AMERICA, AMERICA

  Imagine this: a group of worried, fretting people, gathered around a large spyhole, looking, worrying, with clear expressions of despair and desperation. Abraham Lincoln. George Washington. Thomas Paine. FDR. JFK. RFK. Susan B. Anthony. Emma Lazarus. Harry Truman. Ulysses S. Grant. Dolly Madison. RBG. Clara Barton. Eleanor Roosevelt. Theordore Roosevelt. Lillian Wald. Hayim Solomon. Felix Frankfurter. Thousands of soldiers who fought, gave their all for this country. So many of those who fought for the establishment and development of this country. Names known and recognized and those not. But all here, gazing down upon this nation, this world, and wondering what the hell happened. Alas, America, America.

"G-d shed His grace on thee." Well, that appears to be a non-starter at this point. G-d seems to have been coopted by those making use of His Name without permission. Those who claim they know, just know, that G-d wants them to maintain extreme behaviors, white supremacy, or Black supremacy for that matter. Those who wish to greedily reap all they can from the government while denying aid to those who actually need it. G-d, in disgust, turns His face away, once again leaving humans to their own self-created disasters and wonky fate. Karma.

"Crown thy good with brotherhood."  

Unfortunately, our good has been much weakened, drained by too many people who have forgotten what America stands for, or used to. Gone is the attention paid to the words of Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty - that name alone!!! "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." To breathe free. Imagine the relief felt by so many of our ancestors who made it to our shores, free of persecution and constant threat of death, able to feed and educate their children. That is what America was and is meant to be. Always, no matter the difficulty. No matter the cost, for if we do not, the cost will be even greater. Today, whence brotherhood and sisterhood?

The mayor of Milwaukee stated it very simply:

""We fight for a humane, safe and dignified immigration system that is worthy of a nation built by waves of immigrants, refugees and oppressed people who have struggled to make the American dream of equality and liberty a reality,"

"That's America to me," quoth I. Were not my grandparents allowed refuge, hope and a home here, I - and so many others - would not be. Period.

Unfortunately, we have developed a corrosive poison within, led by the likes of McCarthy, Jonson, Cruz, Greene, Boebert, Scalisi, Hawley, Meadows, Trump et al, so many, too many. People are beginning to state the obvious, understanding at last that the would be Emperor  and his cohort are indeed naked, baring before our eyes the stinking and shameful taint of treason and sedition.

  “I don’t know how else you look at it. We’re talking about someone who provides aid and comfort to insurrection. ” ... it undermines what this country has stood for since the revolution,” 

Senator Warren, speaking frankly, of McCarthy and others who know what Trump did, what he encouraged, what his adherents did as well, turned on their country, trying to impose a one man government, well, "what she said" indeed. They are all traitors to this country, to our history, to our purpose - to us. There is no denying it.

We also need to remember that preserving our country at times requires great sacrifice. We hope not; however, the present situation in Ukraine is untenable long term. Even with the modern - day version of Lend Lease, Ukraine will simply run out of fighting capable people. There is no unplumbed well of perpetual supply. A fact of life. The weakness and disunity of the western nations allowed Putin to go ahead. The consequences are here, as the people of Ukraine bleed to death, their country in ruins such as have not been seen since WWII.

It has been oft stated that " We recognize Ukraine is fighting for all of us." That might not be enough (see previous paragraph) and at some point the dreaded necessity might be upon us. Succinctly stated by Kinzinger  " ... there may be a point that we have to recognize, you know, look. This is- World War- prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved and eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we don't get to that point here, but we should be ready if we do."     

We must be ready, body and soul. The tyranny imposed upon Russian occupied territory in Ukraine cannot, must not, plant its seeds here, on our shores, round our mountains, across our fields, in our cities. With their flags waving triumphant.  G-d forbid a million times that it comes to this, to American boots on Ukrainian soil, but better than Russian boots on American soil. Never.

"From sea to shining sea" and around the globe.

America, America. Ours to keep and ours to lose. From within and without.