The Absolute Worst of Us, Amplified...

Yes. It has always been about the racism, the culture of guns & the inevitable result: barbaric, violence in America. Sad to say. But true. I am reading Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian," (1985), about the cold-hearted cauldron that birthed America: The enslavement of Blacks, the Slaughter of Mexicans & of the First Nation's Peoples. Slave ships brought Black folks into the country and those other "people of color" were here first, they were America's first inhabitants, swamped & displaced by the murderous, oppressive white hordes. The white folks murdered their way to power. Just the plain, simple truth. Yes. Racism, Slavery & Genocide, America's original sins. That legacy and reality is with us to this day. The present Trump administration is going back to the original playbook using their false creed of white supremacy as their cudgel. 

What of these days of violence, hate & division? Some think it's all the inevitable backlash against Barack Obama and the Civil Rights Era. The Republicans just can't get over the fact  that America gladly elected a Black Man (actually part black/part white) as President in 2008 & again in 2012. Seems like ancient history now. Did that really happen? Some of us saw his election as a healing and a promise of a better America. The fulfillment of a dream of equality & inclusion. Some just can't make that leap. Seems insane, immoral. If you aren't racist, and don't fear "the other,"  if instead you think of all humanity as one beautiful, multi-cultural, multi-racial rainbow, you know, just different shades of being human, it's totally confounding & mind-boggling.

Some of us have trancended, and moved on to a more embracing and welcoming vision. And we hope that we can all rise above, and heal the wounds of our history. But others want to rip open those wounds, keep them fresh to divide & oppress us. Why does Trump, his MAGA movement and the GOP make our skin crawl with contempt? He & they are the absolute worst of us, amplified. Crimes against Humanity and the dream of a Better America.

The Bullies, The Cruel Ones, Hollow to the Core...

Yes. I must admit my personal history & mythology weighs heavily on my understanding & consciousness of the Universe. I think of myself as a bit of an outsider, not really at home anywhere. A Citizen of the Universe. I think I have more in common with the artists, musicians, writers, playwrights, & poets that have inspired me to pursue my own creative journeys, than some of my family & friends, but no doubt, my childhood experiences, my own day to day interactions, helped make me  the person I am today. I mean, it's probably the same for everyone. We are all influenced by everything & everyone we encounter. Who do you gravitate to? Who do you try to emulate? Who & what do you recoil from? I find myself rooting for the outsiders, the underdogs, the down & outers, those left behind, those on the margins. It's just in my nature. I despise the bullies, the cruel ones, those who go out of their way to make others suffer. I learned early on that the bullies are completely scared & hollow people. One solid, very lucky punch to the nose, and they crumble and retreat. The key is to stand up for who and what you believe and embody that to the max. So, yes, today, these American bullies, they look like "paper tigers," stoked up rage & bluster, hollow people. I do not believe they are all powerful, they make a lot of noise, but it's all idiocy, they are weak, fragile, broken. Their cruelty comes from their own fear and inadequacies. There is an elaborate show and spectacle going on right now in America, but it's all bad TV, social-media folly & false bravado. Hollow to the core. I do not think we will be defeated. I believe their ugly vision of America, the cruelty, retribution, idiocy is a dead-end. My vision of America is so much more loving, soulful, inclusive, interesting, welcoming, inspiring...

Extreme Wealth = Extreme Brain Rot...

I have heard some other folks say: "Our elites are failing us."

I am wondering if the over-accumulation of wealth actually rots one's brains?  And, detaches one from reality? The evidence seems to point to "Yes."

And these elites, the millionaires & billionaires living amongst us on the planet  live in luxurious, overstuffed, over-amped, bubbles of unreality, where the only thing that is important to them is their wealth: keeping it, growing it, wielding it against everyone else, because, you know, the rest of us, every last one of us, is a threat to their precious dollars.

What if all the "little people" rose up and decided that millionaires & billionaires need to pay their fair share of taxes so we can adequately fund schools, healthcare, Social Security, infrastructure, military, police, etc? 

A little healthy socialism could fix most of our problems.

BTW - Word is that the rich, right-wingers (many of them pretending to call for the release of the Epstein files) like Musk, Theil and Bannon are actually IN the Epstein files. Turns out they were pals with Jeffery Epstein. What's with these people ? Inquiring Minds want to know. Is this another excellent illustration of the hypocrisy, lying, and disconnectedness of the very filthy, very wealthy, elite? Probably, Yes!

Sparkling in the Light...

Yesterday we spent lots of time with a small group of creative, funny, progressive, intelligent, graceful and inspiring folks. We were gathered together to plan a concert in October. It was a such a great reminder that most of the people we know are Americans of a certain kind; the best of the best. There is Hope & Optimism alive in the hearts and heads of these folks. They are kind, not cruel, alive, aware, awake, not dumb & sleepy. Sure, we are all worried about what is happening right now; America's ridiculous, soul-killing turn to fascism & darkness. But all of us in this little group, sparkled in the Light. Really. A small gathering. Working on a little project. Not earth-shaking stuff. But it was magnificent, exciting and encouraging to be reminded of what our version of the American Dream really is & can be. A better union for all.

Cry Harder, Nazis!

Folk #1: "Simple rule. If you don't want to be called a Nazi, don't do Nazi things. You know, things like wearing masks to hide your identity, disappearimg people including, mothers, fathers & children off the streets of USA, lying about the people they harrass & detain, shipping them off to concentration camps with no hearing, no day in court, no opportunity to defend themselves. It seems these  homegrown American Nazis are also whiny-baby snowflakes. If they actually get called out, you know, if you ask them to step up and take responsibilty for their actions, try to hold them to account, they take to social media & whine, & lie, & cry. So sad. These snowflake Nazis can't even own up to their own Nazism. What a shame. Cry harder Nazis!"

The Pathetic, Fat Clown, Beclowns Himself in front of the Whole World...

Turns out yesterday was a good day. Our President stood in front of the world at the U.N. and made a complete fool of himself. His moronic, self-absorbed, idiocy was on full display for the world to see. I tend to think that is a good thing. Let us not have any illusions. Let everyone know that the U.S. President is a complete and utter disgrace. The world needs to know that they must work around this absolute fool & idiot if we are going to try to make it a better place.

Later, in the evening, Jimmy Kimmel came back to the air. Such a great event. Kimmel is one the best comedians & "truth-tellers," out there. He is clear-eyed and hilarious. He is really good at finding the humor in present day America. Free speech is back in the mix. And that is a wonderful development. Turns out our wanna-be authoritarian/dictator, is not all-powerful. 

We all can clearly see that our very embarrassing President is totally out of step and out of his mind. A major work-around for the rest of us is an absolute must.

Also, by the way, this happened yesterday morning. Bronze statues of Donald Trump & Jeffery Epstein, best buddies, magically appeared in Washington D.C. Miracle!

AND... here's Jimmy Kimmel!

The Big Stupid Gulp...

The stupidity reigns supreme. Note: If you are taking medical advice from these freaking idiots, you really should have your head examined. Make better choices, that would be my advice.

The Idiots amongst us are unleashed, unbound. It is quite impressive. Those who know the least, act as if they know the most. We have given the power of Government over to the worst of the worst, the stupidest of the stupid. Being supremely stupid is sort of a super-power. Reason, intelligence, shame, argument, facts, truth, reality; all of these things fall by the wayside. Stupidity unlocked in very, very stupid persons is like an impenetrable fortress; the stupid ones are immune to anything factual, sensible or reasonable. The stupidity can swallow all of us in one big, exceedingly stupid gulp. Yikes.

Clarity is a "Hard Mother..."

Clarity. Clear-seeing. A challenge. A discipline. You think you are seeing the world, and yourself clearly, but events conspire to show you that you need a rethink, and to work harder. Clarity is a "hard mother." The Universe is big, complicated, and really doesn't give much of a fuck for  you, or your paltry, shaky, arbitrary, and temporary existence. Every step you take, every move you make, every thought, every word, every decision & choice is a loaded dice. You make choices, you step forward, everything counts. You do your best to see clearly, but really, you need to look harder, and clean off the windshield. Drop the pretense. Experience the world as it is. Not always easy, you can't help trying to impose judgment, & emotion on what's going down. Best to sit, breathe in, breathe out, take it all in.  Clarity.

The Mask has Fallen Away...

Folk #1: "It was a crazy, bad week, in a string of crazy bad weeks. 

First, the righ-wing purveyor of hate speech, Charlie Kirk, was murdered. His killer, Tyler Robinson wrote to his lover: "Some hate can't be negotiated out." 

Why did Tyler murder Kirk? 'One person familiar with the federal investigation said that “thus far, there is no evidence connecting the suspect with any left-wing groups.'

'Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk’s ideology personally offensive,” this person continued.'

Of course, as a 'What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding' Guy, I abhor the use of violence. I am anti-gun, anti-violence, anti-death penalty. But Kirk was no saint.  He spent most his time attacking Americans that he didn't like with bad-faith, straw man arguments. He stirred up the hate. But even hate speech is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Still, it is not so surprising that it was hate that struck him down. Chalk his death up to another casualty of hate & the culture of guns.

Then the Trump Government put the squeeze on Disney to silence the talk-show host & comedian Jimmy Kimmel. Clear violation of Free Speech. 

Seems the Kimmel story has swamped the Kirk story. Why? We are so numb to murder. It happens every day in America. But not so numb to taking  our right of Free Speech away. It is foundational to our country. It is an attack on each and every one of us.

The mask has fallen away, the Trump Government has revealed itself in all it's Fascist, Anti-American glory. The Trump Government has declared war on it's own citzenry. Democracy is under assault. The rule law is  under assault. Free Speech is under assault.

We have entered a very tricky, dangerous time. One can only hope that cooler heads will prevail. Seems we are at a precipice. The Trump Government is clearly out to fan the flames, to go after anyone who speaks up in oppostition. We must all speak up in opposition. We do outnumber them. And we have a long history here in America of freedom from tyranny. 

I am firmly in the camp of "Anti-fascism." You know, it's an idea, not an organization. 

Yes. I have my Antifa decoder ring, my Antifa morning cereal, my Antifa rose-colored glasses. Listening to my Antifa soundtrack: Massive Attack, Invaders of the Heart, Tracy Chapman. Where and when is the next Antifa potluck, picnic & confab?! In my Dreams Brothers & Sisters!"

The Trump Government is Now at War with Much of It's Own Citizenry...

Folk #1: "I suppose it's not surprising, that by electing a criminal to be our President, we are now being assaulted by a criminal administration. This Trump Government is now at war with much of it's own citizenry.  This is a very seriously unpopular government. For most of us, there is no compromise with the lawlessness. I suppose we need to be vigilant. To pay close attention. Who are the criminals? Who are those who support them? Who are the people carrying out the atrocities? Who are folks, & entities, caving to the pressure? Who is going out their way to curry favor? Who is lying for political advantage? Unfortunately, we will all have to choose sides. No one is "apolitical" now. If you just ignore what's happening, or tune out, you are accepting and condoning the criminality. It's a choice. We must remember to hold people to account for their words, & actions. We must cling to the idea that the time of reckoning will come, sooner than later. My hope still resides with the common, decent folks.  I still believe in Democracy, Truth, The Rule of Law, Human Rights for All. I am radically peaceful & non-violent, but there is no negotiating with hate, criminality, facism, racism, bigotry. I suppose the trend is that things will continue to get uglier. The Haters, the Liars, the Criminals are unleashed. We seem to be heading to a very bad, & dark place. We must stand up and be counted. All we have is resistance, opposition, a willingness to call out the lies, and conjure up a better day and a better way. Organize? Strike? March? And, of course, Vote."

Jimmy Kimmel Hero of Democracy & Free Speech...

"During his Monday evening monologue, Kimmel suggested Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican. “The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

Hell. Even the Republican Governor of Utah at his press conference said that Kirk's murderer was "one of us."

Interesting. It seems they took Jimmy Kimmel off the air not primarily for what he said on the air, but for what he was going to say...

Are the "powers that be" really trying to make Jimmy Kimmel the hero of Democracy & Free Speech? That would be fabulous. Jimmy is funny, rich, successful, talented, intelligent, accomplished. Not exactly Tom Joad, but, you know, Jimmy is a comedian & a truth-teller. A good combo. Jimmy Kimmel is you and me. Ha. Well, not really, but think of him as just a guy talking about the world with clarity, someone who respects truth, facts, telling it like it is, someone not afraid to go on network TV to make fun of & to laugh at Trump the wanna-be-American dictator. Disney took Jimmy off the air "indefinitely," for no good reason except that Jimmy likes to speak, "truth to power." Might be a good time for a Disney boycott. That seems like a capital idea. Vote with your hard earned dollars. I see my fellow Americans waking up. The first amendment to the Constitution, Free Speech is so fundamental to America, and to our Democracy. This attack on Jimmy Kimmel is an attack on all of us. Laughing at the wanna-be Dictator is essential and good for our mental health. 

Calling a Fascist a Fascist is Clear-Seeing, & Speaking...

What is the latest from this rancid, backward-looking, authoritarian-wanna-be Adminstration? Now they want to punish "speech," that they don't like. You may ask: Whatever happened to the 1st Amendment of the Constitution?   Oh, dear Pilgrim, how quaint. 

"Toto, we aren't in Kansas anymore..."

These folks are so afraid of truth, reality, facts, they need to squelch any dissent, shout down and intimidate anyone speaking up, anyone speaking "truth to power."  This is all coming from the hard-right-wing-nutjobs, the Trump/MAGA cult. It is unhinged, un-American, looney-tunes, and completely retrograde garbage.

So many companies, Media Empires, Universities are caving in to the pressure. Cowards, creeps, betrayers of  basic and essential American Freedom.

You think: "This can't be happening in my America." Well, bunky, it is happening, right now. Over here In my little corner of America, a solid Blue Bubble in a Blue State, it is still ok to call a Fascist a Fascist. It is ok to point out that the Trumpers are lying to us every freaking day. Over here we revere & honor clear thinking and clear seeing. But the larger trend is decidedly not good.

What Goes Around, Comes Around...

 

I remember seeing this one in the "hey-day" of the Chicago Reader. Four sections stuffed to the gills. "Life In Hell," Matt Groening (creator of the Simpsons). What goes around, comes around. The Right-Wing Nut-Jobs are lying to us every freaking day. What's so Funny About Reality, Truth, & Good Cheer?!

Wake Up Now...

The Republicans, the Right-Wingers, the Hard-Right Christian-Nationlists have lost their minds, and we all are suffering for it. They are declaring war on the rest of us. Seems they will continue to double & triple down on their lies and stick to their story.  You know, they have lost their minds for a reason: Power. And the lies, the relentless lying, the denial of reality, has been a very useful tool for them. Looks like they are fanning the flames of violence, revenge & retribution. Just because. Their Outrage Machine is well-oiled, and powerful, and they want to steamroll anyone who actually clings to any semblence of Truth & Reality. It's kind of text-book Authoritarian. Divide & conquer. Pick on vulnerable Human Beings, bully them, make examples of them, and basically terrorize the rest of us with their displays of oppression. Hard to believe it's come to this in America, but really it is sort of a culmination of their world-view. It is boot-strapped via a very malignant & toxic, racism, misogyny, white supremacy, a distorted & decadent form of evangelical idiocy, and power-dynamics. 

What to do? 

Resist. Cling to Truth & Reality. Refuse to be terrorized. No matter what. Right now the opposition is sort of unfocused. Many of us still live with an older picture of an America that is a bit less crazed. We want to hold things together, even as we watch evertyhing breaking apart. Yes. We vote. We march. We protest. We insist on fact-checking, and seeing clearly. Not sure that is enough. General strikes? Mass mobilization in the cities? Blue State Governors banding together as one solid and firm entity of resistance? Are these actions enough to turn the tide? Not sure. The violence is clearly, predominatly coming from the Right-Wing. Even as they lie about that truth. I suppose, we must promote an active, peaceful, non-violent movement. It is the only sensible, sane, and soulful way forward. But it needs all of us to wake up. Now.

Values & Ethics - So Old World...

I suppose it comes down to values: "the ethical behavior of a person or the basis of their intentional activities."

Of course, in this day and age, you may find yourself wondering what exactly is ethical behaviour?  - "Ethical behaviour is characterized by honesty, fairness and equity in interpersonal, professional and academic relationships..."

Sounds so old world. Do people still act with "honesty, fairness & equity?" We Human Beings seem to be so riled up, so confused, so willing to just plunge into the pool of madness. We conjure up the storm of emotions, the hurly-burly of crazy-ass life, and get lost in it.

What to believe? How to act? These are always relevant questions. What is important? How do you want to spend your Life on the Planet? What do you respect? 

In the face of noise, I choose silence. In the face of the fury I look to Grace, Love, Kindness. It seems so radically common and essential.

We Aren't Really that Stupid, Are We?

Another absurd episode in the tragedy of the new America. The assholes are out in full force. The bullies are sucking up all the oxygen in the room. A rage-filled madness is swirling about. Yes. Touch grass. Breathe deeply. You can dip your toe into the pool of madness, just to see and hear what's happening, without becoming mad yourself.

One angry, hate-filled white guy murders another hate-filled white guy, and mass media wants to blame the blacks, the gays, the trans folks, the liberals, the Democrats. Somehow it is "the others" who have forced them to be the assholes & bullies.

It is all so ridiculous. Mind-bending. Weird. Stupid too. We aren't really that stupid are we? 

My partner and I spent most of the day touching grass out in the real world. It was a beautiful day. About as good as it gets. We briefly talked about the madness, then moved on to other things. I was reminded again of that little dichotomy: Everything that Lives is Holy AND Life is Cheap. We are kind of caught in that little web of contradiction.

Still we can choose to turn away from the rage, the madness, the stupidity. Turn to Life in all it's many-splendored bounty. The Good Life.

Hoping that this could be some kind of wakeup call. Life is too short to waste on soul-killing idiocies. 

Just Another Victim of the Culture of Guns...

It was amazing and disheartening to watch the disinformation machine kick into hyper-drive after the Charlie Kirk murder. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."  The Lunatics of the Right Wing were furiously ramping up the hate. But, then, of course, reality threw in a little bit of a twist on the story.  As Utah's Governor put it: The Shooter was "one of us." 

The shooter was NOT a Radical/Left/Communist/Trans/Black/Brown/Woman/Democrat. Nope. The shooter was a white, 22 year old kid from a "god-fearing," Republican Family. A kid with a major case of Internet-Brain-Rot. Yes, seems to be another white kid radicalized by spending long hours deep in internet chat rooms of terror & doom. Maybe a nihilist of the gamer culture? But what are the purveyors of hate doing? They seem to be clinging to their initial story. 

The Lunatic Right-Wing really, really don't want to admit that the problem is the gun-culture, disinformation, conspiracy-minded-thinking, and the young, internet-radicalized unhinged. They are trying to make a hero or martyr out of Charlie Kirk, but instead he was just a successful purveyor of hate who became the latest victim to the gun. Yes. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

BTW - Who was Charlie Kirk? Elizabeth Spiers at The Nation has a good obit:

Charles James Kirk, 31, died on Wednesday from a gunshot to the neck at a Utah Valley University campus event just as he was trying to deflect a question about mass shootings by suggesting they were largely a function of gang violence. He died with a net worth of $12 million, which he made by espousing horrific and bigoted views in the name of advancing Christian nationalism. The foundation of his empire was the group he cofounded and led, Turning Point USA, which is a key youth-recruitment arm of the MAGA movement. Kirk was able to launch Turning Point at the age of 18 because he received money from Tea Party member Bill Montgomery, right-wing donor Foster Feiss, and his own father, also a prolific right-wing donor. He was an unrepentant racist, transphobe, homophobe, and misogynist who often wrapped his bigotry in Bible verses because there was no other way to pretend that it was morally correct. He had children, as do many vile people.

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/charlie-kirk-assassination-maga/#

Love & inclusion, the Much Better Ideas...

Words not bullets. Right?! We are supposed to win arguments with reasoned words, not weapons. 

Truth, reality, common sense, love, kindness, grace, open-minded, & open-heartedness. Those should be our tools and weapons.

We are working under the premise that humans beings are free to say whatever they want to say in the public square. Even if what they are saying, arguing, or promoting is hate, division, discrimination. A free & open society is supposed be tolerant of all viewpoints. We go with idea that the best ideas, the best arguments, will lead to the best outcomes. That is the implicit, foundational idea of a free Democracy. A free Democracy of Ideas.

Of course, the best ideas do not always carry the day. For proof just take a look at the current adminstration and their retrograde policies. Words like "fascist," "Nazi" and "Christian Nationalist" come to mind. And what if those arguments and ideas lead to oppression, discrimination, violence?

What if all those words and arguments are built on lies? What if the whole edifice of this MAGA movement is built on damned lies of hate & division? A nativist white supremacy that is at war with the Woke, the brown people, the black people, the liberal and tolerant?

And what if those ideas, those hurtful words are then followed up with retrograde, inhumane actions? Snatching people off the streets? Building concentration camps? Deporting people to hostile countries? Leaving them to rot in foreign prisons? Blowing up boats and killing everyone on board just because they can? Shouting down and attacking anyone who stands in opposition? Oppressing LGTQ+ folks, women, anyone not male, white or Christian?

How to tolerate the intolerant?! Aye, there's the rub. "What's so funny about Peace, Love & Understanding?" - Nick Lowe

What to do? Stand up for what you believe. Spread the good, kind words. Spread the Gospel of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. I do believe it is the Woke Ones who have the better ideas. Good words, Good works. Love & Inclusion, the much better Ideas. Ha. Let me borrow woke-Jesus for a moment: Love & Forgiveness will set you free...

No Way to Live...

We live in a violent world. I am against it. Hate breeds Hate. Violence breeds Violence. It is no way to live. There are those who always stoke & and fan the flames of Division & Hate. They have a big megaphone, a political party, a movement, a President and a cabinet of curiosities. They will try to use any tragedy to their political advantage. What is their political advantage? Hate, Anger, Violence, Fear. Those are things that bind them together, and make them powerful and scary. They will refuse to admit the obvious: Too Many Guns in America. A lax attitude to Gun Control. Too Many Lunatics in America. Not enough resources for mental health.

This targeted killing in Utah illustrates the insanity of our Gun Laws. It is an open & concealed carry state. Theoretically, everyone in the state can be "packing," and, well, we know there are many unstable, unhappy, unhinged human beings wandering around. Guns & Unstable minds: a bad combo for sure. What will the hate-mongers now do? Probably continue to stir up the Hate, it is their go-to mode. The rest of us might want to take a moment of silence. We must keep our shit together. Don't lose our heads. Look to a better way and a better day.

Pay attention. Watch and listen. Notice. Who are the ones using violent rhetoric to stoke the hate & violence? This is an instructive moment for all of us here in the USA.

Let's Not Kid Ourselves...

Folk #1: "Let's not kid ourselves. These people are the worst of us. And they think that we are stupid. They think they can lie to us over & over and we will just accept the lies. I have to believe that they are wrong. I do believe most of us really do value truth, facts, reason, common sense. This ridiculous shameless lying about pretty much everything is just gob-smackingly arrogant, and corrupt. Our job as Human Beings is to see clearly. Not just to entertain ourselves with idiocies. Yes. I do believe we are off the rails. But I don't think it takes much to look up and recognize we are going down a dark path. We can easily change the direction of this Country. "A change of consciousness can happen in an instant." Maybe I am naive, but I do think my species is capable of brilliant, wonderful things. Still. I suppose it's going to be the "common folk," moms & dads, workers & students, rising up and declaring "enough," of the lies, the idiocies, the bad acts. This current administration is a total joke & abomination, a black mark & a toxic stain on all of us."