JUST A TAD, MIND YOU. JUST A TAD

 You got me. I fudged - just a bit. It's more than a tad. Definitely more than a tad. But then, how much time and inner energy do I have to waste on those who do not see the pathway ahead. Complete with the results of their stupidities and cupidities and the involved delicate maneuvering necessary if one is to advance. The tricky steps required to move around all that they have done wrong. All the hypocrisy. All the filth. All the ugliness. And worse, the complete unfairness of it all as it is playing out. Right before us. Be it in the papers or on the screen, it matters not. The ugliness persists.

 There is that famous line, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." And one is supposed to take heart in that. That one can indeed start anew. All over from the beginning. Without any package trailing behind. That which contains the past. Sometimes the present is well. It is one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard. It bumps right up to the idiocy and falsehood of the rhyme that goes like this: "Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never harm you." Seriously!!!???

 No matter how many times someone says to you, that you can start fresh, the slate is clean - no, it's not. People have memories. Old memories, sometimes vicious memories. Trust me. There will always be those who will remind you that today is not the first day of your life. It is simply another day in the progression of all the days of your past. Perhaps with a few little changes here and there. Nothing major, so carry on and have a good day. Pip, pip. Cheerio!

 I am sincerely and seriously and almost hopefully looking for some good days. Hopefully, wishfully a series of good days. Yes. They have been some. Certainly, my days with the little ones. Nothing better than that. Or without fuss, working through a week where everything goes right. Everything just breaks exactly the way it's supposed to. And the week or even the day is ended with a good feeling. But how long does that continue? Because sure as shootin', something from the outside world is going to break through and give a smear of ugliness over your happiness. It is almost guaranteed. (And for those who wish to cheer me up today, a day when I just feel like being in a mood, stop. You don't have to remind me about my husband and my kids and my grandchildren and all that is good in life. I know, but today? Today I'm just off at the world. So le t me indulge and enjoy the day!) 

    Here's another one that gets me totally ticked off. The hypocrisy is just revolting. And yet nobody seems to see it. Or if they see it, they ignore it. Big heavy bold print in today's Wall Street Journal. First page. Regarding social media and the young. How it is terrible, so terrible that we are allowing our children to get into this. So terrible that something must be done, because after all, we are polluting innocent souls. Yes, I will admit. There's a lot of ugliness on social media. One simply has to stay away from it. And if one has an attraction to it, well, Buck up. There are always things in life that might be tempting, but we do not act upon it if it is illegal or immoral. And if we do, well, we shouldn't have. And therefore, we deserve punishment that is coming our way.

However. It is not the social media as the only culprit. Who is putting this crap out on the line? Who makes heroes of those young? Follow an 'influencer' and all the false values. Influencers and their influencing. The use of children. In such cases deliberately ignoring the fact that most of those who "follow” those children are pedophiles. And it is the parents who have put their children out there, up front and center. Buy me, buy me, buy me.

Teens need help to find the inner strength and sharp vision to be able to discern evil, that which is wrong. And turn away from it. The immediate results of the improper decisions might be amusing. Or endow one with a sense of victory. A momentary thrill which in its own turn incites more and more, and there we go. A broken game of twisted. telephone. Where things that were said or   ignored or repeated with changes meant to harm, meant for "fun” But are so definitely not. 

Sharp blades of verbal abuse and musings and falsehoods, all meant do hurt and abuse. With some genuine information mixed in, too often lost in the shuffle. It uses are many and beneficial as well, but too often overshadowed by those who turn it to nefarious gain. We must fight against those who wish to pervert it, to misuse the miracles of today's advanced and advancing technology.      

Among those of us who try to teach the young, who have tried, perhaps for many, many years, and have met with some success, one hopes a difference was mad. So many influences out there causing the young to turn the wrong ways too many times. Too often and get so deeply immersed in it that even when they wish to remove themselves from it, it is nigh unto impossible. They don't know how. Sometimes it takes adult skill to know how to maneuver and these kids are not really very good at consulting with adults.

Why should they? Why should they trust adults? A father sits with them at a breakfast table or at a dinner table and lectures them on how one has to do the right thing if one is going to succeed in life? Well, what is that good thing? Is good meaning necessary to climbing the ladder of success? Or is good simply good. Why should they listen to this when that same father is outed in the newspaper for engaging in utter filth and degradation. Part and parcel of the ugliness of the whole Epstein scene. And I do reject and oppose only the name Epstein being used, because every single one who participated, every single one of those Nabobs of industry, of banking, of commerce, of technology, all should have their names right next to his. Hyphenate them all.

Is this a case where we are supposed to hire the robber to teach us how to improve our homes? To be immune and safe from that crime?  Are we to listen to these people to tell our young how not to turn to the evil? Not to immerse oneself in that which is morally unclean and physically harmful to body, never mind the soul.   How to be strong and moral and resist all temptation? From the very ones who succumbed to all the filth?

 I don't know. I truly don't. Nor do I think that anyone knows. All I know is that most mornings I will check on the weather and then news.  Alexa, the papers delivered to the door or the TV screen - it matters not. The result is generally a series of "Oh my God. Oh my God” As cynical and as disillusioned as I have become, it still, always, continues to boggle my mind, sticks in my throat.  

Patently, one of the biggest boggling items of my mind is Trump and all those who continue despite everything, to choose him, discarding and their common sense and any remaining intellectual ability by the wayside. sense. Their ticket to money Has a brain like Swiss cheese. Hollowed out. Rife with holes. Spoiling quickly. Able to contain nothing within. For its floor and balance continues to disappear. Not allowing him to think properly, to voice words properly, to remember things that he must remember. This man is supposed to be the leader of America, once the leader of the Western world, now all trashed by the trash sitting in the Oval Office.

He marked President Day as a child. Using the cover of another President's Day from Time magazine, he placed his own picture in his standard bully pose, "Once I was haunted. Now I'm the hunter." Perhaps we need to remind him that hunting has rules, and he has broken every rule and more pertaining to the governing of this land of ours and in his approach to other nations.  This man so inferior to Lincoln and Washington whose birthdays are this month, Consistently, he ends up using anything and everything he can get his stubby little hands on to display his inner ugliness and his advancing dementia.  

Perhaps we all need to haunt him. Flood the switchboards of the White House and the House and Senate. Demand an evaluation of his physical and mental status. By a panel of three nonpartisan doctors with the results to be publicized without any tampering. Then get a huge broom the size of the ax of Paul Bunyan and sweep out the dusty halls of DC. Repeople them with those who know how to act. Who know that we must Impeach, indict, convict and imprison this man.   

 While we are cleaning house we must do a thorough cleaning. Use that broom from DC. and sweep the halls of Banking and business, insurance, industry, technology. All who played in the mud with Epstein. All need to resign or to be kicked out. Not merely one woman and then one or two men. The ugliness is blatant. The need is clear. The right is obvious. The nation, the world, must cleanse itself from the filthy mud, its odor clinging to it.

So just a tad. Just a tad, mind you. Tinged deeply with despair, distrust and sadness. We have been given a beautiful gift. It is called life. We could do much with life. If we took the money spent needlessly - on multiple homes to show off, on overstuffed closets, on cars that cost more than should be legal, - and spent it for those truly in need. Not of a second home, but a first one. A place to stay warm, out of the elements, a definite place to lay one's head. A place where one knows their children will be safe, fed, clothed, where they can do homework and play in peace. Why do we persist in wasteful, needles spending when there are so many other places and people in need.

Desperate need and most often not of their own causation. Life is tough out there. And it is incumbent upon us to aid those in need. To actually partake in Tikkun Olam. No one is asked to stint themselves to the point of unhappiness or severe strain. But neither to waste on needless excess. G-d has given us many opportunities to show that we appreciate the gift of life and know to share with others. Shelter. Food. Clothing. Access to education and medical care. A time for some entertainment - a book, a TV screen, a game. 

There was so much we could do with our lives. So much time we have wasted. So much wrong when there could have been so much right. Even able to be accomplished with not a huge expenditure of time or money or strength. Furthermore, doing the right thing is often attractive to many seeking   ideas, a way in which they too can do some good for this troubled world and its inhabitants. 

But to work well, any endeavor needs a leader. That which is so sadly lacking in our times. People will follow those who proclaim themselves as leaders, but when not so, the truth will out. As it is happening today, more and more. As the truth becomes clearer and clearer with reference to that lump of coal sitting in the Oval Office. Trump. The very thought roils my inners. The damage he has inflicted upon so much and so many will echo down through the years ahead. Damage control will be intense in effort and need and expenditure.

Almost everything this man has done has left many with sour taste in their mouth and wounded hearts. His inhumanity toward those he deems unworthy of him. His cruelty in their treatment. His intense drive to divide this nation. Until he can finally open the drawer in his desk wherein, he keeps his designs for his crown to be placed on his head when anointed king. 

Any positive effect that might have arisen from anything he has done is weakened by his own words and actions. Promising. Not promising. Confusing. Almost every step he has taken leaves behind a sinkhole of great depth. Reeking of corruption. No, this man. This facsimile of a man. Is not the leader we need. He was not the leader we needed then, nor is he the leader now, nor is he the leader for the future. Nor any of his ilk.

 It is incumbent upon us to pay attention to those who announce themselves as leaders to be. Who boast of their ability to cure the woes of the world? Take heed, take warning of what is happening now. Despite all the promises and all the highfalutin terms and words and boasts. But they need a leader. And that leader is so manifestly so definitely egregiously not the one to fill the already debased role, what he has made of it. 

He has broken every rule in the book. Violated the Constitution. Brought this nation down to the lowest level. And boasts of all the perversion that he has accomplished. Shame on all of us That we did not see him coming. That we thought too highly of the electorate that they would see through the sham that he presented. And turn him down. But they did not, and we did not. And here we are. His promises. I like chaff in the wind. They carry no meaning, they carry no permanence.

5000 Palestinians to be armed police in Gaza. Where are they coming from? How many of them have Hamas tattoos on their bodies? Or tunnels in their homes. Foreign troops to be there to see that all is enforced. And where are most of these soldiers coming from?  Muslim nations, many declared enemies of Israel. Ukraine stands alone. The world ready to cede half of its territory to Russia, who invaded it. Starvation and warfare continue in Darfur. Nigeria still has its school children kidnapped. And on it goes - on and on and on. Despite the promises. Despite the false crass bragging and boasting. Despite all of his ginned up 'peace prizes”. Despite all the glittery tawdry gilt he has slathered wherever he goes. Whatever he touches. 

 America must change things around. Heed the warning of the American Olympian champion who changed his life and his event when the original had lost its magic. America needs to find its magic again. It needs to find its mojo. And it is not there in Donald Trump's White House. It is not to be found in his immorality. It is not to be found in the crimes he has committed. Nor is it in the molds he has broken, for too many of those molds were precious and sacred to this nation, to the world, to humanity in general. 

This is an administration that doesn't know it's ass from its elbow. But people are so confused out there and they believe all the lies he and his advisers put forth. They are irate when the truth emerges. When the truth about the harm inflicted upon the American consumer via the insane tariffs imposed ie revealed. The plain people out there are not to know the truth. 

Nor is there a great revelation of the huge giant steps backwards that the administration and it's foolish proponents of the vaccine ban must take.  The inevitable result? Has taken place. Severe illnesses. Return of diseases. Permanent harm? Death. The unimaginable ugliness and perversion of the entire Epstein scandal which has involved so many of our supposed pillars of society. pillars of society. 

And so much of this has grown from the seeds   planted deeply into American soil, flourished. within the Oval Office and has ensconced itself in the American Palace, Mar A Lago, where he is bowed to at every appearance. As he and his await the long-desired anointing as king of this nation. King of the world would be more to his liking. Second only to God and I'm not sure the demented man sees himself as second anywhere, ever.

  Yesterday and today and tomorrow. Sometimes they do run into each other. When they do, But. we must learn to sift through them. Clear the clogs. And make use only of the good, of the productive. that which is good for the many, not only for the individual.

Maybe.

One day.

Still on us.

24 HOUR BUGS?

  There are 24-hour bugs and then again, there are those bugs which do not know how to tell time and persist in hanging around long after they are wished gone. I have been under the weather going on 48 hours now and I'm hoping and praying that it eases up for a long enough time to get home. And to stop feeling like a used-up dish rag! Hence the missing blog postings these past few days.

However, not actually knowing whether it was good or bad I actually had time to read the papers. Until then the visit with family was truly wonderful and all four little ones were just delicious. My infant babble was up to par and playing games with the older two was fun- especially when trying to follow brand new rules, esoteric in origin and purpose, not to mention their constant evolvement.  

However. No longer in condition to run around with them or to hold them as I did not wish to transfer anything to them, I needed other things to fill up my time. And that meant newspaper. Away flew good times, leaving behind the sour issues of the day. Mind boggling, but that is life in the Trumpian era, I guess. Most unfortunate.

So, the GOP as usual has gone bananas. They are actually vocally afraid now that Trump will cost them the election for Senate and House seats, but aside from mumbling and grumbling, they still follow along as did the flock of Bo Peep. Rhyme and rhythm are missing in the wild news coming out of the Oval Office and if it were not so sad and pathetic, it would be fun to watch the   shenanigans of GOP officials around the nation trying to figure out what the word and the order of the day is, or, in fact, sometimes what the word of the hour is. 

Fickle and deviant is their still feared lord and master - at least as they have enabled him to usurp that power necessary for those positions. He did not even have to expand much energy wresting the power from the Legislative branch as they baa baaed their way to simply disappearing themselves. He negated and ignored the decisions with which he did not agree, emanating from the Judicial branch and the six idiots from the Supreme Court continued to sweep the path before him, aided and abetted by the puppet non-thinking unqualified appointees of his terms.  As for the Executive branch, well, that is, unfortunately, him and he has totally redefined, illegally and morally, its true place in the triumvirate of branches meant to guide this nation. And here we are. So very, very sad. So very, very dangerous and so very demoralizing.

The deportation mania, with all its craziness and resultant tragedy, is shaking and shocking the very roots of this nation. We viciously ignore proper behavior, proper attitude and manner of thought, and certainly need to reformat the physical behavior going along with the entire mess.  We are, you and me, all of us, via the self-aggrandized powers of the President, waging war, inflicting great harm to now helpless and hopeless men, women, children, along with those wishing to cancel ICE and restore this nation to sanity. To STOP this travesty, this inhumanity, against hopeless people who have committed the great crime of coming to America.

Do you remember that song? The hit it was and remains. Ironic, isn't it at the power and full voice given over to singing this song at concerts even as the hypocrisy drips from these very same singers. We were all taught as children and as adults whenever and wherever a righteous person appeared, to share the good things in our life, to spread the wealth. 

 Well, America was a wealth gifted to us and we are now refusing to share between all of us. New immigrants, even as we were immigrants bestowed with the gift of América and now we need to do the same. Pass along a share of this gift to the new incomers. These shares when used will replicate themselves and when ignored they lose their meaning and their power, much to the dismay of true Americans. Perhaps with procedure truly a gift of America and to America, we might retroactively forbid this gift, deny it, to your grandfather and father and thus you and therein benefit the world.  

A true pipe dream, but then again, we can almost get there simply by refusing without voice to accept his tactics destroying America. By voting for those not of his ilk, whose words are meant, words of honor. Those who will decant the ugliness now swamping our souls. Who will fight against bigotry and for Justice. To achieve in fair and manageable and highly contagious manner all that we should have done already. All that has been trampled upon, negated and trashed, with much harm to this nation. 

If people cannot be found among our legislators and leaders, then we must find them. We must dig deep. We must educate properly. Civic duty and loyalty must be in the textbooks again and in life as lived. Once more to have public servants who truly serve the people, who think it reward enough when taking into account lives led. A job well done. A worthy life remembered with honor and respect.  

Can we in fact and deed solve this problem? We have the matter and means, a clear legal path to impeach, indict, convict and imprison this critter at the head of our nation, the one destroying us, shred by shred. What we do not have is the mindset, the willingness, the courage, the impetus to take this upon ourselves. We the People - remember that phrase. We the people must take it upon ourselves to speak up, to speak out, to stand out, to resist and to demand America back. Our America.

How does one do this with a man who is so fickle that in one hour he will say we are sending troops out all over the world and then in the next hour changing his mind, supporting the enemy of the first ally Not even clearly show who he's fighting, as his deteriorated brain cannot remember. Speaks of isolating America even as he sticks his ugly nose and feet everywhere. 

A sick individual with a sharp turn into childhood, taking along with him ideas contaminated by dementia. As he carves the lands and territories of other nations and proceeds to tack his way along that shipping lane, oh so righteous as he uses fallacious thinking to justify all the wrong, all the injustice, all the crimes, he has done and continues to do.  A man who boasts that his economic policies, including tariffs, will enrich, have enriched, consumers - way, way off as prices rise, as scarcity rises, as blow after blow hits the average family. America First - not in any way, shape manner or form.

No, this man is so definitely not the leader we deserve, unless we do deserve serve it, because we enabled him. We voted for him We tolerate him First laughter. Then we swallow and gulp. Then we create excuses and strange reasoning. Then we cry at what we have caused, what we have done to ourselves.

There's a saying in Hebrew which reminds us that it is not the power within our hands and our minds, in working towards our goals which allows us to achieve to the level we wish. We are reminded that there is another Power within this equation One is, unfortunately, possessing of the desire, perhaps even the need to enact egregious nastiness, to do that which is wrong, that which is evil. It is the choice which often comes before us and too often we circle the wrong answer.

When that wrong answer seems to benefit us and then disappears, we state our belief that it will return to us. The bad times will end. We do not realize - willfully or not - that with those thoughts we are enabling the hit upon ourselves, absolving of blame of their creators. .

So again, Folks, all on us, only us.

We can enable wrong, right, as we wish, as we allow to flourish. Or we can buy into indifference and willful blindness and deafness, neither see nor hear nor care. All the wrongs of society pass bye, leaving no sign, other than the invisible ones upon your heart and soul. Indifference works for a time, but the scars remain and continue to burn within.

Thus it was in so many yesterdays.

Unfortunately, it continues to be so in our todays.

I fear for the tomorrows to come. 

ON US. ON. US.

No escaping, no denying.

Simply an acknowledgement of truth

ANYONE HAVE A SPARE PAIR?

  I sincerely hope so. Mine are all scratched up and even have broken heels and holes in their material   having been wished upon so many times. Oh, you don't realize what pair of shoes I am talking about?  The Ruby Red slippers of course. The ones that could wish Dorothy right back to where she wished to go. Back to home. Back to a place she recognized and now appreciated. Back to where it was just right - and meaning to keep it so.

All of us must now dig deep in our closets. Mine those piles in the back, of the shoes discarded but not really ...Out they come and finally, here they are. You knew you had held on to them. Just in case. Not really believing, but still not losing that last little bird of hope, which continued to tweet out notes of hope and encouragement. And there, they are as a great big grin breaks out.  

The Ruby Red slippers, faded, covered with dust and the wounds of use clearly upon it. But still intact. Capable of being placed in use immediately and for as long and as many times as possible, as needed. These red slippers -yours, mine, all of ours, real or figments of our imagination but equally as real in our mind's eye, as per Plato, willll shake off the dust of neglect, reenergize its wishing platform and get to work.

What are we going to wish for?

Are you truly serious in that question?

We are going to wish for a return to the United States of America, as she was conceived, perceived, and meant to be before those stubby money-grubbing hands with fingers in all places crooked and tainted hands, morals glaring in their absence, and ego narcissistic to the extreme, managed to worm his way into the very underpinnings of this nation and shook those foundations. So powerful were those wrenches that somewhere along the line America disappeared, along with those ruby red slippers of hope.  

He and his never ceased in their shaking. Never set a border beyond which they would not go. They took upon themselves a goal of reaching complete authoritarian rule within this nation, thinking they would fool the world, keeping a shadow of national "free" elections and claim their "win" as the "voice of the people". promising Pressure upon all to buy into and accept the corruption, the false promises of pie in the sky for all but narrowing the ALL to those he deemed worthy - true Americans and to hell with all else here and round the world.  

Too many more fooled willingly unwillingly into following and supporting a pathetic facsimile of a caring leader He even connived this way into a second term. Even as wherever he walked the ground withered away fell into disrepair I left huge holes in the web of humanity as well as in the very structure and survival chances of this very planet

Some voices spoke out and were told to keep quiet. We didn't know what we were saying. We were all so wrong. Look how strong he is, telling those allies of ours that they had better do more. Look again how he claims to be the operator who brought peace to sites of war. Even as those wars continued. Even as he godawful misery of those populations continued without cease. 

Oh, yes he supported Israel, for all, even the worst of us have at least one good bone in the body. But that bone breaks under the pressure of remaining outside its area of comfort. So the hell that was to rain down on Gaza should they not commit to and indeed obey the rules of the ceasefire never made an appearance. The statement that Israel would be free to go in and do what it must - worth nothing. Israel must stand behind a concocted yellow line demarcating the border between Gaza in the hands of those who caused all that took place as of 6:29 AM on Oct7, 2023.  Never received that hell that was supposed to be upon them if they did not commit to all terms. 

And here we remain with the fighting continuing in yet another ugly war of attrition even as Israel is held to a false, yet powerfully destructive stream of sewage directed at them. Flames of blame and accusations of genocide. That disgraceful AOC who is teasing the world with thoughts of Oval Office, Heaven forbid, had the utter gall to speak in Munich, a city deeply immersed in the Nazi fanaticism, in the country which attempted to and almost succeeded in wreaking a bloody, murderous evil upon the Jewish people - of Germany, its conquered lands. Almost succeeding with plans to extend this to all World Jewry, for they had indeed planned for that as well.  

The area remaining under the beasts of Hamas will never, ever, have established within a stable government The head of that supposed division dealing with the establishment of a viable nation and ruling government has never yet even been into Gaza! The troops who were supposed to join in the effort to police the nation, to put out the flames, are not there unless they are the troops offered so graciously by the long-term enemies of Israel. One can guess the outcome of that plan. 

In fact, that entire region awaits the moment when Trump deems it appropriate to come in and do as he has done throughout his terms in office, in his entire life. That is to finally cheat and push and lie and steal until he gets what he wants. A monstrous successful huckstering and monetary additions to the bottom lines of his and his family's many areas of venue. The cheap little huckster that he is, is no better and actually much worse then the quack doctors who traveled the frontier and the streets of the cities to sell quack medicines, with falsehoods aplenty, all leading to harm of those who bought into it and all the promises which never materialized or even led to far worse in results.

But there is hope. The Ruby Red shoes are beginning to reappear. At least some of my nerves, some of America. Has come to its senses Wants to leave that falsehood that poison that is ours and return to the truth of our nation More and more speakers, writers, journalists economists any and all are speaking out louder and more frequently sharply condemning what this man and his have done to this nation have done to us. You me, all of us.

ICE is anathema. It is the ax which has cleaved this nation, right through its beating heart. It has brought civil unrest such as we have not seen for decades and decades. We actually have law enforcement agencies and officers of the federal government tramping upon independent states and cities and villages and towns in their criminal inhumane war crime. A rounding up of people viciously and violently, reminiscent, horribly, of the roundups of Jews and other "enemies" of Hitler.

 Our victims here, many of whom have no place there at all, certainly none of them deserve the treatment that they have been given. Certainly, we all can sympathize with the children who were torn out of a life, the only life they know and of all that is familiar. Many times, without a parent and many times to come home to a deserted home, or wait anxiously, fearfully, for a school pickup, for the parents are gone, spirited away. 

Nor can we ignore the disgraceful way in which we have incarcerated those we kidnapped. Population - of adults, children, infants, are neglected, left without education, stimulation, occupation, workshops, access to lawyers. A world of blah and violence, meant to weaken and diminish, deaden, those we took, to defeat their resistance and force them out.   Many have lost their lives. We must stop or we will totally lose ourselves. Fortunately, many are coming around to realizing that fact and willing and wishing and actually doing something about it. 

There is just so much wrong with this nation. It's rot is coming from both top and bottom, clearly related and is eating away at the core of America. We have allowed perverse thinking and beliefs and their proponents to climb slimy ladders to success and surrendered to their ugliness. I cannot begin to fathom why it has turned so bad, so quickly, in so many ways. Why we have allowed ourselves to be fooled at our own peril and to have vicious combat waged upon us, those who disagree with their ignorance and the inherent danger they pose for us.

The danger is multifaceted. While it may seem absurd, this maniacal desire of Trump to put his name on everything in this nation and round the world for that matter, to garner every peace prize, any prize, whatever upon which his name can be attached is just not only weird but a denial of all that we are. It is a sick manifestation of an extremely bizarre mind We genuinely honor those who have contributed to this nation. Even if we are sometimes proven wrong. 

Generally, those we honor have gone on to the next world unlike this madman who thinks that anything that has a door and two windows needs to be memorialized by and with his name. This is not really funny for it demeans us and the achievements and efforts of those who honestly contributed in a positive manner to the growth and wellbeing of the nation.

We also are imperiled by the ridiculous wishy washy constantly changing policy statements. Something was said, no, it was not. Something was promised. No, it was not. Something was not. Yes, it is. A prime example of such is the moronic. dangerous rabid vaccine denial policy of RFK, Jr.  the nation's "Health" Secretary, more like the Angel of Death Secretary. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is now pleading for  the vaccine to be taken, as the largest outbeakin American history is taking place in South Carolina. Such a great policy to confuse the people even unto death, even of their own children. 

Nor should it be allowed blatantly seen, spoken of, pointed out, and acted upon as perverted policy that the organs of this government meant to service its citizens, are now being pimped out to serve the needs of its major Pimp. That is Trump, as he seeks to "avenge" himself upon those who opposed then, who oppose today and who will oppose him tomorrow in any of his nefarious plans.

We have gone so far down the wrong paths. We are up to our neck in the filth and ugliness that now pervades this nation, but still in all, here and there, in growing numbers, we are getting glimpses of Ruby Red, of heels clomping confidently down the halls of the nation. Gaining attention, gaining proponents of their own, worrying that this man and his supporters are isolating us from the rest of the world rather than making us stronger, more stable. more economically solvent and in good standing, he is causing the very opposite to take place. This cannot be. This must not be

Finally, the ugliness comes from the other side as well. Left, Right, Middle if there is indeed any difference, any air between, remain awful prey to the same viruses. A prime example of that is the growing antisemitism within Congress, in State Legislatures, in universities, in any place where Hate can flourish.  Awful hate. Rabid JewHatred and calls for the death of Israel. The universities are boldly taking steps to obviate steps taken last term to ensure the safety of Jewish students and to cut down on the Hatred taught and directed from within the classrooms.

New York City, with the largest population of Jews outside of Israel has totally succumbed to that ugliness of Hate. Acts of safety were voided immediately upon Mamdani taking office.  Anti-Jewish and anti-Israel statements up front and center.  Not yet enough, Mamdani has announced that the company in the Brooklyn Naval Yard which manufactures drones for many purposes, including patrolling the Super Bowl, also supplies drones to Israel to monitor Gaza Water has now been thrown out from the Brooklyn Navy Yard for the crime of being Jewish, for the crime of allowing Israel to defend itself  and its borders against any further atrocities.  Noses and Faces. And Hate,

Perhaps the only way to cure our blindness is to increase the rate of the rediscovery and reappearance of those red ruby shoes The flash of sun will light them up The eyes and the minds will be caught up. Hopefully opened up to the ugly truth and the only way in which we can return America to us, to the right and proper place, to leadership of the world and pride in being able to use the term American to define oneself.

Once our yesterdays could have been encouraged us.

But we have polluted and tainted our todays so greatly,  

that the fate of our tomorrows is presently confused and insecure.

Again, on us, Folks. We cannot escape that certainty. We put him and his in place and we can and must put him out, in reverse direction. Use the elections properly, safely, validly and reject him and his Haters The violators of America.

Put on your red ruby shoes. 

Mine are on, loud and clear.

Let us join together, for in unity there is strength and hope.

Lincoln! Washington!

Trump???

Gimme a break!

 

    

COLD OUTSIDE BUT NOT INSIDE

 Brr is the comment when walking outdoors, especially when compared to the temperature of the home from which one emerged. Inside one finds laughter, but no tears, only a constant cuddling of babies and playing games while translating as best as possible the rather esoteric sentences of some. At the same time, one was absolutely amazed at the statements issuing forth from a 3-year-old, wise and appropriate but so conducive and inducive of laughter contained within so as not to possibly offend the speaker!  

No tears, unless brought on by the laughter. There is nothing as refreshing and energizing as watching little ones explore new worlds and cause adults to see the old in new ways. It also makes one think of the responsibilities we have towards these wee ones, to provide for a future of health and happiness, of dreams fulfilled and opportunities theirs for the taking, a world of peace.

The concern felt dilutes some of the joy and laughter, as we hope that we are not conducting these little ones into a future of continued hate and oppression, of the viability and vitality of eternal JewHatred that never seems to go away. How are we to collate the mixed emotions and formulate an optimistic outlook for them? I have not the slightest idea for all suggestions are moot unless and until we all come to a sudden stop and reboot ourselves and the world.

 Unless and until we apply brakes on our current paths and turn to a rather saner approach to life and to differences of opinion and any other differences which are totally over emphasized in manners and ways totally contrary to life as it should be. No matter creed, religion, ethnicity, color of skin or any other manufactured differences amped and ramped up to fever levels.  

The first step would be to take inner accounting of oneself and of the world at large. What do I, as a unique individual, truly believe in my heart and soul, what I know is in my mind and brain, yet somehow manage to deny for the sake of ... what? Furthermore, is that same behavior, that same dichotomy of inner belief and outer belief to be found in mankind in general? 

What would it take to convince all to be honest with themselves and all others, to be open to words of trust and similarity, of twinned goals and hopes, of wishes and desires of all for their chidden.  To know that it is far better to do this in fair paths, open to all, rather than leaving behind those left to wander in hunger and fear, in cold and heat, in fear for their very lives and for their families. 

Is it not better to accept that the differences we highlight mean we are failing the test the Good Lord has set before us - the acknowledgement that  the outer differences are minor, meant to be overlooked and minimized for the similarities within and without. That we allow our frailties and misunderstandings to overcome that which we know is true and that we know is peculiar only to the education and opinions passed on to us, or swallowed whole by us in our need for some kind of confidence, some sense of control rather than anomie and havoc. 

If that feeling is  to come only via hate and prejudice, allowing for inclusion of selves into the whole of society, at least the one wherein we are contained, then we say, so be it. We point to a future time when remediation might be possible.  to acknowledge that the good Lord who created us all had a meaning behind the outer differences. Those differences acknowledged of and in and with the truth would be a giant step for mankind. Not only do great giant steps occur on the moon, but also take place, perhaps even more importantly within the heart and souls of mankind, of humanity refreshed, pure and clean. 

Once again, pipe dreams. I wonder if there are others out there with the same dreams, the same perhaps naive, even dumb hopes, that one, day, one day, we can fix the world, shake it out until it retakes the form in which it was created, before mankind twisted it all around,  until we have reached the current state of being. An ugly compilation of humanity who hate themselves, and others even more. A world denied the route of sustainability by the inhabitants upon it. 

One day, one day.

Why must it wait until it is too late? Why do we allow the idealism of the young to be poisoned, turned away from its innate goodness and imbued with the perversion of twisted minds lost hopelessly to that evil? Why must we wait for the idealism to  return to the young, those now seniors in society, to remember the truth, to understand eternal truths rather than selfish harmful ones empty of anything of true and lasting values. Those G-d meant us to emulate.

Those from which we, as individuals, and we, as humanity at large, have wandered far from, left behind in the midst of delusionary thoughts and negative outcome.

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Why must we remember and practice the worst of yesterdays, 

retain it as we live our todays, 

and allow the possibility of its tainting of the tomorrows?

Those tomorrows belong to our young, those we watch with love and laughter, with hopes and dreams.

We must not ruin it for them even as we have ruined it for ourselves.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN

 

Kids have a magical way of thinking which places great strain upon themselves. They feel the tight connection between wishes and events taking place. It can lead to great joy or deep grief. 

I think I am beginning to believe their beliefs as during the days of less attention and focus upon the woes of the world, chief of which is Trump, things have gone from bad to worse, though frankly, I am not sure of what more the worse can absorb without implosion or explosion. Take your choice, but the end result will be the same.

Today I woke up to news of a stock market deep tanking, just a few days after a great day. Furthermore, more idiocy - dangerous at that - reinstituting the blind, deaf, and dumb, particularly dumb, as regards the climate issues of our days. Never mind the proof as the weather goes berserk, overly hot, or frenetic times of trying to stay warm in unusually cold temperatures, icebergs and frozen lands of the north melting away, exposing myriad issues. Flooding. Changes in the temperatures of the air. Earth, now open, causing great tics and spasms among nations of the world who wish to use that for military and economic gain, not thinking of the food which could feed the myriad starving of our planet.

It truly boggles the mind as to how these willfully declaiming deniers can look at photos of the direct effects of the changing and damaged environment, or can have conversations with those who are directly affected with the change in our environment such as the Inuit losing their ancient homes because they have flooded from the rising seas, which are rising from the melting of the icebergs. But they see none of this. They deny papers and journals overflowing with proof and concern. They deny any connection, any cause and effect and in fact perhaps they believe, as children believe, that if they wish something to be or not to be, it will indeed be so.

Aficionados run shouting along the byways of the world that it is something that is not so; Hence, all legislature, all efforts taken to, if not prevent this situation, then alleviate it, are canceled And in the waters of flooded areas or the hot sands of drought among withered trees and crops, among people and homes, infrastructure sadly, not prepared to deal with the changes, will be the insane legislators  

 Oh, so happy they are in their victories even a the condemn the world to defeats of livability and longevity, of health, of futures for the next generations. Their dumpy, frumpy, Trumpy has recalled yet more improvements of previous errors and proclaims victory as he avers that the prices of cars, for example, will go down and more people will buy cars for there will be a cheaper price. However, I have yet to see any of the auto companies or the sales outlets who say, “Oh for sure, for sure. We will give all the supposed savings over to the customers. In a pig's eye!!

Truly, the world has lost its marbles. When Biden showed signs of aging in ways that could create some issues in series matters the politicians went crazy. They seemed to vie as to who could shout the loudest. Who could spew forth the most hate and accusations?  Predictions of future  cataclysmic. events. Yet today when the president is extremely visibly demented and obviously working as hard as he can, as hard as his sycophants can, to place him on the throne, the GOP is quiet as a door mat – for that is what they are. It has has been stated openly, powerfully, by many, that our democracy within this nation is at terrible risk, as is the world, for  order has been upset, turned over and over and over again until we are not sure whether we are on our feet, or on our head.

Good times are touted even as they are quickly disappearing. People are being told that affordability is rising even as we note the prices going up, larger prices for less content. People are losing jobs left and right. Apparently soon all that will be left are the jobs now empty as we have deported and incarcerated the workers which filled them. Nor do I notice any rushing wave of unemployed rushing to fill those rather filthy jobs.

G-d Bless America is the patriotic song we sing. It has grown empty of meaning as we have allowed this man and his cohorts to debase this blessed nation and have instead laid down many curses upon us. Defeating the words of that song.

Will we wake up to

The good of our yesterdays?

Which should be present in up in our todays,

And will be prominent, relevant in our future.

Again, on us, folks, on us.

Sorry for the late entry, but my computer was having mini strokes on me for hours.   

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

  On the road again. Only this time the packing was alleviated with the knowledge that it was a joyous prelude to the purpose of this traveling. It is to see as I call them “my babies” No, not the kids. or maybe a piece of it (LOL). Yes, a large piece containing within the kids one raised. However, they are outranked by two other segments, and they will simply have to deal with it!

 At this semi-impromptu semi family reunion there are several levels of enjoyment and joys present. Seeing those annoying little creatures, the little babies that you raised, seeing them as they are now, as contributing adults, as mature individuals who have built good, successful lives, complete with warm relationships, is heartwarming, a bit of reward for going through those times. You know, the times when one had to think long and deep as to why having children seemed to be a good idea - at least at the time!

 A major 'complication' begins to rear its head. Even as the grands and the greats think we walk on water, for the most part, we apparently seem to have lost some of our senses. And desperately need the supervision of those we once supervised. It is most frustrating, funny, and loving.  They think they are doing the right thing, taking care of those now seemingly "confused" elders in their lives. Let them think that way. No harm, no foul, if done with laughter and love. We 'done' good.  Just remember to put them in their place of proper outlook and perspective when they stray too far from it but remember - do it with laughter.  Always with love, even as the feeling of wanting to send them to their rooms grows within! 

The next component of this semi spontaneous gathering is that of the grandchildren. These little ones who were the pluses in a life as one ages, with fewer responsibilities and demands, with more free time to devote to these new little people. One's love can be spread freely to include within its hold the grandchildren. The sweet little ones who always had time for you. Special games and traditions with you. Now, G-d bless them, as they have also grown up into mature young adults, at least for the most part. It is heartwarming to be able to have a conversation with them. Two adults conversing. And one can take pride in the growing chain of the family, knowing we have added strong links to it. Bursting with love as we see them begin to build their lives, careers, homes, friends, contributing in positive manner to society and of course - the best of the best - 

The greats! 

 For sure. Those little cuties known as great grandchildren. There is nothing better. To see a little one's eyes light up when you are spotted. The warmth of the little body snuggling in against you. Giving you even a stronger hug than you are giving them. It is just absolute, pure, unconditional love. Nothing better in the whole world than that. Today we are blessed, be able to live in functioning manner, to see our great grandchildren. To develop relationships with them. To simply adore them. And spoil them. Beyond any control of their parents.  These kittle 'greats' are soothing balms to perhaps anxious hearts. Or irritated state of being - generally called life!  Or simply being annoyed by whatever, for it matters not. There are the greats   able to turn it all around and the sun returns.       Just enjoy the heck out of them. Never mind if you are tired. Never mind achy. If that little one wants to play with you, wants to sit on your lap, haul them up there and sneak in a few kisses and hugs. The extra perfect touch of a perfect time.

I wonder sometimes why we cannot duplicate that feeling. Send it out in buckets to the world. 

If only.

I will try to keep up with the postings, will travel back next week and will resume life after a visit with the kids, the grands, and the greats. 

Am loving it!  

Until then, have a great weekend.   

Remember all the good of yesterday. The good that will happen today and the good which will grow deep roots into our tomorrow.

HELLO? HELLO? ANYBODY HOME? HELLO???

  Nobody answers. Where is everyone? Where have they gone? Why are the streets so empty? So silent that the silence is deafening, disconcerting. I went off last week to gather myself. To analyze my situation personally, as well as the situation of the world. I had no communication. Other than the arrangement to pick me up in one week, I had totally cut myself off from the world.

 Its noise was too loud. It would ricochet inside my head. Making impossible any coherent thought. Let alone linking thoughts together in a way that made sense. Anyway, the man came, two days late, but it was not the man I had hired. Nor did it seem to me that the man was particularly sparking on all his spark plugs. Something was wrong. Something was missing. And why were there so many supplies jammed onto the deck and even below? What the Hell!!! Why would he not open his mouth to speak other than to confirm I was the man he was to pick up and bring back to the Port.

And speaking of the port, both sea and air, there was an eerie stillness. Emptiness. A raging silence. No planes in the sky. No boats in the water. No horns of the ocean liners blasting away. Come to think of it. Where were the liners? Where are their passengers? Wait! There are no dock workers, no kids and people selling touristy gimmicks and clothing, even begging. No one. Simply no one. As darkness descended from the skies, the sun disappearing, there were no lights and I found myself in the midst of an inky darkness. Silence.

Silence and fear.

What had happened over the past week? Could things have changed so quickly; the tension so taut that it had snapped? And in its snapping taken the world with it? Set off the disaster we had been expecting, dreading, yet denying?  Why was only this man remaining? The only sign of life in a once bustling and hustling point of entry for islanders and tourists alike? A place ringing with life, now dead in the water - literally. Wait.

What was I hearing? I signed to the man to be still, but the voices continued. The sound of tinkling young voices. The cry of a baby. An older boy. A woman. A querulous confused voice of an elderly man. A voice calling out in screeching whispery voice demanding, pleading, for silence. And a very nervous character standing alongside me. On the deck. Taking sideways glances at me. Pondering. Wondering. Unasked question, many questions, from a person silenced by ...what? 

What the hell had taken place within the past week? So drastic. Why had it never penetrated my refuge from the world? It could have been reached within a few hours by boat, as this man had done. Where was the world? Where? Was? The? World? With     tentative gestures, I raised my hands. Palm out. Empty. I was no danger to him. Nor to those voices.... Which were emanating from ... Below decks, amid those supplies I has spotted before. Sending him a questioning look, face overflowing with curiosity and concern, along with an expression of confusion and fear. No mistake about it. I was afraid. This was not a normal situation. Far from it.

In broken English he managed to communicate to me, aided by pictures he drew. But he couldn't be right. It couldn't be. Surely there was no one dumb enough, uncaring enough, so ego obsessed, who in the throes of an ever developing and deepening state of dementia, a Madness overwhelming, had set off cataclysmic series of deeds and orders. These, in turn had activated another series of preset responses. Aided in fulfillment of its programmed duties, the AI creation, created just for this 'occasion', performed as directed, as expected. 

Unimaginably, the very situation we had oh so carefully, diligently, prepared for, even as we KNEW, just knew, it would never get there. Unimaginably, countries near and far, advanced and not so much, had managed to find the funds to have their own system, misspending funds meant for succor rather than for shared erasure. All heads of nations joined in the "fun". So proud to be among the big boys. Almost as one, yet so tragically alone, each person standing in its own solitary place, no hugging, no farewells, simply fear, confusion and regret.

Each leader stepped forward in trepidation.  Applying the code to the lock. And the door quietly, as if on air, opened and from within came forth a mysterious being. Almost, but not quite human, the most advanced AI manifestation to the very second of its awakening. Perhaps even eager to exit its cell and do the one thing for which it had been created. That was to press that glowing button on the console to the left. AI's very presence in the room meant the clarion last call for humanity, for from all these oh so many, too many, creations, mankind ensured its Doomsday. 

From previously hidden exits spewed forth toxins impossible to stop. Impervious to all healing methodology.  A Hail Mary for the entire world. Which evidently bypassed Mary.

Touchdown for the enemy - ourselves.  

The beginning of a new era of .........

What? 

There was nothing left out there.

Only a cold silence. 

No signs of life.

No voices of humans. 

No sounds of creatures.

Only this man.

And those he managed to rescue. 

Random strays.

 Alive. 

For the moment. 

In a dead world.

A World of No More.

A world bereft  

of all yesterdays. 

Of all todays. 

Of all tomorrows.  

And so, we await the inevitable, a modern version and fate of On the Beach.

 And aren't we proud!

-------------------------------------------------------------- What are we doing? What are we creating for the world and its inhabitants or are we not creating, but merely enabling disaster?

On us, Folks, all on us. 

MUSINGS ON AN EARLY TUESDAY MORNING

  Well. If I were 50 years younger, 40 years, I might say I was nesting. But since that possibility is a major impossibility, I guess it is just a sense of restlessness, a sense of anomie.  Not knowing where and who I am any longer. No, not confused. Only confused with the reality that serves as a shock to the system. How the hell and more importantly, why did we manage to infuse such violence, such enmity, such a lack of tolerance in a nation that was known for its tolerance. 

Not perfect, not by far, as humans populate the earth and humans are prone to stupidity of thoughts and actions, but still, the USA was known for, as, a place where all could find a niche for oneself, even if some faced more difficulty in doing so than others. Still, the people of this nation knew there was a chance to move up, to see a better world for their kids. However, - no longer is that the case.  

This nation of ours. Once a leader of the world. Once a country respected for its accomplishments. And for its goodness held out for others. The aid programs, the educational programs. The exchange of cultural ambassadors. The sharing of people whose origin was in one country, but whose future was in this country. We respected the differences, even if we did not necessarily understand them. The American culture became a meld of all who    shared the same dreams and hopes. 

As I sit here staring at the screen I wonder how today's reality emerged from what was here before. How did possible dislike or feelings of strangeness, some feelings of alienation, which disappeared or simply lessened upon growing familiarity, or even a marveling at the wonder at the apparent foreignness of some of the immigrants, at the same time as the similarities grew clearer and more important than the mysterious aspects of the new families moving into neighboring homes. How did this morph into the vehement, toxic, virulent attitudes of today? Where people speak openly. about killing others. Consigning other humans to subhuman categories. drowning themselves in seas of hate and violence. Against each other. One American to another. Raining violence and even death down upon their heads. 

Nor is this unique to this country. The entire world apparently has dropped down into a Bizarro World where nothing is as it was. Where nothing is accepted as it was. Where even good intentions are somehow transfigured, twisted and reformatted into ugliness and domination. 

Why, WHY, are. we. here?

How is it that the entire world seems to have gone deep into an insanity such that all are negatively affected by it. From child to adult. From young to the elderly. No one seems to have any immunity. It's contagiousness simply grows stronger and stronger as the days go by. Even as hours go by. So fraught with distress and distrust is the world of today. There is no one calling out to warn the public that the sky is falling. Perhaps because it already has fallen, and to shout out that fact would do nothing for anyone. 

Frankly, I believe we are past the warning stage and well into the "we had better to something quick, really quick, if we are to stave off or at least ameliorate the pace and intensity and somehow turn the nation and the world around. The awful truth of where we find ourselves must be clarified, understood by the average citizen, and the selfish oligarchs must face their unmasking, their dastardly motivations, deeds and goals revealed before the world. 

If there is to be any chance of doing so, it had better be done soon, very soon. The world is in that fragile a situation. If we are indeed to come to our senses and push back against the fate that the worthless leaders of today have deemed proper for us, if we are to at least slow down the disintegration of societies of this world, there must be a clarion call for response. For cooperation of and with all. All other concerns are petty in comparison. In any case the woes of the world cannot be addressed with any truly meaningful results until and unless there exist cooperation and unity in goals and dreams for a future for all.

Would or could, it cannot be tackled in any meaningful way until the above is the reality of the world. The woes of our planet affects all. And all must work together to slow the disintegration down and heal. But time grows short. Trump alone has caused such deep damage to the environment and plans to do more as he lives within his own crazed world and has managed to convince others to follow him, his pipe pouring out hypnotic music, as the world follows him into an impenetrable mountain guaranteed to be the final and last place of humanity. No one can live nor thrive in such a place, so deep and dark is it. 

We must be open to the truth. Pleasant or unpleasant. Like it or not. Taste of its bitterness strong enough to weaken the sweet within, but we must understand that sanity must prevail and it is hard. Unless we do so, we will not be able to see our way through to rebuilding and restrengthening of a sane world. Indifference to the fate of others is not acceptable. All beings are human beings. We share the planet as equals in benefits and responsibilities.  

We must reckon with the truth that states "Alliances endure because they're built on respect and partnership. Not pressure." How striking, the opposite of today's thinking. We must learn to prioritize properly in meaningful manner. Even as it becomes difficult. Ambition and aspiration will clash at times, and we must find the path through, else we are lost. Furthermore, sanity in all fields must reign. 

Wonderful is the determination of protesters who are insistent on immediate repair and reparations, who want it all now. The numbers of their causes are mindboggling and truly, impossible to address in that quantity in any format which would entail serious and sincere effort, well infused with reality.  No more 'boycott of the week". Prioritize with understanding and compassion, reassure that all will be addressed in due time and with proper care and respect. But patience, compromise and seeing actual reforms taking place is how it must proceed. 

If we do not proceed carefully and wisely, sanely, without bluster and promises unable to be met, we will incur chaos. People tire of chaos. It's difficult to live within that state of mind and being. So, they seek an end to it. And in so seeking, they erroneously follow one who appears to have the strength to have done with that chaos. However, they quickly and sadly find out that the one they have chosen, or who has imposed himself on them, is one who will indeed tamp down the chaos. At least for a time. But along with it goes democracy. Freedom. And the ability to make real the dreams one has. It must be remembered that too much of a good thing is equally as bad and awful as too much of the evil. 

 We must walk carefully. With compromise. Care and understanding. We must be prepared for strong emotions. Unless we truly understand our efforts and upon what we are expending those efforts, we will never achieve that level of productivity and success, that what we hope to come out with at the other end. 

Indeed, the only way to move forward is to look backwards and comprehend what we had and so foolishly tossed away. When we find our way back to sense and sensibility, we will know innately that this is the only way forward. That is the only way to go if we are going to find our way back. To a world of sanity and compassion. Of justice and equality. Of democracy and liberty. Of freedom to indulge in dreams and make them real. A nation where one can hope. A world led once again by USA, setting the bars compassionately and realistically, and all in the recognition that all humans are such, with no exceptions.  

A world of ambition and aspiration, of inspiration, sending forth hopes and dreams and streams of curiosity and creativity. All meshing together, always seeking paths of improvement.  For all and no difference will negate the similarities, all children able to skip and laugh.  To look forward to a home to sleep in, and food on the table.

Pipe dreams? Possibly. Or most definitely. Foolish remnants of an idealistic youth now returned?

 It matters not at the end of it all. What matters is that we come to grips with the reality that we have engendered. Whose consequences we have absorbed.   

Yesterday we looked forward and hoped.

Today some still continue to hope, but that well is running low. 

Tomorrow is our last source for hope and dreams, and we MUST work harder and faster to keep it alive and ensure its vitality.

And the same warning or words of reality.

It is all on us.

Ain't nobody else. 

Not yesterday, today or tomorrow.

   

OOMBOTWE

     Translated from a traditional language of Africa, it was meant to be an expression of sharing, of peace as a time of opportunities for all to flourish and not merely a cold peace where the sparks are ever present. A peace where the differences between mankind would be of little significance. Differences of creed, color, religion, appearance would not matter. 

The rest of the opening of the Winter Olympics took on the same coloring and intent. Yet it will inevitably revert to the same old competition, with complaints registered against another from another nation or even from one's own. Sharing, helping, stressing these commonalties, even sacrificing one's own medal so as to aid another, the true embodiment of the theme of this Olympics, fall by the wayside, the message and hope of and for peace seem as far away as ever. Perhaps even further away, more hopeless.

 So much so, that the maxim of the title, delivered to us from Africa via that speaker at the Opening moments, that "I am because we are" fades away into a fairytale time not yet achieved by us, not even ever coming close.  Unfortunately, the temperature of the world's population has risen dramatically. Negativity now dominates and negative emotions have risen to heights which threaten to set the world on fire. Deep cracks have developed among the nations of the world. 

These cracks have been driven by the greed, the selfishness, the lust for power and the amassing of wealth - not so much for the nation, but for oneself, the leader and his miserable cohorts with the same twists within, streaks of darkness over clouding the world. Allies turn against each other. Strange alliances are formed. Even then the bickering grows ever fiercer, ever louder, ever more threatening. 

Exacerbating the situation, being both a cause and result of it all, is that there are no leaders to be found. Yes, there are those who call themselves leaders, those who deluded people call leaders, but there are none to be found. The concern for the nation, for the people within, for people of the world - simply glaring in its absence rather than in its presence. Those who might have served capably, even with excellence, shy away from the position, so twisted is the world today.

 Most unfortunate is the fact that the very person who should be the leader of the free world and the role model for those aspiring to it, fighting for it, is the one who has done most of the wrong, incited much of the chaos and confusion and is intent on fulfilling his ambitions to cause more havoc and fear, certain of his end goal - a nation totally within his crooked little hands, ruled by a perverted mind in every which way, manner and form. 

He threatens all, friend or foe, though it is becoming clearer that many of those who had tread on tippy toes around him, in fear of his evil madness, have now found some courage to defy his insistence and his plans, pushing back. This furthers his deterioration as he sputters with anger and threats, determined to force all to obey his every order, to bow before his might and power. 

I can find only one good point about him. That is his support for Israel, though he is very much   wishy-washy about the whole matter. It has boiled down now to several facets and nary a single one conducive and inducive of faith and trust. It all seems to hinge on his "Peace Board" wherein the sole person of any authority to approve or disapprove, is himself. Period.

The rest are there for show and for money. Again, brazenly so, he has concocted yet another crooked, immoral scheme to enhance his bottom line. Once again to act as a huckster and from within his Oval Office, blackmail, threaten, and fool others, and have them buy into it, to send moneys his way as within his plans lay the routes and methods by which the money for funding this rather shady 'rebuilding' will flow his way for the most part. As has always been the case and here we go again.      

It is all so wrong, so evil, and so demeaning. He and his adherents and enablers have cleared the way before him, allowed his evil plans to flourish, and his most visible and egregious offenses to move forward, brushed under the carpet - or not even that. He and those who foolishly mortgage their futures and soul to this crooked individual, this demented deteriorating remnant of a man, do so perhaps because they too are evil and gullible, with no innate courage nor respect for morality, for that which is right. 

Additionally, they do not fear any consequences as there have been none so far. Nor does it seem   likely that there will be, or maybe only in the history books of the future. Even as we know that had it been any other such person, there would have been mammoth fines, years in a penal institution and exile from any possibility of another chance at power and domination. Why nothing to him, to his abettors? He and his have blatantly, with great immunity, led the way to travesty after travesty, and would do so again. 

Another armed rebellion against this nation and its RIGHTFUL administration and again to build one contravening of all that is right, honest. and honorable. One that maintains the proper dignity of the nation and its leaders. Of all that is beneficial to the nation and the world. Actions of morality, sparkling with justice, truth, and a Constitution honored and valued rather than dismissed and ignored. Or misused as a hammer with which to batter this nation and its proud history and a better future. 

For sure, a proper administration of this nation, a government knowing right from wrong, would not wage war against its own citizens. native born and naturalized. Against guests within its borders. Against those who contributed to it in positive manner. Who have been given permission to be here due to persecution and violence. Or fill jobs going begging. That are crucial to the functioning of this nation. And to their children. Who will fill the empty ranks to contribute to this nation, as all immigrants and first generations have done. As we, the descendants, have done. To fulfill the same dreams and hopes. 

The shameful, ugly, never should have been scenes of Minneapolis and other cities will come to an end. And will never more be resurrected.

We are not the ugly creatures of tasers and masks. And armored equipment suitable for special OPS. We are not a nation which kills its own people, and certainly not for exercising their rights. No matter how objectionable these protestors are to the demented man and followers. We must know that these are aberrations. With no place within our nation. They do not espouse American values, true values. Not fake. Harm and danger are not what we owe our people. Reeking of ugliness and hate, of bias and violence.

We have indeed slid down the wrong trails and missed the ladders that would take us back to what we were, to what we are and to what we should always be.

We have come far from the meaning of Oombotwe. Way off from the pleadings of the Olympics and Italian officials. Of celebrity spokesman. For peace. For cooperation. For recognition that I, we, you and me, us, cannot and would not be here if not for each other. Indeed. “I am because we are.” Because YOU are here, every one of us.

Matisyahu sings of “One day. One day.”

The day of which we all sang. Which many of our children sang out in clear, confident tone at their graduations. The day which has long eluded us.

Its permanence has been missing in our yesterdays.

Its presence and permanence are equally unseen in our todays.

Will it remain so in the tomorrows to come?

One day.

One day.

Up to us, Folks. Up to us.

And we are falling down on the job.  

MORON CAKES

  Yes, fellow Americans and devotees of Democracy, yes, this is in what and where the vaunted defender of Democracy, the United States of America, has found its resting place. Inside the newest rage at all stores Danish and Greenlandian, the moron cakes, the pastry so generously and aptly named for its namesake, the moron currently residing in the Oval Office, that so currently demeaned and debased site once a place of honor.

Yes, the current resident, Donald J Trump, more deserving of the name Ffrump, a proponent of poor taste raised to the nth degree, especially as it is closer to his family's original German originated name. Oh, yes, for those shocked, remember, he too is a descendant of those (GASP) immigrants, invading our nation, apparently as intent as all of 'them', these diseased and drug ridden people, most desirous of rape and pillage, of destruction rather than for building a future. Oh, for sure, ignore the truth and burn all that is good within this nation.  

This presently renamed Mr. Ffrump has been busily engaged in the smothering of all that is good and proud and honorable within our nation. He has called out for revenge, for "retribution” to any and all who dare to oppose his ego driven maniacal. ambitions at which apparently, he is well on the way to achievement. His poor taste and misbegotten sense of "culture”, are fitting companions to the ugliness of his political ambitions. What is worse, most demoralizing is his clearly seen deep headway in debasing American culture, World culture, even as he enhances and builds upon his innate Moronicity, adding level upon level to it. 

It is so obvious. Yet so many deny it. Refuse to see it. Refused to acknowledge the mistake they bought so enthusiastically into, cheering it on its way. We continued to crash through all the guarding gates to a road rife with pitfalls. All in the name of ceding to Mr. Ffrump all that he desired. Validated his crooked ambitions and twisted thoughts. We have become as a nation, cheaply gilt plated, brass and coarse, boorish, and have set aside much that made us American, standing proud and tall before the nations of the world. Now we stand as cringing. cowardly enablers of a gross moron, fans of a Ffrump.

People have wondered how, beginning to wonder even more, whether these defects are innate, learned, or a terrible synergy of the two together. I believe it is both and into that rank stew we add worse. Swollen and sick ego. Mental deterioration. Thoughts which go meandering. A physical. deterioration reflective of that which is ugly within, Immoral or amoral?  Take your choice: one, the other, or both. Was he? Is he? So nasty and broken and crooked from birth? Has he been busily sharpening the edges to the nth degree, always at the ready to thrust into the back of some poor soul whom he deems an enemy? This is the Ffrumpy world at its worst- though I believe there is more awaiting us and the world. Emanating from the Office within the White House.  

Actually, to be correct, it is the former White House. Now it is a shameful remnant of a once beautiful building, one built with the labor of citizens and slaves, defended through the centuries, its truth allowed and encouraged to emerge. Its importance and place within our history as a nation was of critical importance and pride. a beautiful building, well balanced, even as the balance we wished to keep for our country. Now a site of deconstruction, an outward presentation of the ugliness within this administration. It is a shameful sight. Absurd plans to add on a mammoth unnecessary ballroom in place of a balancing East Wing. Even as the West Wing is threatened with more ruinous construction. No longer to be the West Wing that we saw in the series of that name. A place of honor. A place where people made mistakes, yes, but tried to do their best and to remediate their errors. No longer so. Adding salt to the wound, is the fact that we, the American people, are going to pay for the destruction of their heritage.  

In fact, Americans are going to pay for all of the destruction planned. Around the DC area and into the rest of the nation. The destruction of the fabric of the underpinnings of this nation, its ethos.    Destruction of buildings of importance and relevance. Historical courthouses. Buildings that helped this nation grow. Even into the present, for this Ffrump has now targeted the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, adding his name to it, causing people to leave in disgust and protest, as the level of that within the building slumped, and now, the closing of it and "renovation". Assuring people that it will not be gone for he is planning to use some of the steel and marble - Some - the rest - trash heaps of the area. That building, that institution, known as a place of beauty and harmony, of literature meant to inspire, to be no more. Ffrump prevails, much to the detriment of the nation. Yet another black hole to swallow all that is good and true, another hole catering to ffrumpiness and crassness, to ugliness over beauty, to eternal over poor imitation of the real deal.          

For Mr. Ffrump there are no limits to his plans to dishonor all that is sacred not only within our nation, but to the rest of the world as well, an equal opportunity abuser of the good in whatever manner possible. He even manages to contaminate that which has good within. He cannot withstand the temptation to impose his ugliness on all else. From a place of awe and honor has emerged a Going out of business salesroom.  From within, the huckster hawks his tawdry little souvenirs, all gilt plated. Cheap. Ugly. Demeaning. Bereft of dignity and patriotism, of honor of country. From within also emerges the making of larger deals for millions and billions of dollars. With his companies, from which he has not divorced himself! Along with the equally crooked and amoral members of his immediate family and friends. This nation suffers so as to enhance his bottom line.

This man has no shame.  I predict worse to come as his power and insanity grow.

The man elected, unfortunately, for a second term. as president, has most probably earned the title of worst president ever. I hope that the title and crown of the first King of America, is not gifted to him as well.  However, it does seem that this goal of his grows ever more possible, though not yet, close enough though, to the achievement of that anathema, the thought of which makes one's gorge rise to the fullest. We are allowing the gross installation of Mr. Ffrump into this room and onto the throne, the seat of power. Treason!  

Was it the water we drank or the food we ate? The chemicals we sprayed so generously around the world. Is it those things that have so twisted and turned our minds into those of yes men? Fearful cowards. From whence? Apparently from desperate need to declare someone, anyone, a leader, someone who will glom onto it as opposed to those who do not seek its honor nor its responsibilities. But oh, Mr. Ffrump certainly has made his ambitions clear, be it by peaceful and gradual theft from the people or by sudden violence and rebellion, already tried on Jan6? At the end of it all, will it make a difference?

Ffrump is clearly greatly and grossly handicapped. By physical and mental deterioration so clearly evidenced. In his word salad. In his postings on Truth Social. A misnomer if ever I heard one. And his stumbling and bumbling, oral and physical    deterioration. Kept in place by the too many willing eyes, who are as do or die supporters of that man as were the fanatic adherents of Hitler, Stalin, murderous authoritarians of nations. May their names be equally cursed and understood for the Evil they presented and represented to the world. 

Once Americans took strides across the world. Confidence. Eagerness. Goodwill. Desire to do the best we could. And when we did make a mistake, acknowledged it. Fixed it. Even if that remediation took some time. Now, we walk cringing, hoping that we will not be attacked nor arrested, left to molder as pawns. We have deliberately, under Ffrump, cut ourselves off from tie world, ceded our power and influence, and are quickly devolving into an emerging Third World nation, little thought about, of no consequence or matter. 

We have on this path trampled upon and negated the rights of so many. We have knowingly and. eagerly stolen the promise of their future. Rather than serve as role model for the good, we serve as role model for the mean, the miserly, the selfish. We have shredded programs meant to feed the hungry of the world, and that would include those going hungry in this, our once proud nation. We have crashed and crushed medical programs of research and aid. Renewed epidemics of once defeated diseases, taking with it many, many victims. Including children. Those very children whose future, whose very lives we have denied. Not only in other nations, but shockingly, in our nation as well. Even worse, there appears to be no way out. The appointed officials named by Ffrump. are clueless as to what needs to be done. They know little, if anything, about their area of   responsibilities. Deaf, dumb, and blind to truth and morality. Ignorant of any information pertinent to their matters. And little will or incentive to learn and do the job right.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen? Oh, the government. The national government of this nation has devolved, allowing, encouraging, and defending attacks of violence and degradation against people living within the borders of our country.  And no, it is not only against "illegal” immigrants, for citizens, born and naturalized, are snapped up as well. Lucky if they are released in timely manner or even at all. As for those we do not release, we send them to filthy prisons reminiscent of dungeons of evil of old.

More disturbing and demoralizing is the acquiescence of too many to the ugly shenanigans and destructive tactics. Excuses are made up for him. Blatant denials are rife within the air and 'validated' by untruths published on social media, the airwaves, or spewed forth by Ffrumpian officials. Some people, oh so late to it, have come to acknowledge that there is something mightily, desperately wrong within this man and his supporters. I am thinking though, that it just might be a case of too little too late. This man has given himself monarchial powers far beyond the powers given to the president, to the executive branch of this nation. He has cowed the legislative branch. and they have ceded their own rights to him. Public Service is nonexistent. 

So, Moron Cakes it is, along with disapproval apps. Unfortunately, that is not nearly enough, and we need to see its growth here within this nation. We must understand where we are, where we were, and where we must go. We all must find, dig deep within ourselves, steady our courage, and oust this man.  The legal pathways are clearly there, even if overgrown and smothered by torn and discarded pages of our true history and heritage. With effort and determination, with courage, we can sweep the path clear again. 

If only. If only.

If only we wake up, gather ourselves and remember glorious yesterdays...

If we seek to recreate and emulate their glory, optimism, and confidence and make it part of our todays.  

If only we build upon the yesterdays and todays.  Reject any negativity. We can then indeed inspire. and enable the birth of glorious tomorrows.

Can we wake up in time? Do we wish to? Or are we too busily lamenting that which we have allowed to slip from our grasp?

I hope. I pray. That we have a remnant within us. upon which we can build, improve, repair and renovate our needy and abused nation. Refresh its fabrics underpinning this nation and remember and live the truth that we are one nation and nothing must destroy that unity.   

I hope.

I pray.

I plead.

May this great experiment in the history of the world, avoid the fate of past great nations, their falls and deaths.    

We are so much better than this. So much more than that which we apparently have consigned and assigned to ourselves.  

Wake up, people. Wake up.

No more Mr. Ffrumps or Ffrumpiness in our todays and tomorrows. 

Enough.