SHOULD WE?

       Diane, a major character in The Good Fight, a spin off from the hit show The Good Wife, has been having a tough time this year. She is almost crazed by the outcome of the presidential election and the constant Trump noise on and in the media. It is only when she lets loose in a meeting that she feels better - and then states that she has a gun in her desk drawer, afraid of the times, afraid of a crazy someone out killing lawyers.

     I know the feeling. Trust me on that!! It is truly difficult to turn on the news stations or shows and not find half of it Trump related and mostly bad news at that!!! Are we supposed to laugh at his antics, which are not really antics as he is supposed to be the pacesetter of the world in his role as President of the United States of America. It is with that recognition of fact that the question is asked - Should we or should we not? Should we be afraid, very afraid, or should we look past the demented and obsessed behavior and rants and hope that our country, our government, is strong enough to withstand his attacks on our democracy and of the safety of the world?

     Syria. North Korea. Russia. Iran. WAR. That is my fear, a great big one. Will he go pushing buttons and giving orders without Congressional approval or will he be ruled by some sanity, some people who will finally stand up and say this Emperor is naked, butt naked, and he needs to be taken out, off the parade route and a substitute placed in his stead. Now mind you, that substitute is Pence, a pretty dismal replacement, but at least he is somewhat sane. He cannot talk to a woman alone in a room without his wife's permission or presence - can you just see this with Merkel or May - but I do not believe he will get us enmeshed in WWIII, in nuclear oblivion, or the Syrianization of the world, leaving a bombed out carrier of rubble, spinning thru space with a humanoid race on its surface who have been reduced to the Stone Age!! Sound far fetched? But those are the structures such that nightmares are built on.  

     Trying to find other news, news that will cheer one up is difficult. We lost a stalwart figure on the American scene yesterday, Barbara Bush, an exemplar of loyalty and decency. May she rest in peace.We also had a nightmare take place in reality, life imitating art, the movies of epic disasters.

     How many times have we seen the scene in the movies. A bullet goes off in  a plane and a window is hit. Or something smashes into it from the outside. And then the action that has lived in my nightmares forever. A person is sucked out the window. I am afraid of heights and the thought of this just turns me petrified. And look what happened yesterday on Southwest, an airline I fly often enough. The woman killed was a good person,  led a good life, served her community, raised a family and look how she died. Hanging half out the window, cut by the broken glass, squeezed by the pressure into a space smaller than her body and only the heroics of other passengers prevented her being totally sucked thru!! Should we be afraid? Glad I have no flights till June and hopefully this picture of reality will be diminished by other things. May she rest in peace as well.

     So, should we be afraid, very much so, just a bit, or not at all? You make your choice as I have made mine. Additional factors? Well, Nikki Haley says she is not confused re her statements in the UN and I believe her, so what gives? Another Trumpian moment? Senators come out of a briefing on Syria policy and walk out with trepidation? OY!! Pompeo was in North Korea having a secret meeting with them? Trump in charge? Double oy! Oh yes, a moment of security - Sean Hannity coaching the President in late night conversations. Well, isn't that giving one a feeling of security and warmth? Well, folks - be afraid!