STICKY WICKET

  Defined as a "challenging situation", the term originated within the game of cricket, referring to a damp field which impeded the ball from bouncing well. How apt for a description of our world today which faces so many "sticky wickets" that we have long ago surpassed the use of fingers and toes to count them. Certainly, there are many 'challenging' situations existing around us and therein is the kernel of the barrier to shall we say, unsticking the wicket. How to separate, define analyze and solve - or at least make a beginning has seemingly been playing hard to get with us - or us with them.

The fault arises initially when we do not recognize a sticky situation developing or worse, we choose to ignore what we see. Even if because we are dealing with other equally or more so urgent matters, one cannot ignore a problem for inevitably it will grow worse and far more difficult to fix at a later time. Horrendous complications, increased parties with interests, shady characters and incompetent people often compound the difficulties and there you have it - a stinking, huge pile of compost, misplaced, deteriorating, polluting the air around it. And there it remains as no one wishes to deal with it.

One of our most complicated and vital 'wickety' problems is that of the Supreme Court and its egregious unthinkable deterioration into a semblance of a Keystone Cop equivalent. Ethics are nowhere to be seen, discarded along the road to personal wealth and violation of implicit standards of ethics and behavior. They cry alligator tears of persecution. They deny the undeniable, yet there it is - the gifts, the monetary exchanges in the forms of properties, trips, prizes, salaries, etc. The ingenuity grows apace and the chutzpah to deny it all when it stands there before them and the nation in its immense stinking heap of crap - well, folks, there has got to be a better way. 

One way to move on is to impeach all those whose ethics have rusted beyond all possibility of repair and refreshing and replace with nonpartisan, knowledgeable legal minds able to separate their personal benefits and viewpoints from those of the legal questions arrayed before them. They need to set standards for lower courts, to send clear and legally analyzed answers, allowing the lower courts to understand the current status, the legal issues involved, and the most valuable connection to morality as well as legality, the knowledge and the courage to distinguish it all. Today, nothing of the sort. We have unqualified legally ignorant judges who espouse partisan views which shout from the rafters. The enrichment of spouses is extremely troubling as well, the rot spreading throughout the system. The corruption and violation of ethics is glaring, blinding to all - including the judges. Today we have a shame, a public shame, a corrosive factor eating away at the foundations of our nation.

What do we do, what can we do, to ameliorate the situation, to unstick the sticky? Mostly way above my pay grade, but first, get out there and speak up, speak out, vote, defying all attempts to silence you and any and all opposition. Recognize the diminished, shameful deterioration of a once dignified GOP and be sure to be aware of dirty tricks, lies, and fake 'third party' candidates who are there simply to split votes and allow the dehumanizing fascistic GOPers to gain more control and increase the fascistic overtones throughout the nation.

It is so clearly not a matter of 'someone' will address the problem. It is not a matter of Mikie eating the new food. No, it must be us who address it. It must be us who demand accountability. It is we who must demand that the crime be punished appropriately and not give anyone an out because they are governmental workers or legislators. In fact, they should be dealt perhaps more severe punishments, having violated the trust, the oath they swore: to hold and defend this nation against all enemies, domestic or foreign - the very ones  they have become.

It is up to us. As the Jewish tradition teaches us in Pirkei Avot, the Ethics of Our Fathers: "lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v'lo alecha l'hipared mimena"-

 “You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it” (Pirke Avot 2:21).

Furthermore, we are admonished, or reminded, "Im ayn ani lee, me lee, v'im ani l'atzmi, mah ani.V'im lo achshav, aymatai?"

If I am not for myself, then who am I (yet) if I am only for myself, then what am I? (Furthermore,) it (the necessary) must be done now, or else when?

So, together we can fix this damaged, struggling world of ours. Together we can fix it, now, as we all toil together, for ourselves and for others. Separate we are as nothing. Together - we are mighty and can work wonders. Now, for work is not to be pushed off when need is clear.

Together we can bring home our captives, shut down the aggressor nations of the world, stymie violence and its incitement, clear the governments of corruption and spend our funds elsewhere, with better results. 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.