What? Think your eyes have gone wacky? Think my typos have jumped the shark? Not to worry; all is right with the world. -Actually, that last statement is so wrong - well, anyway, it is Polish and translates to "Not my circus, not my monkeys". Personally, as I thought about this Polish saying, its truth and relevancy hit me. Take a look around at our supposed leaders and their followers. Are not monkeys and related primates so much brighter than too many supposedly thinking beings called humans? There are exceptions, where followers are deluded and mistaken in their thinking right now, but for the most part, I ask - why and how does one continue to be enamored of clear fascists, their thin disguises manifestly failing.
Even as ten of them lie together in bed, as the song goes, one falls off - or most likely pushed off by his supposed brethren and another climbs on in his place. No empty spaces here, no lack of more monkeys to get on that bed, not in this case. Power and riches are the goals and anyone in the way, gets steam rolled. May I indulge in another Polish idiom - "Don't call the wolf from the forest." Simply put - do not ask for trouble to find you, or stand there looking, seeking, calling for trouble. It will accept that invitation. For sure.
I look around and wonder at the number of monkeys and their packages we have invited in, having a wide-open door. No, not the immigrants awaiting entry into the land where they can dream and fulfill those dreams, just as our ancestors did. Rather it is those who want to enter the country - its very fabric and tear it, rend it impossible to continue its existence. Slowly, with gathering speed they are doing so, edging ahead, speeding up ahead, momentum gaining.
There is some hope, struggling to breathe free, to encourage the rest of us to pay attention, be careful, and resist the fascistmization of America. Yes, I just coined that term, awkward, but its meaning is clear. This once beautiful, open, rich, welcoming, country has undergone huge change, ugly changes, and we must allow that weakened hope to breathe freely once again. We must be able to look into that magic mirror once again and hear the correct response to "What is the name of the best nation of the world?" At present we are out of the running.
Why has this state of affairs taken place? How has it come to this? To use a term I recently read in an article, it is the phenomenon of ostrichmization - hiding one's head in the sand, not seeing or hearing what is there, right in the open. They carry on, in neutral - but there is no neutral here. Yup, anther idiom - you are for it - or agin' it. Active engagement with what is fast coming down that track, those who follow scorched earth policies, is a must.
Never mind the names the defenders of democracy are called. Never mind the ridiculous, reality defying and denying in which the opponents wallow. Those kids are dead in Sandy Hook. The Jews did not bring down the Towers nor do they control an evil outer space laser. The mockery, the conspiracy theories, the words of hatred - all must be faced, overpowered and consigned to the perdition they so hugely deserve. The adherents of fascism, those who are vocal or active in its pursuit or belong to the class of ostriches must be educated.
One cannot be a fence sitter here. The growing censorship in media or the open false reports, mis and dis information blared forth. The banning of books which do not please one and all, so head for the lowest common denominator- a bad, very bad policy. Or enlarge the almost private armed force which a governor controls, no federal oversight at all - in the hot little hands of DeSantis, the fascist poised to run and win the race for President. Then, kiss democracy goodbye.
Thankfully, there are others finally waking to the DeSantis truth- what he is under that proverbial lizard skin. Florida an ideal state? I live here. No way. No how. Not now. Oh, for sure it is a leader, but of what? Loss of rights for all. Denial of personal control over one's own self. Where registration and approval must be requested by bloggers? Where the last remaining acres of trees, fresh air, beauty, are being paved over for office, manufacturing, or huge homes for the elite who can gin up the huge out of sight purchase price, who support him. Where manifestly bad, even evil plans have enabled the unbelievable traffic here, almost to the point where I can close my eyes and think I am back in Manhattan once more, in rush hour traffic. NO, ideal, not. Could it be - yes - when DeSantis is out of office, out of power, as are his followers.
This man is the tip of the huge iceberg beneath. We, the Titanic equivalent have no chance against the harm it can and will do, unless we face reality. We must acknowledge the size of that which is hidden beneath the surface. We must understand history. Use its wisdom, its experiences and absorb the lessons it holds forth. If we do not, well, the answer to these existential questions are clear, too clear for a restful sleep. Too clear to remain indefinite.
I would rather be the same old foolish(?) idealist who envisions a world of trust, of love, of understanding. A world where issues do matter, where people do matter, where the betterment of all has primacy. Where we are not waiting for the hammer of doom to fall, but actively stop it dead in its track. As we used some idioms today, here is a good old American one. Where we are told "The hail is smaller on the other side of the mountain."
A realistic, ever striving for perfection world, where there is always hope even if there is hail at times. That hail can be smaller, less pervasive - if only.
There can be no avoiding the hail in the world of Yitzy. Yes, there are times when the chemo effect is not as toxic, or when scans send an image of a bit of shrinkage of the tumor. But the hail remains, always overhead. Umbrellas as protection are also there. In the email from a childhood friend. In the beautiful gesture of a classmate of an aunt who takes the time to send Yitzy a package for Purim and reassures him that it was purchased in a known store, kosher - so enjoy the candy! The umbrella expands with the enlarged family and the growing numbers of friends and supporters, all raising voices in pleas, in prayers.
We believe it is working. Keep up the pressure on the Big Dude up there. Politely but firmly. Keep Yitzy's shield wall intact and powerful.
And we thank you, again. Every time we get a piece of good news, of encouragement. That once again, G-d willing, soon, Yitzy will be a little boy able to be a little boy, on the cusp of bar mitzvah.
HEAL YITZY!
Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah
May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu.
May he be granted a timely and complete healing.
May Hashem hear all our voices raised in prayer.
Amen. Amen.
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