WE GOT THE POWER!!!

  Yes we do, though it may not seem like that right now. Laws are being passed by Republican legislatures to infringe deeply upon the right and the ability to vote. That ability is the crux of the matter as difficulties, obstacles, are placed in the path of voters, aimed specifically at Democratic areas, at people who need these extra hours so they do not lose work time.

These same legislatures are defying the wish of the majority in so many areas, particularly abortion rights. It is more than it seems, for at stake is the question whether women are to be respected, as equal, capable, as worthy to rule themselves, to control their own bodies and health decisions. These Neanderthal legislatures are related to the Taliban in views, as they too would seek to lock women up, unable to sign a contract, get a mortgage, do anything without a man okaying it. Chattel, no better than slaves. Yes, that was here in America. It could happen again - especially in this atmosphere of bitterness and polarization.

Sonia Sotomayor warned Americans that this will be a tough time for them, but we, the people, had both the responsibility and the ability, the power to change things, to repair the damage to the laws and the spirit of America by the Republicans disloyal to America, to the point and beyond of rebelling in an open, violent attempt at a coup, even as Trump told them to "fight like hell". 

But we are not out of the dangerous eddies produced by their constant agitation. There are plans to continue to overthrow the government, reject any victorious candidate unless he/she is a card carrying member of their filthy cult, their fascistic philosophy, their contempt for the people. Their overpowering lust for power motivates them and their greed, overrides any and all obstacles in their path  to attain all they want.

We, the people - sound familiar? - need to demand that the Senate and the House do what must be done. Subpoena all, demand they talk, hand them jail sentences if they refuse. Impress upon them the mighty power of the people, of the true soul of this country. Vote them out office right down to city councils. Remember that we, too, can "fight like hell" but we will be on the right side of this matter.

We the people. Say it again. Feel the power.   

WE.  THE.  PEOPLE.

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD

 ...that leads to where exactly? One does not hear the tones of the Beatles for this song. Rather we hear the crack of the continent, a splitting of a massive piece of land once known as the United States of America. United no longer.

How can we possibly overcome the issues facing us, the huge, ever growing cracks of dissonance, of unhappiness, of lies that wrap around people like burquas, blinding them to the truth. They put these burquas of the soul on willingly, the direct opposite of the women of Afghanistan, forced, once again into a prison that is their world. Why do these people do this? 

Why do they support a man who hates them, feels only contempt for them? A man who throws former supporters who trashed their own reputations in their servile support of that man who would destroy this country. A man who envisions himself as Leader for Life, followed by his just as crooked, morally destitute sons. And there ain't much to write home about his daughters or his son in law. 

Graham, McConnell, Giuliani, and the list is endless. The wheels on that bus do indeed keep going round and round. And yet there they still remain, promising to block a  Supreme Court Justice, promising to force this country to default, all because their god gave tax cuts to the uber wealthy as the economy collapsed. Great thinking, right? Even as his bewitched followers shouted his name as did the the crowds for Caesar! Fools they were and fools they be now.

Worst of all is the nastiness he injected into politics here in America. Always there was smut but he raised it to a level such as had not been seen before. He brought the cult personality into the political ring, the filth of constant lie upon lies, all the while embarrassing us before the world, an incompetent just about illiterate mentally deranged man who embraced fascism for the USA and raised the depth of racial and class hatred to unbelievable and sanctioned levels.

Suddenly we found our own homegrown fascists crawling out of the woodwork. Goetz, Cruz, Gosar, Greene, Boebert, Graham, McCarthy, Abbott and on and on. Fascists who have turned their backs on the people, on democracy and are alleged co - conspirators, cheering on the Jan 6 attempt to pull a coup on this government of ours. Trump keeps trumpeting his own lies that instigated that attempt, perhaps planned it all down to the last drop and, as usual, failed, as he did in all things. Thank G-d. 

Our long and winding road has turned into a danger for all of us. It has developed crumbling cliffs and flooding waters. There are no stops along the way, no time to regroup. Long and winding has turned into short and upon us. The time has come to pay attention to our present conditions and act, do something, chase away those who would bear us harm. Now.

There will not be a blog for Wednesday due to holiday but will be back on Thursday. Please browse through entries you might have missed or wish to read up on again.

BOGGLING THE MIND

  Well, I guess the Chief Gnome read my blog yesterday and decided this was a perfect time to raise the stake, put gnomic feet to the pedal, to the floor, and make huge headway in tampering with our lives. Of course any sane person realizes these "gnomes" are but our own missteps, mistakes, and unfortunately for us, deliberate steps taken by those who would destroy our country.

It boggles the mind when one pays attention to the news. 70 million people remain unvaccinated, but will gargle iodine!!! to remain safe. Nuts to the nth degree, but here they are. Here they remain, a drag on our economy, a drag on our healthcare, and personally, I feel they should remain last on line for healthcare. They have put themselves exactly where they are. Willfully. Stupidly. Nonsensically. Yet there it is.

 It boggles the mind to see the ridiculous steps taken in this bad news world of ours. People turn away from the news, thinking magically, like toddlers: if I do not see it, it does not exist. Well, wrong, oh so wrong. Not only will it be here, but the dangers it poses for this country, indeed for the world, for all, for individuals, will grow apace such as we have not seen before in this country. Woe upon us. 

We will reap what we have sown through our own ignorance, through our own hatreds, through the manipulations of those who are driven to retain power, the reins in their dirty little hands. Yet again, woe upon us. It boggles the mind how so many people do not see what is happening - or perhaps is it that so many, too many, actually wish to sign over their rights in and of a democratic state?

Perhaps it is the fault of our genes. We willfully engage in dangerous activities all the while the existential dangers grow exponentially. We literally jump into "wild swimming" - into lakes, oceans, rivers, where the dangers are rife, be it the temperatures that will give us almost immediate hypothermia, or the rocks that await the head approaching it, of the bacteria within or the chemical runoff from upstream or sewer discharge,  yet pay no attention to the vipers in our midst, the real dangers they pose.

It boggles the mind how people talk of the Big Lie,  doing little to truly discredit it. It follows the warning of Martin Luther who said all those centuries ago that "A lie is like a snowball: the further you roll it the bigger it becomes." How prescient. How applicable to the atmosphere of the very air in our lives today. The Big Lie of Trump and the Trumpian world continues to ravage and savage this country, putting our very survival at risk. Yet on it goes, rallies, Trumpian hot air, his dirty little sniffs that turn the stomach. It boggles the mind. It truly does.

"Our country will not survive this. Our country will not survive."

So spoke Trump. Rare words of truth even though he shrugged off his responsibility for this dire prediction. Even as he is indeed the Pied Piper in this truly twisted campaign of his. 

There are "signs of a gathering storm", feel "the instability in the air" but "ignoring the threat". The words of others, even as they mesh with my own thoughts and concerns. Here is the actual possibility, being spoken about freely in the Big Lie world:  "elements of the GOP are actively working to subvert future elections through laws, regulations and propaganda efforts. Snyder quite realistically described how a presidential loser could be cast as the winner in 2024. "That is what's happening right before our eyes right now," he said, "and we're just too cowardly to look at it." If we do not address this, do not take it down before it actually happens, then 2024 will be the last free presidential election - if even that - in the history of our once vibrant and vital democracy.  "Requiesce un pace." 

Rest in peace? Can we? Will we? Is it inevitable, this collapse of the best dream of humanity? Is there no hope? Will history report it as the colossal failure of the people of the United States of America, failing to insure that we stay united, that we eliminate the enemies within, deny them the ability to undermine this country and its democratic underpinnings, dishonor all the blood shed to insure its survival. 

It boggles the mind. It truly, terribly, unfortunately boggles the mind.     

THE GNOMIC PANDEMIC

  We all concentrate on or about the larger items of life. We speak of large bills to be paid. We speak of the huge problems waiting for solutions. We speak grandly of world issues, of national issues, but I have a theory. It is the Gnomic Pandemic. See, I find that the large problems end up getting attention, some solution or compromise is found, mashed together, but the little issues, uh uh. There they remain to bug the hell out of us for years to come, perhaps for all eternity for all I know!

Think of it. Somewhere there is a kingdom of gnomes. At the right age they begin training. How to be the most annoying gnome is the goal of this kingdom. At the very least, even the most uncreative one receives a job. Be the little gnome inside a head that cannot lose that headache. Just bang away - tap, tap, tap and the reverberations echo all day long, well into the night. No analgesic helps for it is a participant of the Gnomic Pandemic, nothing else.

Where else do these gnomes live? How do they eat away at our inner peace? Everywhere and everything is open to them. The gnome who changes the light to red just as you get there. The gnome who controls that old dude at the counter ahead of you, asking a thousand questions, all at the highest level of sound. The decibels carom from side to side inside your head, even as you stand there, shifting from one leg to the other, trying to avoid losing your place in line though that need is urgent - and where is that bathroom anyway!!!

Or how about the gnome who is always and forever stealing the notepads on the counters? Or the relative who just loves to drain the ink in every pen you own. Or the truly annoying one who starts the little unnoticeable rip in that plastic bag from the market and by the time you reach your car -RIP!!! Ahhhh - there goes the milk. There go the eggs.

The Gnomic Pandemic.

All these petty annoyances add up, squeezing the juice out of life making us wonder why we continually have this streak of tiny bad luck items that aggravate us so needlessly, so uselessly. Why is that traffic light always red? Why do you get stuck behind some huge double semi truck in a no passing zone that goes on forever. Just when you really need to get home or get to work 'cause if you are late again, that boss......

But wait. The 'best' awaits us, for the best gnome each year, the most creative one, the inventor of the most productive annoying gnomic intervention in life wins the prize. The prize? Aw, c'mon - you gotta' know better than that. Even the biggest dummy, the most unaware person in the world knows where the biggest, most efficient and dedicated gnome lives. You don't? You should, for the evidence is clear. Who speaks with a mouthful of lies and convoluted sentence construction, so twisted that nothing makes sense? Still no clue? Yoicks! You must have the gnome in charge of ignorance banging away inside that skull of yours.

Here is a clue. 'The numbers will show the truth, the HUGE numbers of the HUGE FRAUD and on and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Aha! That rang a bell? Yes, the Gnome who wins the Best Gnomic Intervention Prize each year, a tiny gold hammer, gets to vacation inside that just about empty head of Donald Trump. A bang every so often does the trick, for there is so much empty space there that one bang lasts for hours as it careens and careers for hours. The Gnome Kingdom laughs all the day long as the crazed humans, already nuts from constant Gnomic Interference, allow that King of Emptiness to sway them in every aspect of their lives. Clearing the way for more gnomes to have jobs, for more creative thinking, always trying to get one up on the other.

The losers? Us, of curse. My personal gnome is banging away at the headache node right now. Such energy I wish I could have, but never you mind, for I am sure that another gnome will come along with a better gnomic intervention. What, you ask. Nope, I ain't giving any gnome any ideas. Perhaps they will go away, find your head instead of mine or perhaps they will vacation inside Donald's vacant space head. There they can relax for a while - and so could the rest of the world if we finally did what must be done. 

What, you ask again. Dear Lord!! Put that man away. "Lock him up!" to use his own language and chant. A crook, a criminal from day one, the man has no use outside the prison walls. Indeed, he serves us better, a lesson to all, if he is inside those walls. That is what happens to a criminal. What a lesson for the kids after these past few years. A pandemic of COVID has nothing on the pandemic of the Gnomes, the Pandemic of Stupidity and Cupidity that overwhelmed us during Trump's term in office.

So let us rid ourselves of the Gnomes. Let us vaccine and booster away at all Pandemics. You know, the one that Trump denied would ever happen as he dismantled the apparatus to deal with such an event and here we are. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tapping away. Enough already.

HMMPFF! AND SO IT GOES

  Well, reading the morning news these days just about forces me to imitate a distinguished gentleman of  oh, perhaps the19th century, and go "hmmpff!" The news is that annoying, that repetitive, that predictable and that distressing. All with no end in sight, no cure, no answer readily available or even not so readily available. We are, my friends, stuck in an eddy of dirt, of garbage, of ill will, of insurmountable problems, with no exit available. Hmmpff! indeed.

So what do we do? What do we fix? What do we fix first? Way, way above my pay grade, though I do have some thoughts on the matter. Surprise- right? Actually, to tell the truth, I really have no clue as to how or where to start, so thick and entwined are our problems of the day - no, of the century.

How do we drain the toxins of the Big Lie, the lie that has branches and twigs that keep proliferating and propagating? Where to start? Where to make a difference that might just start that proverbial snowball rolling downhill, taking  all the garbage along with it, growing ever bigger, clearing a path behind it that makes room for positive attitudes, positive values and indeed - the truth! What a quaint thought these days.

So, what the heck, I will insert my two cents worth - it is my blog right! I must just pop in the comments about the travel in this country. I do not have access to numbers or statistics, only the images my eyes see and the answers to questions I asked of personnel and other travelers. There is much, much more travel these days. The traveling, though, is growing ever more unpleasant, as the airlines are not prepared to regrow themselves, to schedule more flights, to get more personnel in place, to cut down on the overcrowding, to calm down on the eternal and never ending lectures on the wearing of masks. Everyone is. No one is not wearing a mask. That is just the way it is, so the lectures, even in midflight are a tad annoying.

What does this increased travel mean? Perhaps people are more trusting of their vaccines and masks. Perhaps people simply want to start living again, seeing family, celebrating with friends, go on vacation. Whatever the reasons, there is the fact. We are on the move again. That, whether the GOP likes it or not, is a sign of optimism and trust - or perhaps weariness, or a combination, but that is okay too.

In the talks I had with people - I love talking with random folks, for the truth comes out inevitably, undeniably, and the outliers of society seem to recede into the woodwork where they belong. Never mind the polls and the shouters on the air. America is actually still pretty solid, pretty accepting of what needs to be done and all the  attempts to count them out are still, thankfully, not really winning.

So, back to the beginning. Where do we start? We start with the people, with trust in their steadiness. Most of us are still there, in clear circles and acres of sanity. Most of us are sick and tired of the degradations that Trump rained down on this nation. And continues to do so. Most of us are cheering, as the dogs eat themselves, attacking each other. People are laughing as they now blame each other, with crazed supporters of Trump such as Graham now having to eat his own words, and in private, question why the hell he supported Trump? Why did he cede his soul to that devil? Well, there it is and there it remains. What was done cannot be undone but these people can make amends. They can apologize, claim any excuse, but admit it and let this country move on.

First major step. Prosecute Trump. He is the root and the bud and the poisonous leaves. His plant must be extirpated down to the very last bit of roots or seeds. He must be denied any and all legitimacy,  all his claims exposed to the air, to the power of truth. Only then can this nation move on, begin to absorb those deluded outliers whose numbers are shrinking as they die off, from COVID, because they believed the lies he put forth. They relied on false medicines, on 'truths' with no truth within them, and so they die. They reap what they have sown, and justice? Perhaps. Harsh, but where else could it have led? What other results could have been expected?

So let us drain the poison of Trump from society, from this nation. Put him on trial. Expose the truth, the numbers and names of those who conspired with him to overthrow, to undermine this proud nation. Chuck them out with the trash for that is where they belong. Let us reinstitute sanity into the collective spine of this nation. It is there, within all those travelers, so tired of all this noise signifying nothing but trouble for us. Get the planes in the air, the cars on the road, the cures into people, and the truth believable again. There is no other way, no other start, no other path. Lies must be exposed. Justice must be ruthless. Otherwise the historians of the future, such as it may be, will simply adjust their glasses and say, Hmmpff! as they wonder why the truth and the path to success was not seen by the movers of society of the time? I too wonder at that. Hmpff indeed. It is just so clear to most of us.

Look, just look! See it! Work it! Hmmpff!!!

CHOICES CHOICES CHOICES

  This is the time of year when people's minds turn to choices. The past 18 months have indeed been a time of choice. To go or not to go. To see family or not. To give that hug or not? It is as if we are badgered by choice making and it gets tiring indeed. That is precisely when we make foolish choices and then must deal with the consequences.

Over the past few days I was able to read several books which had major choices within. The first was Defending Britta Stein by Ronald Balson. It concerned the situation of Jews in Denmark during WWII and the choices of individuals and a nation during that time. It was powerful, well written, based on fact, appeals to the emotions, the mind and presents much history within. It forces the reader to examine his/her own life, wondering what choices they would have made and what does it tell one about oneself? Is that knowledge good or bad?

Another book I came across was Mutation, written by Michael McBride. A goodly segment was over my head as it consisted of scientific terminology. Nevertheless, the story was clear, the necessity of choices to be made was clear, the consequences equally as clear. The choices were difficult, life threatening in many cases but they had to be made. The reader realizes that sometimes there are no good choices to be made. They equally stink, as the vernacular goes. Yet, there is no choice about making choices for one cannot float around in life, a dust mote borne on the air currents, for that allows choices to be made with result ensuing, but the choices and the results are inflicted, not made.

Briefly, the novel involves some truly weird life forms and life questions. It is more than a science fiction or fantasy offering. It kind of asks or presents the same choice as did Arthur C. Clarke in his famous saying: "Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying." What we choose to believe tells us much about ourselves. Personally, I believe that we are not alone. It makes much sense that there are other sentient beings out there in that great big Universe. Make a choice. Think about the implications of that statement.

Our choices often reveal ourselves to others even if we do not realize it. Andre Malraux said, "Man is not what he thinks he is; he is what he hides." How often in life do we make decisions, choices for life, that are not really the ones we want to make or should make. We do it to hide some of ourselves, perhaps to hide a strength or a weakness. Perhaps to keep a secret. For many reasons, but still, not the truth for ourselves. So who are we indeed?

I think the truth is that we very rarely know the truth of ourselves, who we are, what we truly believe, what we know in our deepest selves is true and  the right choice. Our future is often based on the decisions, the choices, we made in the past. They follow us, even more so now in the age of computers and social media. We need to remember that, to take it into account when we choose to act or not. A character in the novel Mutation said it correctly. " It is in the dust of history that the seeds of the future are planted."

Think about the choices so many of us have had to make over the past troubled half a decade. What has ensued as a result? What will history and historians write about that and about us? Choices, choices. Who are we and who do we want to be?

STAR CROSSED TRAVELER

  It seems, of late, that every time I get on a plane, something inevitably goes wrong. It makes boarding a plane a bit of a nervous act as I am never sure what is awaiting. The last big mess was a dumping at Detroit airport literally in the middle of the night, an abdication of all responsibility towards the passengers by the airline and a wondering of "what the heck do we do now?"

Well, that had a happy ending, thanks to a daughter's good friend who kindly picked us up in that same middle of the night and graciously hosted us until another daughter drove four hours from Chicago to get us. No more planes for me that trip! The rest of the trip - the return voyage, was basically okay until we were told by the pilot that we had no fuel! Minor issue, yes?

Fast forward to yesterday. Flight to Pittsburgh broken by short layover in Atlanta. Even the wheelchair was there. Surprise! Small hitch - they put us in separate rows! Problem fixed. Yay! There is hope yet. Smooth flight to Pittsburgh and down to the carousel and wait. And wait. And wait. Until the carousel shuts down. And there we were, two pieces missing. No clothes to wear. No books to read. No suitcases. Star crossed again.

Trudge to the Delta office and now I understood why the head flight attendant had come over at the end of flight to ask who we were and to profusely thank us for flying Delta. Ooooookay, as we looked at each other in confusion. Ooooookay, we now understood as the agent told us that our luggage had been misplaced and then made its way onto the next flight to Pittsburgh due in after another two hour wait!!!!!!!! Steam began to noticeably emanate from my ears. Wisps were generated from my head. Explain, I told the agent. How the hell!!! And alongside were the others whose luggage was in that same container. Explain.

Told we could either wait there or wait at home, possibly for delivery that nite or then again, maybe not, we chose to wait. And wait. And wait. How could I trust them - they did not even have our number correct so who the hell would they have called? Finally, the plane landed, the luggage carousel began to spit out the luggage and there were my two missing suitcases. Yay!!!! On the way to the kids.

So far, a great trip. Made a special dish for the kids with the able assistance of my 15 year old grandson and all the aggravation was worth it. But wait.....what awaits us on Thursday when we fly back to Florida. The suspense.........

In any case, just wanted to tell you that there will be no blog for the next two days due to holiday. Please take the time to catch up on blogs you missed. See you on Thursday.

THINGS SORT OF HAPPENED

  So said the governor of Colorado when he married his husband, the first sitting governor to do so. Mazal Tov! It was time after 18 years together and their hearts were in the right place. "our hearts are full with the blessings of health, love, and family,"   I wish them well.

The question now is that statement of just happening relevant to all in life. I think not. When something "happens", if one delves into the matter, one often can trace its lifetime, from conception and inception to the present. For example, the present atmosphere within this country has not just happened in a vacuum. We have allowed it to grow, even fostering its growth, buying into the nastiness or simply allowing it to continue in the hope that ignoring it would cut off its oxygen. Well, it did not. 

Gonzalez, who voted to impeach that lunatic Trump, succinctly stated it:  " the current state of our politics, especially many of the toxic dynamics inside our own party, is a significant factor in my decisions,”.   He placed the blame correctly for the current "chaotic political environment that currently infects our country.” How correct he is, but he neglects to point out how, for the most part, he and all  his fellow GOP members toed the party line.  Trump was empowered, able to concentrate on consolidating his powers, to continue to terrorize further his party members, to grow his cult. Indeed, nothing just happens.

Lindsay Graham recognizes the cause and effect reality when he warned Trump.  "If we fail to take back the House and the Senate in 2022, Trumpism, I think, will die. January 6 will be your obituary."

He emphasized: "If we don't win in 2022, we're screwed." He knew this for a fact as he turned traitor to America in his quest for power. He much preferred the then status quo, where he was able to enthusiastically 'screw' the people of America. Nothing just happens. It generally takes the machinations of even a few to cause things to 'happen'.

We have now reaped what we allowed to be sowed. A rabid anti mask person has joined the many who have gone before and who will follow - deathly ill with COVID pneumonia. He, and all those who are ill or who have died, have only themselves to blame for it did not 'happen' in a void. Upon their shoulders is the blame for the current surge, such as the 50,000 dead in Florida. 

Why did they follow this fatal path? Mostly for the power, the political environment encouraging this. Few and far between are those who truly believe that the Lord will decide, so no vaccine. Why this vaccine and not others? I cannot explain that. They have a deep, misguided, belief that to vaccinate is opposed to the wishes of the Lord. My question?  Why then would He have empowered those who came up with the vaccine to do so in rapid time, enabling the saving of so many who would have otherwise succumbed to the pandemic. Nothing just happens. Think on that.

We are being warned that there is a realistic chance of violence on September 18 when there will be yet another attempt to again challenge this country, to "mobilize to violence with little-to-no warning, particularly in response to confrontational encounters with perceived opponents or calls for escalation by key influencers." What crap!!! Euphemisms for the former president, the then and current traitor to his country - Trump!! He encouraged the revolt, the coup attempt then, and is doing so once again, deny it as he might. His lies continue apace, turning the very air around him rancid with the reek of treason, with lies, with danger to life and limb of the entity currently known as The United States of America.

This rotten attitude, this failure to be truly loyal to this country, to its institutions, continues apace with hypocrisy rampant. Clarence Thomas, a man who should never have ben confirmed to the Supreme Court, his morals lacking dearly, states that "the country has "gotten to the point where we're really good at finding something that separates us,".  Well, does he not understand his role in this state of the nation? His own decisions on the Court bench have allowed, encouraged this. What a farce. Nothing just happens.

And this is what we get - from supposed educators at that! As an educator, I cringe, ashamed that other educators can do this. Do they realize the meaning of what they say, what it leads to, what damage they do? I wonder. I really do.

 "wearing those colors at the game, which marked the 9/11 20th anniversary, could "unintentionally cause offense to some who see it differently."

 If there is anyone who thinks that to honor the dead, the slaughtered of 9/11 is "racially insensitive' then he insults, dishonors, the victims. Black. White. Asian. Native Americans. Moslems. Jews. Catholics. Protestants. Atheists. All were killed, brutally, with malice aforethought. There is no being "insensitive' here. There is no being offended if kids wish to wear the colors of America - red, white and blue and honor and commemorate 9/11.

Think about what happened yesterday. McConnell comments about "Maalox moments" from Trump. Well, look within his own weak innards for the cause of that!

Trump states that "our hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted." Really! Well, the biggest sound yesterday in DC was Pfftt! as the protest fizzled. Coming to our senses? Maybe. Hopefully. Better be. Doubt it.

Hundreds of thousands of desperate Haitians are besieging the border in Texas, and away they will be flown back to Haiti. Heartbreaking, but there is no alternative as the numbers are simply too overwhelming to handle. What needed to be done was economic international aid for a permanently broken island nation. Never forthcoming. Thus - we reaped.

And the giant sequoias burn. As the world burns, literally and figuratively.

What crops have we sown? What crops shall we reap? 

Nothing just happens, or very rarely indeed.

We reap what we sow.

We get the leaders we deserve - or have allowed.

Nothing just happens. Nothing.

TOLD YA' SO! DAMN IT!!!!!

 Most everybody loves to have a time when they can say with know it all smugness - "told ya so!" No matter the circumstances, good or bad, there is an element of self satisfaction, of pride in one's thinking and understanding, of being able to see through to consequences. However, at times, it is a very sad moment. This is such a one.

How many, many times was I told that I was insane, could not understand anything about Trump, that I was unreasonable about him, had jumped numerous sharks, too many to count. For years, from the campaign through and post his administration, I have spoken, written, warned, that the man was and continues to be nuts. Dangerously so. So obvious is it that I cannot understand why so many  GOP presumed leaders go along with him. Is it that they are crazy too; that all GOP figures in the public eye at any level also must be diagnosed with a mental illness, unbalanced? How else to explain this phenomena? 

Ryan: "began, on his own, to research how to deal with someone who is amoral and transactional.

Received a memo from a doctor on "how to best deal with a person with anti-social personality disorder"   

Psychology professor in 2016:"People with strong narcissistic needs want to love themselves, and they desperately want others to love them too—or at least admire them, see them as brilliant and powerful and beautiful, even just see them, period. The fundamental life goal is to promote the greatness of the self, for all to see."

'Nuff said yet? Get the drift?

 The man was, and always will be a barely there brain wise person. He could not understand what a fifth grader learns about the functioning of the government. He ranted and raved. He encouraged his duped followers, desperate  for answers, to "fight like  hell" and so they did, even unto killing guards and policemen, threatening lawmakers, suborning a shocking number of treasonous GOP Congressmen, set up a functioning meant to be used noose in the Capitol, and when the attempted coup failed, now blame it on the leftist opponents of their plans.

First of all, there are moderates who oppose the overthrow of the government - think of that! How lovely! And what, the anti fa dressed up in costumes with horns and weapons? Outrageous! Insane! And now, in two days time they are planning attempt No. 2. and when it fails they already have their pre planned excuse - it is a set up. It is not really them there. Yup. Insane is as insane does. Appears to be contagious. Much to the detriment of the country.

Gina Haspel, the then CIA director said, warned, worried, that "We are on the way to a right-wing coup. The whole thing is insanity. He is acting out like a six-year-old with a tantrum."

An arrested rebel shouted to the crowd that "This is 1776, and we the people will never give up." A s they fought to oust the government.  Yes, it is 1776 for all of us, and we will simply not allow a revolution against the legal and legitimate government to succeed.

Unfortunately we are besieged by too many going along with insane behavior. Try DeSantis or Abbott or any of those who deny the dead and the dying, the pandemic, as it crowds ICUs, the refusal to follow safety precautions meant for their benefit. Then they demand care as they suffer the consequences of their own stupidity.

The people ignore what was so eminently clear about Trump from the beginning. He is a deranged but clever opportunist who saw a path to gain a share of the Jewish vote. He 'supported' Israel - or did he?. Now we find that he accused his own son-in-law of dual loyalty, an anti Jewish meme from the beginning of time, even when there was no kingdom of Judea or the Israelites or a State of Israel. He is perfectly willing to throw all under the bus if it worked for his benefit. Wonder what he would do with his grandchildren?! Unthinkable, you say? Really?

The man needs to be muzzled, to be committed, for his good and most manifestly for ours, for the country, for the world, before he totally rips it apart. I was so happy to see him lose the election, thinking we were done with him, yet here he remains. Like a bad toothache that will not go away - unless we take the proper actions. Why have we not done so? Why has he not yet been put on trial? Why was he acquitted by his GOP collaborationists? When do we finally commit to the truth, for the country? It is about time. Hopefully in time.

Please do not make me say again, sadly, "I told ya' so!"

 

ARE WE THERE YET?

 The haunting refrain of parenthood. A car ride which turns into a grating of the nerves as the child persists in asking, "Are we there yet?" Usually, it is because the child is eager to reach the destination due to anticipation of fun or a good time. However, when adults ask that same question, well, brother, have we got troubles right here in America. In fact, the question understates the issue. The real question for adults is not "are we there yet", but are we beyond the "there", beyond the point of no return on a dangerous life changing trip, a car ride out of hell? What do we do about it? Can we do anything?

Too many people remain, either willfully or out of ignorance, blind to the existential threat to our democracy. We are that close to the realization of that nightmare, even as voices continue to swell with perilous inanities, believed by the deluded, all the while eating away at the supporting pillars of our government, our democracy, our guiding documents of the founding of this nation. A denial of our entire history- and our future - as the United States of America. That, if some have their way, will be a thing of the past. Nevermore to return.

Have I jumped the shark here? Have I exaggerated the peril which continues to plague us? Unfortunately, the answer is no, most definitely NO! For months - no, for years - I have warned of the dangers of Trump. Along the way, others have joined in and every single book out now or to come emphasizes the peril, the thin razor line that separated us from the accomplishment of plans by  a crazed, demented man, a man in an office where he never belonged in the first place!

A General, a most important one, reaches out to an enemy, trying to stave off nuclear war, the destruction of an entire world. Did he do wrong,  defying the principle of civilian control of the military? Perhaps, but existing conditions, probabilities of disaster, forced his hand. He acted in good faith, trying to preserve this world, this nation, defending it against the destructive goals of a lunatic. Quite near to completion, even as the rebellion ran on at the Capitol. No longer a possibility, but rather a probability.

Pence a hero? Not really. "You don't know the position I'm in," quoth Pence. Says Quayle, Quayle!!! "Mike, you have no flexibility on this. None. Zero. Forget it. Put it away,”

No hero there. Only a man hearing that he had no choice here and could not in any valid manner support his deranged boss and master. No hero.

Feeling the heat of the hell awaiting us? But wait, there's more.

"You know [Trump’s] crazy. He’s been crazy for a long time.” says Pelosi.

"Milley observed Trump’s erratic behavior—“screaming at officials and constructing his own alternate reality about endless election conspiracies,” according to Woodward and Costa—and feared the president’s “serious mental decline.” worried Trump could “go rogue.”

Are we there yet, indeed?

The danger that Trump poses for our democracy remains, alive, as lethal as the day he entered office. He constructed a world of his own and invited only those who worship him and his crazed plans for America within. That leaves the rest of us in danger, as dangerous as the fires raging in  California threaten the sequoia trees. Trump and his raging fires threaten us. Then. Now. Forever more unless we act. Enough of the 'gentle' approach. We have a majority, slim, but there.

 We need to act. Off with the gloves and on with the boxing gloves. The entire shameful truth, the entire shame of the GOP, its horrendous soul shattering acceptance within its ranks of open extremists, fascists, haters and its cowardice - all must be dragged into the open, our dirty linen washed, so thoroughly that there will be no mistake about it. We are going to deny these people their goals and plans. We are going to give them no leeway, they must speak at hearings. FINALLY we will put that man, that individual who has almost succeeded in overturning this country, on open trial. Finally.

 We desperately need to refute him and his troops. There is no other way, lest we answer that question of "Are we there yet", with a sad , "Yes, we are."

PS: No post tomorrow due to Yom Kippur

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THEN NOW FOREVER

  I cried then. I cried now. And I hope I will always cry. If not, a giant piece of humanity will be missing.

Stunned during the day of 9/11, working to clear the school, I cried once and then in the car on the way home -and over several days, weeks and months to follow. Indeed, I cried every year since - at  ceremonies to honor and remember, at photos of the lost, at the tear stained faces of loved ones, at their words. I cried while reading 102 Minutes, especially watching its TV version. I hope I continue to cry, for if not, if I do not feel the horror, the loss, then a piece which makes us human will have gone AWOL.

Yesterday I finally finished watching the National Geographic presentation: 9/11 One Day in America.

Wow!! It packed a punch such as I have neither seen nor felt in the past decade when 9/11 rolled around again. It is, in fact, just about the best program on this event that I have come across. It behooves all to watch it, feel it, cry along with it, understand the losses that stem from that day, from those moments, the permanent changes in our psyche as individuals and as a nation.

We have changed, and not for the better. We have lost threads that joined us together as a nation. We turned on immigrants. We turned on each other. We used violence on each other. We forgot the essence of America. We are so much the worse for all that. And we even turned on our nation itself. So cry, America, for in those tears are the hope for a better future. Without them - I lose hope.

There is a legend that there is a night bird that sings away troubles and woes. Its song is beautiful, cannot be withstood. It combats evil thoughts within hearts and souls but much to our dismay, its voice has not been heard much lo these many a decade. Our evil, our disunity, our lack of compassion for others has chased it away, overpowered the sweet power of its song. Will it ever return? Think deeply on your answer and what it means.

The thickness, the harmful mind cast of people is  shocking, unable to be justified. Person after person, one by one, tens by tens, thousands by thousands, the vaccine deniers die. The mask refusers die. Yet on go the crazed protests, even in states where mandatory vaccines are required for other diseases. What the hell! Cry for these benighted, dangerous people. They are indeed dangerous to all in their  denial of vaccine and mask.

The above topic is but a piece of the anger that has consumed America these days, these past five years. The cause is clear. It lies in one word -  Trump - and the consequences of his ill considered thoughts and the destructive thoughts that ensued.

 "On America's day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor's hand and rally to the cause of one another. That is the America I know.

At a time when nativism could have stirred hatred and violence against people perceived as outsiders, I saw Americans reaffirm their welcome to immigrants and refugees. That is the nation I know.

This is not mere nostalgia; it is the truest version of ourselves. It is what we have been -- and what we can be again."

Poignant words from former President Bush. Words that need to find their target in the hearts, minds, the very souls and cells of Americans. If not, we are lost, no matter how we try to deny, how we try to stall, to delude ourselves. The truth is clear. The tears need to be there if we are to overcome the horror of the then 9/11, the continuing meaning of that awful day, and avoid any repetition of it.

A difficult task. Perhaps impossible. But we have to try. I am not ready to write us off forever. I am not willing to believe there is no hope of empathy for others, for belief in the values of our country down through the centuries. I cannot, lest I cry forever and a day. We cannot lose ourselves. If need be, watch 9/11 A Day in America, again and again. Feel the horror. Feel the heroism. Feel the compassion and self sacrifice. Feel the loss. Feel America. Please. I don't want to cry anymore.

TRUTH TO TELL.....

  ..... is that there are too many title choices, too many awful possibilities, and there is just nothing good about any of them. Truth to tell is that we are so confused, so enmeshed in awful situations that we are overwhelmed, despairing of any way out of this morass of shocking situations and attitudinal behaviors. Truth to tell.....what the hell!!!

So.... local issues first and by that I mean not the mess with the obviously deranged DeSantis, but with certain terrible decisions taken or about to be taken in CV. These are decisions that betray the people of the Village, their quality of life, their financial well being, and spit on common sense and sensitivity.

Decision one: To even entertain the discussion of a newly extended contract put forth by Atlantic Broadband is beyond belief. TV, streaming, internet connections -  lifelines to the elderly in CV. For many, it is an only tie, to the world, particularly if that contact is limited by physical issues. Now AB wants to lengthen an already ridiculously long  contract and propose new terms that when deciphered, are way too harmful for the Village. Yet, here we are, AB redux. Time for sanity. Time to deny AB. Truth to tell indeed.

Decision two. Not to require masks nor certification of proof of vaccination before allowing entry, if not into the Clubhouse at large, then certainly into a crowded venue of shows at the Clubhouse. Not to do so is inimical to the health and well being of residents and contrary to the rules of the major cultural venues around here. Why the hell aren't we? Truth to tell?

Decision three. To charge $5 a day - A DAY - for guests of residents to swim in the pool, to use any facility in CV. $5 a day per person. For grandparents on limited income who have three older teens visiting, well, how do they afford this? Why should they?! What an incredible burden. Why the hell are we increasing the profits of an already obscene profit margin for WPRF and the Levy family. Answer anyone? Silence reigns.

 Now, to the world. What the hell is the matter with us? Intolerable behavior by "truthers" at 9/11 memorial events. Defacement of memorials. Trump gets cheers for hosting a boxing event on the 20thanniversary of 9/11. Where two older competitors go through a disgusting sham of a bout, when a 58 year old is out for the count first round by his 44 year old opponent. And Trump gets cheered? What the hell!!! Shameful.

Hospitals have no more room for critically ill patients because they, particularly rural hospitals, are jammed with COVID patients The same people who refused vaccines, who spit on masks. Well, maybe those who maintain that these refusers should be denied priority care are correct. Harsh, yes. but it is triage. The same way a patient awaiting transplants is refused if that patient engages in risky behavior. Same difference, is it not? Why do these life endangering fools get the treatment they need before those who desperately need their own ICU bed? Again, harsh but.....

Why is there any controversy when an orphaned little Israeli child is caught in a family feud over  custody. Those who live in Italy wish to keep him, scheduled to attend a Catholic school. Have there not been enough Jews lost in Italy already? Let this boy go home.

227 people. The number of those killed during this year of climate disasters - for defending the climate, trying to save us, but what the hell!! So inconvenient aren't they? Better the profits. Better  no belt tightening if we are to maintain existence, avoid the Sixth Extinction. Oh, yeah!! Truth to tell.... but never mind truth. Too disturbing.

So Louisiana is in danger once again from a weather event. GOP governors acquiesce in death for constituents as they fight mask mandates meant to save ALL lives. Too much sense and truth there, I guess. So more people die. Needlessly. Callously. Political victims as well as victims of their own delusional thinking. Truth to tell.

Increasingly warned that terrorist threats are now of equal possibility and equally as dangerous, be they domestic or foreign instigated. People die. The end. Just dead. No coming back from that. And yet some, too many, cheer on our homegrown terrorists, traitors, rebels and defend their abominable and treasonous actions. What the hell again. Truth to tell - but, then again, we seem to have developed an allergy to truth.

A land that eats its own. A land that has lost its identity. A land that has lost its respect for traditional values - and okay, Superman - truth, justice and the  American way. Corny? Perhaps. But it says it all, does it not? Truth to tell.

I SO WONDER

 I do wonder, a great deal. No, not why the sky is blue, or men so obstinate! No, I wonder why, 20 years after the horror of 9/11 are we continuing, maintaining, a pattern of arguments and strife that will forever hinder our progress, our self defense, our national pride, our role among the nations of the world. Why, for the sake of us all, are we still having idiots rant against the vaccine even as they insert poison into their veins? Why do we have non thinkers, mouth breathers who join in vicious protests against mask mandates? Where the hell are their brains? Apparently, asleep at the wheel.

The GOP has taken on the role of anti anything and everything that comes out of the Democratic Party, even if the GOP voiced it first in previous sessions. Why? Simply to play a dangerous game of chicken, a game of opposition, a game wherein they place their King, Trump, in overall top rank, despite all his clay feet covered with lead as he slogs through the mire of his own making.

Why do we give credit to governors who encourage the death of their constituents? Why do we give credit to those protesting freedom as they refuse to understand their culpability as they infect others, even unto death. Why are we arguing about common sense, scientifically proven facts, observable today and every day. Why? I wonder, I really do.

I wonder why the very same people who were gung ho on invasion, and then on maintaining our presence, and then on signing a treaty with the terrorists, are now the ones complaining, loading Biden with the guilt of Trump, the idiot who still and forever, introduces his rant of rigged elections into all, even as he is supposed to talk about 9/11. Why do we consider such a man equal to the responsibility of presidency as he neglects the memorials on 9/11 and failed so abysmally in his past regime. 

I wonder where we are as a people, as a nation. I wonder why we treat each other as the enemy,  turn and twist things around  so that instead of condemnation of the terrorism, of the horror, we are now being asked to invert all, question our guilt. Surely, we are told, we have a modicum of guilt for we obviously forced the people to reach this level. Wrong, so very, deadly wrong. Yet here we are.  

What did we do wrong? Really? Is the rape victim guilty? Why is the storekeeper robbed guilty? Why is the murder victim guilty? Why are we guilty of being attacked for reasons of our wrongdoing? This thinking is dangerous. It smacks of self criticism sessions of the Chinese and Russians. It smacks, stinks to the high heavens of authoritarian thoughts, a danger to our democracy already under attack by the GOP in their backwards moving stance on voting rights, on equality, on helping the common man, even as these same common people are duped to death by the very same GOP. I wonder indeed.

I know where I was when JFK was killed. I know where I was when the buildings were attacked, fell down, killed thousands. I know where I was when I heard of the heroism on the Shanksville plane. And I know where I am as I listen to the perversion regarding this day, regarding rights in America, regarding the necessity of being a united people. I know where I was when the shame, the unbelievable rebellion of Jan. 6 took place. And I know where I stand today. Do you?

We live in perilous times. We live in times of greatness. We live in times of awful drops into the depths of depravity. We live in hard times, appear to now be living in a "new normal" if one can define normal any longer. We live in times where we must learn to change, drastically at times. If we do not do so, then we are lost.

I wonder if we realize that. I wonder if we understand that. I wonder if we are ready, willing, and able to take on the onus of fixing this world. I wonder, I truly do.

"FULL ON"

  To be precise, here is the complete statement and to what it refers.  "Are you people trying to start a full on revolt?"  Nice, right? Particularly when verbalized by a Republican Congressman. Not sweet enough for you? Well, match it with this one, by yet another GOP Congressman - "Those businesses should openly rebel against any such rule," and then perhaps even the thickest among us will understand the perilous waters in which we, the USA, are swimming. To nicely round it out, here is the completion of the first statement. "Leave people the hell alone. This is insanity."

Oh, for sure, let people alone. For sure this is most definitely insanity. If one wants to off himself, just let it happen, right? Well, evidently that is clearly the thinking of these people. But even if one were to take that tactic, to emphasize a bizarre interpretation of rights, what about the inherent and well demonstrated danger this deviant behavior exposes others to - leaving them at the point of imminent death. 

Worse, at this point we are dealing with two pandemics. One is COVID with its particularly powerful Delta variant. The second is that this is now attacking our young, those bright faces upon whom we will rely to keep this nation strong, to make a better world for all, to think new thoughts and create new paths. But how can they do that if they are dead? Yes, dead. 

That is what is taking place today in our country, in our schools, in our hospitals. Yes, it is insanity, but completely and properly assigned to the shoulders and the deviant minds of these GOP Congressmen who seemingly have no compunctions about consigning our young, our elderly, in fact, all of us, to imminent death, an ugly death, in many cases. Time to end this insanity and get on the right train. Time to call out those for whom the failed rebellion of Jan. 6 was not enough. They want to do it again.

How is it that people will rail against the vaccine, calling it poison, "it kills", is part of some nefarious hoax, a deep conspiracy, all the while they are willing and literally dying to inject all sorts of real poisons into their bodies. Sadly, even into the bodies of those dependent upon them for protection, for common sense, for doing the right thing. It just does not make sense.

Now pair these numbers 654,000 dead, increasing every day. 160,000 new infections, cases, every day. Along with the language of revolution, of rebellion against the state spewing forth from the GOP members. Indeed, there is an encouragement to overthrow this government, but it is spewing forth from their mouths, their twisted tongues, their treasonous hearts and minds. Certainly, this is indeed "full on" attack upon our legitimate government, our Constitution, the very crux of nationhood and leadership, of modeling for the world in a positive manner. Their behavior, their language, are manifestly not worthy models at all.

This virulent poison of rebellion is increasing in its daring, in its openness, as pawns embedded in the framework of our government by Trump, to play a quisling role, are refusing to obey the words and orders of the duly elected President. They prefer to follow the orders and plans of a shadow President, an insane man with followers, using Hitlerian tactics to further his treasonous plans.

Think not that this division within our country goes unnoticed by the rest of the world. Think back, look back, think, think, think. In clear sight will be the truth, the sad, sad, truth. We are descending to the ranks of the Third World nations, those constantly riven by war, by internal combustion of their own population, of a nation that eats its own young in the name of what? In defense of what??? What!!!!!

In criminal law, one who aids and abets in the commission of a crime is considered as complicit and deserving of punishment as the one(s) who think it up, lead it, do the violent act. It follows that one who aids and abets in the murder of our young, other members of the nation, is just as guilty as those who stated this murderous policy. They convince others to shun the vaccine even as they take it. They push poison on these dangerously misguided people who lineup for their death. Yes, indeed, they are complicit in murder, manslaughter, whatever  particular term works.

Biden's plan is appropriate, only wrong in that it took so long to mandate. Employers are now requiring their employees to vaccinate or face loss of jobs. At the very least, refusers would undergo multiple tests for COVID. That testing is worse than any two day reaction to a shot in the arm - literally and figuratively! The federal government is probably the largest employer in the nation, hence a great boost to that nation if 100,000,000 vaccinate. A great victory in our war against this virus. Literally, a shot in the arm for all.

Time to grow up. Time to make sense. Time to recognize danger. Time to act. Time to step up. Time to do the right thing. Full on!!!

WHO ARE WE?

  At various points in life one assesses who one is. Are we good? Are we bad? Have we done enough in our lives or have we wimped out on responsibilities? What has become of that young idealist? Where has all that energy gone? Does anything remain within to 'do something'? Who am I, if asked to define myself?

That question extends to every part of our lives, all the categories - public, private, domestic. That question reaches into another world, another class - that of the nation. Who or what is a nation? Is it a real thing or a made up vision that may not have any basis in reality to even exist? Has the definition, use and importance of 'nationhood' changed , particularly in relevancy? Particularly in its contribution to danger for the world, for every individual "I" combined to make up the "we"?

These are questions that have ever increasing importance in our lives. Since time immemorial, authors of fiction and non fiction have attacked that question, that group of questions. They have landed on all sides of them, leaving us with no definitive answer. And perhaps that is the best answer, for it demands that we constantly examine ourselves, improve ourselves, adapt to changing situations and circumstances.

In quite a frightening novel, The Noise, Patterson and Barker raise these very questions, particularly as one approaches the ending, in the understandings that arise, in the shocking truths that face mankind, in the ultimate responsibility for the condition of the world and the possibilities of its future - if any. Read it. It is a good read, even as it just might wake you up. But do not put it down, or put it away, without thinking, ruminating on the issues it raises.

Now look around at the world. Trump and his idiots continue to contest the 2020 elections, contending a patently false 'steal', the vanishing of millions of ballots or the opposite - the inclusion of mysterious Chinese ballots, or any weird and innately moronic, yet oh so dangerous challenges. Anything to contest reality if it does not please one. 

Well, that can be a good thing, if one attacks the reality of not such goodness. Hunger. War. Savagery towards others. Murder in the name of  G-d - and is it not time we stopped doing that!!!The old, yet continuing dangerous weapons race, complete with ever bigger and "better" weapons with which to kill the world's population several times over. Dead is dead. So what the hell!!! Does the sea truly belong to any particular nation? Why can we not share in its bounty in a fair manner, even as we all take responsibility for its rapidly deteriorating life consuming state of existence?

Twenty years after 9/11 we are still at war with terrorists, still waging war in the name of Allah or Jesus or any G-d that is convenient. Twenty years later we are waging a war of defense against homegrown terrorists who refuse to recognize a shared responsibility of all for all within the nation and within the category of mankind. I believe there is not one soul alive today that can actually demonstrate that G-d has indeed spoken to him/her. Served as a team coach. Nary a one.

The phrases of people seem to indicate that there is some level of understanding. "It still feels surreal....it was just horrifying, beyond ability to grasp." A child of a father, a victim, at the Towers, says she just "wants to live her life" even as she volunteers at the Memorial, even as she mourns his absence where a father should be.

And the war continues. Now we are in an existential war, much of it our own doing, a war against a tiny little nigh onto invisible bit of matter. We refuse to see the truth if it does not fit our political views, making no sense at all, and indeed, actually digging our own graves, and worse, the graves of those who depend upon us to defend them, to protect them.  Our kids, the elderly, the unthinking masses among us. Yet we do the polar opposite. Stupid. Dangerous. Unthinkable. And yet - there it is.

Vaccinate and get better odds - one in 5,000 of getting COVID. Vaccinate your kids. Stop the horrifying statistic of today - that one quarter - 25% of new cases clogging the hospitals are kids ! What the hell!! What is the matter with parents who will not vaccinate kids where possible, who will not vaccinate themselves, who fight against a mask mandate meant for protection, who continue to resist sense in activities. What the hell indeed.

We have hard truths to face. We have extremely difficult, perhaps impossible to solve, problems front and center. We have masses of deluded people who follow a false god, refuse measures meant to save their lives, die, for this fatal error, and worse, some of these people are within our own circle of friends and family. In The Noise an affected, infected child is asked to explain who she is. Outside, ever growing, is the mass of people who run without will, run into their death and then are consumed by their own madness. No cure, and when one character tells another that she knows how to fix it all - she shoots herself.  

Not an uplifting act is it? But perhaps the people in the novel, the USA, have reached that point of no return, and in fact, threaten the very survival of the nation, the world and certainly life as we know it. City dweller, small town folk, outliers and survivalists  - it matters not. The responsibility? Right on our own shoulders.

The answer, if any? Perhaps we get a clue in the mystifying statement of that little girl. 

"I am we."

There is no longer any true to Nature divide amongst the people of the world. We are all Musketeers - one for all and all for one. The sooner we recognize the truth of that motto the better we are, the more we increase our chances of somehow preventing the erasure of the human race from the face of this earth of ours, lent to us for the generations to follow - which we have apparently short circuited. 

"I am we." And the converse: We are I.

There are no more separations. The consequences for one devolve upon the we. Simple as that.

NEW YEARS

  New years come along, are anticipated and accompanied with resolutions. Usually they are meant to inspire, to reach better heights, create a better private world, to do something, anything, that would lead to a life of more meaning and depth. Most important, we should know that these earnest, well meant promises to selves are usually discarded somewhere around the second week of January and all gone certainly by March.

It is one thing to laugh at failure to keep that diet. One can laugh at the person who bought an expensive gym package who soon enough prefers to keep his chubby little self, rather than put in the time and effort to get that six pack. Oh well, another year, another resolution consigned to the dust.

However, when resolutions are made between nations, or in the minds of people who, for better or worse have captured the minds and attention of others, well, that is another story. Those resolutions, failed or kept, good or bad, determine the path of the world and have long lived consequences down through the centuries. History has shown us that.

The question that arises is this: Why do we not learn, internalize already, the truth of the historical imperative? Why do we not recall every new year that resolutions are critical to humanity. We have only to trace the increased cutting down of forests to the climate changes we are now facing, actually living with, right now. No man is an island, and no nation is an island. No one lives in individual splendor, even the survivalists who lives deep in the heights of mountains or the quiet of the deserts.

The butterfly theory of human interaction says the same thing in what, at first glance, seems ridiculous. The fact that a butterfly on one side of the earth flaps its wings and after some time there is a hurricane or some event on the other side - well, who wants to take that seriously? And yet one would be foolish to ignore it. Volcanoes erupt in the East; soon the West is breathing contaminated air. It rains in flooding splendor on one side of the earth; the opposite side faces a drought of mammoth proportions Each and every event can be tracked and traced. We are a chain, as strong or as weak as every link in that chain. No more. No less.

Tonight, Jews around the world, of all skin tones, from places all around the world, of every age, men, women, and children in every country where a Jew is to found, the issue of resolutions is of paramount importance. Over the next two days, even as we gather together with friends and families over laden tables, even, perhaps more so, in this time of pandemic, every Jew is to examine his/her behavior over the past year. Did one keep the promises made to G-d and others last year? Does one mean to improve this coming year? Has one learned a lesson of life over the past year that will add meaning, benefit for the lives of others, along with themselves?

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is not celebrated with drink and riot. No tooting of horns or the crackle of firecrackers. There is quiet broken only by the sound of people reciting prayers, singing some of them, but always, with attention to the underlying meaning and demands of this observance. The only horn sounded is the haunting sound of the shofar, calling to our souls, to heed the truth of it all, that we are meant to serve a good purpose on this planet, to help others, to leave the world a better place for having been in it. Tikkun Olam - the fixing of the world. Tikkun atzmecha - the fixing of oneself.

Happy and healthy New Year. A good year, filled with health, prosperity, joy, and goodness. For all living on this planet, Jew or non Jew, believer or not. We are all connected, the living examples of the butterfly theory of life. Let us all make a resolution to be better, contributing people this coming year, to love one another, to consider others, to accept the truth whether it is pleasant or not, and to choose our leaders wisely.

Shanah Tova to one and all.

(I will return with a new post on Thursday.)

ALL THE LITTLE HOPES

  The title is the name of a recent novel that appears to express the human condition around the world. For the most part, the past two years have extinguished many of the larger dreams of people. The new hopes and dreams? Much smaller in scope yet seemingly more difficult to achieve. 

Here is a litany of some of the most common phrases heard around the world, and particularly here in the USA. They echo in calls to calling centers. They resonate in calls with office personnel. They resound in daily meetings and conversations, in person or virtual. "Be safe." "Stay safe." "Have you vaccinated?" "Did you get the booster?" "Put on your mask."

College graduates are graduating and not finding the jobs for their prime income earning years and their future and the futures of their families - here or to be - are endangered. All the while the politicians work to score points rather than do anything constructive. Manchin flaunts his power just as wrongly as did McConnell in his "moment of glory". Forgotten are those who would rather get a job with possibilities, with the power to place food on a table and a roof  over the heads of one's children than continue to live on a benefit that is always running out. Then what?

There is an old maxim that supports the benefit of teaching, providing one with means to earning a living, supporting oneself. Teach one to fish and there is food for a lifetime, rather than simply throw him a fish for the one meal. Far better for the economy. Far better for the dignity of the one needing  help. Far better for building futures. Far, far better to spend the money in training, in repair of infrastructure, in education, in health care, than in simple welfare that does not do the trick for the long run.

Time after time it has been shown that only huge injections of beneficial funds with long term consequences are the best way to drag a country out of an economic dip, out of low morale environments. Yet the GOP refuses to admit this, hanging on to their mulish opposition based on a deranged man's ragged shouts to "First Fix 2020." They went along with his gift to the rich in tax relief, all the while pinching the dreams of those left to struggle through as their government abandoned them. Now the Democrats are left with a thin, very perilous uncertain majority, ironically one threatened by members within their own party. All the little hopes? How? Where? When?

Instead of laying blame of the war's catastrophic long overdue ending and the mess left by Trump to his successor to fix in a hostile environment, why not cooperate, concentrate on rescuing the rest of that poor country that wants out! The women who are already being beaten, forced back into abusive homes, shrouded in those damned burquas. Lest you think that this misogynistic attitude lives only there, I refer you to Texas and other benighted states that wish to turn back the clock centuries with regard to women. No, we are not free of fault in the return of this dangerous thinking elsewhere, nor  absolved of any blame in the attempt to return women into the status of property of men, with little to no power to protect themselves, their bodies, their decisions, their children, their future, their lives. All the big hopes and dreams begin to shrink into far less than even little hopes as the light of their future dims.

Confusion reigns supreme in society. Be safe? Yes, but how? Are masks good or not? Do we need particular masks? The answers change on a daily basis. Are the scientists to blame? Yes and no. This is a new situation, a crazed pandemic with no plans to retire quietly. With the Greek alphabet crashing upon us - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Lambda, Mu and where does it end? Does it indeed end? Will we have any little ones left at that point as the Delta variant seems to target that age bracket more or is it that they have no vaccine. Where and what and who will supply the answers? How will they combat the ignorance that is 'gifting' us with over 150,000 daily new cases of infection and over 1,000 deaths a day. Better to overdose on an animal deworming drug than wear a mask and get a shot or two? What the hell is the matter with people?

Our conditions of life, our morale, our crushed dreams and big hopes are reflected in the titles of new novels and in their content. A Slow Fire Burning. If the Shoe Fits. Places that stand for safety and warmth are turn into places of horror and death, of uncertainty. Homes. Libraries, Bookshops. Small towns. Vacation houses. Beautiful forests. The kind, seemingly harmless neighbor - truly a monster. The cure? Soppy, happy ever after ending books that have little connection to reality, and join the fantasy novels that are ever more popular. Heroes that rescue us, yet have huge feet of clay. Nothing is left untouched, unspoiled, as dreams are the favorite targets of today's literati. People turn to fantasy when reality sucks!! Lesson learned yet? Apparently not. When? Got me.

I will take refuge in my wood, my paint. I will take refuge in my historical novels and studies, books with a serious content. I will read the thrillers and mysteries I enjoy and hope all the while that somewhere out there is not a future serial killer planning to model his own behavior on that of the monster - the human monster - of that book. And I will delve through the TV listings, the streaming contents, to find relief in the available programs.

 Most of all, I will take a break when basking in the love and warmth of friends and families, in celebrating the happy moments which do occur, and in encouraging the kids to continue to dream, to indeed fix the broken world we have given them, to build a future. If we start out, even with small steps, on a road which could lead to big hopes, then why not? Let us get on with it. Every little inch gained is a positive inch, a slightly bigger hope, a safer kitchen, a safer library, a safer, better world. A world of big hopes and big dreams.

We can learn the lesson, ake encouragement from an iconic children's figure - Bob the Builder.

"Can we do it? Yes, we can!"

UNCI MAKA - A PRAYER

  Grandmother Earth, give me strength. A prayer to the spirits, to the G-d, by any name, that will give strength, encouragement, and endurance to the one who prays. It is a recognition that we, humanity, are tied to the earth, whether we like it or not. We share a fate, a commonality of life or death, and the sooner we realize that, the better we are. So many of us do not realize that, sadly so.

I was among those who did not. I would admire a view, comment in awe at amazing structures of Nature, enjoy walks in the fresh air, but when the day was done, there were other things on my mind. Vaguely, I paid attention to news of a forest fire. With half attention I paid heed to a flood, tsked, tsked, and went on with my life. But Nature has a way of gaining one's attention, like it or not. For good and for bad.

As Nature goes, so do we. As it warms up, via natural process and our errors, we face ever growing crises of survival - with no plans, no ideas how to alleviate what is coming right down that track, only a few stations before it bears down on us. Well, the time has come when it is imperative that we pay attention, lest we doom ourselves,  hoist by our own petard. 

However, there is a good side to valuing Nature, other than survival. It is a process which will enrich one's life, lead to hidden treasures and hidden, never even known to be there, talents. It is a wonderful side to find out the hidden secrets and strengths of Grandmother Nature, to discover the riches hidden behind plain covers, or deep within one's soul.

Personally, I have found a new and exciting world that has given me a focus, an interest, with which to survive through two tough years and who knows how much further into the future. It is an interest and possible talent that can go with me. It has deepened the tones of colors, shapes, of Nature, taught me appreciation for the hidden beauties that need to be found beneath their covers that hide the stunning beauty underneath.

There are other advantages. A new world of people with similar interests evolves. New knowledge is gained, even sought after, as new talents are honed, deepened by this new knowledge. The quest is exciting. It is mysterious. It is enriching. Furthermore, there can be a daring foray into the world of sales, of having people buy your work, the soul satisfaction from recognition and appreciation.

I have discovered a larger world than I ever truly knew had existed. It is a world I appreciate greatly. It is a world which continues to grow. It is a world which I love - the beauties of wood, hidden beneath drab bark. The beauty of pebbles and stones, often gleaming with color and sparkle. The combined beauty of pieces of the earth, of Nature, as they come together with wonderful mind blowing synergy. The rewards are endless.

There is a downside. One feels the pain of a living earth as it is trampled upon by its inhabitants. One agonizes as one sees the loss of trees, their benefits, the desperate need we have of them, ignored by fools. We watch graphs of temperatures, of rain, of drought and flood, of warfare over diminishing resources. We cry for the determined ignorance of humanity as we contribute to the destruction of our home - Earth.

And I cry for those who refuse to venture into a world that awaits them. The joys of creation. The beauty of wood wall art, of wood creations, of paintings of abstract beauty and colors. There is almost no better feeling than that. The wonder at the beauty that comes through the manipulations of paint brush and hammer and nail. 

I love it. I love the creations. I love the imagination. I love the colors. I love the feeling of positive construction and results. I love the personal growth. I love the ever stronger connection to and with the Earth.

Unci maka - may we all have the ability and the wisdom to ask for the strength of Grandmother Earth and be privileged to add to it.

And hey, if I manage to sell a few pieces, well, that is the whipped cream on top- no cherry as I do not like them!!

CAN IT BE MAGIC?

  Well, humming that lovely tune can maybe bring 'magic' into a  relationship, but the situation of the country - not really. Yet we insist on chasing the magic cure, the panacea that will stop all COVID dead in its tracks, save the country from the Big Lie advocates re the Election of 2020, and perform 'magic' just about everywhere. On demand.

How wrong and dangerously foolish we can be. There is no magic cure for the virus. There is, however, a stock of vaccines, with new ones on the way. Using them properly - how quaint an idea that is - and refusing pseudo science of highly touted crazy drugs by know nothings - will produce the magic effect we are seeking. Really. We know that for a fact and if we would only give the proper drug, the process, a chance, well, we could work magic.

Now we have people dying because the 'magic' they sought failed them. A drug for animals is not the answer. Nor are 'secret vaxxers'. Oh, yes, people who have pushed no vaccine, no masks, COVID a hoax - after seeing a slew of their kind die from COVID, they vaccinate - in secret. Proper magic will work for them; apparently they are deserving of that whilst the rest of their followers, well, they can go hang, for all they care. Not so skeptical any longer, though they refuse to admit their buy in to vaccination to their followers. How nasty. How selfish. How life threatening.

And on it continues. Republican after Republican seems to feel that being anti-mask, antivaccine  - at least for others - is the way to go. Never mind common sense. Never mind that the majority of thinking people with functioning brains want mask mandates. Never mind that employer after employer is now presenting a clear choice to workers - vaccinate or no job. Finally. It is clear and no magic about it. If we all vaccinate. If we all follow regulations for our safety in this matter, there will come a day when it will be reduced, along with its variants, to the status of the flu, possibly deadly, but most often not. Magic? Most emphatically not. Only the magic of cooperation and common sense. 

Lest you believe that this 'magic' so sought after by the GOP is limited to COVID, think again. Apparently, these people are stuck in the magical world of infants and toddlers who use magic to explain the game of hide and seek, the miraculous reappearance of loved ones when they open their eyes or remove their hands from over their eyes. What a wonderful miracle for these little ones. But we need no miraculous magic in the world of presumed adults. Only common sense and an understanding of the need for unity. Simple enough.

What new magic are they touting now? It seems that every single one of the refugees we rescued from Afghanistan, every single one, is a terrorist in disguise, only awaiting his/her chance to do dastardly things to Americans. On the other hand, every single one of those unfortunately left behind, caught in a most untenable situation, is not a terrorist. 100% achievement. Just how does the GOP know this 'fact'? Magic! How could we have gotten it so wrong? How could the GOP  so quickly forgotten who signed the treaty with the Taliban, who agreed to the withdrawal. Hint: strange dude with nefarious goals in mind. Considered dangerous to America's survival. May appear as demented - because he is. 

Is it magic that so many GOP residing in the Capitol and official buildings of the government are openly Fascist, openly opposed to a functioning democracy, anti voting rights, anti women's rights - still, in 2021. Time already. Time for Americans to realize that we are fostering a nest of vipers in our midst. Immediate extirpation necessary.

There is an old Irish proverb which states:

"There's always the look of an angel on the Devil's face."

How true. So unfortunately true. Either we are not recognizing the devil and his imps in our midst, or we are, and let it go by, continue on. Which is worse? They both stink! They both demand immediate correction.

Are you afraid yet? Are you realizing yet, that we are in real danger, at real peril, of losing this country of ours. This beautiful, bright, and fumbling country. This country who makes substantial errors but also has some wonderful achievements. That country stands on the edge of destruction. Think about that. No magic here, folks.