump's Hideous Taste” I am both vindicated and horrified. I have long been saying this, even before the man won an election most undeserved, thus enabling a time synonymous with modern times modifications, of the times of anomie and chaos of the fall of great empires. Think it not so? Look again. Clear your eyes from the fog that has blocked vision. Do we not have a leader and followers who are just as categorically insane, selfish, demanding of sacrifice from within the nation? That is, from those who are not of 'them', the one percent of power and wealth. Those who have left behind their morals in the name of enhancing their personal status. 

Many years I have been shouting out, calling the nation's eyes, of my readers at least, to the truth of what has been happening. Some have had their eyes opened. Some have pinned them shut so as to avoid that truth which hurts. Which leaves us in the proverbial creek without a paddle. How do we justify headlines that 'nutrition' is in and diversity is out as the guardians of our nation's education participate actively in its dismantling. Force medical schools and universities into submission, so all that smacks of culture, all that reminds the people of the true ethos of this nation, is poof! We have crippled the courses of thought and progress and encourage the culture of never mind the other, for which is the best course for me to benefit myself and only myself and those of my circle. If one claims this is rightfully so, yes, in a way it is. Because the universities did make an error and allowed into its midst viral, toxic anti-Semitism rising to JewHatred, rising to calls for the death of all Jews. It cannot be disguised under claims of "Anti Zionism" for one cannot separate the central principle of our homeland from one who is Jewish, be they accept that or not. In fact, among the universities, among the courses that they have abandoned, Modern Jewish Studies are right there. Up front, close and personal.

Even more horrific is that in the claim of defending Jews against the awful consequences of hate and bias and prejudice rampant, we have adopted the rather frightening fascistic methodology wherein it is demanded of universities to list all the Jews within the university, students and employees alike. If this does not send shivers down your spine you are lucky, for my spine shivers no end. At no time will it stop, at least not until this unqualified destructive president and his supporters are pushed aside, deemed irrelevant.

As an educator my mind breaks. My heart shatters. What is going on as teachers, librarians, directors and such are cast into the wind. To lie where they fall. To be left unhealed and broken. Why is that? Because they have refused to remove books with topics termed out of bounds? Even reached into the homes and either canceled the rights of parents or encouraged the abuse that arises from the evil synergy of the evil partnership of those who refuse to accept reality. Of those who refuse to accept that there are those who do not walk in lockstep with the rest of the population. They are deemed as prey in an open season. To be subjected to brainwashing, brutal violent methodology to 'remind' child or adult, that he or she is not gay, is deviant due to 'erroneous' thought or lifestyle and so what comes next are 'reeducation' camps.  What is next? All citizens in the nation to be subject to arrest and “reeducation"? Will we all become adversaries beyond the ability to resolve our conflicts, to move forward even if that is what will work?

Minds greater than mine are out there. We simply have to access them. Encourage their activation or reactivation and set them on task to heal this nation. To find reasonable and practical solutions to methodology healing our wounds, to reminding us that we are one nation of Americans. Perhaps we should eliminate the concept of hyphenated Americans. Yes, we need to be proud of our roots but we also need to know that while we live here within this nation our roots are both important and irrelevant, as we need to construct or reconstruct, to build a new identity as Americans. Willing to take the steps needed to move this world forward in positive manner. To look back and place all in a sieve, catch all that was wrong, that is wrong, that will continue to be wrong, and then toss it, beyond reach and access by those of evil intent. 

It is time to listen to our inner being, to hear the words of our consciences, beating at the doors, wanting to be let in, wanting to remind us of who we were and who we are supposed to be, of who we must be. If we are indeed to enable a future of positivity, a future which focuses on eliminating the evils of the world and healing its defects and not allowing the scars and scabs of the past to get in the way of all that is right, we must do better.

What we must do is find those capable of doing this and toss out all of those inadequate, harmful beings who have now assumed positions of leadership and power and remind them of our goal as we elect those who deserve to be in those positions. Those who will have adopted the theme of public service, not service to benefit them. What is happening now is conducive not to peaceful change but to a violent change. Throughout the world when there is an unfordable river between the haves and the have nots, however wide in its obscenity, inevitable violent change within that society will arise.  Violence never really solves anything; in fact, at least for a time, it encourages more oppression and suppression and too often, the ideals for which it was fought, for which violence was engaged, simply turns on itself. At this point in time, I can think of only one violent overturning of government which did well for two and a half centuries, the American Revolution. However, take a look around and wonder how we succumbed to all that brings about its failure, to all that negates the wonderful concepts of our nation. The glory of the United States of America willingly sharing its dreams with the world.

Thus here before us is our plainly outlined, clearly visible path. We must heed the voices of the insignificant, of the little people. We must hear and truly listen deep to their anguish, to their plaints and find a way forward. Even as we find our way back to all that we once represented proudly. We must stand up to those of fascistic bent who would deny us our rights and privileges and responsibilities as citizens of a once great nation, now, sadly not so any longer. Certainly not at present and certainly not on the path we are taking at the behest of those who did not truly wish to benefit us, the people of this nation, but to benefit themselves, to enhance their bottom line and to grow their scepters of dictatorship and power.

I hate to say it, but I and many others have told you so and here we are. We must all hear the voices. We must remember our dreams. We must emulate those 'icons' that once reinforced our Americanness, our ability to task ourselves with assignments meant to right wrongs. To do the impossible, to dream the impossible dream and then make it possible. The idealism of Don Quixote, who never gave up. The insistence of Dora and friends that using maps and enthusiasm with the right intent can do and achieve. The optimistic views of Bob the Builder who told us "We can do it. Yes, we can." And then indeed did so.

Can we? We must. If not, we have tossed one of the most significant achievements of humanity right into the trash can of history and left behind a terrible legacy and a likely awful future.

Can we do it?

 Yes, we can.

We did it yesterday.

We upheld it for much of today.

However, the state of tomorrow is rather wonky.

We, none of us, can stand aside and declare it doesn't affect me in my life. I don't listen. I don't do that. I don't care. We are all affected. One way or another, we are enmeshed in that whirlpool of confusion, of violence, of inhumanity, of errors and harmful results.

Can we do it? 

Yes, we can.

But only the we, the us, can do so.

All on us.

All. On. Us.

GANG OFT AGLEY

    Robert Burns hit it right on the nose in his poem "The Mouse". Basically, it means that one can plan all one wants, to an extreme, and it all can turn to dust. The best laid plans often go amiss, or from the Yiddish proverb, "man plans and G-d laughs". These sayings, old as the hills, are as fresh and meaningful today as they were in their first appearances and adoptions into the lexicon of mankind. 

Certainly, it is quite apropos for the times today. We all have known occasions when we were disappointed, when something anticipated and planned for just melted away before our eyes. We then become Monday morning quarterbacks trying to discern where, when and why things went asunder. At times these looks back into the past bear fruit applicable to future endeavors. Sometimes they do not. We simply have to blunder along doing the best we can.

These times of plans going awry can be quite frightening even if it is within one or two or three or some small groups of people. One never knows when that small pebble tossed into the works can have effect nor when. Certainly, when that pebble grown into a stone is heaved into the national and international arenas, the consequences can be overwhelming and frightening to an extreme. Too often our autopsies of those errant actions and policies do not satisfy our questioning and/or the truth remains hidden, buried beneath political needs and convenience. Welcome to America and the world circa 2026.

It is even a larger problem that we face because our supposed leaders have no plans with threads followed through to inevitable ends. The possibilities of these plans veering off track are neither deemed valid nor examined. There are no plans for all contingencies possible, not even a bit of outside the box thinking. The inevitable results are sure to arise, to implant deep seeds and roots of troubles galore. Yet we insist on repeating, apparently never learning from history, never learning from our errors. 

Now think how much worse it is when those who are supposed to do the planning opt out of that responsibility or engage in a process that is absolutely insane, doomed to failure from the beginning, even as its dangerous inadequacies shout out loud and clear, warning "Here be danger" falling upon ears and minds deaf to these warning calls. Egos are too often overblown and exaggerated, turning stone walls to any and all that might offend the ego of the one who thinks of himself as a great man in his own mind. Worse is convincing others of that same fallacy, with reality and truth making its way to the surface too late to avoid the inevitable results.

Such is the situation in the world today, much of it being caused by policy makers who have lost their wits or buried them someplace unknown. They have ceded all authority and responsibility, transferred all their loyalty, assigned it not to their nation, not to their constituents, not even to their own once stated beliefs. Now all of that is handed over on bended knee to the one they fear. The one who epitomized and validated much of the worst thinking on both the Left and the Right.

There are no plans whole in their makeup. There are no plans which have been decided upon after deep and long consideration by groups of people and advisers who know of what they are supposed to do, who actually have knowledge in that field. While there might be a concern for one's political party, much of the planning would be nonpartisan, bearing good fruit for the people of the nation and of the world. 

We seem to be impervious to understanding that concept. We ignore the reality that just as no man can be an island, neither can one nation. Certainly not in our times when economies and beliefs are shared and intertwined with great influence upon other countries of the world. Furthermore, with great harm resulting, we ignore the reality, the awful truth that when the person with the greatest power and influence creates havoc via a lack of thought, a dearth of planning, short and long term, the world dips out of its stable axis. 

Others around the world are left bewildered and bewitched. The level of fear, of anomie and chaos among the world's population grows by leaps and bounds, exponentially with no end in sight nor any plans capable of dealing with the situation. How in fact is one able to plan safely, thoroughly, and successfully when trying to do so with a person clearly insane, deteriorated in both body and mind. Even more impossible when those facts are denied. When we are as foolish as those who saw the clothing of their naked emperor.

Trying to refuse reality or create in manner impossible bodes no good for all. At present, the one who is supposed to be the leader of the West, of the free nations, head of the nation who represents democracy, is that challenged being. There is neither sense nor consensus in his statements and policies. There is no continuity, no reasonable flow, no attention to the possibilities resulting from those policies, no hook upon which all can reasonably, with some assurance, hang their policies and maintain a world which functions with all sparkplugs working. 

There is no cohesiveness within this administration. Not in its personnel, coming and going at warp speed. Appointees have little if any knowledge of what they are appointed to keep, maintain, and improve. There is a glaring absence of nonpartisan thinking, of benefit for the people. The raison d'etre appears to be either the weird thinking of the appointees and/or the crazed thinking or lack thereof, of the Master of the House, our own living Mad Hatter, DJT. A man who cherishes, even lives for, retribution and revenge upon those who oppose(d) him. No one is immune- not the office worker, nor the judges at all levels, nor members of the Senate and House, not even his own appointed personnel. Foreign leaders are open for abasement as well. 

What makes me nauseous to the extreme is more than a policy or two, decisions which have led to an economy damaged, arrows at its heart coming from more than one bow. There is an innate unsteadiness within his makeup which is frightening to the extreme, for what he has already caused and for what he will foment for the future. His ego is one of the largest overblown ones, compatible with the egos of other misnamed leaders throughout history. This ego has led him to a clearly defined track with an end result of being crowned King, or made a Leader for Life, an eternal President unto death, and to pass all on to a member of his malfunctioning amoral children. 

This ego is clearly up front within the corruption, the boasting of increases to his bottom line, as well as those of his immoral corrupt children.  It is seen in his blatant disregard for the Constitution, for the philosophy of our Declaration, in his daring to compare himself to our greatest Presidents. In his abrogation and violation of so many laws, claiming immunity for all he has done or will do that can be deemed criminal to no penalty for his convicted felony. 

Imagine -a convicted unrepentant felon as the President of this nation. What the Hell were we thinking?! Or were we not thinking?

So, what makes me the most nauseous is his rendering our traditions, our sacred and significant buildings of our past  -worthless. Stamping his name on everything and the ugliness of his results and plans. Horrific, ugly as sin and representative of the lowest taste, a lack of culture, driven by ego. The White House. The Rose Garden. The JFK Center. PBI To DJT! His face to be chiseled on Mount Rushmore! His constant travel, on taxpayer dime, to his Winter Palace, where those who think like him applaud his every move there. Those who join him in arrogance, increasing their wealth to obscene levels.  His face on a gold coin, his signature on new printed bills. 

 Not even dead yet, yet he assumes, no - demands- that all laws and traditions be ignored and his tawdry gaudy tastes and demands be rewarded and installed as he states. Even if it results in more shameful lowlife huckstering of his products from within the Oval Office, already debased, already with a shelf of his products. No amount of gold plating can hide the ugliness of himself and his administration. Lowlife and embarrassing. 

On a more personal level, as one who detests lies, who came out of a Language Arts classroom, I shudder with horror. Lack of knowledge and application of the rules of grammar, of vocabulary and construction of sentences, of a sane coherent speech. His crude wording, the very elementary level of the writing. His inability to spell or use a classier level of language. The crass boasting of his greatness and the dearth of facts.

The lack of trust in him, for him, for he is as fickle as a child who must choose one flavor from among the many. The disaster he has laid upon this nation as its people forget we are all Americans, that we are a nation of immigrants, thankfully so, a nation which was proud, welcoming, helpful, and had good relations with its allies. We became a land which is just about eating its inhabitants, split at the seams, unable to grasp any longer the truth and separate the good from the bad.

Yesterday we knew that. 

Today we have forgotten much that we knew.

Tomorrow remains conditional - its fate resting upon us.

 Only us.

When we plan, we must do better.

We must allow for missteps and unanticipated events. Unless we do better than now, well, peruse some history books - ones based on facts.

We the People.

Remember that.

HOW TO KEEP SANE IN AN INSANE WORLD.

  Frankly, I'm not sure that is even possible; in fact, that's probably one definite way to definitely go insane. There are things and people in this world who defy definition, who defy understanding, whose guard rails are definitely warped. Figuring them out as to what makes them tick is a definite trip into insanity. The rules and regulations formulated within their mind are alien to what we might call standard minds, hence the impossibility of translating and transforming them into that which makes sense.

So how do we deal with this particularly when so many of these oddball creatures are not so harmless after all? They have, unfortunately, these days found their way into positions of influence and government with the weirdest ones in too many seats of power and wield that power in manifestly harmful manner. Those who wish to introduce reform into society, to straighten the kinks in life, have steep uphill battle in attempts to force the weird out of even tiny niches.

Thereupon, questions arise. How do the sane remain sane? How do they maintain a safe circle around their lives? How does one raise a child to avoid falling into traps of insanity recognized as such too late to totally avoid?  Truthfully speaking I don't think there is any way to manufacture that protective moat around one's life. In fact, to try to do that to an extreme merely opens the door and invites all that one is trying to avoid inside one's inner sanctum.

Boundaries must be drawn and borderlines guarded. Methods with which to successfully confront the insane must be in place and they must work for you, even if they do not work for others. Each of us is an individual. Ergo, they must decide for themselves when and where their lines are drawn and how does one know when to respond, when to pay close attention to alarm bells signifying an approaching instance of insanity capable of harm to one's balance.

Pertinent questions and attempts to answer and respond are even more challenging when one realizes that definitions of insanity versus sanity change enormously over the years. A scientist with views and data pointing to a change conflicting with previously accepted theorems. An analyst bringing a new mind and track of thought contradictory to previously accepted ones. A person who pleads to the world, who sends dire warnings to the world of nearby disasters with little to impede their approach. Changes in levels of that which is acceptable within nations of the world of compatible and comparable societies. 

I don't believe that humankind has made much progress along the road to achieving all that we could and should accomplish. We continue to make grievous errors in our manner of approach, understanding and acceptance of those who differ from us, be it in gender, age, economic class, profession, vocation, religion, skin color, custom, even physical ability. We continue to hold tight to these outmoded ways of thinking. We refuse to understand that the similarities among mankind are far more important and far more prevalent than the differences that separate us. In so doing we invite insanity to our lives, nationally and individually.

Despite all that we wish, all that we try to smooth the path before us and for those to come, we are not too successful in outcome. In fact, in present times we're running more on a deficit than on a profitable route. That is, in fact, a source and a cause and a result at one and the same time of the insanity of life which continues to plague us.

Perhaps, if we would only reach out to another. Perhaps if we could remember the idealism with which we were imbued as young adults and the determination to see them to reality. If only we could stop saying to each other. “those were the days", change our attitude, and say "these are the days". These are the times we have and we must make the best use of that time. I believe, and that includes me, if we could have a steadier positive attitude, we can make wide inroads into the insanity of our world plaguing it beyond almost impossible to bear levels.

Think of how much better the world would be for you, for me, for all of us if we could walk down the street without fear of being verbally and/or physically harassed by those who need to do so to those they consider to be "others". Think of the refreshed and refreshing atmosphere. The world wherein we accept the responsibilities and our duties to all of mankind, for bottom line there is no separation between us. What happens on the face of this earth, beneath and above, and to the inhabitants upon it, happens not only to one or to some, but inevitably to all.

Yesterday we lacked that understanding.

Today we are still struggling with that concept.

Tomorrow is still up in the air.

Sadly so. 

Only we can change the status quo. 

Only us.

All of us.

I wish one and all a  wonderful holiday.

The blog will return on Friday.

 

YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS UP!

  In retrospect, this is one of the funniest events in my life, though at the time it was frankly, a tad frightening and at others funny in every sense of the word.  It was both surreal and unfortunately too real, speaking much of the temper of the times in which we live. But first an apology to my patient readers for lacking the posting I promised early this morning, and I am doing my best to make up for the delay which was definitely out of my hands. Furthermore, this is not funny re Trump and his pathetic narcissism, wherein renaming the Gulf of Mexico is not nearly enough. Renaming half the buildings of America is not nearly enough. Nope. The man had to go and rename the Straits of Hormuz the Strait of Trump. His ego has no boundaries nor does it makes any sense as he assumes a greatness which is definitely not present nor of assured value. But be that as it may, this is not the day for him. 

Yesterday, Sunday, a day of travel began already with an off footstep. Not having slept the preceding night, I began the day in a state of exhaustion. However, I was looking forward to an easy flight and an opportunity to rest and take a nap, for yep, we old people need naps, do we not? However, TSA, mega travel crazed people, cranky children, strange rules, grumpy people, all combined in a sinister synergy and set off the day with miscues and rather ominous omens of the day ahead.

A weird rule which turned out to be a false rule and a falsehood told to us began the day right off almost immediately upon entering the terminal. Evidently, without even opening my mouth I displeased someone and was wheeled off, consigned to a corner, told I would get there by the time the plane was ready to leave - and then nothing. Nothing but refusal to answer any questions Nothing as to when I would be taken to the gate. As the clock ticked off the minutes, by seconds, the tension within me rose as time of flight approached. And here I was, still on the wrong side of security, not even near it.

So, we took it upon ourselves to push the chair there ourselves, as we have done in many other airports in many, many other terminals with not a word of complaint. In fact, there have been times of thank you as they were overwhelmed. But nope, here they chased us down the road and refused to let us continue stating that we had another company's wheelchair and therefore none of them were allowed to push it. Very strange, as every other wheelchair in that place was the exact same wheelchair, the exact same company. I simply stated I was going to set off on my own feet knowing that I would never be able to walk that distance, nor would I ever be able to tread that distance in the amount of time left to us. But something had to be done. Certainly, I was not resting easy as I saw people crashing through the door to the security line. Others galloping in the concourse, so as to reach their flights on time as numerous announcements were made that doors were closing, people had better show up, doors would not reopen

So finally, I was at the gate, wheeled there by a lovely woman who went above and beyond, and all went well. We had indulged ourselves in first class seats with room in which to breathe, to take a full breath, to stretch out our legs and to sit in seats meant for humans.  Merely a few minutes later and off we were, off to Chicago with smooth skies and a lovely crew, both in the cockpit and along the aisle.  Perhaps a bit before midway on the flight there were three consecutive announcements of a request for medical personnel to please make themselves known. There was no answer to that request which in itself surprised me. I then told my rather disbelieving husband that we were going to set down at an emergency landing. He denied that would happen and guess what? So soon enough, we were told we had to make an emergency landing in Detroit. There they would remove this person who needed medical care. after which we would then go safely and smoothly on to our initial destination.

Well, then we heard the sounds of frantic male voice, shouting, "no, no, no, no, no". Repeatedly, determinedly. We then saw a flight attendant go by with what appeared to be a roll of duct tape and we then got more reassurances that, yes, once this gentleman was taken to where he needed to be to receive the help he needed, we would be on our way. Well, an hour and a half after that, we were still not on our way. In fact, we were sitting on a plane destined not to take off again, not to take us to our destination of Chicago.

What we had instead was "invasion” of the plane from the back door. A figure entered with a machine gun. Along with other personnel. From the FBI, the police, the firemen. What was then disclosed to us was that this gentleman, obviously in distress of some sort, had made a bomb threat. Well, that did it. It set all the bells ringing and then we were told to sit heads down, hands up. At that point the frightening entered. In this day and age, one cannot know for sure if one crazed person is alone or has others, accomplices alongside. I turned to my husband and said, "Maybe we're being hijacked."

In any case, the next few hours were surreal. Authorities came and went, with whispered conversations in the galley, even a dog. Finally, after a desert of information of any consequence, we were told that we had to deplane, get on the bus and be taken to the terminal and then, there, nobody seemed to know what would happen. The first to deplane were "witnesses", man, woman and child. Finally, row by row, working backward, we were all at the terminal, and I believe that we were the last to reach that destination. 

Nobody seemed to know what was to be made of us and all the other passengers. Some statements telling us to do this, or statements telling us to do the other came through. We finally made our way through security and to the gate where we were told the plane would take off at 4:00. The same plane we had flown in on. No worry about getting the checked luggage. Well, over the next three hours we were told delay after delay and a plane was there. Was coming. Was in the air. Was not on the air. Finally landed. The luggage would be offloaded one plane and onto the other. Finally, after a   century of waiting and whispered conversations and mysterious baffling 'paperwork' we were finally on our way.    

However, for some, the journey was not over. Some still had connections to be made. Many of those connections were long gone and they were forced to make other arrangements, even to stay overnight. Blessedly, blissfully we were home, a daughter waiting at the carousel to meet us and to return to her home. 

  But awaiting us was one more needless issue. We were given the last carousel to collect our luggage. Evidently, they could not find another carousel of which there were many, empty, for our poor co- travelers. So tired. So exhausted. Forced to join passengers coming from Dublin and stand there in a throng of people almost impossible to weave one's way through and to reach and check the luggage coming along the way. Needless aggravation.

There are the highlights. It is quite interesting to see how many winds a person can produce on such a day The second wind, long gone. I think by the time we got off the plane and made our way to the carousel, I believe I had run out of new winds, any source of energy and rejuvenation missing in action.  Simply sitting in a wheelchair demanded energy sorely lacking within me.  

The clime of our days gives rise to some rather nasty individuals and groups, to hate filled rants and chants, to people shouting random threats of bombing, of something bad to fellow passengers, or not obeying some rule, putting others in danger. I believe our adventures of the day arose via that temperament. However, one could also be quite pleasantly surprised at what occurred. 

People worked together, helped each other A wonderful fellow passenger helped us with our luggage.   While waiting I engaged in a wonderful conversation with a man who was obviously different from me in ethnicity and appearance, most probably in raising, but we were as alike as two peas in a pod. We agreed on everything! Despite the obvious differences.  Would that we could all understand and recognize that possibility of having sane talk without trash talk. And for that matter, shame on those passengers who, while awaiting our last leg of the journey, spoke trash talk re the flight crew who are actually in reality among the best that I have ever seen and major Kudos to that crew.      

This atmosphere of camaraderie and concern continued within the personnel of the airport (other than the rather obstructive ones at the initial start). They went the extra step, the extra 50 steps to help us. From entry to last step into cars. Once again, it mattered not who or what they and we were. Gender, ethnicity, color, age and it gave rise to a rather interesting meeting of minds between me and two wheelchair attendants. Anyone who knows me will be as surprised as I was at this small piece of conversation.

Two young men. Clearly members of the Arab/ Palestinian population of Dearborn. They were quite pleasant and I was content to sit in the chair until we reached the gate. But then entered a little tinge of something.  I heard and understood much of the Arabic exchange of talk between them and distinctly heard "Yahud", meaning Jew.  For a while, I sat there quietly. I wondered whether it was worth the trouble of saying something or to merely keep quiet, minding my own business.

But then again, it was my business for I am Jewish and I am so tired of this constant enmity between the two peoples and those brought into the fray, those screaming of what they know not, those carrying forth stereotypes of deep untruths and of deep blockade to hearing and understanding each other. Do not get me wrong. I am not a peacenik, nor a denier of my own people. I do not apply disclaimers to those who wish to destroy me and mine nor do I take upon myself and my people guilt for this entire mess ongoing on for the millennia. But I decided I had to reach out just a little bit, maybe not making any kind of difference, but maybe somewhere along the line this little bit of reaching out might make some difference in a moment where it might count for a whole lot more.

Thus, I turned around in my chair. "Hey guys, Shalom, whether we are Yahud or Palestini, we are people and we need to remember that. So, Shalom and inshallah it will be Salaam as well. Those boys looked at me, a tad in shock and said, "Inshallah, Salaam Aleykim" to which I replied, "Aleykim Salaam. And added Shalom Aleichem to which they replied "Aleichem Shalom" as we parted at the gate. Meetings so small in a lifetime yet perhaps with more meetings like this we can better understand ourselves and stress our similarities, rather than our differences. Simple statements carrying within   profound emotion and desire for peace, for better lives. Why can we not all do that?

Why can we not all set aside those misnomered leaders of ours who constantly immerse us into war, into situations of terror and death, into times of despair and blood. Why can we not find those who are truly meant, created, to be leaders? Has the ability and desire to find true leaders withered away through disuse, even via willful disposal? I don't know. But whatever it is, we all must do better. We need to do better, to reach out and to wish each other in interchangeable manner - Salaam and Shalom - Al Kulanu - on all of us.

Finally, the best moment of all. When my daughter awaiting us at the carousel gave me a big smile, waved the hand to show me the media crew waiting to speak to me, to speak to other passengers and as she held out a can of Dr Brown diet cream soda, a favorite drink.

Life was good again We were home. We were okay. We were able to enjoy seeing ourselves in the news. Would that we could all be OK in this world of ours. Would that all our journeys ended in peace. Would that all the troubles of our world be healed and we put aside feelings of anger and hate. A time of true peace in our time, of a true all-inclusive shalom.

I wish all of my readers a happy, healthy, peaceful and proper holiday, whatever holiday it is you celebrate. Let us share the joy of the holidays with each other and by its synergy, emerge better, more determined to make this world a better place for all of us.

 

Traveling

 Traveling this weekend. Blog resumes on Monday

IN DARKNESS

  These days it too often feels as if we are confounded as we attempt to find our way, groping our way through the darkness that surrounds us. Even if the sun is shining, allowed to shine through a bit, there still is that aura of darkness, seemingly more permanent than ever that precludes us all from totally trusting in the future before us. Indeed, many wonder if in fact there is that future awaiting us, the one we wish for, ache for.

It is not a lack of faith in the power of the Hands of the Almighty but rather a lack of faith in the unscrupulous ways of human beings given the freedom to choose the path upon which they walk. Yes, there are times we do not get that choice and in order to maintain our equilibrium we choose to believe that the events of life will, even if eventually, a long time coming, head us up or down, onto ways where we are meant to be.

It is on the nasty behavior and motivations of other human beings that we cannot rely upon other than to cause us trouble in so many woes. Some of those ways are the most awful situations that can ever be. Beyond comprehension and beyond any true manner in which to confront and defeat. When it comes to that level of ugliness it is then that we must turn to the highest power and pray that He turns His head, His mind, back to His creations. To not abandon them to the whims and wiles of others of His creation. Whether and whenever that takes place, we can and should express our gratitude. Even if we are in the depths of a sorrow in blackness unable to be penetrated by any light.

The people of Israel and in fact, the entire Jewish nation, wherever its individuals have chosen to reside or wherever life has placed them, is within an inky blackness, beset by enemies outside of our people who feel free now to indulge in their putrid hate. A Hate which enables them to perpetrate the worst of behavior and the worst of thoughts upon any and all with any relation to and of Jewish people and their infrastructure. More frightening and even more consequential is when from within the Jewish nation, traitors to their own people arise. 

Prior to October 7, 2023, much, most of the obvious in your face JewHatred was kept under wraps. It was only when we decided that no, we would not give in to the brutality of Hamas and their allies; we would not simply lay down our arms and our bodies awaiting our fates as deemed appropriate for us by our enemies. It was then that the times we had been living through, of ability to in positive manner to achieve much, to contribute much to the world disappeared.  A mostly decent time for Jews, though in fact that virulent Hate remained constantly just beneath the surface, at the ready. It was after that resistance we were met by a growing onslaught of a wave of Hate and its ugly manifestations such as we have not seen nor endured for a long time. How dare we!

The times have changed and the words of the song from to 'Live Another Summer' ring round and round inside one's head and apparently is the mantra of those who hate us, who wish us gone. “A Jew, who is a winner, is a disgrace.” When we were seen as the underdog, as the Jew who is eternally under threat, that we were granted the gift of time enabling us to create, to share, to prosper. However, when our strength grew, along with a certainty of survival, it is then that our enemies fear along with an overwhelming jealousy of what we the people of Israel, the people of the Jewish nation have managed to achieve, grew apace. 

From that time on all Jews are besieged and beset, increasingly surrounded by enemies open and furtive, overt and covert. We must also know and remember that those who have never been free of hatred remain so, only more exaggerated and more harmful. Once glorious centers of Jewish life over the millennia they have now become pathetic remnants who remain for one reason or another. Some valid, some not, of free will and some of not.

It seems there is no way out. It seems there is no time which is free of interference of return to the ugliest traits of humanity. The Jews of the world remain as a convenient scapegoat for those wishing to deny what is the truth and reality of the problems plaguing their people and the productive ways in which to address and fix them. Make no mistake about it. There are pathways to peace, to success positive in manner and outcome for humanity. Unfortunately, those ways are paralleled by the fetid ditches alongside. They reek of evil, and manage to send out enticing aromas speaking of wealth and power. There are those who heed those false enticements and too often have overcome any resistance and fight their way through to the nasty levels to which they aspire.

Yes, we have contributed much and wish to contribute more, for that is within the very genes of our being. However, that does not mean that some within the same people are not immune to the wrong path in life. Too often they engage in behavior shameful to their people and conducive of even more hate, of more persecution and oppression. Even as these perverse members of the Jewish people manage to achieve a form of “greatness”, it is a temporary achievement and one that often, too often, mostly results in a loss rather than a profit to all else in the world. Particularly upon their own.

But we are a resilient people, and we resist and fight against that darkness that envelops us and the world. Even if we are running to shelters both material and within our minds, we stop along the way to help those needing of aid to enter as well. Once inside those shelters we find that even with times as they are, at that moment, we can engage in joy and celebration, sharing with our neighbors all that we have. Weddings, celebrations of all types, food, toys, beds, distractions, music - all enter the shelters with us. All serve to buoy us, to keep   our heads above water and allow us the courage and faith to face it all and to move on with life. Move themselves seamlessly without panic, still singing and dancing from the halls on the surface to those beneath. Am Yisroel Chai!

All the while they did not forget the shelter that is always with us. We sing of national themes and songs of Faith, of Trust in the Lord. That He will hear our calls and return to us. National themes of    hope and optimism. Of faith which has been with us since time immemorial. One that will eventually  lead us into the time we all wish for, the time of the true Messiah. The time of peace throughout the world. A time when all are free to recognize and practice the ways of the good, spurn the ways of those who would pervert and spoil. They managed to bring those into the fold. They are welcomed and return to the right ways of life.

Oue enemies watch, frustrated in their inability to wear us down spiritually, morally, emotionally, even in the rain of cluster rockets down upon us.  We continue to sing, confident, that our blessed G-d loves us and will send us through the darkness. Another pillar of light and fire as guidance through the darkness, enable us all to return to a homeland to be free of foes and woes.  We and the people of the world wherever they are, will reside in peace and remember that not only are the people in this room responsible for other members of the Jewish nation, but that all humanity is responsible for the rest of humanity. It is not for the they and them. It is for the us, the we, the you, the me, the I. 

When we forget, when we allow that understanding to fade from within us, it is then that we stray far from where we need be. When? Nobody can answer that question other than the Lord Above. We must strengthen our faith, enlarge the world of hope and optimism. Pick ourselves up by our necks and shake us into sense and reality and understand where we are. Reset and find the proper way out. Then the world will be illuminated by the blessed light and welcome warmth of that column of light. We will indeed know that the Lord has not forgotten His creations. Has not abandoned them to the consequences of their horrific actions and thoughts.

Always in our yesterdays we managed to return to that belief that sustained us in nightmare conditions of life.

It is in our todays that we must recall the strength of our resistance, of our trust in G-d to return the world to at least a modicum of sanity.

It is with that faith strengthened that our tomorrows will be better. The darkness now shrouding us will fade before the light, pure, clear and productive. Goodness, graciousness and shared humanity will be the reigning atmosphere.

But we cannot rely on any other than ourselves to reach that point.

It is only we, the us. who can turn this ugliness around.

Us. Only the us.

It is when they and them will merge seamlessly and we will live in a world once presented to us, whole and beautiful, return to it in full appreciation and gratitude and be ever more watchful that we maintain that status. 

Till then it must be a continuous striving to arrive back to that time of glory. We must set aside all the ugliness we have immured within, spurn it, cast it aside. Make room for humanity in its full sense to enter and to sprout flowers, enhance the world, grow its beauty rather than pervert and twist until it dies beneath, totally unrecognizable.  

Can we do that? We can, with faith and the strength that He has gifted to us. To know if only we would tap into it, trust in Him, we can turn the world around.

But only we, only the us.

Not them.

Not they.  

HOLIDAYS

  There's no denying it. These big holidays require a great deal of preparation. Today's one of those days, and I'm going to be immersed deeply into prep work today. Saving my energy and thinking for tomorrow when I will post again. Today I am a robot for the holiday work - on autopilot. without any spare   bits of energy for anything else.

See you on the morrow. Stay safe.

"GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE"

 I am not quite sure as to which dictionary or Roget's thesaurus our esteemed spelling and grammar challenged president is using as his source for terminology within his written and/or oral presentations to the public or even in his supposed private conversations with his 'advisers'. I am indeed quite curious to unearth its title for simply thinking of the fantastical world based on that book and its definitions, life would be more amusing, would it not?     

I must confess however, that I did not use this obviously challenged dictionary during my tenure as an educator in school systems. As such, if I spoke with a faculty member or a student who perhaps needed to modify behavior, it was most definitely not considered a good and constructive discussion if said teacher or student continued with the same behavior. Kinda' make sense, does it not? Hence, we can assume rightfully that this Iranian "respected leader" did not quite get the punch line of these discussions, the supposed results so obviously having no kinship with all that Trump boasted about yesterday. 

The actual result of his obviously unconstructive discussion was his habitual reversal of statements and threats, eliminating his deadlines and resetting them days into the future. Certainly, based on his prior behavior, we can expect further delays of deadlines, further non-compliance with or to or as a result of these deadlines. Hence this peacemaker (in   his own mind) is a constant failure at peace talk, (though we must admit he's pretty good at trash talk, is he not?) 

Deadlines, resetting deadlines, resetting the reset deadlines in echoes of history, of lessons obviously not quite caught.  Our own manifestation of a "peace in our time" Chamberlain error. Almost immediately after the announcement, Iran sent wave after wave after wave with purposeful intent to hit crowded urban areas, and boast about it and threaten more should the United States not carry out a huge laundry list replete with demands made by Iran, that criminal nation.

'Peace' has been made by this rather incompetent peacemaker - just ask him - though, in fact, just about every war that was 'settled' is now well back on track. Most demented, devoid of reality, is the behavior of that quite incompetent peacemaker who demands and creates awards for his rather leaky expertise at bringing about an end to war, ends which quickly revert to war again. Productive peace? Not quite. Not happening. 

But to be sure his brilliance is recognized, without an ounce of shame or modesty, he plasters his name on infrastructure galore. Even on future ones and areas not yet built. Worse is the rather frightening and off-putting arrogance, a vivid presentation of hubris as he oh so modestly pushes through a self-designed gold coin with his own visage upon it. A king in his own mind and by golly, before he is done he will see to it that he will indeed be crowned as King! Anathema!! 

Tradition and rule of law mean nothing to him, only that which pleases him and furthers his self-aggrandizement, already beyond any and all limitations and boundaries are what counts. A king in his own mind. Violating tradition beyond any and all toleration. Plastering his name over every building he can find. Most outrageous of all is his crude disregard for tradition and law as he arrogantly pushes through his own design for a gold coin with his rather ugly visage upon it. A king in his own mind and by golly, he will see that goal to fruition whether we, the people, of these United States, agree or not.  There is indeed strong cause why March 28th is the day of protest re that rather putrid and treasonous goal of his. No King!

One does not have to look far and wide, nor very deep to uncover his behavior and his royal decrees to understand the intensity of that desire. Realistic or not, it is indeed frightening. He and his, obviate, day after day, the laws of this nation with no attempt to disguise it. Proof of the pudding is the crude appearance of his brutal enforcers who have no respect at all - not for the people of this nation, not for guests within this nation, not for people who wish to continue to build this nation, and certainly not for the dignity of this government itself as they come to work. 

They gather round in little coffee klatches or chummy little laugh groups, or dress down as they come to work clad in T shirts untucked, but oh, their guns, so large, so useful to frighten little children and to intimidate the growing number of civilians who resist them, who shout out at them, who demand their names and badge numbers, who increasingly demand an accounting for and of their brutality.   

Such heroes as they beat up on frightened women. Grab them in choke holds, press down on their heads and rather enjoy the weeping of the panicked little daughter standing beside her mother. Being attacked by big ugly men. Who, after their monumental victory, will go celebrate as they march off so gloriously in triumph in this moment, to the closest Cinnabon to celebrate. Speaks oh so well for the future of this nation!

Be afraid. Be very afraid  

I deny the right of this man and his enablers, his sycophants, his bullyboy yet oh so cowardly group of baaing black sheep to turn this nation into a police state. The TSA personnel are quite capable of doing the job. They do not need the help of bullies, untrained bullies, walking around with big guns to frighten and smirk as they do so. Given permission to cut the leash and go wild.

Will this nation ever be able to return to that which it was, to that for which it was constantly striving, for its goals and ambitions aimed high. I don't know. I really don't know. The hatred suffusing the air of this nation. The fear, yes, fear of Jewish people as they are threatened, beaten, blown up, and blamed for all the woes of this world and perhaps the universe!  A nation which has shredded the welcome mat that was tradition and lifeblood in America, for America. 

But no longer. Now we have returned to government by corruption, in corruption. The assumed right of that small group of Elites to run the world as they wish to steal, to rob, and yes, white collar crime is a crime. To demean others and exert privilege to disregard all laws, be they man or G-d made. Who claims the right? All those in deep wishing to violate every law in the books, and then some, to molest, to pervert America or beliefs differing diverting from those of the one percent of the elite who claim privilege to bribe, to molest, to violate every law in the books, and then some, And then do their darndest to avoid responsible tax payments even as the rest of us toil under and with that burden.

What have we done? What are we doing?

Is it not enough that we have perverted the history of our yesterdays, tossing out that which was good and maintained that which was not.

Is it not enough that we have tainted our todays with our reckless behavior and a collapsing sense of a mutually shared society.

Will it ever be enough so that we can stand up straight and tall and proud once again, to be Americans, as Americans are meant to be, in the tomorrows quickly approaching.

Anyone's guess is as good as any other.

However, until we understand that it is on us to redraw the maps, to cancel those portions which state "Hear be dragons", trust in ourselves again, to know and do the right thing, we will wait in vain.

All on us.

Always and only on us.       

DEAR ELANA, (ii)

    Using contextual perverted reasoning is that which the world used to justify the massacre of Oct7 and its ongoing horror. For two years a nation convulsed with grief for those killed, brutally torn from life on a Shabbat and holiday morning and those kidnapped, for a nation that turned out en masse for the captives and nor did they forget the last body returned. Worse is that proof of the attack was excluded and even denied or justified as being interpreted in "contextual' reasoning. The defensive return of fire and the offensive/defensive move into Gaza also had its contextual reasoning, but never mind that was the attitude of the world, as those who knew better enabled awful demonstrations against Israel and Jews in general, and that includes physical violence as well.  

Throughout, the world always eager to take up a complaint against Israel, bought into the falsehoods of genocide accusation. The figures in colleges and universities, legislative bodies picked up this piece of filth and ran with it. The ancient memes and tropes of hate of Jews controlling the world, the source of all that was wrong in this world, surfaced just as easily, just as quickly. And there we were, back in the Middle Ages. Ever. As always. 

Elana, you fell hook, line and sinker, into this fabrication and seemed to be looking for examples of such, even as you ignored the plight of the chatufim and their bereaved families. You ignored the deliberate orders to kill, especially the children, a direct aping of Nazi behavior and thought. Nor did you make mention of the brutal way the massacre manifested itself, even to the point of manually strangling 2 infants. And a nation cried.    Who does that, Elana! Not ours. That I can assure you does not happen, and should a similar event take place, the soldiers are disciplined.

 Infants and children are often rescued by the solders, who are not so far from childhood themselves. Certainly. fellow Israelis have never cheered as kidnapped enemies were never paraded through the street. Never cheered for the kidnappers and never attempted to shoot weapons in victory, and attempt to further molest, and harm and frighten those kidnapped, helpless against those bloodthirsty mobs. 

Nor were there very many "innocent" civilians around. But this never came up. Your postings mainly concentrated on the "suffering” of the "Palestinians” ever so innocent. Ever so intent on killing more Jews.  You accepted as Torah m'Sinai  quoting numbers distributed by the very ones we were fighting for our survival. This legitimized the numbers for the world.  The worst thing about those lies is that there were those of the people in Israel, desperate for peace, understandably yet shamefully, swallowed these numbers, these complaints and accusations without digesting. Without checking on the truth. Placing a knife in the backs of our own fighting there to defend us. Our people. Your people.    

Those Israeli 'settlers' are an aberrant small group, mainly teens and young adults. Perhaps driven to madness and evil deeds, via the frustration they feel as violence against Israelis living in Judea and Samaria is ignored by the press of the world.  Contextually? Probably, if we use the same ruler for all, but still wrong and deserving of consequence. However, the majority of people living in those areas are people living in the land they were promised. Wish to have a life of peace and to live in harmony with their neighbors.    

All this time, from October 7th, 2023. till present day, there has been little sympathy for Israel, but there has been outright enmity. All enabled by those who have gleefully and joyously jumped on the bandwagon of hate, of virulent antisemitism. It is always there. It's poison always there. Never going away. It is convenient to have someone upon whom we can lay all the blame for all that has gone wrong in the world. Barely a word passed through the media regarding what was happening to those chatufim. But they were quick on the draw re false accusations of our treatment of prisoners we had.  The only evil they could see is the evil placed upon Israel.

Elana. Look upon your people. Look upon yourself. Be proud of who you are, who we are. But understand that turning on ourselves, turning on the truth of us, is not the answer. We would all like to wave a magic wand and drain all the hate out of everyone and infuse them with some kind of elixir to keep them pure. But there is none. We have to accept and understand that even those we expect to be perfect and never disappoint us, are the very ones who will. Others will also but we feel that disappointment more as it plunges through us, deeper, and stronger. The closer we were or are, the more the flame burns.

 Elana, your intelligence, your ability to empathize, your big heart, has engendered much admiration. Much touching on similar feelings and dreams. But much of it has been misplaced. and some of the extreme views becoming more and more prevalent in your writings turn some away. Elana, shut the door. enter to a room quiet, away from the noise of the streets. Read some of your most recent postings. See the despair that we all understand, that is within our hearts as well, but turn the strength, the emotions, into something more positive. Take along with you those who follow you. Who see you as influencer. Their guide to morality. You have much to give to your people. You have already given much. Come back to us. Do not buy into all the stories vilifying your people, be they in America, around the world, or living within Israel. We are not the devil. We are not the servants of the devil. We are not evil people. We are people Who try to live life the best they can. To contribute to the world. To be fair and honest. And sometimes we fail at that. We are human. Many of us are guided by the precepts of our religion. Some one way and some in another. Many of us have a strong faith in all that we were promised. In all that is our right.  That is life for us. 

However, deserting your people, placing all blame upon them for all that has gone wrong is so clearly not the way to go. Take a moment. Or two, or three or 10. Remember what we will learn, what we were taught. The wisest among us are careful with their speech.  They think and think and rethink before   speaking.

You. Me. Anyone who writes and puts something out there, sometimes we tend to go overboard. Sometimes that's not a bad thing. Sometimes it is a very bad thing. We hear what people say and they hear what we have to say. At times we are simply spitting words out into the wind as it blows back on us. Comes back at us.

There is no constant winner here though there are at times sometimes constant losers. However, we have learned in our yesterdays that if we do not stick together, if we turn on our own, all we do enables and empowers our enemies to do even worse. In our todays we have forgotten that. Even as we know the truth, we have taken the word history. and emphasized the 'story' part. Allowing others to create stories which are inimical to us, to our survival. How are our tomorrows? We have much road to cover as we engage with those who would as soon as see us gone, as do some hobby. I assume you have been trying in your own way to do as we all have. 

Tikkun Olam - to fix this world. To bring about better tomorrows. 

It is up to you, to me. to all of us. To see that we come through this crisis better. Stronger. Knowing who we are and who we must be. Strong in faith,   in a life lived within that faith in understanding and hope and love.

It is all on us. Each and every one of us. Each and every individual. Every being placed on this earth claiming to be part of humanity. We have been given free choice, freedom of will. For too long, too many of us have misused those freedoms. Would that we understand that. Would that we work to better ourselves. That we look in our mirrors. and be careful with our criticism. Especially of those   who are also reflected by that mirror.  There is no other way to move forward, especially if we believe the way forward, for progress, is to march through our own and ignore the damage we are doing. Bottom line, we must remember this:

We are not perfect, but always, our strength is in our unity, in our tempering of arguments, of kinder ways to teach.

And always-

Am Echad. Lev Echad.

One nation. One heart.

DEAR ELANA,,

  Elana. This letter has long been coming. I have postponed it time and time again, hoping not to exacerbate a situation, trying to understand how and what made you have such powerful and deep feelings, growing conviction that apparently all that was wrong with us, the Jewish nation, was a burden only for us to carry.   

I think you are a brilliant woman. Your books are on my bookshelves. I even agree with much of what you say. The anguish. And despair. The turning around to see who was there to help. And no one is there at all. I know those feelings. I have those same feelings many a time.

However, even as your care and concern for humanity are clear as crystal, there is a piece missing. Perhaps it is caught up in the tangle of emotion of what you write about so well. But in all of the sympathy and all of the empathy running throughout your writing, there is something missing. Or something which does not belong there. It provides a coloration to your essays and postings, to so much of your writing which precludes its acceptance by some who would otherwise tune it to it. 

I cannot make or pass judgment on your anger. Of things that might or might not have gone right or wrong as you grew up. We went to the same school. Basically, lived the same lives. And as we matured, became adults, women in our own right, many of our questions were the same. Many of the answers were never proffered to us. Much of our concerns were identical. The rights for women, the need to modernize viewpoints of education and roles for them within the world and within Judaism in particular. 

No more side tracking. No more B level expectations. To put an end to the growing desire to quash the sound of women's voices raised in prayer. Be it in the synagogues. Or at the Kotel. To use our intelligence wisely, for the benefit of our people. How long did it take to make some progress, to reach the point where we now have schools which graduate rabbanits, equal in knowledge to the training and education given to aspiring rabbis. Brilliant women are emerging, well immersed and versed in knowledge and love of Torah and Yahadut, but unwilling to remain as second class citizens. Unwilling to have to turn aside and/or downplay their G-d given intelligence.

I am so proud of these women. I am so pleased and joyous. as they push the envelope, at their insistence to be recognized as equal. There is still a long way to go. There is much to be done. Among extreme sects of religions there is much opposition to this movement. They have the same strictures re free thought, more prominence and equality of women, perhaps even the superiority of women. All these extremes have their heads twisted so that their vision is limited. They live in a 'cave' - of their own making - such as found within Plato's writing and see the shadows on the wall as the real world.  

The real world differs. All cannot walk in lockstep. Nor can the anguish one might feel for all humanity allow one to simply walk away from all that has gone before. Toss away the good with the bad and be merged with yet another extreme. These extremes leave no room, no place for compromise   coming from both sides of the aisle. Nothing more and nothing less than what goes on every day in houses of legislature around the world. At least where there remains some sense, some format of democracy. But we must be better than that. We must not become so bitter that we cannot hear the world's truths now hidden away and denied.

I have long told my children as they were growing up and even as adults, that once a door is shut and the person enters the house, there is no knowing for sure what is happening behind that door. Thus, we must, we need to learn and practice understanding. Compassion. Knowing that there are things and situations unknown to us. That there are three sides, possibly even more, to every issue. We need to grasp the concept that there is no one side totally right and one side totally not. One side pure and   one side totally filled with a blackness of soul   allowing for no light to enter.

I believe there are very few of the Jewish residents of Israel who are revenge crazed. Even those who have been victims of terrorism. Losing family and friends. Losing literal pieces of themselves. The overwhelming wish and feeling among the Jewish population, the most intense desire is for peace to reign. For an end to fighting. An end to the deaths. An end to the harm and hate which they have been pelted and bombarded lo these many a millennium. Yes, there is anger. Rightly so. Yes, there is despair. How many more years, how much longer are we to be subjected to this never-ending abuse?    

There is much of the contradictory and hypocritical that is contained within religion. Those, even those who call themselves devout, pick and choose from within its pages and ignore the foremost promise in its contents - that of the ancestral homeland, in perpetuity, to Abraham and his descendants, and reiterated numerous times in the following books.  For all eternity. 

But religion is more manmade than G-d made. It is the extremes and the interpretations that mankind has made to religion that stretches its fabric to the point where there was no more give. We all need to remember that faith is the beginning point. The middle point. And the end point. Anything that interferes with that true faith is that which needs attention and understanding. And yes, even purification. Is that possible? Given the apparently innate weak points or lack of willpower in proper decision making within humans - well, suffice it to say that we have failed abysmally in that field.   

Frankly, no matter how brilliant you are, Elana, no matter how much you have contributed and will continue to contribute to the world in which you live, to your people, with all respect, your anguish at current situations has been bleeding more and more to one side as compared to another. In your sympathy with and for those who have suffered, you forget that the wars, for the most part have been perpetrated by them. Foisted upon them by their self-proclaimed foes. Their refusal to recognize the right of the Jewish people to return to their homeland. That very same homeland promised to them in the Bible. Jewish. Catholic. Christian.   Muslim. It is right there. It even is referred to through the centuries as the Promised Land. Yet. they close their eyes, refused to see, and engaged in constant warfare and attack.

Were more people killed than should have been? Personally, I wish nobody had been killed.  But there are wishes and there is reality. Unfortunately, reality has not been kind. to us, to your people, and yes, Elana. Your people are the people into which you were born, the people in which you were raised. If you find there are things to correct in their viewpoints, then do so. Step outside the boundaries. Push the envelope. Kick a few butts. But never believe that only in deserting your family. and feeling pain only for those who have attacked your people can you speak out. There, there you have gone wrong.

It is disappointing in that turning away from your people in overwhelming manner, in throwing in perhaps a sentence or two of sympathy for the men and the women constantly being called back to go to war. The overwhelming coloration of your pieces grows ever darker. It is the coloration of one who only sees blame on one side. Or perhaps in disappointment, perhaps even in love, who wished our people to do better, as we all do, and in their failure to do so, to meet your high expectations, that high bar you have sent before them, you have gotten angrier with them. More and more disappointed with them. More judgmental, until finally you and those who follow you have lost your way.

No matter how sincere your Muslim partners are, even in an apparent dual search for peace, history has taught us that lies and intransigence at the very end of it all are too often present. They dream of an end to the Jews who dare to live upon land they mistakenly claim as their own. Belonging to a people called Palestinian, a made-up name for a made-up land. Check the truth of history as to the population on the land and when and why they came - to work under the Turkish reign.  

When push comes to shove, we have no one to rely on other than ourselves. Sometimes life is harsh and hard. And heartbreaking. But there is no reason why we have to accept that condition as a permanent condition of being Jewish. There is no reason why we have to think that if we place all the pain and all the blame upon this people, this stubborn people, that the problems and the conflicts there and in the rest of the world will resolve. Done. Though the world's media and spokespeople continue to trace all that is unpleasing to them back to Israel and/or Jews. We do not, must not, buy it. 

We are not perfect. Not as individuals. Not as a nation. Have there been times of misbehavior by soldiers of the Israeli army? I have no doubts of that. War is a time of great emotion, of lack of control and proper thinking. But that is not the reining and commonplace event. The Army of Israel is known and acknowledged to be the best in it's over the top efforts to minimize civilian casualties. Even in very difficult and hostile situations.  Nor is it their responsibility for the perverse tactics of their foe which maximize the deaths of civilians so as to accuse Israel before a world disposed to believe any lies about Israel. 

Furthermore. if we adopt the tactic of looking for contextual reasoning and justification. for acts of violence, Israel is certainly not at a lack for them. This game is currently played with such justification only on the side of the Arabs and foes of Israel. Even as Israel is denied any such justification.     

However, that does not mean that wrongs are to be tolerated. Nor are we to accept being lumped into one ugly batch of misfired clay. All those who live over that "green line" are not "settlers". Most people who live in Judea and Samaria are those who believe in the promise made by the Lord to Abraham. They wish.to live in peace with their neighbors. Work with them. But time and time again their hope, their faith, their trust have been violated. 

Hence. there is a very small group who feel that contextual excuse to wreak violence upon Arabs of the area justifies their miscreant behavior.  It is equally as wrong, but goose and gander always are present. Such behavior must be acknowledged, condemned and punished on both sides. Elana, you have forgotten that, seemingly and have gone way overboard in your sympathy for Arabs caught in this web of violence, but there appears to be little, if any at all, sympathy for those of your people victimized in such manner and more

 frequently.    Empathy with your people seems to have disappeared from much of your writing and that is both off-putting and distressful to so many, and in particular to those who admired much of what you have achieved. 

At this point I stop, to continue tomorrow, already well on its way to completion.

This is meant to be taken with dollops of trust, admiration and concern. 

Always.  

 Written with respect for a brilliant, caring woman pushed us, so many are these days, to distraction out of worry and concern for humanity.