The Fire Inside...

"The Fire Inside..."

I awoke this morning with that phrase on my lips. What does it mean? You might think just "random access memory,"  a simple phrase, bubbling up from my consciousness, signifying nothing, but if, like me, you live in a world of signs & wonders, you take those words as an insight, or maybe an encouragement, from the deep. Reminds me of that Grateful Dead song, "Fire on the Mountain," which always makes me think: get busy, time is burning.

So, yeah, yesterday, we stayed home. Never left the apartment, listened to music, I restrung my guitar, did a bit of computer troubleshooting, had a Mexican fiesta-style meal, & lots of good conversation & laughs with my partner in crime. 

We watched the latest "Frankenstein," (2025). My partner liked it, I thought it was drowning in CGI, and that the lead actor Oscar Issac was laughably miscast. I was laughing quite in bit in parts that I don't think were meant to be funny. But still, it was quite entertaining. Then I finished my day wading deep into Patti Smith's new memoir, "Bread of Angels,"  (2025). Patti is the ultimate poet. It is quite good. Totally captivating. Reminds me that the best writing is about what you put in, and what you leave out, and the best is when an author conjures up a singular vision.  Patti is not a historian, she is first and foremost an artist and poet. Very imagistic, super-inspiring read. Good food for the head.

So, yes, a day of renewal, recharging, refreshing. Feeding that fire inside, keeping the flame turned up high. Seeking the extraordinary, even in the ordinary.

Radicalized by Decency...

We saw a bumper sticker yesterday, we were on our bikes riding down the avenue. Sometimes a bumper sticker can really speak to you. This one clicked for both my partner & I: RADICALIZED BY DECENCY. Definitely. Yep. No doubt. That is where we are both at.

Of course, decency is a bit of a nebulous concept:

a: the quality or state of being decent : propriety
b: conformity to standards of taste, propriety, or quality

I suppose we know decency, when we see it, hear it, and feel it. And the opposite? We are now being swamped by indecency at every turn. What a total clusterfuck & shit-show. We are over-run by loud assholes, cretinous-Nazis, violent freaks, over-bearing-Idiots, flooded with creeps and degenerates, expounding on idiocies in every realm of our lives.

It is easy to feel overwhelmed. So yeah, radicalized into decency, silence, contemplation, simple kindness, cool-headed-ness, a cultivated, joyous demeanor, and a sunny hopeful attitude. We have been fucking radicalized into decency by the fucking deplorables, and they are legion...

A Delicious Karmic Consequence...

Ha. Who knew?! It really is all about the Epstein Files. It has always been about the Epstein Files. Whatever is in there must be extremely, totally, definitively, toxic to our totally toxic President. And they just won't go away. Sure, lots of juicy emails, but what we all really want to see are photos & videos. Release the Epstein Files! The more the President fails & flails, and as someone said, "He is drowning on every level now..." the more those files grow in power, & loom over him like a black, toxic, cloud. Super-funny. Hard to believe that it is true. For years Trump played footsie with the files, pretending he'd release them, and then, expose all the compromised folks who rubbed shoulders with Jeffery Epstein. That was at the heart and soul of all that ridiculous Q-Anon craziness. But of course, there is one person who looms larger in those files than anyone else, and it's Trump. He is not hero of the saga, but instead the cold, dark, black-hole of sin. And what of Epstein, close friend of Trump, co-conspirator, rival, albatross around Trump's neck? An interesting journey. Ha. Ha. Ha. Trump really, really, wants this scandal to disappear. The more he wishes it to go away, & tries to deflect, distract; the bigger it gets. Now, even MAGA is starting to crack up over it. Yes. MTG vs Trump: Earthquake in MAGALAND! You couldn't come up with a better fucking, totally delicious, Karmic Consequence. Jeffery Epstein, if he is watching from his prominent place in the flames of hell, must be laughing his ass off.

The Horror & the Horrible Ones are Only Going to Get Worse...

This morning I realize, and it's a scary thought, and I am not scared easily, the horror and horrible ones are only going to get worse. Yikes. That seems true. The Nazis are going to double-down on being Nazis. The rich elite are going to be more demanding & dominant. They want to rule over everyone & everything.  You think being exposed by the Jeffery Epstein Scandal will make them change their tunes? Nope. Think: Elite Impunity. They will double & triple down on their skullduggery. Being a billionaire or a trillionaire is there ticket to a cultivated terribleness. They want to be terrible, to be beyond any rules or morals. That's what they think their money & privilege means. They look at the rest of us as obstacles, as chum, as chumps, as servants. We common ones are the folks who are pushed around, abused and taken advantage of, without consequences. Holy Shite. We are in a bad place in our culture/society/politics at the moment. There are corporations, political parties, Judges, Senators, Reps all in on rallying around & protecting the Elite Scumbags. Surprising, but true. Sure. There are many more of us than them, but they hold all the levers of power and they have no decency. As Jeffery Epstein said about Donald Trump: "Not one decent cell in his body."  There are folks still clinging to that guy. Why? They want to be, or are, just like him...

A Totally Faux-Solid-Gold-Creep, Release the Epstein Files...

The redacted email above from February 2017. Jeffery Epstein emailing with Larry Summers talking about Trump.  "... not one decent cell in his body... so yes - dangerous..."  Yikes!

Well. It is funny. That dead guy, who either willingly committed suicide, or was helped in the process, just keeps coming back to haunt his old buddy. It must be maddening for our Wanna Be Authoritarian Prez. Jeffery Epstein must haunt his every waking moment, which admittedly is shrinking, lately, lots of sleeping in the middle of the day for the Prez. Every time his administration thinks they have put this story to bed it rises again. Major email dump yesterday. Lots of juicy bits. You'd have be a total idiot not to know that Mr. Wanna Be is deeply embedded in the Jeffery Epstein scandal. They were best buddies for a good chunk of time. This is one of those classic self-sabotage things. Remember how the Crazy Hard Right conjured up a vast, ugly conspiracy, a black-mail ring, hatched by Epstein, implicating rich folks around the world? And MAGA King, strangely fanned the flames?! Well, it turns out, surprise, surprise, it was true, and one those rich folks was their MAGA Beloved. Where does this go? Who knows. You'd think maybe the best thing would be to just release all the Epstein Files and lets the chips fall where they may. What is MAGA King so worried about? We know he is a creep, a totally faux-solid-gold-creep. Does it get worse? Inquiring Minds want to know!

Lies Vs. Truth...

I find myself to be a "spiritual" person, living in the material world. You know, keeping my head, gravitating to energy, spirit, creativity & navigating the real, gritty, streets every day. The last few days this has meant skating the days away on the fresh snow & ice. The real world around here is cold, hard, brittle, unforgiving; it's a bit tricky and dangerous too. Just getting around is a bit of a chore. Every step is an adventure. The goal is to stay healthy, not to fall, not to break a bone. Simple survival is front & center right now in the neo-cortex. Keeps one alert to every little thing. Making it thru in one piece is victory.

The broader picture? Lies. A blizzard of Lies. Folks (especially in the current government & in big business too), are spending lots of their time & energy Lying to us. They Lie about everything. Even the obvious, simple things, things we can easily disprove with one brain cell, one glance. It's bit mind-numbing. Totally disturbing.

Turns out the rich & powerful think their Lying to us, is essential to them. lt's their go-to tool to keep and grow their wealth & power. What a fucking, convoluted, soulless system we have created for ourselves. Rewarding the Liars. Encouraged, cajoled, brutalized to swallow the obvious Lies. We all are trained to join in; lying to ourselves, and to each other too, come on it's fun. It's way of Life, a Culture, an Industry.

Reminds me of that great John Lennon song: Gimmee Some Truth. (1971). There is the Way of Truth. Living with Truth. Seeking it out, embracing it, sending it forth into the world. Truth can be a hard, unforgiving teacher. But it's real. It is where intelligence, beauty, wisdom, poetry, & the Good Life are to be found & cultivated.

Living the Way of the Lie is total madness, a sickness, pathology, counter to Nature, a nihilistic dead-end. Seems our culture, maybe the entire species (?),  has driven itself into a mad frenzy of Lying? Are we heading to a species-wide cliff? Lying to ourselves with every forward step? Sounds apocalyptic, but rings true, just read the daily, unrelenting, onslaught of news.

Over here. One breath, one real step, at a time. Totally grounded in reality. It's not easy, but it's real, true. Very, very human. Sure, mortal, vulnerable, can fall & fail at any time. That's just the way it is... "Just Gimmee Some Truth..."

Reading the Vibes: The Vibes are Bad...

Sheesh. If you are into reading vibes, like I am, well, lately the vibes in America are reading a bit like Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian."  (1985). Yes. I powered through that difficult & extraordinary book to the end. It was not an easy read. What did I think of it? 

David Foster Wallace named it one of the five most underappreciated American novels since 1960 and "probably the most horrifying book of this century (20th), at least fiction."

I agree with David. Reading McCarthy's novel was sort an intellectual blood-letting. A reset. Gorgeous lines of descriptive, almost biblical-like prose, an unrelenting torrent of human-horror, unfolding in a hard, austere, mysterious, and  starkly wondrous landscape. Weird. 

Shit is going down in America at the moment and that is also not an easy read. A friend of mine who used to live in Turkey, said to me yesterday: "I used to think living in Turkey was bad, now here in the U.S. I think it's worse than Turkey." Yikes.

8 Democratic Senators Caved on the Shutdown and in my little Blue Bubble neighborhood, the natives are not fucking happy about it. Incandescent Rage? Yes. That's a real vibe. So surprising & so soon after a very good election result last Tuesday. A bit disheartening, no doubt.

Yikes. America used to be the place folks from all over the world wanted live. Maybe not so much anymore. We are under assault from our own very criminal government. The folks in charge seem totally detached from reality, they are swimming in their own squalid corruption and narcissism. It is so ugly. 

How to maintain? How not to be diminished or deranged by the daily assaults and outrages? 

Maybe think of it all as a reset; throwing us back on fundamentals. What is important? How to live with truth and reality? How to thrive in the midst of the shite? Maybe there are no good answers? We are stuck living with knotty questions with no clear answers. Still, we must move forward, one step at a time. That's it. All we got.

Disciplined Silence...

Sometimes silence is the best response to the latest shite. A disciplined silence. Bite your tongue, swallow your words, save your energy, stifle your zeal, your anger, your righteous opinion. Wait for another time, another place, another day.

How Best to Recharge, Regenerate, Renew?

"And now for something completely different..."

One the best ways to recharge, regenerate & renew? Spend an evening with a roomful of poets. My partner and I took that advice last night. We spent a few hours rubbing shoulders and chatting with creative, intelligent, soulful folks. A dazzling array of humanity alive in the room. It was a birthday celebration for one of the poets, in a friendly, well-lit storefront, with vinyl records playing on the box, located on a lively Chicago street, a private party, a pop-up food vendor, an amazing menu of items to eat and drink. And the poetry flowed. Funny poems, touching poems, inspiring poems, insightful poems. There was music too. A Dylan song, "She Belongs to Me" ,  was a certain highlight, it was a rousing, foot-stomping bluesy version of that great song. The whole evening was validating, inspiring, fun, essential, & healing. Yes. Hanging with poets. Highly Recommended.

Seeing What's Right in Front of our Noses: It's a Disaster...

 

Seems we have entered the FUBAR, (Fucked/Fouled Up Beyond All/Any Repair/Recognition/Reason), phase our current, lawless, clueless, flailing & failing, wanna-be authoritarian, dictator era in America. It is ugly.

There was the Great Gatsby-themed party at the dictator-chic, Mar A Lago, with a woman in a champagne glass. Maybe slightly "tone-deaf," to current political & economic realities?!

Then Trump administration has decided they need to take food from children and needy folks across the USA. Courts have ruled against them but they are taking this case to the Supreme Court, arguing that to take food from the mouths of children and the working poor is necessary. Really, not fucking kidding...

Seems that all this Fascism, and pretend tough-guy act is really hard work & oh so exhausting. Makes our wanna-be authoritarian very sleepy and tired.

It is all pretty much a disaster on every level right now for this administration. And all of us here in USA are paying the price. Shite. Who could have seen this coming?! 

Ha. And oh, yeah, don't forget about the Epstein Files.  Rumors are they contain info really, really bad for the well-being of one particular individual...

Ha, Ha, Ha, Sandwich Guy Walks!

 

Oh it's a beautiful thing. Oh happy day. Sandwich Guy, yes, Sandwich Guy, the unlikely Hero (the person not the sandwich), of the Resistance, walks!

Sandwich Guy took on Agents of Customs and Border Control, and well, he won. Trump's Justice Department, comically flailing and failing, whiffed on this one. The Justice Department at the moment is a super-corrupt, vindictive, vengeful, incompetent, and fucking ridiculous group of scoundrels. They tried  to make an example of Sandwich Guy, and they belly-flopped big-time.

They originally charged Sandwich Guy with Felony Assault, and a Jury refused to indict, a case of "no-billing." They then charged Sandwich Guy with Misdemeanor Assault, and ha, ha, ha, the Jury found him NOT GUILTY! 

Sandwich Guy admitted in court that he threw a wrapped salami sandwich at Federal Officer, but it was a "harmless gesture," an "exclamation point," not forcible assault. The jury agreed. Another sign that folks are not swallowing Trump's Authoritarian B. S. Seems the narrative is shifting. The Common Folk are showing a bit of common sense, and it's deadly, like newly-minted kryptonite, to this corrupt, Fascist regime. A beautiful thing, indeed.

A Brief Flash of Joy & Happiness

My neighborhood was alive & rocking with joy yesterday. Everyone I know was talking about the Democrat's big election night successes. Democrats won everything, everywhere (see previous post). Surprising. Gratifying. Pretty definitive. And made us all very happy. Maybe our belief in the American Dream isn't dead yet?! You have to embrace the happiness & joy, even if you don't know what's coming around the next corner. You know, I throw my lot in with gravity, common-sense, good cheer, empathy, compassion, democracy, and the common good. I am often disappointed, that's just part of it. The Human Thing is complicated and tricky. My species often excells at self-sabotage, & deep, in the bone stupidity. But, then, once in awhile a positive, life-affirming thing happens, and for a brief time, all seems to be clicking & working. Yes. Embrace the joy & happiness, enjoy it, then fortify yourself for the inevitable battles ahead.

Wow. Democrats WON Everything & Everywhere Last Night...

Yes. So we weren't hallucinating. We knew deep in our hearts, and we have been confirmed in our belief, that the Fascist turn in America is not sitting well with much of the country. Big time push-back last night. The roll-call of wins everywhere, at every level is fucking impressive...

Hope dies last. Hope is renewed. And, of course, maybe the most exciting race in the country, was for New York Mayor. Zohran Mamdani won convincingly. Zohran Mamdani:  "New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant."  What a beautiful validation of the American Dream.

I suggest you take the time to watch Mamdani's full victory speech. It is a good one. It will make you smile. And make you want to roll up your sleeves and get to work to take back our country from Trump, his ugly acolytes, & his corrupt billionaire buddies. Oh yeah, don't forget RELEASE the EPSTEIN FILES!

A Day in the Life...

Yes. Let me just say, "Doomerism is stupid." Maybe, "Blind Optimism is stupid too." The gold standard? Clarity. A Disciplined Clear-Seeing. 

Yesterday, was just another Day in the Life. I was surprised to find that the folks in my neighborhood are all clued in. We are all woke folks who are fully, completely, emphatically, epically WOKE. Yes. We are Aware, Alive, Awake. We are now all wearing whistles around our necks, ready to be blown if ICE is anywhere in the vicinity. We are rallying, and meeting, and contributing to Food Drives for folks who are hungry, since Trump  and GOP are playing games with SNAP. 

Helicopters were again flying over head. Not a good sign. Still, there is no doomerism on the streets. Instead, a fiery consciousness of resistance. Pretty impressive. All the conversations on the paths & streets were about actions folks are taking in response to the bullshit. One of my friends pulled up in his car wearing a bowler hat with the sign "ICE OUT." He also was wearing mirror-shades and a bright, red clown nose. He was driving around looking for ICE, ready to match them clown for clown.

Funny. This friend is not someone I ever thought of as super-political. But folks are rising to the occasion, and the occasion is Fascism in America. We are against it. Hearts, Heads, Souls. Turns out the common folk do seem to care. At least around here. It is a very good development in the face of the horror. No fear, no doomerism, a positive, can-do Spirit. Surprising. Real.

Doing the Things You Need to Do to Get to the Next Thing...

One breath, one step, at a time. Sometimes that needs to be enough. No great expectations. Doing the things you need to do to get to the next thing. Monday morning is a good time to reassess, to recharge, to renew, to revamp, to regenerate. The blows, the pricks & kicks come from all directions. Oh well. No worries. No fears. It is best to carry on despite the noise, the bad-juju, the thunder. That's the soulful way forward.

Dispatch from the Frontlines...

Folk #1: Fuck. Seems ICE & the Border Control have decided to invade and terrorize our little blue bubble community,  as well as other beautiful, serene neighborhoods dotted around and inside of Chicagoland. Helicopters have been flying overhead the last few days. It really does feel like a strangely weird war zone. These sleepy, happy streets are under attack. ICE & Border Control Agents are showing up, crashing cars, manhandling & snatching people off the streets. Uber drivers, landscapers, restaurant workers, people who work at the car wash. These are hard-working folks. They pay taxes, they are raising their kids, they are integral to our communities. Local schools have been on alert and lockdown, trying to avoid having parents abducted and leaving young children without their parents. This is total nightmare shite. The community is outraged. You will hear your friends and neighbors say "Fuck ICE," and you will nod your head and say, "Amen, this will not stand." Yes. They have brought their "Nazi-shite," to our little blue bubble world. These assholes aren't "keeping us safe," they are terrorizing and abusing us. It's disgusting, terrible, un-American. And they are lying to us all. They are are not targeting criminals, gang members, terrorists, they are going after common, hard-working folks. There was a big community rally yesterday, strategizing how to stand up & resist. Folks were handing out whistles to be used to warn folks when the ICE goons & thugs are near. We now all wear whistles around our necks. We, the citizens, the common folk,  are drawing closer together here. Folks who maybe were tuned out, are now totally tuned in. There is Hope in that development. If enough of us wake the fuck up, we can stop these atrocities. We don't want to live in this fucking Nazi Dystopia. These "brown people," being assaulted and whisked to some local gulag, are our friends, neighbors, co-workers. An attack on them is an attack on all of us.

Untethered From Reality...

Folk #1: That's what I would call this era we are living in now, the "Untethered From Reality," era. Oh, you know, reality, gravity, truth & consequences, the cycle of birth & death, these things actually all still exist, we live in a material, physical world, no doubt, but much of our culture, our politics, our collective consciousness, our head-space, the zeitgeist, is consumed with, and swimming in, the "unreal." There is a deep denial in our embrace of unreality. I guess it could explain how the richest, most envied Democracy on the planet elected a  Sexual Predator & Convicted Felon currently embarked on a revenge tour, a wanna-be dictator, who is dismantling our government and unleashing a war on everyday American Citizens. Madness. Idiocy. There is also the AI boom, the crazy, edge-lord Tech Bros, video game culture, the social media landscape. The world of business too seems to be smoking crack. The stock market is disconnected from anything tangible. Our brains are being pickled & fermented by the unreal. You know, it's kind of crazy-ass unreal. Makes one want to unplug, sit on a bench, breathe deeply, stare at the lake, the trees, the grasses. Be a Human Being, alive, aware, awake. Real. One thinks "this can't last." Every morning, looking for signs, seeking out the cracks in the firmament. "Isn't this all going to come crashing down on our heads, like, you know, some time soon?"

Learning from the Real...

Life it's a sticky-wicket. Being Human is not a dinner party...

My own powers of self-delusion are strong, but at the same time, I use these powers sparingly. Self-delusion can be an effective tool to propel yourself forward into a hostile world. You can use it to fortify yourself as you conjure up a positive vibe and jump into the breach. But, yes, it's important to know when, and how, you are deluding yourself.  You should only do it with purpose. And you must just as easily be able to drop that delusion in the blink of an eye.

I find great joy in surprising myself, in changing my mind, in being in touch with reality, and learning from the real. Clarity. It's a cool drug. And, of course, long-form improvisation is the best way forward. 

So yeah, I can go bleak when I see bleak. I can also find the Light in the Darkness. I don't mind trying on new ideas. I don't mind admitting being wrong. I don't mind being the Devil's Advocate. 

Being wrong, and changing my mind might have been a hard to do when I was younger, but not really anymore. I really try not to cling to falsities, or disproven theories & ideas. Dropping the bullshit can be a powerful and joyful experience.

What do I hate? Blind certainty. Racism. Cruelty. Bullies. Lies. Religious Hypocrisy, Rich & Powerful People Lording over the rest of us. I just vicerally hate that shite. These are essential touchstones in my life. Reacting to, and opposing those "sins," against an Enlightened Humanity. 

Always be morphing, evolving, open-minded, open-hearted, always seeking, and wondering, and yes, leaning to the Light. Sticking to the Real...

The ZEN, the Light, the Darkness, the Duality of the Human Thing...

Sure lots of turmoil and hurly-burly. But then little moments of ZEN every day. 

The above photo was taken on my ususal late morning jaunt in the hood. It's a beautiful neighborhood that I navigate. Gorgeous day. Beautiful Lake Michigan. What was totally weird and disconcerting, helicopters were passing overhead quite frequently. Coming and going from the Great Lakes Naval Station. Thinking those copters had something to do with the heavy hand of ICE and Immigration atrocities across Chicago.

So even in those moments of ZEN, the darkness flies past. Talk about the duality of the Human Thing.

Ah... well... sitting quietly in the kitchen this morning, typing into my Chromebook, wondering if any interesting, pithy, brilliant, or maybe decently pedestrian thoughts pop into my head. Nope. Not really. It feels like the Titanic is taking on water. The whole shebang is about to sink, but not sure if that's just an illusion, or a misreading of the tea leaves. I am all about uncertainty this morning. More of a phase of "wondering what's next?" But even that thought is just out of a certain habit, a sort casual impulse, pointing to "wondering." 

My fellow Human Beings, I just don't know what to think. I want to lean to the Light, but the Darkness never seems to go away. It's a complicated, tricky picture.

The Children's Crusade...

 

"Earlier in the day students from Little Village Lawndale High School held a walk out to protest recent immigration enforcement actions in the area."

This is happening in the streets of Chicago. Maybe the kids are gonna rise up and save us? Show us the way? That would a good and necessary development.

The Resistance Here is Strong...

Folk #1: Yes. It is outrageous that the U.S. Government is at war with Blue Cities (see previous post). Of course it is a war ginned up & based on lies, stone-cold right-wing propaganda. There is no crisis in Chicago. We are happy here. We know our city is a jewel, a beautiful congregation of humanity. We love our multi-racial and multi-cultural populations. The immigrants here are by and large hard-working families trying to live the American Dream. ICE is an abomination. This assault on our city is wrong-headed, immoral, and ultimately futile. The Hearts & Minds will not be conquered. The Resistance here is strong. It includes the Common Folk, The Governor, State Senators & Reps, The Mayor, The Alderman, The Clergy, The Unions, The Business Community, etc. Anyone here, on the streets knows, that this Fascist/Authoritarian Regime led by Trump & his Thugs is Anti-American. Their attacks on the populace is cruel, pointless, and disgusting. They will be defeated, no doubt. We expect things will get worse, we are prepared to stand and resist as the evil-doers get more desperate to prove they are all powerful. Of course, they are not; it's all a blizzard of lies, a horror-show, total bullshit. It just won't fly in our lovely City & State.

Turns Out the Guns, the Zip-ties, the Armour Can't Win the Hearts & Minds...

Folk #1: "Tentative, uncertain idea here. We are winning the vibes here in Chicagoland. Neighbors helping neighbors in the face of ICE assaults & terror. We love our city, our communities, the surrounding suburbs. This ugly adminstration, Trump's thugs, and their strong-arm tactics can't change the character of the folk.  Our hearts & minds cannot be easily swayed. We grew up in a much different America, and we won't easily or willingly give that up. We know that America and the American Dream is not just for White People, it is for all of us who have arrived here. That's what was affirmed at the No Kings rallies and protests on Oct 18. That joy, that positive affirmation, the disciplined determination was real, and we carry it with us now. Talk to the folk they will tell you they hate what is happening with these attacks on families. It doesn't matter what color skin these folks wear. An attack one of us, is an attack on all of us. We are united in our love for each other. We know that America is better than this lawless regime. They can't change the character of our America. We loom much larger than them. They may have tear-gas, zip ties, big guns, masked faces, the armour of war, but we have love, grace, kindness, our voices, and each other.  We also have truth and reality on our side. We will not break. We will stand up and oppose. We actually found out to our own surprise that we are not afraid, we won't be intimidated or derailed, or denied, we are BRAVE. Funny how that works. Yes. The people rising to the moment. Yes. We own the vibes, the good vibes. They are real, they connect us. We shall overcome..."

The Crimes of ICE: Cruelty, Pointless, Heartless, Nihilistic Cruelty...

Folk #1: "We know people, who know people, who are being terrorized & assaulted by ICE here in our beautiful town, and surrounding localities. ICE is acting like a lawless force, snatching folks off the streets: Mothers, Fathers, hard working folks, carried away to god knows what gulag-hell-hole, leaving young children Motherless & Fatherless, crying and alone. Totally ripping families apart. This is madness. It's happening out on streets blocks away from our home. It's happening in beautiful Chicago Neighborhoods like Little Village, Pilsen, Lakeview, and yes, our sleepy little Town, Evanston. Such cruelty, pointless, heartless, nihilistic cruelty, with no purpose. Really, just raw power imposed on the defenseless Humans. Very, very sick. 

ICE is an obscene abomination. Of course, it should be abolished. It is being used as a tool for this Facsist/Authoritarian regime. It is ugly, counter to everything we hold dear here in America.

We spent time at a little art-space last night. A shaggy, friendly room, well-lit, and comfortable, filled with creative, engaged, intelligent Human Beings. The Crimes Against Humanity out on the streets loomed over us all. We are the kind of people who see an attack on one of us as an attack on all of us. We see ourselves as part of a beloved community, a collection of beings that includes folks of all colors, creeds, & persuasions. We are diverse & inclusive. We open our arms and hearts to all. We talked of the pain, the sadness, the disgusting displays of power being inflicted upon our Brothers & Sisters, and how we are all deeply wounded, but at the same time absolutely firm in our opposition.  

Folks are rallying to help the children. Folks are out on the streets witnessing & filming the atrocities, and voicing their deep contempt of the actions & crimes of the ICE thugs. Last night we played music, we gathered together as a community of souls. We think of this creative pursuit as the good work, soul-work, enriching & life affirming, we think it is the antidote to the tragedies unfolding across our country. We are filled with sadness and righteous anger. We oppose this super-charged cruelty with all of our hearts and heads. A disciplined non-violence. and a dedicated, deep in the bone, opposition to this terrible shite."

Was that Joy and Unbridled Happiness Real? Can We Carry it Forward? Yes, We Can...

This conversation, published this morning, between Paul Krugman and Erica Chenoweth is just the tonic I needed: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/talking-with-erica-chenoweth...

Maybe you need it too? 

Remember that Joy & Unbridled Happiness you felt standing in the middle of that NO KINGS rally & protest on October 18? That was "cognitive liberation," surging thru your body & consciousness. You and so many other folks could feel it. It is essential & important, and it is a pathway forward to throwing off the oppressors: 

"a few things happen at the same time; the first is that there’s a collective understanding that the situation can be changed. There’s a collective understanding that it’s intolerable and there’s a collective understanding that each individual must do something about it, but also can do something about it. Then there’s an understanding that now that we all know this information, there’s no going back to the previous status quo where it felt like the situation was permanent, only going to get worse, and there’s nothing we can do about it."

Yes. HOPE. It lives in the hearts and heads of the folks standing against Tyranny. Folks can throw off the shackles of Tyranny & Authorianism. How to do it? People Power. Really. Galvanizing folks to stand up and oppose, to demand change. If enough us gather together as a united front, we truly can change the world. There is history and data to back that up. Not a pipe-dream. 

The resistance is alive and well in America. From all walks of life. That is what NO KINGS showed us all. We need to continue, "disciplined nonviolence," yes. We change the world via peaceful protest! Yes. It can be done, it has been done all over the world many times in the history of humanity.

"Here’s something that will make you feel hopeful. We have more information, more history, more knowledge, more perspective, more manuals, more guide books, more research, into how people mobilize effectively against authoritarianism than anyone in human history has ever had."

Be sure to read the whole thing. My take: "A change of consciousness can happen in an instant." It is the first step in forging a new reality. Yes. Brothers & Sisters, we shall overcome...

Just Refuse to Give in or Give Up to this Sick Madness...

 Folk #1: I'm not a doomer or a fatalist. I just don't roll that way. Still all of this turmoil & destruction unleashed by the current adminstraiton is overwhelming. We spent yesterday warning folks in our neighborhood that ICE was roaming the streets, grabbing innocent people, hard-working people, and disappearing them into newly-constructed American gulags. Yes. This is happening in our bluest of blue bubble communities. Our Governor & Mayor and all of our U.S. Senators and Reps are against this assault on the citizens here. It is all ugly, very, very ugly. Hard to imagine that this new American Dystopia is real. Hope lies in the hearts & heads of our fellow Humans who know that that kind of thing is absolutely wrong, soul-killing & inhumane.  How are we going to stop all this sick madness? Not sure. I suppose it's important to just say, "We are against it." We should all stand up and say it.  Stand in opposition with every fibre of our beings. Then, march, protest, vote. Refuse to give in, or to give up. No time for doomerism or fatalism. We can defeat this illness in our country. I do believe we can, and will...

The Onslaught of Bad News...

 

Folk #1: Good Lord. I think of myself as strong-willed, strong-minded, not easily rattled. But I must admit that the unrelenting onslaught of bad news, one day after another, is taking it's toll on my well-being. This latest atrocity, Trump's destruction of the East Wing of the White House is not the worst story out there, it's not as life-threatening as kidnapping & disappearing hard-working folks off the streets of America and into gulags, or blowing up fishing boats & murdering fisherman in the Carribean, or dismantling American's healthcare for a large section of the populace, or taking food from needy children, or slapping tariffs on imports like a drunken idiot making everything more costly, or looting our government from the top down, but symbolically you couldn't come up with a better single image of the impact of this immoral, lawless administration on the traditions and well-being of the USA. You know. What the fuck...

Slim Pickings...

Well. The sky isn't falling on our heads. We have that going for us. Beyond that, yikes, things seem to be hurtling out of control. There are no steering wheels, or brakes. The momentum seems to be picking up speed, always going forward towards a brick wall, or a precipice. Can cooler heads prevail? Can we adjust trajectory before it's too late? An Imagined God only knows. There are no big daddies to save us. We are on our own, muddling about. Seriously, not sure what to think about it all. I look around for a bit of wisdom or insight, and it is all meager portions & "slim pickings." Be Here Now. One Step at a Time. Breathe. Don't forget to Breathe. Beyond that? Well. Your guess is as good as mine...

Trump is Literally Destroying the White House...

 

Folk #1: "Can this be real? Yes. It is really real. This lawless, immoral, very corrupt and stupid President is literally overseeing the destruction of the White House. WTF?! We were still riding the good vibes of the No Kings rallies across the USA on Saturday, and then we see the latest atrocity from Trump. What a terrible scourge & plague on the land. This is a perfect encapsulation of what this very unworthy President is doing to our beautiful country. Destroying one of the key symbols of our nation, destroying the "people's house," to construct some hideous, Mar A Lago type, dictator-chic monstrosity. Holy fuck, the mind reels. This photo, my fellow Americans, pretty much sums up this time & era. Yikes. Fuck. It is going to take a major new movement to fix all the shite, & wreckage that this clueless, malevolent fucker has unleashed upon us."

The Dream is Still Alive in Many Hearts & Heads...

Folk #1: "I don't want to make more of it than what is was, but what it was, was magnificent. Saturday's No Kings rally & protest, near & far, & across the land, was a beautiful, wonderful, inspiring gathering of the beloved community. No doubt. It was so soul-enriching, and life-inspiring to stand shoulder to shoulder with folks from all walks of life, all ages, all creeds & all colors. These were folks who all had the same vision of America still in their heads and hearts. A country of Freedom, of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Empathy, Justice; a country founded and built by immigrants. A generous, giving, empathetic & progressive view of the USA and our place in the world. We stand in opposition to the MAGA movement, which is hateful, stupid, and a dead-end. No Kings was thrilling, satisfying, joyful. If only we could bottle that energy. Where does it all go from here? Not sure, but so happy to see that folks, the common ones, the people, young, old, in-between still care, still want to live the American Dream we conjured up together."

One of the Largest Mass Mobilizations in American History...

Ah... well... that's the America we know & love...

What happened yesterday? "One of the largest mass mobilizations in American history," that's what, and it was freaking glorious.

What about our little, sleepy college town on the North Shore? 

No Kings rally & protest in Fountain Square, Evanston, IL. October 18, 2025. It was just one of 2500 of these around the USA.

Was it amazing, beautiful & inspiring? Yes, it was, indeed. Indivisible Illinois!

And what about Grant Park, in Chicago, IL? Crowd estimate? 100,000 beautiful souls!

Navigating the Wonder & Horror...

Folk #1: "The Wonder and the Horror. The Goodness & the Terribleness. That's the Human Thing. You have to somehow navigate through it all. How to make sense of it? Beats me.  Maybe, doing the best one can? You know, Spike Lee's idea: Do the Right Thing. I do think we Humans have a made a total hash of things. We are not a very intelligent species, we are also very selfish, short-sighted, and can be brutally vicious to each other. It makes one tend to want to cultivate silence. Step back into a state of Mystery & Grace. Seems like a retreat, but, you know, maybe, probably, a necessary retreat? Aware. Alive. Awake. Living in the Moment. Cautiously seeking the Wonder & the Goodness, turning away from the Horror & Terribleness. That's all I got this morning. Looking forward to our local No Kings rally & protest later this morning. It's a sleepy, prosperous, generous town. We will be standing shoulder to shoulder with our fellow citizens. A small gesture. Thinking everything hinges upon it. Who knows?!"

Let's Reclaim the Dream...

 

We were sitting on our favorite bench yesterday. Mid-afternoon. Watching the clouds drift across the sky, watching the waves crashing into the sandy shore. The beach was deserted, except for a few seagulls, flying low, and a few prancing across the sand.

Two fellows came trekking down the path. They stopped at our bench and handed us the No Kings handbill. We all talked about the big event coming this Saturday. Supposedly there will be around 2500 gatherings throughout the USA. 

Think of it as the sprawling "Beloved Community," coming out to stand against tyranny. Are we a bunch of paid radicals? Nope. Just concerned citizens. The common folk. It seems the Trumpers are a bit worried about this event. They should be. I do think we will show the world, and America, that there are more of us than them.

We will celebrate the Constitution, Freedom, Democracy, the Rule of Law, Immigrants, Workers, Diversity, Inclusiveness. All walks of Life. Humans of all kinds. This is foundational stuff. Important. Find a local Indivisible gathering and stand up to be counted. This is our America. Let's reclaim the Dream.

Too Far, Either Way...

Folk #1: "Don't think too far ahead, or too far back. I think that's good advice. I mean, I am not saying I have it all figured out, no way, that would be complete & total vanity, I just think it's a good rule of thumb to try to live in the moment, as close to the present moment as possible. It's the only place you can actually do something, you know, in the present moment. Think too far ahead, well, you are dead, think too far back, there are way too many unfortunate, embarrassing and humbling events to review. Life: a series of unfortunate events. Remember, thinking is another one of those double-edged swords. Too much thinking makes the baby go blind. Ha. And too little thinking makes you a very stupid person; a fool, an idiot, a dolt. It's tricky."

Life Coach: Rules for Better Living...

Be Hopeful.

Be willing to Dream. 

Keep your feet on the ground.

Love Truth.

Hate Hatred.

Be willing to change.

Be open-minded.

Be open-hearted.

Be disciplined.

Don't freak out.

Fuck fear.

Fuck ICE.

Live your life to the fullest.

Don't be afraid to be you.

Improvise.

Evolve.

Lean to the Light.

No Kings Rallies on October 18, 2025 All Across America!

Simple, compelling message. Nothing radical here. This is a movement of people who love America and love American Democracy, the Rule of Law, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, & Human Rights for all. It is not "pie in the sky" utopia shite. Nope. This is about the people caring about the country, and how government should work for the people.  No Kings, instead, Public Servants. We are the folks who helped make this country a unique example to the world. Not perfect by any means, instead an intense, always on-going & morphing work in progress. Sometimes the progress is stymied, or derailed. We take a few steps forward, and  then a few steps back. Democracy is messy, and only as good as the People. There are always disagreements, competing ideas. See the previous post, it's always "One Battle After Another."

At the moment the grifters, the con-men, the corrupt ones, the power-seekers, the greedy fucks, the toxic forces seem to be in the ascendent. Maybe some of us took too much for granted. It is time for the People to rise up and declare their own power & agency. Peacefully, of course. This Saturday, October 18 there will be No Kings rallies all across the county. It is time for us to stand up and be counted. Come on out. Find a rally in your town and join the cause. It will be a celebration of the best of America. This beautiful American experiment is under threat, we must reclaim the initiative, the conversation, the momentum. No Kings, baby!

Yes. America: One Battle After Another...

We took a break from the madness yesterday, and went to a movie in a beautiful thriving, neighborhood in Chicago, anyone telling you that this fine city is a "war-zone," or a "hell-hole," is seriously delusional and lying to you. The streets were alive with folks from all walks of life; all sizes, all genders, all colors, everyone lively, communing, and basking in the energy of a surging humanity, and the glorious October sunshine. 

We went to a mid-afternoon showing of "One Battle After Another," the new film by the master filmmaker PT Anderson.  Is it a fabulous, engaging, intelligent, beautifully filmed, perfectly-pitched entertainment? Yes, indeed. It was playing at the Music Box Theater, a classic movie-palace which, believe it or not, opened in 1929. It's been updated and refurbished with comfy seats, a great sound system and the capabilty of showing films in 70mm. Astonishing & good.

The film actually is totally of the moment, it is based on a Thomas Pynchon novel, but it is brought forward into the days and vibes of our new Fascist Dystopia in America. It's a rollicking action-movie with a sense of humor, grace, bold style & intelligence. A rare good thing.

What is the take away? America is bigger than the Fascist/Racist vision being shoved down our throats by the Trump Administration. We have always had to battle for progress & inclusion. It's just the way America rolls. The good news, we outnumber these Fascist Fuckers, and their agenda is based on lies, hate, racism and stupidity. 

We shall overcome... 

We Can Do So Much Better...

ICE is an abomination. It should be abolished. They are on the streets, in our neighborhoods, terrorizing hard-working, peaceful citizens. Super-Nazified Tactics. Crimes against humanity. No doubt. This needs to stop. We can do so much better.

seeking love, wild abandon, living life to the fullest...

We did a show last night. Before our set we did a reading from Roberto Bolano's "Amulet," (1999).

From our introduction: “Roberto Bolano often wrote about human beings living under a heavy boot. Sort of an echo, a foreshadowing of our new American Dystopia. He emerged as a writer at a time when people no longer believed in utopias, when paradise had become a sort of living hell. People disappeared off the streets, mothers and fathers taken away in the dark of night, children left to fend themselves. Of course, as an antidote and response to the cruelty and horror of the authoritarians, there are always the artists, the poets, the storytellers, the musicians, all of us seeking love, wild abandon, living life to the fullest. Truth-seekers. Truth tellers. Always searching, & remembering.”

We Love the Big City & all it Contains...

 

We are so lucky & happy to have a great Governor, J.B. Pritzker, who is not afraid to stand up and defend Illinois & Chicago from our "Criminal in Chief." Yes. J.B. is a truth-teller, a no-nonsense Governor commited to representing the good people of the "Land of Lincoln." We are smack dab in the middle of the country, and Chicago, the city of "broad shoulders," is one of the great cities of the world. It is a beautiful, thriving, multi-cultural stew of Humanity. Yes. JB. is right, this President "says a lot of crazy things," he is unhinged from reality, out of touch with the truth, and the streets. Yes, there is something seriously "wrong with him."  This crazy, manufactured war on the cities of the USA is an unfolding crime & tragedy. So happy that good, sensible, brave and articulate folks are standing up in opposition. We value honesty here, we value common sense, we love the big City and all that it contains. We are the best of America. Right here. Right now.

Really, We Are Not That Dumb...

What is Antifa? "Antifa is a contraction of "anti-fascist" and refers to a decentralized, left-wing political movement primarily focused on opposing fascism, racism, white supremacy, and other far-right ideologies."

So now they want us to believe that Antifa is bad?

Remember Indiana Jones? Antifa!

Remember Rick & Ilsa in Casablanca? Antifa!

Remember all those World War II movies? All those U.S. soldiers aligned with our Allies, fighting in Europe? Antifa!

Oh yeah and don't forget, John Wayne in the Longest Day? Antifa!

Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express? Antifa!

Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan? Antifa!

Brad Pitt in Inglorious Basterds? Antifa!

Someone is trying to re-write the script. We are not that dumb! Or, well, at least some of us aren't that dumb. Those viewers over on FOX News, well, let's just say, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste..."

ICE Terrorizing Chicago...

Folk #1: "We stand with our Governor. We cannot back down from the bully. So yes, these very corrupt, evil people that are in power at the moment, want to do maximum evil & corrupt things, and to hang onto their power forever. But, you know, we don't have to go along with the program. We can choose to oppose with all our hearts, heads & spirits. Life goes on, the country is bigger, bolder, more interesting and soul-full, than those soul-less fucks trying to impose their oppressive bullshit on us. We can stand up, raise our voices, protest their cruelty. ICE is here in the Chicago area terrorizing innocents folks; hard-working men & women, folks doing their best to make a living, and support their families. ICE is raiding apartment buildings, man-handling folks, zip-tying little children. Anyone not paying attention should start fucking paying attention. This is not the America we know & love. Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong. The folks who know what is right, good, & true, must rise up and demand a better day & better way.

Optimism vs. Pessimism...

Folk #1: "Where does the optimism come from?  Hmmm.... that's a mystery, for sure. It bubbles up, unbidden. It's close to the chest. It is ascendent with a guitar in hand, or a cup of cofee close by, or this morning, by spinning the Rolling Stones classic 'Beggar's Banquet' CD on the stereo. The optimism doesn't travel far. About as far as I can spit. A good night's sleep, an uncommonly good meal, a sunny morning. Circumscribed. I guess that's what I'd say. My optimism is quite circumscribed. If my thoughts or awareness drifts too far afield, you know casting my thoughts outward, thinking about the world, or the planet, or humanity in general, the optimism vanishes in the blink of an eye. Then it's a deep, in the bone pessimism that rears it's ugly head. If I think of all those terrible people out on the horizon, causing other humans beings pain & suffering, things quickly turn bleak. I have to play a trick of the mind, I have to imagine them dead; stone-cold dead, and buried in the ground. You know, I conjure up an accident, or a heart attack, some unfortunate incident that fortunately strikes down the stupid, corrupt, hateful ones. That kind of positive therapeutic imagining is a quick hack back to optimism. I tell my myself: 'The evil-doers will die someday. They will get what they deserve. The karma-train comes for us all." Those cheery thoughts brings a smile to my face, and then, that little bubble of optimism rises once again like a Phoenix from the ashes."

J.B. Pritzker is the Man...

 

This statement is from our Illinois Governor J.B. Prtizker. He is a tremendous leader. A great Governor. We love how he has stood up against Trump & Miller and their stupid war on Blue States. We stand in solidarity with our Governor. We do not need troops here. The Trump cabal is a lawless hostile administration, run by thugs & criminals. Oh, yeah, by the way RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!!!

Filling Our Days with Poetry, Beauty, Joy & Fun...

We lean to the Light & to Beauty. Even if there is ugliness in the air. It is essential to keep our heads together. We are lucky. We know so many beautiful, soulful, creative folks. We can easily lose ourselves in the good work of our creative journey & to fill our days with poetry, beauty, joy & fun. It is truly the best of us. We are the antidote and solution to the Fascist Dystopia flowing out of D.C. We think they are weak, ugly corrupt, immoral, whiny, stupid, people. It is a pleasure to turn away from them. They must be defeated.

Figure they Are Lying To You...

Yes. Simple rules. Figure this administration is lying to you. Trump can't help it. He lies like air escaping from a punctured tire. He has set the tone for everyone else in his administration. Who can lie more forcefully, more idiotically, more enthusiastically?

If the say they are going after "gang members," figure they are going after innocent, children, mothers, fathers, hard-working people.

If they say they are killing "narco-terrorists" in the Caribbean, figure they are killing innocent fishermen, you know, more honest, hard-working people.

If they say the are sending troops to Portland to stop the war that is happening in the streets there, figure there is no war, just another American City full of people working, playing, living.

If they say they are at War with Democrats, Blue States, Blue Cities & Antifa, well, figure they are telling you the truth. They have hallucinated enemies around every corner. These are not healthy minds. 

Sure, call them Nazis & Fascists. Why? Because they are doing  ugly, nasty, immoral, Nazi and Fascist things. It's the Big Lie, repeated daily, over and over, and over. These are really sick, twisted fucks. We can do so much better dear America!

"What do I tell my kids? I can't tell them they are fucked, I have to be positive for them."

We sat on our favorite bench and watched the waves yesterday, late afternoon. One of our favorite activities, or is it a glorious in-activity? Another perfect Autumn day, blue skies, summer-like temps, a golden fading of the light. Folks were out, swimming, sailing, walking, biking. A little scene of perfection.

We should have been chill and full of peace, love & understanding, but, of course, all is not well in paradise. My partner & I were swirling down a dark tunnel in our minds. Our conversation was all about the raid & brutal assault on the residents in an apartment building on Chicago's South Shore. The current very corrupt, unwell, President is at war with Blue State America,  with the Big Cities, & with Immigrants. Agents zip-tied little children, moms, dads in a disgusting & immoral raid. We are the kind of people, who believe an assault, an attack on "those people," is an attack on us too. You know, solidarity with humanity.

Hard to believe this adminstration has decided to make America a fascist, rat-fucking Dystopia. Yes. A dark fascist turn, no doubt. We have lived through bad Presidencies before, especially: Nixon, Reagan, Bush II, but this has gone so bad, so quickly, it is hard to believe, but it is  undoubtably true, this is the New Ugly America, and we are under the thumb of the worst of us. We have a hostile President & Adminstration that is at War with Americans.

We struggled through a conversation. How to keep our heads above water? How to keep calm & carry on when atrocities against our fellow human beings are being carried out by our Governement just south of our beautiful vista?

A fellow traveller came riding by on his bike, he stopped at our bench. We exchanged "Hello's," and then he talked about the horror that was on his mind too. Funny. It's was an oddly-uplifting conversation. It was strangely gratifying to know that someone else was also consumed with thoughts & feelings of disgust, dismay, & Helplessness. At least we knew that someone else was Awake too.

Our friend is a father of three children. "What do I tell my kids? I can't tell them they are fucked, I have to be positive for them."

Then we reviewed the reality of our collective situation. What to do? March. Protest. Write. Speak up. Alive. Aware. Awake. Be a Witness to the atrocities. And denounce them. And, of course, Vote when & if we can. We all still want to live in the country we grew up in, even if it seems to be vanishing right before our eyes & ears.

Our fellow traveller wished us well, and then he went on his way. We got up from the bench, & walked down the path, wondering to ourselves, what fresh fuckery will be next? And how the hell do we live with it?

A Very Unwell Person (actually two), Ranting at the Generals...

Tracking with the madness. It's getting harder to do. Keeping up. Seems everyday, we are spinning faster & faster, threatening to spin out of control. Luckily, you can check in with Paul Krugman each morning. He has his finger on the pulse. Here is the main headline of the last few days in this morning's post:

"If America still had a fully functioning democracy, Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday to the assembled generals would have ended his presidency. Trump treated the event like a political rally and was clearly taken aback by the refusal of the audience to applaud or laugh at his jokes. Delivering a nakedly partisan speech to a mandated assembly of military officers was a gross violation of the Hatch Act. The content —telling the officers to be ready to use force against U.S. citizens — was clearly an impeachable offense. In an earlier era, Trump’s incoherent ranting would have paved the way for his immediate removal from office under the 25th Amendment."

Yep. No doubt. Seems we don't have a functioning Democracy, because the Republicans just turn away, and pretend not see or hear a thing. The madness just keeps flowing. We all scramble trying to keep up. We think it's our duty as concerned citizens, but, then, again, I think we all need to pause, catch our breath, take care of our own sanity in the face of the over-amped crazy.

We are trapped in the claws of the worst of the worst amongst us. Trump's hiring practice: "crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty." Yikes. We are good & royally fucked! Have a nice day!

Ok, back to Krugman. Let's praise the hope that maybe wrapped up in their incompetence: "In a perverse way, we can be grateful that Trump and his minions are so incompetent, because that is forcing the dormant parts of our country to push back. Let’s just hope that the pushback is strong enough and fast enough to save us all."

Asking the Big Questions...

A dear loved one sent me a note about my last two posts (see previous 2 posts).

"Perhaps a new book would be wise?"

Ha. It is gratifying that someone is concerned for my well-being. It's funny, though, I am feeling fine. Reading Cormac McCarthy is actually quite life-affirming. Sure the book delves into a very hard, bleak, violent world, but the language is stunningly gorgeous. Absolutely beautiful, majestic writing. One is carried along by the narrative & the uncommonly rendered descriptions of the natural world.

Hard to convey how a series of perfectly constructed sentences can transport a reader. I am totally inspired and fired up by reading the book. Any book that can fire my imagination, get me to ask basic existential  questions is a worthy read.

I don't & can't recommend the book to anyone I know. It's dark. Really. I mean, some folks like me, will totally dive in with both feet, but it is not a cheery little tome. The gore, the horror, the cruelty of humanity, hangs over everything like a black cloud. It is almost Old Testament brutal. If there is a God, (an open question), he or she is  a very vengeful & cruel one, or a totally vacant, indifferent, non-caring one. Or you know, maybe this God is actually not good at all, dabbling in & encouraging evil just for the thrill of it? 

For sure, Humanity is on it's own. Human Beings calling on Gods and Devils is actually, totally besides the point. Look to yourself Human, you own it.

It leads one to ask all the big questions: How to live? How to find your way in the world? What's it all about? What of the human heart? How is it possible that humans are capable of incredible horror, murder, insanity, and also beauty, wonder, creativity, Love, Honor, & Joy? I think of William Blake: We humans are the "Marriage of Heaven & Hell." How to reconcile the contradictions? Any novel that gets you to that place is certainly remarkable & worthy.

The Violence & Hate, Scourge of Humanity...

Well...

I think I jumped a little early (see previous post). Reading a bit more deeply into the text of Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian," (1985), I realize it's a bit deeper and more inclusive than I realized, it's a novel about universal Human barbarity. Jean Paul Sartre's "Hell is other people," comes to mind. And, I suppose living with other people is a certain Hell. The violence, the gore, the horror, comes from all peoples, all sides. There are no "good guys." Everyone, all people are implicated in the sins of violence, cruelty, & hate. Sure there are the sins of the white peoples conquering America, (slavery, genocide, deep in the bone racism), but any people, any tribe, any mob at war with "the others," will quickly unleash & descend into the yawning maw of blood and guts. Are we ever past that kind of thing? Probably not. Look around the planet. Humans destroying other Humans. It's one of our most common occupations. We build churches, we pray & sing, but often we then turn to kill one another at the drop of a hat. The "in" group, easily turns on the "out" group. Must be built into our genetic heritage. We build these civilizations, we act like civilized beings, but the violence, the hate is not far from our grasp. It's close by, waiting, always waiting. That's just the reality. Of course, the folks fanning the flames, calling for cruelty & punishment? Those who gladly divide us? The murderers, the war-mongers? Those are the conscious, bad-actors, malevolent, evil-doers amongst us. Can some of us look past the blood, the gore, the murder, to see a certain Light? Aye, there's the rub. Maybe with a bit of luck & pluck, one can live a life beyond, but it's likely an "accident" of circumstance, time, place, & nature. Ha. At least that's what I think Cormac McCarthy is presenting to us. You are in Cormac's world. It's beautifully constructed, with a bleeding heart of horror at the center. A novel of hard, cold-blooded truth. Where is the beauty? Descriptions of the land, the mountains, the streams, the hard plains, the Light. If there is any kind of redemption it is to be found in little sparkling flashes. That's it.

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...