FACING UP

        Humans have a highly developed sense of self preservation which often works the other way. Much of that twist time is found in the denial of reality, of insisting that it is what one wants it to be and never mind the facts. On the other hand, people can look at a situation and ask, as Kennedy urged, "why not?" Today's times are perfect illustrations of these opposing sides of humans as they face up to their problems.
     Personally, last nite was a bit of a wham for me. After having two pretty good days with PD, and enjoying a super Carpenter tribute show with a singer who sounded just like her and who presented the show with enthusiasm, the songs of the Carpenters got to me, particularly the sadder ones, remembering what was, what we wished and what the 'now' is in truth.
     I am not, none of us are, what we used to be, but never did I ever think that I would be in this situation, working harder than ever before to keep myself at least in a plateau, doing what I must, and dealing with the truth of a reality. Facing up in this situation is hard, but there it is and there it must be dealt with, like it or not. Denial does not work.
     Denial will also not work in the reality of our CV today. We are facing several crises that must be eased. The governing organ of the Village has made some seriously faulty decisions and refuses to acknowledge or face up to this. They wish to insure that they retain their 'power' to spend the money and get their way, even as their way proves so wrong. And yet, even as people speak privately in negative terms, they do not show up nor speak out publicly, thus just about insuring that the situation remains status quo. Not good at all.
     Worse than that is the new theory of government accepted by the Republican Trump Party. They have ceded all authority to him, the Demented One - and if one needs proof of the dementia, why just go get a video of his extremely bizarre first Cabinet meeting of the year and in  addition, do not forget to look at and examine his infantile negative and antagonistic pose of hands crossed across his chest. That is his go to position - not good there either! But what is worse, is that the members of Congress, particularly in the Senate, vow not to pass any bill unless they know that Trump will sign it!
     What is that all about? Since when does the President dictate to Congress. Congress is supposed to represent the best efforts for the PEOPLE and not the President. Go check it out. It is called the Constitution! But this man and his spineless morally needy minions are trying to turn this country and its governing bodies at all levels into extensions of Trump. Passing fake examples of democracy, kowtowing blindly to the 'leader - all signposts of a dictatorial country!! Hey - that is not us!!!! Never!!!
     It has deteriorated into a ridiculous and dangerous game of chicken and the heartless man who insists that all immigrants, particularly ones of color or from Third World countries are terrorists and criminal and drug pushers. Dang it, but I sure wish I could go back and deny entry to his grandfather who gave us the next generations of Trumps, such excellent criminals, cheating in taxes, in real estate, caring nothing for humanity, and the descendant sitting in the White House has no care or compassion for the workers who need their paycheck, for the citizens who need the services of government, for the ones needing food stamps and the social safety net and people, understand clearly that at one time or another we, or people we know and love need or will need that net to survive.
     Why do we not remember who and what America and Americans are supposed to be and try to be, to continue the progress we have made over the centuries and face up to the new ones such as the existential threat via the environment? And why do we think it okay to throw sand in the face of all those out there in the world and right here in America who fight for rights, for democracy, anti dictatorships, anti oppression, fight for free press, for the improvement of societies all around the world. See, in accepting Trump and his way means mud over the accomplishments of the brave people of all the Springs, recent and past. It tells people that Glasnost was for naught and the Arab Spring for naught and the countries of the Iron Curtain and their democratic achievements count for naught as all goes down the tube. Walls do not work, they do not make for good neighbors and they do not work!!!The Berlin Wall - down. The Great Wall of China - crumbling. The defensive wall of Game of Thrones - down, rubble! And the wall on our southern border - what the hell is the matter with a fence and proper immigration procedures?
     Finding video and tampering with it, trying to portray a controversial new Congresswoman as bad - what the heck is the matter with these people? First they messed it around and so what? She was in college, with the energy and joy of the young who think  they can go out and conquer it all, and even if I do not agree with some of her program, so what if she danced? Are we going to ban that too, a la a modern ban the dance movement? Thought we were done with that!! 
 Ask Kevin Bacon!
     We are not facing up to our problems, to our reality as it is and are creating our own version. But there will be no dragons, no magical fix for us. But we do have it within our power to stand up to tyranny, to moral blindness and create a better world, one with a future. With all the energies and idealism and hopes of the young in Hong Kong, in China, in Hungary, in Russia, in Israel - which by the way has been thrown under another bus by their 'fan', Trump as he said that Iran can do whatever it wishes to in Syria. So comforting to Israelis! Still maintain he is good for Israel? With all that, we can face up to it all. We can. We must. The alternative? Not a good idea to go there.