STILL HERE!

  Into each life some rain must fall. Or so the saying goes. And unexpectedly, I had a bit of a rainstorm. It made it impossible for me to write my standard or regular posting. And I think that I will have to do my writing in the afternoon rather than in the early morning hours. It also might or might not be a posting every day, but I will certainly do my best. Although I will tell you in advance that on Sunday there will be none as it is a travel day for us. So, thank you for your patience and your loyalty and checking back most days. I will endeavor to do my best not to disappoint you. 

Much has gone on over the days during which my site was quiet. In fact, it seems as if one logs on for online updates, there is always a plethora of events. heartwarming or spine chilling, even soul   depressing. Enough to write a book about. Well, too tired to write that book, so we'll have to be content with a regular post. But what to write about? 

The first thing I saw today upon opening the computer was yet another series of comments re Trump's rather odd times for posting. One after the other. Ranting on about his enemies who are “out to get him,” or his plans for retribution and revenge upon those who dare to oppose him, such as Comey. Or the next steps he will take, all emerging from his clear as glass ambition to rule the world, one way or another. It makes no difference as to what the world thinks. He will simply do what he thinks, or wants, for he knows what is best for Donald is what is best for the world.

Herein lies a big problem for myself. I have often written about the rending of this nation into separate parts. Unable to be meshed together. A jigsaw puzzle that has been miscut, edges and inner pieces misshapen, impossible to reunite so as to enable a clear scene to emerge from the energy expended. Frustration gives way to anger, to a sense of traveling upon the path one knows is wrong but cannot find an exit from.

That is how I feel these days, for many days, even weeks. I too am rendered into two pieces, more even, when I think of Trump, of the political situation within this nation. It makes me tired, body and soul. It makes me feel in a state of confusion as to where this nation has wended its way and how, if, we can retrace our footsteps and come upon the exit needed to enable a reordering of the soul of this nation. Personally, I wonder how I can possibly reorder reality and return to a situation which I can remake or at least reorder in some way so as to make sense, even partially, of the current mess.

To put it plainly, I am split in my support of policies of this nation, of various states, of people purporting to be spokesmen for the people of the nation, and I can see no way clear and possible to reconcile these differences. I despise Trump. I think he is definitely on a steep downslope in mentality, in sanity, deeply immersed in his own fog of confusion as to what being President means and entails, other than to increase his own profile as he reconstructs the nation in so many ugly ways.

 As did and do most dictators, authoritarian figures, they construct statues of themselves. Rename places for themselves. Strike coins as if they are the regal rulers of a nation. The laws which rule the nation have been openly flouted by him. Security and confidence in this administration is bleeding away. The musical chairs of the administration grow ever more frantic. I intensely dislike his brutal immigration policy and enforcement of such. Desirous of creating human warehouses. His social policies are cruel, uncaring. They enable the haves to have more even as have nots grow in number, grow in depths of struggle, with passages out of their stations more and more difficult.    

So where do I find that at least for me is a point of favor for Trump? It is in his policy towards Israel. He does, as most Americans have done, as most American presidents and administrations have done, certainly as Democrats have done, is to support Israel. As a primary ally. A loyal ally. But even within this positive attitude there is a fracturing of the surface veneer. There is a huge. deep well of uncertainty. Mistrust. Distrust. That he can be relied upon to continue that support. I am sure that even as he maintains his right to use his Presidency on what he thinks is right, there is also a political awareness within him. He does need to keep the support he has and regain that which he has lost. Hence who is next to be thrown under the bus?

Furthermore. I get very uneasy when I see the manner in which he has tackled the universities on their much abused and misused diversity policies.  In a mad rush to take advantage of these policies, when they came to a fork in the road, they inevitably chose the wrong fork. They allowed. long planned incursion of the ranks of professors with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic viewpoints. In their classes they stomped upon Jewish students, pro-Israel viewpoints, anything that has even a wisp of a flavor of pro Jewish feeling or support.  

Rightfully attacking that, Trump's administration, in their rather clumsy ham-handed attention to the matter, laid heavy emphasis on "combating antisemitism".  This rather backfired, for it opened a door for those with nefarious plans for the State of Israel, for Jews in general thus justifying in the crooked minds of many to join in the fun. Even one tiny seed of hate for Jews inevitably grows a giant overflowing crop. Certainly, when the administration asked for lists of Jews within the university, both students and all employees, it sent chills down my back. Lists of Jews given to a government bodes no good for Jews. We have learned that via bitter historical memory and trauma. No matter what reason is given for justifying it.

But it is more than that. When the party that most Jews followed and voted for, the Democratic Party. began to turn its back on Israel and sanctioned anti Semitism, hackles are raised. Self-preservation policies become part of one's daily thoughts. Even more terrifying is when Jews, particularly those in seats of power and influence, desirous of more, give in to the filth of antisemitism, turn upon their own selves in a false expectation, that they will be excused from any consequences of these policies. Calling oneself Jew-ish, is not a ticket out. To the world you are a Jew. And if we do not stick together, if we do not stand up, back-to-back, with and for each other, then yes, there is that awful possibility.

A return to times which we most definitely do not wish to return to. And so, we look to the Republican Party. But even there, present is an erosion of support for Israel in its continuous battle for survival. A war which did not begin in June. It began decades ago. Millennia ago. It continued in outbursts of blood and evil throughout the centuries. And once again burst into ugly thistle blooms on October 7, 2023, merely a continuation of that war. 

That understanding escapes the minds of politicos. Now we have from the left and from the right a growing horror. Call it by any name you want. Anti Zionism. Anti Semitism. Claims "justifying" this hatred. It matters not. It is all stemming from sheer ugly, bitter JewHatred.

Thus, here I am. No straight ticket voting for me. Perhaps not even casting a vote in some cases.   When both choices are anathema, perilous in meaning, in action, in intent. To my survival and the survival of my people.

This is not a world to which I ever believed we were to return to after the horror of the Holocaust. This is a world we should have by now cleansed itself of its ugliness. It is a world where once again Jews have one foot in and one foot out the door. It is a world once again when nation of our birth, nation of our faith, nation of our adoption are trying to adopt us out.

So, I am still here. So too are my two countries. And I hope and pray that never will there be a hostile crack creating an abyss between them. But all this hoping and praying for the good to triumph over evil, well, it is tiring to body and soul.

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

Why can we not improve upon all these times. 

In recognition. 

In understanding. 

And in anticipation.

Why?