SLIMED WE ARE!!

     I remember buying Slime for the kids, some kind of gunky stuff that got all over and trust me, made a very quick exit from our home! At least that Slime could be gotten rid of quickly and permanently, but the slime of today? Uh uh. No way. It appears to be as resilient as the kudzu vine of the South, as relentless as ivy growths over buildings, and a growth industry of huge proportions.
     We are slimed by the filth of the world. Yes, one could say that refers to the plastics that are ruining the oceans, killing sea life, despoiling our land, but at this point, I am referring to the slime of immorality, the slime of no holds barred political and oppressive tactics, of slime that causes other slime to grow and grow.
     It is that slime which allows for the Secret Service to provide a secret drinking session by two of Trump's top people and then stick US, the people, with the inflated bill sent by Mar a Lago. Talk about lining one's own pocket! Wonder if Trump made out a USA check in his name to the business of his using his name - payer and payee - Donald Trump! Not to worry, for I know that is not how it works, but that is the truth of the transaction and that is unfortunately the truth of this administration, rife with ignorant and selfish people who allow corruption, delve into the pigsty and roll in the mud, all the way oinking to please their sty master, Trump.
    We are slimed by the exposed behavior of so many 'bigshots' of the various strata of society. The men seemed to feel that women are and were placed there for their benefit and pleasure, but this is not a harem and at least some consequences are being demanded, though not enough and not deep enough. One would think that this kind of behavior would not be tolerated any longer, but sadly to say, it is, and even admired in certain circles (i.e see Donald Trump).
      And the slime goes on, what with the conflict of interest problems, for how can we allow a President to run his businesses while sitting in office, confer on a steady basis with his sons who are supposendly running the businesses - uh huh - claim profits from his position and then allow this hypocrit and his buddies to pursue claims of conflict of interest against others. Truly, pots and kettles and a pox on all their houses!
     We are slimed when the top figure in the Justice Department reveals his deliberate ignorance and twisting of the facts, admitting he never viewed evidence, thinking he could cover up protest of his behavior by Mueller, and twist and turn in the wind yesterday as three tough women asked him tough questions to which he could either answer with the truth or lie and be liable legally. But watch and see how the Republicans sucked up once again, trying to shift the investigation out of its designated purpose, even as they oinked their way through. How they can look at themselves in the mirror is beyond me! Slime and sleaze are they all. Moral and physical cowards as well.
     The sliming continues as the Executive branch and its head, Trump, attempt to defy the purview and powers of the Legislative branch, the way the government was set up by the Founding Fathers. This defiance alone is basis for impeachment, but once again, it will stall in the Senate as all the moral midgets there cower in fear of the King! Slimed we all are by this behavior.
     This past week we have had physical heroes who lost their lives due to their heroism and in so doing saved others. A woman jumped into the path of a bullet aimed at the Rabbi, allowing him to live and shepherd children out of harm's way. A young man in a college classroom tackled the shooter, knocking him down, stopping further killings, but in so doing lost his young life. Heroes they are and we should emulate and celebrate them. Too bad we have no corresponding heroes even of the moral kind, no physical risk necessary, among the Republicans aside from the occasional one such as Murkowski or Collins. Instead we have Grassley and Graham, who in particular has certainly changed his colors!!
     And the slime has seeped into the rest of the world. Right wingers have bullied and bulled their way into governments, chanting and shouting hatred and violence. Buddhists kill Christians. One Moslem sect kills another. Rohingya are killed and chased. Jews are once again the target of not only vile words, but vile propoganda, and violent behavior and attacks and this time, from both right wingers and left wingers. A thin veil of anti Israel statements purports to hide the truth of the anti Semitism inherent in these remarks and in their proponents, but the truth is there. Always. Always and forever.
     So slimed we are and the question remains: are we ready, willing and able to remove this slime from our lives? Are we willing to put in the hard work, to commit energies, money, time to combatting the slime that is smothering the world? Are we going to admit the truth that the lies, the sliming lies that emanate from the mouths of the Trump administration are just that - damned lies - and face that fact? Realize that the repetition of a lie over and over and over ad infinitum does not convert it into truth? Hitler tried this strategy and after billions of dollars worth of damage, millions upon millions of people killed, murdered, savaged, his platform collapsed in upon itself. Must we wait for that to happen? Or can we recognize the need for action NOW?
     Slime is insidious. It feels good, cool, fun, when one first meets it. But the reality quickly changes as we find that slime is not so easy to clean up, to rid the house, the world, of its residues, of its consequences. Slime oozes and spreads relentlessly unless stopped firmly and finally. So what will it be for us?