For shame, Ron. Making war on a mouse?! Even though the mouse is controlled by humans, that mouse has become a standard, a beloved icon, a figure for children to hug, for people to enjoy. That mouse attracts visitors to the state from around the state, the country and the world. It is the Make a Wish or Dream Come True for so many ill children. Sure, no argument - it could be run better, fairer, yet that can be said about most industries and entertainment venues. Perhaps to a greater amount, more so, that is so applicable to the current governor and political party of Florida. However, the magic of that mouse is clear, apparent on the faces of visitors to his home, as the magic truly does make itself known. Despite the commercialization. Despite the fee gouging. Despite the crowds. So - how about a peace treaty, or is it that making war, rather than love is your way of life. Methinks that is so.
Disney was clever in their 'staying alive' move,
" in an unusual legal maneuver that largely grants the company continued control over the district in perpetuity, or until "21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England."
Good old boy Ron is now maneuvering to interfere again. The inevitable plan is there for all to see - if they do not make themselves willfully, willingly blind. And can you not see the inevitable. Good for Ron with Disney is good for Ron with all industry. Even as he gains fascistic control over the lives of Floridians in his ruthless campaign to limit, even eliminate, their rights: censorship, meddling with the educational system and its content, wreaking havoc on historical truth and impetus, a fierce war on voting rights, and on and on. So too is his plan and path for control over all industry within the state.
Woe upon the citizens who will pay the highway robbery fees and taxes, breathe the contaminated air, be negated as the war on LGBTQ+ intensifies, as people of all genders and ages lose control over their own medical decisions, not even owning their own bodies. But hey, what the hell - his lust for power, his constant itch to attain and retain control over all is so manifestly more important than other concerns. Feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, rescuing the elderly living on old, fixed incomes, unable to buy food or medicine as their insurance bill triples.
Paving the green areas, clearcutting the trees in the name of more taxes, as the Florida we love disappears under concrete and rows and rows and rows of identical, cheaply constructed residential and business housing, with most of these supposed homes empty much of the year unless rented out to visitors - yes, to visit that dear little mouse that Ron so obsessively hates. And by the way, Ron, so many of those homes in the massive, ugly developments are owned by huge conglomerates, hotel chains, etc. as part of their money-making portfolios. As huge tracts of business condos are polluting the environment while previous tracts continue to remain vacant or under occupied. But evidently Ron likes another cartoon figure - Bob the Builder, whose motto is 'Build we must." Why not make war on the builders after obscene profits and to hell with the quality of life, never mind the buildings and their astronomical prices rather than warring with the mouse?
This movement of greed, lust for control, unfair business policies, reckless disregard for the wishes of Floridians, declaring war on huge tracts of blessedly undeveloped land, diminishing the watersheds and agricultural preserves with pathetic excuses for "swap" jobs is so wrong, so terrible, so un-American, is so inimical to the good life for people. Other than for the uber wealthy and/or uber powerful who march along leaving a trail behind that equals the destructive nature of Sherman's march to the sea.
There are so many other areas which need interference as they have deteriorated in quality and accessibility. Why do we have homeless living in areas where there remains coverage via trees? Why are so many begging along the corners of major roads, even women with children. Why are so many going without medical care, inadequate care at best, with hospitals deteriorating, fees skyrocketing, and doctors disappearing or charging concierge rates. Go pay for that when more doctors or more extensive care is needed! But I guess the taxpayers of Florida have you covered, so "what, me worry"?
This whole country, this once determined, proud democracy, a role model for the world, imperfect as it was, is now at the tipping point. Do we remain a democracy? Do we welcome in the new generations of hopeful immigrants? Do we insist on turning back the clock to the rotten 'good' old days of restrictions on women, children disposable, not worthy of care even as we force women to have them, of rampant civil rights offenses and limitations, of Jim Crow laws for all, of growing violent antisemitism and a growing population of the uneducated or miseducated, patently indoctrinated? And always with their six shooters with them.
The other side is much better, more human friendly. When one is not in need of anything, life is good. But for many, there is a growing and even desperate need for aid. The paths of life have become more complicated and many times difficult to access, especially in a continuing manner. Why is it that care for a desperately ill child must visit several states in order to attain proper treatment giving hope to the child and family? Despite the caring nature of the medical personnel involved, despite the wonderful help given to desperate families by volunteers, the drain, the difficulty, the enormous expenses involved - why must that be? Why can we not reorder our priorities and bring life to a better plain, where right, justice, equity are primary?
If you have an answer, please contact me, or better yet, contact Ron, right there in Tallahassee - when he is not campaigning, moving along his fascistic program, wishing so generously to extend it to the entire nation. As far as the mouse, well, we will probably have to mount a rescue mission.
We also ask that we keep the rescue effort alive and well, praying, wishing, hoping, for Yitzy and a complete healing. A desperately ill child becomes the focus of an entire family, the first questions in any conversation being "How is Yitzy? Have you heard anything today? What is next?"
Today, thanks to the aid of so many, the advances of medicine and the ability to access them at present, the tumor has shown some shrinkage. We rejoice even as we know we must be careful and alert. Months of chemo and radiation await. Continued shrinkage and death to that tumor are the goals. In the meanwhile, Yitzy is the bravest person I know. Magnify your reluctance to go back to work on Mondays, or after vacations - and you might get a scintilla of understanding of the heroism of this child and his immediate caregivers - his parents and siblings. The reluctance, the knowledge of what awaits is there, front and center, and despite all instincts otherwise, goes in to face that disconcerting 'atonal music'. That hopefully healing 'atonal music'.
Our world needs help. We are drowning in a sea of hate and violence. We are drowning in a swamp of misplaced emphases and priorities. We have the capacity and capability to be better, and often are. But our world need healing, as do all the people within the population of this planet.
Join in together, hopefully, with open hearts -
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.
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