TOM DOOLEY AND THE REST OF US

 Lest you be confused, the title refers to the Tom Dooley of song, not the real-life altruist. Our Tom Dooley was evidently a bad boy as he is told to hang down his head, prepare to die, for that is his fate, payment for the crime of murder.

Well, folks, here we are, 2022, still wobbly on our feet with a pandemic that never seems to actually go away, are living lives rife with political angst and rancor, dwell on a planet increasingly existentially challenged, and threats and possibilities of WWIII are growing every day. Furthermore, so many of our supposed leaders, the politicians of the day chase self-betterment every day. That is, the betterment to themselves, not of themselves. More money. More power. More invective. More poison spewing forth from their split tongue mouths. Snakes they are indeed, and that is quite probably an insult to the world of snakes. My sincere apologies.

Truthfully, the atmosphere generated by these dangerous fools, is smothering, as their oxygen deprived brains lead them further and further into an evil forest from which there is no return. It appears to be a trend these days to rewrite our traditional fairy tales. Well, we certainly have overwritten these tales via our modern-day versions, true to life unfortunately.

To me, today, every damned day lately, I believe that we need to remind fellow Americans and fellow residents of earth that enough is enough. Time to heave out the trash, the human trash, place them where they can no longer cause a ruckus which ends in bloodshed, no possible positive outcome ever. Time to hang our heads in shame for we are allowing one of the worst crimes of humanity to resurface, gain traction, in a thoroughly challenged population. A population which is growing exponentially and frankly, scares the living daylights out of me, my friends, as our fears for our kids and their kids intensify. There are no words powerful enough to encompass the height, the depth, the intensity of these fears -and unfortunate growing reality of their threat. Why, in 2022, do I read these headlines and stories?

The government said it is removing all links with the National Union of Students (NUS) amid anti-Semitism concerns. Community Security Trust’s report, which found campus anti-Semitic incidents had returned to pre-pandemic levels.

“This should be a warning for all of the dirty zionists on this campus.”

posted anonymously on YikYak, a social media network popular on college campuses, and was part of a wave of online invective that had been building - threats, the public denunciations, the posting of her address online, the ejection from her a cappella club, anonymous outreach to her future employer, and an article in the campus newspaper

 “What we’re seeing on campuses across the country,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, “is a kind of virulent anti-Zionism that purports to be about Palestinian rights, but in reality results in the marginalization and the demonization of all Jewish students.”

A gunman killed ten people and injured three others in the attack, allegedly posting a virulently racist and antisemitic manifesto shortly before the shooting... the manifesto advocates for a war between Jews and non-Jews. “We outnumber them 100x, and they are not strong by themselves,” he wrote. “But by their Jewish ways, they turn us against each other. When you realize this you will know that the Jews are the biggest problem the Western world has ever had. They must be called out and killed, if they are lucky they will be exiled. We can not show any sympathy towards them again.”

Is there ever going to be a time when these words, these hateful words and expressions, accusations, will be put to permanent death? Why, among all the vile habits of mankind, can we never get rid of this antisemitism, masquerading however it does, buried in ostensibly "kosher" accusations. Denying the truth of it all and worse, getting away with it. When will these words and the hate they represent ever be finished?  My take - never, certainly not at this pace.

Our modern haters and those who present themselves as 'progressives', as taking up the cudgel for those 'oppressed' by Israeli thugs, well, think again. I am a born and bred Zionist, as are the rest of my family and most of my friends and acquaintances, Jewish and not alike. I have lost hundreds, yes, hundreds, of family - cousins, aunts, great grandparents, on all sides of the family, during the slaughter of the Holocaust. I have family and friends in Israel. And here, in America. And in England. and in France. All of us, including right here in the good old USA, have been the targets of antisemitic invective, in words and deeds as well. I wonder, when is enough, enough? Is it not time that we speak the truth, admit to ourselves and to the world?

Yes, Israel, under various governments, has committed some errors over the years, some more serious than others. However, not as an excuse, but as a point of fact, a reality which people deny oh so emphatically, why is it that when Israel or a citizen or a lone soldier, does something off kilter, that the world goes ballistic. Even when the same so incensed and self-righteous nations that shout the loudest are precisely the same nations who have done wrong?! Why is it that Israel and its citizens are never deemed deserving of expressed sorrow and regret when the citizens are slaughtered, butchered in their homes, on the streets, at work, at play, in school, living their lives as the rest of the world does? 

Why is it okay, even praised when it happens? The papers, you ask, the media? Hah! Buried on a back page, along with over half the article replete with dredged up counter accusations. See, there never is an expressed sympathy and empathy.  Why is it okay for crowds all around the world to shout, scream, demand severe punishment and consequences, crackdowns on terrorists, when there is an unfortunate incident, but if Israelis shout that, well, Chicken Little indeed looks up and shouts, "The sky is falling!" However, in our rewritten fairy tales, the sky only falls on Israeli heads.

 Why does it go unnoticed, even complimented, contrasted to the violence and political usurpation of Arab funerals, whilst the Jewish victims are buried in grief, in sorrow, rather than in threats?  Why is it okay for haters, for "Progressives" - actually quite regressive - to ignore the wrong on one side and vehemently, oh so righteously, accuse the other of criminal activities, deny it the right to exist as a state. 80 years after the Holocaust, the terrorism never stops, the invective never ends and here we are, never even getting out of the gate.

Can the world not exist without focusing on this spurious hatred, these false accusations against the Jewish people? The Church, in England, just apologized for a document of approved antisemitic content from Plantagenet England. I believe it would have been far more useful and meaningful, to write an apology that would carry weight and meaning, proper action, to our times. 

Those who burned in the Tower of York, that were expelled by Edward II,  who burned at the stake in Spain and Portugal, or were chased out of home and hearth in France, in Germany,  in Moslem lands, viciously slaughtered and tortured throughout the ages -well, here is what they are doing now. They are looking down and asking, "What is the matter with Your people, Lord. Why is one segment of your creations the preferred target of hatred and violence directed at it by Your other creations? G-d, well he shrugs His shoulders, Himself frustrated and betrayed by those to whom He gave the breath of life. 

What a waste. What a terrible, awful, horrid waste.

The why of it never answered, for there is no answer.

Truly, fit companions of Tom Dooley. 

HITS AND LINES

  Let's talk geometry. I can recall taking my math instructor to task for teaching things in geometry for which there would be no use in my future, at least as I pictured it. Little did I know that terms of hits, direct lines, would be used to refer not to mathematical and engineering issues, but rather to questions of guilt, questions of responsibility for atrocities, direct links to proof of guilt and conspiracy. All that reflected in the words of the 'hits' of the day, literally and figuratively.

The hits of Russian attacks and bombardments have been recorded. The direct line from site of missile landing to source or placement of original discharge into the air can be clearly drawn and there it is. The same General guilty of the unbelievable criminal bombardment of Aleppo, awarded as Hero of the Russian Federation for his abominable actions, is the same general responsible, he and his 79th Brigade, for the pulverizing of civilian targets, infrastructure and once warm, living bodies, turning Kharkiv into a field of death. 

The question is what the world will do about this, the huge multicolored elephant standing in the living rooms of this embattled world of ours, our morally challenged leaders of the world failing to see it. They are negligent, failing to uphold their responsibilities. What will the world do indeed, in deeds and in verbiage which actually carries weight behind it. Those elephants are crushing the life out of us, out of a possible future of progress and justice. 

What will the world do? My guess, my take on that? The same as they have done till now. Stand by and whimper, cowed by bombastic words and posturing of the enemy, enabling his success. An about time reaction of too little too late. Next, a throwing of arms and munitions at that enemy via the medium of soldiers of the invaded country. Using others, the human factor, to fight our battles for us. The catastrophic toll of country continues all the while the elephants remain in the living rooms of the world. Their weight shaking the foundations.

Meanwhile, the world continues on its not so merry path. The islands of the Pacific have become the new 'battlefield' of the world, with China threatening - and succeeding quite a bit - in swallowing them up. Even as some of these island nations continue to drown beneath the rising seas. And the world? Does nothing. Status quo.

Even as the cities of the world, the ports, the coastal areas, face that same threat of going underwater, not in financial terms, but rather in reality. The world? Does nothing other than bemoan and wring hands, perhaps build larger sewer conduits for the water to drain, as long term successful as the wrinkled finger of that little Dutch boy. As for the oceans, they rise, and bring along all the huge 'islands' of trash that humans have built with their harmful disregard of cause and effect. On we go.

In the national world, our country continues to eat  itself. The acid of the growing rancor increases exponentially. Corporations fund backwards thinking politicians who promise them their obscene profits even as they constrain and attack the rights of individuals, the right to privacy, the rights which make life so much better for all. Once again, we fail to draw those lines, those direct lines from the politicians , treasonous and hate filled, to the resultant consequences. The right to choose? Soon gone. Along with the corollaries for which the fangs of these devils drip blood. 

No rights to be who you are. Gay, a member of the LGBTQ+ community - criminal deviant. A supporter of their rights? Criminal as well. The right to make your own medical decisions in all areas? Gone, along with the right to choose. Rules and laws enacted to prevent raging, ugly prejudice? Brown vs. the Board of Education? Plessy vs Fergerson? Civil Rights laws? Women's suffrage? Color them gone, for the extreme right turn of these people is beyond all that we ever thought possible. Truly, the dictators of evil humanity are licking their chops, validated in all their evil.

Finally, where are the hits? This refers to the music of the world, music that soothes the soul, that can inspire both good and evil. The music that expresses the ethos and mood of a nation or a world besieged. An essayist wrote, "War has no clean edges where it ends and normal life begins." So true. The songwriters and singers of the world understand that. Their latest songs are either in denial, as the crazed music of K-pop, where acrobatics are more apparent than words, or music which serves as excellent conveyors of a deep longing of people for peace, for calm, for liberty and independence, for justice - and so deeply seeking reassurance and hope. Check out the songs of the recent American Song Contest. Most sang of longing for a time of beauty, to make a "beautiful world", for the vison and height of a sparrow which inspires the singer to be strong, to seek a better place. Or the words of longing for a past colored rosy in memory, simple days of simple deeds. And of course, the frenetic tempos of those trying to drown out the obvious, though denial is not a positive long-term policy. 

 We need to remake, to remold, to indeed, make this world a better place, to instill hope for a better future. A future where we can at least rid the living rooms of the elephants and get down to the nitty gritty of fixing the mess we have incurred through our own negligence and greed. Can it be? Maybe? Though growing faint. And fainter yet.

"FORGIVE US"

  That request applies to so many, too many, in this upside-down world of ours. To distinguish between right and wrong, to find balance in a world gone massively atilt, to 'know' deep down who indeed warrants forgiveness, one often needs to be a Solomon, able to discern the real from the fake.

There is, sadly, too little of what Judaism calls "Hakarat Hatov" - Recognition of the Good" - done by someone or a group to and for others. We often overlook the unselfish behavior of people as we rush through an increasingly challenged world. Often left by the wayside due to exigent circumstances is the realm of morals and morality, of ethics at work, of recognition that there are those who deserve aid, deserve to benefit from that recognition, who earned it via some action or other. Good payback is a necessity, no matter the difficulty to do so.

Today I can think of several examples of those who, in the spirit of Hakarat Hatov, do the right thing, despite the difficulty involved, and those who decidedly, firmly, ignore it, often with malice aforethought. This is so wrong, so evil in intent and result, that someone, somewhere, needs to articulate a method by which this egregious behavior is stopped dead in its tracks. Unfortunately, in this world caught up in the exigencies of politics, a world gone so far off base that there seems to be no Waze, no GPS, no paper map, to get us back on the right path.

During the worst times of history, when Jews were hunted like prey, headed for extermination, their contributions to mankind overlooked, forgotten, credit stolen and ignored, there were some brave souls who risked their lives and their families, to aid desperate Jews. They hid them, fed them, be it for money or simply altruistic behavior, and there is an element here for Hakarat Hatov. That obligation is kept to and up by The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous Gentile. There remain 15 of these elderly rescuers, trapped in the ruins of Ukraine, a land where the tables have turned. These elderly folks and their families were in desperate situations, unable to evacuate due to age, to complications and dangers, and help was given. Via superhuman efforts to do so. That is Hakarat Hatov at its best. You ask, who asked for forgiveness? Read who did.

“We are at war,” read an email delivered within hours of the invasion from the family of one 93-year-old. “People are leaving their homes looking for shelter [and] they are left without water and food. Shops are closed. Everyone is leaving for safe places indefinitely. If there is any way to help our family financially, we will be very grateful to you. Forgive us. With best wishes, Oksana’s family. Peace to all of us…”

Now ask yourself, why and wherefore does the world not recognize, stress, emphasize, encourage the growth and inculcation of these values, on both sides of the matter, rather than what is now in place:  demands of war, bloodshed, payback of vicious results and motives, creating a wasteland of our world, consequences often unable to be reversed.

What do we do with those who refuse to recognize their debts to others? The principle of positive payback is alien to them. Trump, who refused to reach for any kind of moral standard at all, however low it might be. Manchin, who refutes the loyalty he owes to the Democratic Party which supported him in his various runs for office and, along with the GOP, voted as an unthinking, uncaring, selfish cowardly automaton, ignoring the needs of so many Americans, voting against the abortion rights bill that would have aided so many. Instead, we have Manchin, and five so called 'justices' - ignorant, in morals and jurisprudence and its reasoning, who vote their politics rather than the law, who turn on the very population that enables their position. 

It refers to those of the ilk of Graham et al, who at first stated that the Jan. 6 insurrection was Trump "gone too far" - mind you - too far, rather than treason, and now jumped whole hog, up to their ugly, complicit necks, into the Crazed Trumpian world of injustice, perfidy, greed, and negativity. No Hakarat Hatov here.

Perhaps we do need a revolution here in America. For sure, we have wandered far afield of the proper behavior of a nation which cares for humanity, for equal rights, for humane treatment of all. We have, instead, become a nation of wrangling states, argumentative, run by legislatures, governors, Senators and Representatives out of touch with the quiet majority of their constituents. 

The hope is that "the sleeping giant has been awakened" as Tojo warned after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Perhaps we here in America will now awaken as well, alert to the very dangerous, crumbling edge of democracy upon which we stand. Hakarot Hatov is manifestly needed, to recognize the sacrifices, the dreams, the efforts, of so many, to build this land, to endeavor to build a better world. We have gone astray, hugely astray. It can and will be difficult to find that proper path again, to reorient ourselves properly. It can be done, though, if we all remember and observe the principle of Hakarat Hatov, of goodness, of mercy, of gratitude, of loyalty to standards of morality rather than to cult figures and negative values. A bloodless revolution, albeit it powerful in intent and achievement.

Bob the Builder used to ask, "Can we build it?" and answer, resoundingly, encouragingly, "Yes, we can." There are times when we can find what we need in the less complicated world of children. A good dose of children's optimism and hope, of confidence in the lasting power of right and faith and loyalty, trust, of their country and its leaders, is exactly what we need right about now.

And here is another term from Hebrew which carries with it a stronger meaning than the simple translation. Multiply that translation by infinity; feel the powerful longing and hope contained within. A word expressing the simple hope of a nation, a people, only wanting to be left alone, to live a good, decent life, to contribute to society and recognize what is owed to those who offer it that chance. A society which will reap the benefits of Hakarat Hatov.

Halevai' - if only.

The anguish of a nation, of a people, of a battered world.  If only....

NOT THE GNEWS OF GARY GNU - MOST EMPHATICALLY SO!

  Ah, for the old days, when we watched TWTW, anxious to hear the 'gnews' from the horse's - no, x that out - gnu's mouth. Far more palatable than the network newscasts. Remember those good old days, for sure, and ponder the strange, the most eerie resemblance with the news reports of today. Therein lies the point.

Anybody out there feel a tad disoriented, thinking, feeling, a total body immersion into great gobs of deja vu or 'been there, done that' moments? Me too! Along with myriad numbers of others. The point here is that we have somehow found ourselves in a retrograde world, where retro is not the hot fashion style of the day, but instead a most unwelcome change, a dangerous one; yet, here it is, well dug into a strong redoubt, all the worse for us.

50 years ago, a benighted USA took a great big giant step into righting wrongs, into recognizing the rights of women to control their own bodies and decisions. Through the following decades, too long delayed, enlarged that understanding to include all people, be they LGBTQ+ or straight, be they same sex marriage or hetero. The point being that all people are equal, deserving of the same rights as such, with discrimination outlawed. An antipathy towards all hate speech grew, larger, more accepting of 'others" and religion was not twisted and tormented until it became what it is today. Among too many.

However, sadly so, terribly so, threatingly so, we have backslid into a version of the pre 1973 decision. Too many benighted, mentally challenged people have escaped the asylum and are now running too many of our various ships of state, from local entities to state to federal. Much to the dismay of any sane and righteous person who understands what is at stake, who knows that one must trace a decision and consequences all the way forward - or backwards as it truly is - and fathom, understand, to the depths of their anguished souls, the danger we now find ourselves enmeshed. Nary a helping hand, a strong branch, to pull ourselves out. No, the muck grows stronger, the pull mightier. We are going down, down, the third time down. 

Read the following collection of statements and factoids. Then try to figure out where the hell we are and why we, our beloved country, are in so much existential peril. 

 "GOP campaign officials are advising candidates to downplay and soft-pedal the prospects of anti-abortion legislation" 

"...the then-president had a pressing question for his national-security aides and administration officials: Does China have the secret technology — a weapon, even — to create large, man-made hurricanes and then launch them at the United States? And if so, would this constitute an act of war by a foreign power, and could the U.S. retaliate militarily?"   (Uh huh, his stupidity never ends.)

 “Her work ethic, energy and grassroots approach are clearly paying off, and Alabamians can see that she is the best candidate to defend our Christian conservative values, fight for the America First agenda, and preserve the country that we know and love for our children and our children’s children. 

Antisemitic acts and speech at UCSD, and administration said they are now opposed to "all antisemitism"  (Aha, guess  there were acceptable forms prior to this statement. How foolish of me not to know!!!)

The US supreme court’s upcoming decision to reverse Roe v Wade (an early draft of which was leaked last week) doesn’t ban abortions; it leaves the issue to the states. As a result, it will put another large brick in the growing wall separating blue and red America.

The second American civil war is already occurring, 

"That’s why originalists, those who believe that judgments by the court must conform to how the founders understood the Constitution when it was written, are so dangerous," 

 Thurgood Marshall, a Supreme Court Justice from the 20th century, said,

 ‘I do not believe that the meaning of the Constitution was forever ‘fixed’ at the Philadelphia convention. Nor do I find the wisdom, foresight and sense of justice exhibited by the framers particularly profound,"

. "We now have evidence to support the story of the worst presidential political offense against the Union in American history.  Bring it. Please.

In terms of holding onto power, this may still be a country for old men, but it should be no country for insurrectionists." 

 Okay, folks. You read, hopefully digested, and truly understand our peril, the reality we are in and the reality that threatens us. Your hands, your votes, your voices - where do they belong? Where must they belong?

Well, hpefully you have read, internaliaed, adn felt tonthe very lst atom of your body and soul, why thisretrograde world ofours is a doomed world from the outset - or from the return. We need to separate those factoids into the acceptable and those not. WE msut understands the true words of wisom and those that are danger indisguise -and not really going unrecognied by thsoe who trul thinkforwarads, not the other way. 

STATE SPONSORED INITIATIVE

  Wow! Talk of squeezing the orange till there is nary a drop of moisture remaining, and then offering it to a person dying of thirst. Then deem the act one of thought and care! No moisture left in that one at all. Now understand the dried-out term that "state sponsored initiative" is when referring to simple state sponsored programs, such as education mandates or food programs, or draft laws for the military. Simple, right? Harmless, right? Sponsored by the state government, hence "state sponsored initiative" is correct. So, what's the deal here?

The deal is this: the initiative referred to in such bland language, is the program, you should excuse me, to eliminate the entire, worldwide population of Jews down to the last one hiding, or converted, or having Jewish blood from several generations before, or standing proud. Yup, state sponsored indeed. Why there was even a lovely conference to organize this state initiative at a lovely site at Wannsee. The state took care of everything.

The point here is how language can twist deeds and actions into what they are not. It can downplay the harm, the evil intent of a "program" by using bland, meaningless words, or it can be upfront about intent. Why not, for if truly a state sponsored initiative, such a lovely word, initiative, it will be out in the open anyway, so what's the deal here?

The deal is this: does Canada have the right, legally, to mandate that Holocaust denial is a crime, one of hate speech, that fits the current terminology of that crime. After all, what's a word or two among friends?! Well, a word or two makes an enormous difference when discussing historical accuracy, the results of historical imperatives, and the role of "state sponsored initiatives" in interpreting and evaluating history and the roles of states within that context. It also speaks to the problem of whether we intend to learn from history, learn from our errors - and our positive successes - or not. That choice delves deep into the psyche of a nation and its leaders, what the population is willing to swallow, what not, and the ensuing consequences.

Here is the proposed amendment.

The amendment would "prohibit the communication of statements, other than in private conversation, that willfully promote antisemitism by condoning, denying or downplaying the Holocaust."

Here is the mealy mouthed weaseling out of responsibility that appears to be the norm these days, one that can even be deemed a "state sponsored initiative".

"I think it's problematic to criminalize Holocaust denial," said Cara Zwibel, lawyer and director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. "That's not to say that that kind of expression is not harmful. But the truth is, we don't criminalize lying for the most part."

"I think if it adds things that sort of go beyond the narrow definition of what the court has said is hate speech, then it's probably unconstitutional."

 As an aside, nothing bothers the hell out of me more than finding a fellow Jew taking a holier than thou stance, contributing to the growth of antisemitism and the explosive power of that hatred, that canard that simply will not go away. The Judenrat Jews learned, much to their disappointment, that they too were exportable, perfect cattle car filler, in their "state sponsored initiative". So will all these self-denying Jews should these programs, these so blandly labeled programs succeed in their desire. 

Certainly, the Trump regime openly sponsored such an initiative - the denial of truths and the propagation of lies, of denial of historical truth. Unfortunately, these programs have an insidious path by which they burrow into the psyche of the nation, refusing to go away. In fact, it tends to grow and grow, destroying that nation buying into those laws, eating itself from within and without. I don't know too much about the politics of Canada, but for sure, that is the state of the nation today within the borders of the United States of America, the name itself a misnomer, sadly so.

By allowing people leeway, even approval, to dispensing harmful misinformation, strategic disinformation, even encouraging it, a la Trumpian philosophy and methodology, we destroy the entire historical ethic and imperative for the generations to follow. There are times that one must stand up, hold up a hand and shout out "STOP!" There are times that demand firm behavior, strong stands against hate crimes, hate speech, anything that smacks of encouragement to disparage, demonize, even destroy a group of so designated "others" by the vile and violent haters. Along with those who stand silent, refusing to condemn, or perhaps even approving, within the confines of their own homes.

There is no refereeing hatred. It is what it is and must be understood as such. The ability to hide between the lines, to defend it via constitutional justification - cannot be. There is never, ever any such justification. Certainly not speech which whitewashes a murderous, criminal, crime against humanity "state sponsored initiative" such as the Final Solution - the extermination of an entire people. Period. Done and over. Mission accomplished. Now on to the next. Endless.

People grow tired of lies, open perversions of truth. The harm it perpetrates and perpetuates. At saturation, they will openly rebel. One hopes that the rebellion will be a success, turning aside the liars, the destroyers of a nation, the adherents of evil and violence falling by the wayside, useless, shriveled, consigned to the dust heaps of history and historical imperative. 

Would that we, here, in this country of ours, would finally, for G-d's sake, finally, act upon the findings of the Committee, the criminal acts it discovered, the tainting of the organs of government, including the Supreme Court, and discard all traitors. A final resolution to prevent this from ever taking place again.

Lies have a cost, a severe and harsh cost. To be decent in an indecent world, one that rewards lies, satiates the demands of hatred, and remain safe - almost impossible. In fact, there is no safety, for anyone at all, within such corrupt, filthy governments. 

Time we realized that and acted accordingly. Time to act. Period. Apply penalties, indict, fine, imprison and set an example for all who would follow. There is no other way, unfortunately. In fact, the entire world is now facing the deeply earthshaking consequences of another "state sponsored initiative" - the waging of war by Russia upon Ukraine, declared or not. Truth will out. No bland names will suffice to coverup the awful truths as they are. Time we all woke up and smelled not the coffee, but the metallic reek of blood spilled by violence, heard the wails of frightened, orphaned children, of bereft parents, of wounded, of landscapes reminiscent of the moon - rocks and rocks and nothing else. WE are the destroyers of ourselves when we ignore truths. When we call them by names other than the correct ones.

No more state inspired initiatives. Please. We cannot survive another one of such import and weight. Certainly not in any good way.

SO YEAH, IT'S POSSIBLE

  The title statement is one of various interpretations and uses. It can be made at a time of necessary encouragement, that a goal is indeed achievable. Attainment can be anticipated, fought for. On the other hand, those same few words can be some of the most chilling words ever used and heard. So many, too many, nefarious plans, hatched in the nurseries of hell, are nudged along, with evil smirk and victory in sight, to crush, demean, stamp out all the embers of hope, the wisps of goodness, of rights, of freedom, all the better to crush the spark of humanity that remains, with difficulty, among the battle scenes of today's myriad battles.

Zelensky states that "We do not lose hope. We do not stop." The embattled defenders in Mariupol continue on, the heroes of a modern-day Thermopylae. Not 300 against 6,000, the comparison rings true, as the same fate awaits these brave, embattled defenders of Ukraine. The motto of these doomed souls?  "We do not lose faith. We do not lose hope." We, the rest of the world, need to hear and feel those words, internalize them, take comfort from them, and act accordingly.

“It is the smell and sound of war, fire, constant explosions and smoke,”

That description is now to be used, appropriately, in scenes of battle round the world. These battles may not be the battlefields of gore, nor will we hear the cries of the wounded, the desperate, whose last hope is at stake. However, they are there. Cutting, forewarning and foretelling a dangerous future. A time of a return to no hope, no freedom, of crushing disaster to humanity. If we lose the battles now being fought in courtrooms and rallies, the consequences are indeed replete with bloodshed, with the destruction of any vision of a viable, positive future, of rights respected, of progress. These traits of a civilized, advanced society are now embattled, threatened with extinction, by attackers of neanderthal thinking. Remnants of human dinosaurs among us, their brains tiny, atrophied, yet all the same gaining the upper hand over us, throwing us, crushing us, threatening us, with ever growing success.

How has this come to be? How are troglodytes, i.e., Matt Goetz, in powerful positions, stating 'new', retrograde legislation that turns back the clock to eras of battle for rights, for justice, for freedom, for equality. Why have we allowed ourselves to be pushed against the wall, no way out other than fighting, a civil war of disastrous consequences, not necessarily winnable by the right side. Scary, that thought indeed, but a realistic one. In fact, I, and many other brighter minds, have deep concerns, dark visions, of an American society barely recognizable as such, under dictatorship. Women forced into clothing similar to those demanded by the Taliban. Children laboring once again, in the mines of the world, education a right of the rich, the powerful, and hunger stalks the land, uneven, unfair, in its application, as families go hungry, as shelter grows rare. 

Quoth Goetz, “How many of the women rallying against overturning Roe are over-educated, under-loved millennials who sadly return from protests to a lonely microwave dinner with their cats, and no bumble matches?” 

How dare he, yet there it is. Representative of his supporters and backers. This issue of healthcare, of life itself, of a viable future for women, has been turned into a male/female battle along lines which long ago should have been consigned to the dust heap of outmoded, discarded errors of human thinking, particularly those of men. Yet despite all the progress made, the positive and hopeful changes, here they are again, these ugly words and thoughts well fleshed, well nourished, vicious in intent and desired results.

McConnell, the desiccated individual way past his sell by date, states that "Yeah, it's possible." when asked about the corrosive consequences of these laws. We ask, “How many men arguing against women’s right to body autonomy would appreciate losing that same right to make medical choices about their own bodies" We wonder how many of these benighted souls screaming re abortion rights, painting those who support choice as murderers, guilty of homicide, understand that THEIR rights are on the chopping block as well, right there, up front and personal. Nastiness, hatred, oppression, consume the society they rule, without any boundaries or limitations. 

All are in eminent existential danger, yet this simple truth appears to have been overlooked, ignored and denied by these backward mobs, as the 'leaders' of an increasingly doomed human race cheer them on. A virtual love fest, even as it is a replication of the horrors of hate.

We are at war. Ukraine fights Russia, the enormous bear attempting to swallow it whole. The land is pulverized, the hopes, the dreams, the futures, the very lives of tens of thousands destroyed. The stink of Sulphur, the choking smoke, all pervasive, all destroying - all over the world, in various forms. Make no mistake about it. ALL this is intertwined, very little separation, a battle of mankind for its future. Do we survive as we wish - as we are - as we progress towards, or do we turn our backs due to a misshapen mode of thought, as we follow the wrong leaders? As we allow others to penetrate into our most sacred areas and rights, and doom ourselves? It is a battle royale with shots indeed heard round the world. Do not fool yourselves. WWIII in all its battlefronts, in all its ugliness, in all its importance. We must choose. We must take a stand, make our determination all powerful, to defeat those who would defeat the rest of the world, return it to a time which must continue to be totally rejected by a modern society. Yet some among us return to it willingly, placing the manacles upon hands and necks all by themselves.

What is the matter with us? What has happened to us? Why have we consigned our granddaughters to a special hell in a society of 'macho' men? Yes, we can sing all the anthems of the women's movement, but I fear there will be a need for more than that. The students and workers in Les Miz sang of "one more day" - well, we have no more days to spare. We need to get out there, campaign, speak up, vote, vote and vote. Reject the Neanderthals and their stone age thinking, beliefs and preferred reality.  Most definitely inimical to the humanity of women.

Yes, there must be faith, there must be hope, but there also must be resistance. Now.

We are being warned of possible shortages of electric power as soon as this summer, of rolling blackouts. Well, we are in the midst of rolling blackouts of rights, a growing darkness of repression. Let us keep those lights powered up, defeat the shortages already upon us. Last chance. Last call. So dire is the situation. A rolling blackout of humanity, of decency, of hope as the world grows dark, as the stink of Sulphur, the cries of the wounded, the wails of hungry children, grow in intensity and amount. Are we to remain deaf, blind, and speechless in the face of this challenge?

 I hope not. Oh, hell, I pray not.

Yeah, it's possible - but which possibility will we choose?

HOW IS THE WEATHER?

  Can you remember what song contained that question? Give up? It was the iconic song "Happy Together" sung by The Turtles. It speaks of an innocent time, more than now, when there remained a kind of naive hope that we could actually find such a time, when all of us would, could, be happy together, and the sky will be blue. For all our lives. Would that be so, though I fear not. 

Clouds are increasing in darkness and danger.  Manmade clouds are driving spikes through the world, these horrid 'accidents' of nature, unusual phenomena, push us ever closer to a total destruction almost biblical in intensity - and no, I am not talking of the weather of the natural world, weird as it is. In fact, I am referring to the weather of the world of mankind, fragile, confused, angry, unthinking.

Where are our blue skies? Where is our chance to "be happy together"? These hopes are seemingly unattainable. Worse, there are countries, dictators, who turn away from such weather for it is most inimical to them and their goals. Thus, we face stormy weather growing in intensity, in ugliness, endless and hopeless. 

However, if we look carefully, there are moments and memories of blue skies and happiness. They   sustain, bolster, our hope for a return, if not to an ideal world, at least less of a threatening, very dark dystopian society. Today, for me, despite all the ugly storms out there, colored red with blood shed, replete with lightning strikes, there are blue skies and I laugh and cry as I think of them. 

This year, today, I celebrate two sources of happiness. It is Mother's Day.  I think of my mom, whose death in 2012 continues to leave a fathomless hole of grief. I continue to pick up a phone to call, to share, and then quietly replace it. No calls will go through. Only the ones in my head as I think of her, laugh and share the memories, the ones that continue to strengthen us. Her memory remains strong within the minds and hearts right down to the great grandchildren. And I would so love to read her this paragraph. I am ever so grateful for my mother, the strength she instilled in me, the hopes for a better future, the possibilities for a kinder world, and the hard work to attain it. 

Today is also my father's birthday. He was such an integral part of my life and my character. Intolerant almost of lies, of dishonesty, of unfair treatment, he transferred that to me. We shared a penchant for writing letters, for hearing others, open to refining viewpoints, but determined somehow, to improve this world of ours, as every Jew must do. Gone from us in 2005, I continue to ache for him, his advice, his love for the kids, the magic connections he had with them.

Today, we share the thoughts of them together, A fairy tale story of love, from ages 14 and 16, never looking elsewhere, they were together, for life, as one, through good times and bad, always there for us. Not perfect, for no human is, but enough imperfection to allow us room to laugh as we recall such moments. All this gives me the strength to combat the clouds of our eminently not so blue skies. Happy together is fading quickly. The blue of the sky is not as bright. My parents, who share this day as they shared their lives, remind us to never give up. They never did, and we definitely imbibed that sentiment from the first baby bottle!

However, before us is a long and difficult road. No resting on our laurels yet, the challenges remaining. We ask, at moments of despair, if we can truly make a dent in this confused and nasty world. We must make that effort.

A country pulverized, its citizens the targets of military actions, their enormous heroism in defense of their country. 

The continual efforts to rend the rights of our Constitution, to counter the basis of our country. The extreme partisanship, its ugliness and the entitlement it seems to confer on some of the ugliest, meanest and most ignorant legislators I have ever seen.

The growth in open treason and insurrection among our legislators.    

The coopting of our institutions of government, making a mockery of their purpose and actions.

The gross, obvious determination of the GOP to shred the rights of women, to repeal their equality under the law, to return to a time of barbaric thinking, and take away all independence and rights of all genders to determine their own lives and make their own decisions.

 Antisemitism has increased in intensity and violence, with people being beat up, attacked, institutions sites of invasion and murder. Along with the demonization of Israel, thinking to hide antisemitism under the cover of anti - Zionism. Never. And Never Again.

Now I will sit back, page through albums, listen and hum along to "Happy Together", to "Imagine", to "Let It Be". To the new songs of the American Song Contest sch as "Sparrow" and "Beautiful World". All sing of the wistful hope for a better world, one for which we must strive to attain. One which contains that refreshing blue of friendly skies. 

So, Mom, Pop, Happy Mother's Day, Happy Birthday. Know you both are loved and missed beyond the ability of words to express. Continue to look down upon us, for that assurance give us strength and courage. And Pop, don't be too hard on G-d in your debates and importuning for, demanding, a kinder world, for more aid from Him. Even as Mom picks up the Heavens, keeping them orderly and neat. Even the clouds look whiter. I am sure her spoonerisms keep the angels in gales of laughter.

Love you. Miss you. Help Us All.

"YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH "

  "...and the truth shall make you free." It derives from the King James version of the Bible, John 8:32. It is a verse, oft quoted with minor changes, i.e. "set" 'ye' for you, but the gist of it remains the same. Often found on campus at many universities, it highlights  the role of higher education, its responsibility  to hew to the truth, for academic freedom, a much challenged concept these days. To be used truthfully, positively. These days, that Biblical verse and its guidance, is more honored in its breach, rather than in its observance. Sad to say.

Today, actually all night, I have been plagued with thoughts that will not go away. Sleep eluded me, as I thought of the dangerous mess we have made of this world of ours, how foolishly, callously, and  cruelly, we have ignored the truth, embroidered it, or buried it deep, deep somewhere, where no one dares go any longer. Today, the truth will often set you in peril, even unto existential level, if you state  the truth. Unwelcome, defied and reviled, too often it has been replaced with "truths" out of somewhere dark and dank.

Thus, my decision. I am going to be quite frank today, expressing much of what people are thinking, though not necessarily stating, as PC talk has become supreme, and fear of consequences for speaking truth, for opposing falsehood, closes the mouths of too many.

 Okay. Critical Race Theory, or CRT. The 1619 Project. Social and emotional teachings. Ignorance of reality, on purpose or not, skewing the truth, twisting it till it is unrecognizable, manifestly dangerous to a democratic society. "Don't say gay" legislation, bizarre, backwards, hurtful, harmful, yet the deluded, noisy benighted supporters win. A bitter, pyrrhic victory as it simply adds to the newfound bitterness between segments of society, so much so, that one wonders (all night, as if one could solve the problems singlehandedly) how and why we ever got here, allowed, enabled it to develop, even cheering it on.

So, here goes. Yes, there is prejudice within this country. Too much, for too long a time, and seemingly in a condition healthy enough for it to make society unhealthy. Yes, slaves reached this shore by boat in 1619. Shameful, as people are not property. Yet the Bible was quoted as proof of its legality. On the other hand, ignored were the Judaic precepts of treatment of slaves, with rules for freedom, for "getting the one pillow, rather than going to the owner". Slavery is definitely not looked upon by the Bible as a positive aspect, permanently a state of being for some. That was discouraged. However, as usual, people pick and choose, twist and deny, all for their own betterment.

So, more. There were White people serving in slavery called indentured work. Basically, these people were either desperate and sold themselves into that condition, serving for varying periods of years, or punished due to some crime, real or not, deported to serve out their indenture as the property of their master, equal to or even less than a slave.

 Others throughout the history of this country, faced paralyzing hatred, bias, virulent prejudice. They were hunted down, denied rights, treated as less than animals. There is virtually no segment of society which escaped that evil. Chinese, Japanese, Eastern European immigrants, Jews, of all origins, Irish, Italian, Native Americans - in too many places and times. It continues to persist into these ' enlightened' times. Awful, way past its sell by date, but there it is. Today, a Jew, particularly if dressed in "Jewish" garb, or wearing 'Jewish' jewelry, takes his/her life in hand, a target of animals masquerading as humans, seeking, hunting victims.

 No one group has the mortgage nor holds the lien on society, more than any other. All have been recipients of abuse at one time or another, cruel,  inimical to progress, yes, but all the same, there, it was. There it is.  Yes, slaves, the indentured, the pitiful workers in sweatshops, mills, wage slaves, all who worked themselves to death, literally - all partook in the building of this country. Not only one group. That is to deny history, the truth of it. That bodes no good for society. The truth shall set ye free - and better enable progress and redress.

"The talk". How often have we heard about that these days. The one told to young Black kids, ready to drive, on proper behavior when pulled over, or stopped on a street. Be open, be polite, avoid combat inducing behavior. True, though not exclusive to one group. I, and many friends, have  given the same talk to our kids and grandchildren.  It simply makes sense and allows for a safer voyage through life. Tickets can be fought afterwards, but lives lost, damaged, are lost forever. For all. 

Does this mean a denial of a higher level of violence in pullovers of Black drivers, of DWB? Possibly, probably, but perhaps that is not only due to bias. Perhaps the cars are older, or economic difficulty and struggles force postponing the license tag, or fixing that taillight, or repairing that cracked window. Perhaps. Maybe not. Pressure of time, of hours that preclude wait times, often endless, at official offices. The identical reasons for which  others have been pulled over. I was pulled over for a broken taillight, unaware of its condition and received a lecture, a ticket and 24 hours to fix. Inconvenient, but actually better for myself and motorists in general. 

It certainly behooves all to avoid causes which too often needlessly escalate into more than it should have been. And yes, more training of law enforcement personnel must take place, and has increased, even as more is necessary, including penalties and consequences to officers of the law. They are not immune to the same laws of society as civilians. Of any color, race or ethnicity or economic level.

This country has been good to its citizens and  immigrants who flood into it, just as our ancestors or ourselves have done - and continue to do. Despite the many wrongs, the inequities, the egregious behavior of the GOP troglodytes as they try to force through a return to earlier, benighted times. There are people who fight these wrongs of society. Many immigrants, people of all colors, ethnicities, religions, origins, backgrounds have 'made' it in our country. There is a far greater diversity among governmental positions, and almost every day there is another 'first'. Are there roadblocks? Of course, but there were also roadblocks for all groups. Right? No, most assuredly not, but perhaps that is the "human condition" and we must accept that along with ongoing efforts to improve  - forever. Not the best situation, but there it is. Like it or not. It is called reality and we must live in reality, even as we dream, and strive for a better one.

There are so many inequities which must be addressed. The desperate efforts to turn back the clock on rights of LGBTQ+ population, including rights over themselves and their needs. The efforts to push them back into the closets. The attempts, too often successful these days, to rip rights from people - the poor, the worker with little control over the demands of the boss and the job. Women, who are losing rights over their own bodies, with resultant dire consequences for society, which will lead to further dangerous raids on rights. The continued neglect of the needs of native Americans. The massive, obscene gap between income levels. The unfair tax rules. The alarming growth of alleged criminals and open traitors within our government. The uncontrolled trolling of twisted media. The massive amounts of disinformation spewed out daily. The war now in effect within an embattled Ukraine, with 'analysts' claiming a win - even as it becomes a mass tract of rubble, its population decimated, and Russia throwing their all at it, making progress in their invasion. A win? Really?!Truth!!

People are human. People commit errors. In thought, in action and deed. In bias, in everyday life. Education and progress, time and constant  efforts to improve ourselves, better policing of those we elect to govern us -  a great deal of that indeed. All ways to better ourselves and the world we live in, so challenged itself, with an unlivable  future closing in on reality. Indeed, not far off in reality. We have so much to do. We must  learn that prejudice or whining, or playing oppressor or oppressed are contraindicated, very destructive in fact. 

A team must work in tandem, together, in the same rhythm, at the same pace, with the same goals and aims, the same dreams. When society's teams pull in different directions, it goes nowhere good, for sure. Need proof? Look out your window. Read or listen to the news. And there it is.

The truth shall set you free - if indeed we recognize the truth, work to make that truth a better one, a fair one, a positive one, a beneficial one with hope at the fore. A possible, achievable one. That better and improved truth will prove to be far better than our present one. It is a goal worthy of great effort - and achievement. Far more user friendly than the current one. A much better truth. For all.

"JUST A NIBBLE"

 Really? Is that okay? Guess one might have to ask the one who has been nibbled if it if 'just' that! Personally, I believe that anyone who has been served up as a nosh to a blacktip shark might feel otherwise. Certainly, anyone familiar with a noshing appetite knows that a tasty nosh leads to more and more noshing.  Soon enough, the original piece is long gone, consumed and digested within the nosher.

Noshing is dangerous. Anyone with a taste for chocolate knows that. Once noshed, it does not end there, with one itsy bitsy piece. Rather, it goes on until the total entity is nearly or all gone. Like it or not, the same thing happens when a nation's appetite is whetted by a taste, a reward, so to speak, for its imperialist designs and criminal invasions all due to satisfying a craving for "just a nibble". A nibble which eventually leads to bloodshed, horror, catastrophe, and finally, to the loss of that noshed upon country. Yes, the noshing appetite having been tempted, nibbled away until finally sated. Now that iconic statement "I can't believe I ate the whole thing" takes on a bloody, terrifying smug expression on the face of the nosher. Not good. To say the least.

Nature is actually much the same for animals and humans. In fact, it is truly difficult at times to distinguish between the two, even at times having the animal come out on top. A better being, so to speak. We humans have crossed the line in Ukraine and other places, too many places, with the slaughter of "others", be they different due to color, religion, origin, whatever suits as an excuse for the bloodshed. It really makes no never mind.

Russia, that great big bear of a country has nibbled and nibbled in all its border areas and even beyond. Apparently, it has an insatiable appetite, one nosh never being enough, one nibble most manifestly insufficient to satisfy that appetite. Not at all. Worse, the people of the world have not tried to get it into an 'overeaters" mode, standing aside, for they were not the noshed upon, until they were. That noshing temptation never truly is sated, hence the entire dieting industry! Unfortunately, the dieting industry for human country noshers is greatly underfed itself, weak and almost useless in its response to that great big noshing bear.

Nor does nibbling end there, at the country noshing level. There is also an interior noshing, within a country itself. The constant nibbling at its integrity, at its loyalty to its original ethos, weakens it, as it rots away, losing structure and foundations until there is no more to lose. The result? 'We got trouble; right here' in our personal representation of River City. Bah, humbug, to city, for it is our entire country being nibbled upon, serving as fodder for those who would tear it open, restructuring it in an unrecognizable fully digested nosh, much to the detriment of its citizens, of, in fact, the entire world.

"Respect my humanity" is the request of a government figure. A useless request, a spit into the wind, for the opposition within our country has turned vicious beyond words, morphing into an egregious state of nibbling so that we are crumbling away, being consumed, as the very basis of our country succumbs to the "just nibbles" of the foe. We have met the enemy and he is indeed, ourselves, our co-Americans and our grossly limited response.

 Too little, too late perhaps, as we are warned by one analyst (and me!) of dangerous pressure on the American democracy, from a crazed, false, filled with liars - surprise, surprise -Supreme Court, most assuredly supreme in its treasonous behavior re the Constitution, re human rights, re its vile politization of what is supposed to be "justice"! Good morning, America indeed as suddenly some are just 'shocked' at the behavior of the troglodytes of Trump nomination, confirmed by GOP collusion, complete with dirty faces, the stains of their noshing quite visible. The pressure and sedition of those trying, with violence, with malice, with a goal of overturning this country, bears down upon our ship of state, keeping it underwater as the attempts to destroy our democracy multiply across the country. 

We have lost our way. Our ship cannot stay afloat in a desert of no paths, no haven, no refuge from the consequences of our own actions. We ignored the nibbling, even endorsed it at times in foolish thinking. Too late have we come to realize the error of our ways. Now we come from behind, the sharks nibbling away, firmly attached to us. Defense is difficult but must be undertaken before we can go on offense, to save our democracy now and for the ages. To be, as Schumer says, "On the right side of history", the one of progress, of humanity, where nibbling is discouraged, defied and defeated.

We need a world, a country to lead that world, which prevents bloody fighting a la Ukraine, or Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, from taking place. We need a proactive government, honest, good public servants who know their true jobs. How to fulfill their responsibilities, who control their own noshing, fight, resist, the temptation to "just nibble" a tad.

Once, there were enough of those very people in our governmental bodies. Today, now, ....... 

We are at great existential threat. No more noshing. No more catering to those appetites. The only noshing allowed is for inanimate, tasty things, like, say.... chocolate? Most definitely. But keep in mind, that chocolate is not a country. Chocolate is most definitely not candy in a political interpretation and delineation. Rights are not chocolate to be consumed. Now where the heck is the dieting brochure? You know, the one with a great big bear and an orange person on the cover. Ugly cover!

THE HANDMAID'S TALE?

  It has long been a theme in life and art. Which one embraces and copies the other? Frankly, I believe it is a shared movement, many times not so good for a vital, good society, but unfortunately, these beliefs tend to grow with imitation both feeding into it and from it. It is a nasty cycle, one that can be traced through many tumultuous periods of history.

Today, all one has to do is think a tad and the harmful imitation is clear. The streaks of insanity, of anger beyond all reason, the viciousness of disagreement, the nastiness growing exponentially, treasonous behavior, the cracking, breaking of tradition to benefit political viewpoints, and the acceptance of insanity as a norm, not to be ignored, but rather treasured as folksy behavior, one of the crowd. Truly, life and art are intertwined, not necessarily for society's benefit.

 “pineapples, tomatoes, bananas” 

“It’s very dangerous stuff. You can get killed with those things,” 

  It is quite obvious that such a statement can come only from one who has damaged reasoning patterns, who has lost touch with reality and sensibility. Yet that same man is idolized by so many noisy adherents whose raucous noise drowns the sane, quells their reasoning, destroying all hope for a return to a sane, balanced society. A society which has  respect for traditions and foundational principles of this country. Frankly, I, and many others are doubtful of any realistic possibility of such a return. So damaged are we.

Flying dangerous fruit aside, we are at a pivotal point, or perhaps we are past that. Leaking Supreme Court decisions which were encased in cement long ago, detailing the methods and false reasoning by which rights are removed from women. Gorsuch, who writes so emotionally, pleading for equality of granting citizenship to all who fit his parameters, forgets, believes, that women are not worthy of equality, cannot have control over their own bodies and what's next? Red cloaks and hoods? Sanctioned sex slavery? Women as chattels, a la the past? What are we enabling and why do we have a Supreme Court, the highest in the land, so politicized, so broken, so destructive, so inimical to a progressive and fair society? Why are two accused sexual molesters making these decisions? Why is a tainted judge with a traitor for a wife not recusing himself on these and  other decisions? Questions bereft of answers. 

DeSantis chasing after Disney which spoke out, in an act of free speech, against his Gay phobia bill, ignoring the fact of similar tax agreements in Republican counties. A GOP candidate for governor of Ohio standing before a sign with swastikas formed by needles, ranting against the vaccines. Once again, Jews are blamed for illness, for anything that dissatisfies the benighted. Even as more antisemitic flyers are distributed again, this time in Culver City. Even as Israel mourns her lost soldiers, her slaughtered citizens, who died trying to insure the survival of a Jewish homeland, a refuge for oppressed Jews, shamefully oppressed, in the year 2022. When will it stop? Will it ever?

Trump continually talking of violence, suggesting that demonstrators be shot. Russia talking of sending one atomic weapon to Britain and "sinking her... once and for all". Traitors, heroism, mixing in the same village. Slaughter. Relearning war tactics. Vicious war crimes and will they ever be prosecuted? In fact, will the earth survive this latest conflict, this most obvious first stage of WWIII?

These are existential questions, problems, conflicting views of realities that can derail all of us. The situation grows worse, the anger grows as well. Civil discourse grows fainter and fainter, leaving deep cracks within the firmaments of civilized society. Where does it all lead? Where does it end? Can it be solved, resolved in a beneficial manner?

Your guess is as good as mine. Watch the flying fruit and remember to hold out a hand to those in need. Be strong in defense of a sane, progressive society, one where rights of all are respected. One where the constant scent of gunpowder is no more.

THE RAW TRUTH

  Gene Bailey, the pastor of a huge evangelical church stated thus:

"The raw truth was on Nov. 3, 2020, President Donald J. Trump won the election."                "There is a payback coming!"

The raw truth is that the threat to America actually arises from what used to be a sane and balanced Middle America, but now consists of a great percentage of maddened, unhearing, unheeding evangelicals pumped up to think and act on once unthinkable thoughts with once unthinkable deeds. Apocalyptic thinking began to rule the common everyday thoughts and behavior. Entitlement to rule as white conservatives with a deep, albeit twisted belief in G-d and His actions ruled the day and here we are. Truly, if we were to call out "Alice, Allice" near a tree hole, if Allice responded, when she saw our reality, she would quickly turn back to that crazed world, stating that this world, our world was just too much to tackle. Back she would flee. The asylum was safer than outside its doors.

Truly, what do we say when the raw truth is that we conflate the names and deeds, the ugly words and threats of such as Gaetz, Greene. Bobert, Cruz, Trump - senior and junior, Cawthorne, Hawley, Jonson, Perry, the list grows daily, loaded with self-aggrandizers and power-seeking weaklings, anxious to get theirs; in this haphazard world we live in. A world which they helped enormously to bring about, to twist and destroy.

The raw truth is that we try to fool ourselves with words and then take pride in that accomplishment, false though it be. We are 'winning' in Ukraine we are told. The tenth Russian General has been killed. The Ukraine army is almost invincible as they fight against massive odds, truly a tiny mouse against a maddened elephant. And I apologize to elephants in that comparison. The raw truth lay underneath. Yes, Ukraine armed forces are unbelievable in their strength of resistance and determination, in the face of all that has happened. Their country is pulverized. Many towns, village, even large cities are no more. They lay in ruins, a piece of clothing fluttering in the wind, a lone person venturing out carefully, frightened, but needing to find food and water for the family below. What is winning if we end up with nothing. What is 'us' winning if we are allowing others to fight our battles, newfound representations of the wealthy young men who bought a substitute during the Civil War here in America. Simply a modern version of an old tradition.

Even more disappointing, for it affects the very fabric of our country, is the politization and yes, the destruction, of the Supreme Court. It no longer renders decisions based on law, but on political viewpoints of the judges. It no longer holds its decisions secret, as we now have a published decision rending abortion right, the right to choose, to control one's own body, moot. Yes, our Supreme Court, with its insane majority of the insensitive, ignorant, and retrograde thinking, has turned upon the people of America, ignored the quiet majority, ignores the frenzied planning of those in favor of Roe v Wade, of the right of choice, of equal rights for all, not lesser if one is encased in a female form, This backwards viewpoint is reflected in other critical decisions. The raw truth is that our very government structure has been attacked by the very people who are, were, supposed to, vowed to, keep it safe, from all enemies - within and without. They have failed abysmally and worse, participated in the very actions they were supposed to prevent. The raw truth is ugly indeed.

The very rawest truth is the open, virulent return of antisemitism. All sides feel it okay to blame the Jews for all the ills and woes of our world. Economy issues - blame the Jews. Media? Oh, the Jews control it. Banking. Hollywood. Streaming. Little stores. Big stores. Education. Whatever comes to mind is accepted with open arms and vicious heart. A soul barely breathing. Once again the canard, usually unstated, but present, now delivered openly by a Russian, that  “For some time, we have heard from the Jewish people that the biggest antisemites were Jewish.” Of course, blame the victim. Truth is shoveled right out the door and hatred welcomed with open arms and drooling mouths. Hitler was Jewish we are told. Uh huh. Guess he was a self- hater, right?! When, when, will people end this hideous practice of blaming all on the Jews, using this hatred to make political hay? When? I, and many, many others are so tired of it. Using the Holocaust to advance these thoughts - way over the top. I cannot even speak of the heights, the depths actually, to which that is so wrong!

So raw truth is here. Alice fled to her refuge, but where refuge for the rest of us? Doubts grow heavier, larger, each and every day. Raw truth. Difficult to take, to absorb, to accept, but there it is.

AMERICA, AMERICA

  Imagine this: a group of worried, fretting people, gathered around a large spyhole, looking, worrying, with clear expressions of despair and desperation. Abraham Lincoln. George Washington. Thomas Paine. FDR. JFK. RFK. Susan B. Anthony. Emma Lazarus. Harry Truman. Ulysses S. Grant. Dolly Madison. RBG. Clara Barton. Eleanor Roosevelt. Theordore Roosevelt. Lillian Wald. Hayim Solomon. Felix Frankfurter. Thousands of soldiers who fought, gave their all for this country. So many of those who fought for the establishment and development of this country. Names known and recognized and those not. But all here, gazing down upon this nation, this world, and wondering what the hell happened. Alas, America, America.

"G-d shed His grace on thee." Well, that appears to be a non-starter at this point. G-d seems to have been coopted by those making use of His Name without permission. Those who claim they know, just know, that G-d wants them to maintain extreme behaviors, white supremacy, or Black supremacy for that matter. Those who wish to greedily reap all they can from the government while denying aid to those who actually need it. G-d, in disgust, turns His face away, once again leaving humans to their own self-created disasters and wonky fate. Karma.

"Crown thy good with brotherhood."  

Unfortunately, our good has been much weakened, drained by too many people who have forgotten what America stands for, or used to. Gone is the attention paid to the words of Emma Lazarus on the Statue of Liberty - that name alone!!! "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." To breathe free. Imagine the relief felt by so many of our ancestors who made it to our shores, free of persecution and constant threat of death, able to feed and educate their children. That is what America was and is meant to be. Always, no matter the difficulty. No matter the cost, for if we do not, the cost will be even greater. Today, whence brotherhood and sisterhood?

The mayor of Milwaukee stated it very simply:

""We fight for a humane, safe and dignified immigration system that is worthy of a nation built by waves of immigrants, refugees and oppressed people who have struggled to make the American dream of equality and liberty a reality,"

"That's America to me," quoth I. Were not my grandparents allowed refuge, hope and a home here, I - and so many others - would not be. Period.

Unfortunately, we have developed a corrosive poison within, led by the likes of McCarthy, Jonson, Cruz, Greene, Boebert, Scalisi, Hawley, Meadows, Trump et al, so many, too many. People are beginning to state the obvious, understanding at last that the would be Emperor  and his cohort are indeed naked, baring before our eyes the stinking and shameful taint of treason and sedition.

  “I don’t know how else you look at it. We’re talking about someone who provides aid and comfort to insurrection. ” ... it undermines what this country has stood for since the revolution,” 

Senator Warren, speaking frankly, of McCarthy and others who know what Trump did, what he encouraged, what his adherents did as well, turned on their country, trying to impose a one man government, well, "what she said" indeed. They are all traitors to this country, to our history, to our purpose - to us. There is no denying it.

We also need to remember that preserving our country at times requires great sacrifice. We hope not; however, the present situation in Ukraine is untenable long term. Even with the modern - day version of Lend Lease, Ukraine will simply run out of fighting capable people. There is no unplumbed well of perpetual supply. A fact of life. The weakness and disunity of the western nations allowed Putin to go ahead. The consequences are here, as the people of Ukraine bleed to death, their country in ruins such as have not been seen since WWII.

It has been oft stated that " We recognize Ukraine is fighting for all of us." That might not be enough (see previous paragraph) and at some point the dreaded necessity might be upon us. Succinctly stated by Kinzinger  " ... there may be a point that we have to recognize, you know, look. This is- World War- prior to World War II, there were moments nobody ever wanted to get involved and eventually came to realize they had to. I hope we don't get to that point here, but we should be ready if we do."     

We must be ready, body and soul. The tyranny imposed upon Russian occupied territory in Ukraine cannot, must not, plant its seeds here, on our shores, round our mountains, across our fields, in our cities. With their flags waving triumphant.  G-d forbid a million times that it comes to this, to American boots on Ukrainian soil, but better than Russian boots on American soil. Never.

"From sea to shining sea" and around the globe.

America, America. Ours to keep and ours to lose. From within and without.

WHAT'S TO BE DONE?

  The title question is apparently the question tearing at the souls of many. What do we do with so many, many problems? How do we solve, resolve, them in a permanent manner without rending world order even more, setting the stage for further incursions, further massive scenes of death, and the pulverization of yet more countries? How do we ensure that this new Cold War remains 'cold' in every which way, allowing for bombast to fly, for hot air enough to fill a fleet of hot air balloons, yet for the most part, 'peace' will reign?

If there is someone, or several someones, who have the genius ability to achieve that, to answer those questions in a positive manner, well, present to that person the world on a silver platter. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are zero to none. We are all engaged in outshouting one another, denying or claiming wildly, mostly via a severe, almost crazed partisanship virus which has seemingly infected the entire world. No vaccine in sight!

Our traditional sources of wisdom, diplomacy, tact, and ideas have fallen away, way too short, too little and too late to help. When we should have stood firm and tall, and sent the Russian bear home with its tail between its legs, we instead stood hunched and cowering falling prey to his bombastic words.

When traditional sources fail us, we then have to turn for aid wherever we can find it. Hence this statement from "Nucky" Thompson from Boardwalk Empire. "We all have to decide for ourselves how much sin we can live with." Yes, indeed. We all must have our own red lines within our souls and decide for ourselves who we want to lead us, who will fit the parameters we have in mind, and then go for it. We need to make our voices heard, the voices of the people, not those of crazed or frightened so-called leaders who have not a single iota of thought about us as they go around adding yet more wreckage to this already embattled and burdened globe of ours. 

Exactly how much 'sin' are we comfortable with? How much hardship can we tolerate and for how long, for what reasons? In trying to formulate one's own answers, one can hit a series of brick walls. Nothing seems possible. Nothing seems rooted in a reality achievable. There are no paths anymore, only dead ends. The problems around the world remain unsolvable. 

Exactly how do we achieve a fair and just peace in the Middle East? How valid are the claims of Palestinians- (In my mind, not very.) How do we enlighten those deniers who insist that anti-Zionism is not anti Semitism? Foolish, dangerously deluded souls they are. In fact, what do we do with the rising tide of anti semitism round the world? Even in the wilds of North Carolina it strikes, up 131%.Yet another Muslim woman running for office, (as if the four current members of The Squad are not enough) against an incumbent Black woman, and her hatred simply spews forth. When called to task, out come the mewling excuses, sickening to the extreme. I did not know it was anti Semitism. I did not realize the true import of my words. Oh, I am sorry. I now know what I did wrong. Bulls..t! These excuses are in the same category as those of that dangerous moron, Greene, when she states she does not recall, nor remember her statements, her texts, over 80 times!!! Exactly what is the caliber of our ambitious leaders to be? Why have we allowed the situation to deteriorate so? Rerun!

The true answer to these problems is found in Tikkun Olam - the repairing of the world. We are all invested with the opportunity, the necessity, of improving the world. We must focus on what surely needs to be repaired and eliminate the false, the dastardly leaders rife with greed and lust for power. We need to hear the voices of all the peoples of the world. Even if one disagrees, one must, absolutely must, find a solution, a palatable compromise. No one is safe as long as one voice goes unheard, for it must be addressed, refuted or corrected. It helps when we realize how interconnected the nations of the world are. War in Ukraine is leading to world wide shortages. 

Fear is beginning to stalk the land. People are afraid. They look at their families and fear for their safety, their very lives. Mad leaders are growing stronger in voice, in actions, even as the West  remains as simpering, foolish people, refusing to learn from history, refusing to answer the bully with force, the only language he understands, rather than cowering before the hot air words of threat,  giving him carte blanche to go ahead with his illegal, dangerous, even insane plans. We have done that. WE. US. Apparently we have the leaders we deserve as we turn inward, refuse to know our reality, thinking as infants- what we do not see, does not exist. It does.

Michelle Goldberg of the NYT writes "Antisemitism Increased Under Trump. Then It Got Worse." Why? It is the answer through the millennia. When the economy tanks, when the people are anxious, or hungry or hopeless, or there is a pandemic, a scapegoat is to be found, and who better, who fits that tradition, more than the Jewish nation? Apparently, no one. Hence, what I have maintained before, in this posting and in previous ones. Fix the world. Fix the problems first. The rest will follow, as the saying goes, as surely as night follows day.                                                                The world will change, eventually, one hopes, leading to less hatred, fewer enemy actions and behavior, a better world for all. A pipe dream? Maybe. But better to dream, work to achieve those dreams, be a pioneer for the generations to follow. Better than war. Better than appeasement of a simply wrong dude. Better than all other paths.

Here is a bit of advice, of attitude, I came across recently. Apropos of the reality today and how to live within it.

"I don't know exactly what the future holds, but I'm stepping forward with grit anchored in grace."

Amen to that!