PEPPER AND SALT

  From my very favorite political cartoon Pepper and Salt comes a rather pithy statement which puts everything into perspective, particularly in the world of today.  "It's nice to have a quiet moment to reconnect. Remind me how we know each other."

There are so many reasons for the aptness of the above statement. For one, with how many people today do we actually 'connect'? In the fast almost feverish pace of life, we have more acquaintances than friends with whom we connect., Hence, our times of knowing one another are far and few in between. Certainly, the rather brusque moments allotted to zoom and face to face do not offer fertile ground for actually getting to meet more than the surface character of the being on the other side of the connection - or if it is even human! 

There are so many consequences of this "unknowing" of each other. How do we know when the truth is front and center? Or is it hidden beneath many layers of lies and purposeful obfuscation? The uncertainty generated by this situation defeats many purposes and intentions before they are truly birthed and foundations of trust and mutuality are few and far between, nor are they firmly cemented.   Hence, the answer to the question of knowing each other is negative and discouraging

The reality of not knowing and not trusting to any point of reliability is fraught with danger. How can one expect pacts and treaties of trade, of peace, of alliance or even undeclared enmity be trusted, particularly as the past reveals the truth of the matter. Ceasefires are violated even before the ink dries. Trade agreements are ignored in the throes of harsh competition and quickly changing needs. We do not learn our lessons from past trade wars in history, nor the frightening errors of peace and alliance treaties which turn sour in a vicious manner. and thus doom ourselves to needless repetition which bodes no good for any involved.

More intimately, do we even know ourselves? Do we actually have principles, lines which cannot be crossed, or do we merely cede our independence of thought, give up the prized ability to think for ourselves, and cede all to a leader? Most notably   leaders of nefarious intentions and ambitions, ones   bearing no good tidings tor one and all. A current example? The GOP of today, the sniveling cowards who have now changed their songs according to the playlist of their master, Trump the I. Epstein - now of no matter. Ukraine and Russia -now we send arms, Israel and the Arabs and surrounding foes - already cracks in the oh so sweet embrace of Bibi and Donald.

 No backbone. No courage. No principles. No honor. The same goes for the Democratic Party who have bought into the rhetoric of hatred, vile and toxic, to JewHatred. And coincidentally, growing that same hate in the ranks of the GOP. Members of both, along with outliers o political parties have bought into the ugly attitude towards immigrants. To all who differ from in thought or origin. Both parties, and much of the public have discarded, disregarded, the truth of the composition of this nation - the sweat and tears, the blood of the immigrants who built America - our ancestors - all of us! Every single one of us. 

How hypocritically, ignorantly do we buy into lies of the haters, among them Trump and millions of ignorant deniers of truth. Accepting of the egregious and outrageous falsehoods that all immigrants are criminals. Crooks, Murderess. Disease ridden. Rapists who desire the women. Child traffickers. Drug pushers. Not a good apple in the barrel. Well, here is the truth. Some are indeed bad, so send them back. Let the others do as our ancestors have done for generations. And not to forget that we have native born no goodniks as well. Among these immigrants are your x-ray technicians, your caretaker, your store owner, roofer, painter, the farmworker, politicians, neighbors and friends. - good and bad in all, so how do we dare to declare ourselves so pure of heart and deed? 

In not "knowing" each other, we have ceded our humanity, our individuality, our individualities we melded and mixed together, for a better result, and instead engaged in drowning ourselves in the miserable nastiness of poorly chosen leaders.  

As the Bard states, we must "screw our courage   to the sticking point" and do what is incumbent upon us to do.

 Clean house. Promptly. Get rid of the trash within   and install in their place those who will truly serve the nation, with honor and courage, with morals and independent thinking.  

"Getting to know you" -a favorite song of many. Why not follow its theme and we might be surprised by the results.

In any case, it can possibly alleviate the errors of our yesterdays.  

Stop the negative effects it had on out todays.  

And enable better tomorrows for us all.

 Whom do you truly know? 

Think - and be honest with yourself.