CHEKOV'S GUN

  The title refers to a literary/writing principle, with the underlying reason based on creating tighter writing, eliminating the unnecessary. It is felt that if, for example, a gun is on stage or in the first chapter, that gun must be used by the final act or chapter. In fact, not using it is a violation of writing principle and internal viability of the construction of plays. 

Presently it has morphed into a warning within the political world, the real word in which we live - always -not only during screen time or its equivalent. So many guns are brought to first chapter or first act that we have lost count, lost track of their fate and disposition, and surely, by end, some will have gone off, by accident or on purpose. The results are ugly, bloody, and claiming accident is claiming lack of responsibility. 

However, no matter the words, here is the surety: guns, their premise, promise and inevitability of violence, of continued violence without end will continue. Unless we take a step back and open our eyes and minds to the truth of our lives these days. Not only do we accept, even welcome the early presence of guns, but we add insult to injury when we pile on their numbers, and the inevitability of violence given the amount of gunpower in the room. It becomes the elephant in the room who will definitely insist on getting attention - any which way possible. Real guns or verbal guns, by end of story.  

And now for the extension into real life. We have so many guns and weapons out there, so many willing to use them or persuade others to use them, that the inevitability of violence in one's world grows exponentially. More and more we are presented with the shocked faces of people meeting violence face to face, numbly repeating the mantra - "I never thought it would happen to me". Glaring in its obviousness is not if, but when, will these numbers, these trends, overwhelm all, actors and audience, active and passive participants and bystanders. What then will be the reality of our lives? 

It cannot be emphasized enough that there is no escaping the consequences. Disney's circle of life is true not only for his characters but also for us. "What goes around, comes around. Live by the sword, die by the sword. The shot heard 'round the world. No man is an island. For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for thee." The warnings, the knelling of numerous bells, rife within the history of humanity, are consistently ignored until too late.

Chekov's gun, no, guns, are here, making their presence clear, their power increasing, as their explosions drown out the cries of the wounded, of the orphaned, of the deprived. The possibilities of so many are ruthlessly cut short. The rhetoric grows in intensity, jumping the shark, only this time the shark moves and we land in even more precarious, dangerous conditions and situations.

What are we doing? Why are we so blind, so uncaring as the world ramps up for what? For a war which will have the next war being fought with stones and sticks? Based on our track record we always manage to heighten the pitch, ramp up the   vehemence and finally, resort to open violence and bloody shortcuts which only lead to dead ends and very, very, icy roads, no thaws predicted. For the past two days I have been writing about the same theme, using my two countries as examples unfortunately par excellence as illustrative of the point. Why are we, have we, reduced ourselves to the point of crying for our countries rather than doing something to stop the tears, wipe the faces, blow noses and get on with adult talk, not childish bully tactics. "Oh, mine is bigger than yours. I can kill you 10 times over. So what!!!! Dead is dead! Ain't nobody coming back from what is growing ever larger in the windshields on that icy road. 

Within America we entertain and accept the open vicious insanity of too many legislators, loyal to Party rather than Country. We tolerate,  even like, the expressions of hate, be it from a Tommy Tuberville who praises white power and the rest of the GOP refusing to denounce him and the rest of their oh so flawed members. Cowards one and all. And not to think the Democrats immune from this and I can think of right away of those who spout hate and only hate. We had a dangerous demented President - and running again, an indicted criminal. We have corrupt judges chosen for partisanship rather than for proper conduct and judicial knowledge. We are further down the road to fascism than ever thought possible.

 We are a society riven with deep, basic, beliefs, long ago having left the ideas of unity, of "Americaness" behind, to smother and die. Indeed in deed and in words, the guns of the first chapter going off, have already gone off and more in the offing.

As for Israel, oh, do I despair. We have forgotten our roots. We have left our morals behind. We have  gotten caught up in vicious circles with demented leaders on both sides. We have become so crazed that at times, we mimic our enemies. Shame on the leaders of both sides in the war, yes, civil war, now raging in my Israel.

The Chareidi, pushing for more money, more power, for fewer demands, for the right to keep their men in ignorance, - where and why have you gone wrong, forsaken truth. Studying full time is a privilege and adds to the ethos and moral fiber of the nation, of world Jewry. That is true. However, it is a privilege that comes with costs. It demands a modest life divested of desires and games of personal powers and full bank accounts. It demands the eschewing of a fancy lifestyle. The rewards will be given in the Next World, The World To Come, The Eternal World. And yet, look at you now. Your selfishness has driven the spike deeper into the rift, the fault lines growing in pressure, on the brink of explosion.  

The guns of words have done the job, too well, and have deafened all, including opponents. Worse,  the government is becoming more corrupt, more desperate to remain in power, and the ugliness of Jews fighting Jews, using water cannons, dragging them off the streets, beating them about the head with batons! What has happened/!!!!!!!

Those protesting, good for you. Israel must remain democratic. It must be free to grow with freedom for all. It must be defended and improved. To be secular, that is your privilege - as is the privilege of those choosing to be more openly observant. However, for the two of you, a pox on both your heads. Between the viciousness and incompetence and veniality of the government, this state will fall again, as did others, caught in the hate of brother against brother. Family arguments can be vicious and consequences dire and long lasting. Been there, done that, have we not? Within your justified protest, do not lose sight of that. Do not destroy the nation. Do not bring about the end of another Judaic state. 

THINK!!!!

Well, I have spoken my piece. I cry for the truth of the world, certainly as we live it now. I detest the guns, the growth in numbers and the desire to use them. I hate the words of anger and filth, the threats to life and limb, the proliferation of hate on all sides and the frightening growth of violent antisemitism, the intransigence of all factors. Damn! Fix it. 

For now, as the tears roll down the face of humanity, I make my plea again. For all of us. For the world. For our safety. For the disappearance of the scars of the wounds we have inflicted on ourselves and the world. For Yitzy.

Defy Chekov's gun.

Together and together to rebuild America.

Together. Together. Together.

Together we can

HEAL THE WORLD.

HEAL YITZY!

Yitzchak Elimelech ben Chana Sarah

May he be granted refuah shelaymah bimheyrah beyameinu.