Thursday, December 12, 2019

AMERICA, AMERICA - HOW I WEEP FOR THEE

     Oh, we still sing, the anthem, G-d Bless America, the song America and in these songs we are supposed to feel pride and patriotism, a love of a country, but today, these emotions are stilled, the full throatedness of the songs dimmed. We are besieged and beset by existential problems and a President who goes around "presidenting" - playing a game of pretense? Of mockery? Of incompetence? This is the behavior we need?
     Our bank account of true leaders, of politicians who are loyal to the country over all else, is seriously overdrawn. It seems that true leaders have become a commodity of true rarity and we, the people, we, America, are suffering for it.
     "Increasingly, by design or not, there appears to be a movement to undermine Americans' faith in our government and its policies and institutions,"
     Those are the words of Paul Volcker, a man of greatness and insight, a man whose autobiography will be published soon, a book written with no ulterior motive other than to save the country he loved and served so well. The country he feared for. The man is dead now, his mind stilled, but his words linger on. These words are meant not only for us, but for any country which forgets its purpose - to serve its people. To keep them safe. To keep the world safe. To pursue a growing international approach if we are even to survive on this planet.
     The plans on the Republicans' side? Show movies, give out candy, demand and terrorize, all the better to insure a trial in the Senate which will be farcial in the extreme. A trial in which the jury has already colluded with the accused and decided to vote to acquit and never you mind the truth. Truth is irrelevant these days, it seems. Very sad and oh, so dangerous.
     The very man who spouts filthy and vicious canards re the Jewish people, then stands there triumphant thinking he has truly done a great job, used carrots and sticks, to force them to vote for him. I vomit at that thought and at the fact that he continues to delude otherwise rational people, people who seem to have lost their way when it comes to morals and behavior, to true thought, to intelligence, to caring for others, for sheer decency! And for truth. The simple and whole truth. Truth has been turned on its head and Newspeak is in full bloom, spreading its poisonous seeds all over the country.
     How are we to approach this problem? Can it even be overcome now, with its insidious roots being laid down so strongly in so many areas. The very people that suffer from his policies, are the very people who cheer him on. Them and the fatcats who have received so much from Trump what with the deregulation, the tax breaks, the corruption in DC.
      Nihilistic forces are dismantling policies to protect our air, water, and climate. And they seek to discredit the pillars of our democracy: voting rights and fair elections, the rule of law, the free press, the separation of powers, the belief in science, and the concept of truth itself."
     America, America, G-d shed His grace on thee, but for now, America, America, I truly, deeply, weep for thee.

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