"ENDLESS STREAM OF CIRCUSES"

  Says it all - but maybe not. Circuses have their issues, serious ones, but overall, they are meant to provide amusement and employment. They are the iconic goal of kids planning to run away. Most of us - at least my generation, read about Toby Tyler and his adventure with the circus. So...maybe....when one Democratic lawmaker in Indiana says that we are now expecting a "stream of circuses", perhaps he is referring to the jokes that masquerade as legislators, as qualified judges, as know it alls who actually know nothing - or even less than that. Suddenly the idea of a circus is not as amusing as it was before. Suddenly the antics of these fakes are not quite so funny, even as they make fools of themselves. However, these fools have a huge deleterious effect on the rest of us. Not so funny after all.

Shall we ban these circuses so manifestly not circuses nor meant to be? But how would we do that? Perhaps by running qualified, sensible candidates and electing them to office. Then making laws and taking action against these dangerous circus performers, the ones passing laws that enabled them to attempt to dismantle an entire system built to insure the rights of all, to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". Yes, from that good old Constitution. Uh huh. G-d bless 7th grade.

In order to avoid boredom with the standard circuses of today, the legislatures and the office of governors, the Supreme Court has rung in with their own version, just about a perfect imitation of asking the fox to guard the chicken coop. It amounts to these judges inquiring of themselves if they have evaded or violated laws, in word or spirit or action and then Voila! Quelle surprise! The answer is no. Seriously. Answering to a request to appear before a hearing to discuss the ethics or lack thereof of the Supreme Court, they sent a letter, signed by all. That letter says that the judges consult oh so many sources as to whether their individual plans are okay, sympatico with the ethics presumed they have. Yup. There goes that fox, bib and all. Drooling. How, why, have the three sensible, honest ladies, signed on for this, joined this most disreputable circus?

Still wanting more circuses? Not to worry. The school boards and parents of students have joined their mighty efforts together, emerged with a dangerous squeak (must be from Mickey as he is being set upon by DeSantis). This squeak has succeeded too much in efforts to ban culture, in literature, nonfiction, visual media of all categories, and have consigned great artists, authors, musicians, and scientists to the pile of rejected banned items and threads of thought inducing topics. Smirking all the while at their pyrrhic victories, diligently checking the lists of books in schools and libraries. G-d forbid a child should have a forbidden question or curiosity! Just 'merely' trashing humanity's advances and progress, denying sexuality, denying truths, and here we go - an American version of the hypocritical Victorian Age of England.

Whether we realize it or wish not to, see the truth or remain blind to it, hear not the moans of our forefathers, those who came before us so that we might live in a land that treasures its citizens, that trusts its citizens, that encourages them to think, to learn, to challenge, to progress, we are negating all the above. Tiny people, with tiny minds, unable to expand, refusing to allow others the gift of knowledge, of free choice, of independence and value as a human being. Chortling away as their opponents are vanquished, rejoicing in their victories, and then shocked, when the paddy wagon at 4 AM is for them. The old adage come to life - what goes around, comes around. Indeed. Word!

We waste so much time and energy. We squander the gifts of wise people, of thinkers, of challengers to the status quo. We deem them unthinkable, immoral, degenerate and reject them and the benefit to and progress of humanity that would result. Yes, at times there are dangerous thoughts, but with proper education we can overcome the attraction of these dangerous movements. However, that education must be open, welcoming, and encouraging.

It must allow for the nourishment of brains and minds. It must allow challenges to be met and conquered. It is the only way in which advances in medicine, thought, positive traits of humanity, can be achieved. It is the path via which new modes of expression, new fields of endeavor, will emerge and old paths will be renewed and refreshed. (And as an aside, maybe some bright people will realize that creating such smart robots is a dangerous path, must be heavily overseen, and not produce our own replacements. Arnie's boast of coming back, or returning, well, ..... Just a thought.)

Perhaps selfishly, though the advances would benefit so many, I wish we would fund more generously the research in medicine. It is difficult to learn how to handle dire predictions, end results that are unavoidable, no matter all the efforts given to it. It would provide a better education for doctors who would understand the need to hear, to listen intently to the words of those seeking aid and answers. It would understand the emotional needs of those under powerful waves of physical and/or mental stress, with no negativity involved.

Is that a pipe dream? Maybe, but then again, maybe not -if we prioritize properly. If we stop wasting so much time, effort, brainpower and funding on war and killing machines. If we instead stressed progress for all, for rights for all, for education for all, respect for all, and eliminated the dangerous idea of "you are not one of us" think how high we can and will fly. If, only if, we put aside our differences or celebrate them positively, and cooperate with each other, for each other, the resultant synergy will be exponential in possibility and achievement. 

Then, together, we can

 HEAL THE WORLD.

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.