Love Objects

Before emojis

aimed 

to please,

and punctuated

our text-

driven

communication,

“Be mine”

and 

“I’m yours”

were validation;

or perhaps

merely

expectation

or hopeful

exploration

exchanged

on Valentine’s

Day.

Verbal expressions, 

corny

or horny,

are now confessions

made pictorially

with a heart

or an eggplant

emoji.

See

the emotion

evoke 

a notion-

a flirtation;

a wink.

Whatever 

you think,

brevity

of the 

emoji

is the gesture’s

efficiency,

unless

you’re me,

and then

you guess

the best

way to 

suggest

a thought

which ought

to be direct.

If love 

is a universal

language,

we each 

tend to speak

in a unique

dialect.

But to protect

ourselves

and deflect

from our 

selves

we opt

for visual

and physical

speech

we each

understand,

which now 

tends 

to command

definition.

A hallmark 

of love

is forgotten

egos

as we 

become

consumed

by Eros.

Hearts pierced

by Cupid

and all

the stupid

merchandise

to remind

us all to

exercise

expressions

of love 

to those

we prize,

and not

just

romantically.

Love

objects

to silence

and distance,

with an insistence

on affinity.

Relationships

with family

and friends

and lovers

demand

loving

attention

and some

sort of mention

of “I love you!”.

Whether with

an object,

or more 

direct

speech,

each person

you can reach

needs 

your love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

But His Emails (A Tale of Whoa!)

They’d have you

believe

that if you 

retrieve

an entitlement,

guaranteed

by our government,

that somehow

you’re just

a taker.

And,

the wealthy

are smarter,

and work

much harder,

and make

things

for you

and me.

They have relevance

and benevolence

as benefactors

and contractors,

providing

the world

we consume.

Well, don’t 

assume

they don’t

believe it

even though

they did

conceive it.

It would

all be

utterly

pathetic

except 

for unapologetic

abuse

by the obtuse

who excuse

themselves.

The neediest

among us,

aside from

the current

POTUS,

are apparently

the economically

most advantaged.

Presidents

and celebrities

need

favors and freebies,

always with please

and thank you.

Well mannered

shnorers,

who always

cut corners,

are praised

as the most

successful.

They’ll take

what they can

because they can

even when 

the man

who provides

each gift

lives on grift

and sex crimes.

How many times

will we have 

to see

a dump

of files

pertaining

to Jeffrey

of the most

wealthy

and influential,

seemingly

with the most

potential

needing

a favor

or cashmere

sweatshirt

from the guy

who

perpetually

hurt

young females?

The endless

emails

from powerful

males,

and occasional

wives

whose lives

were golden,

were somehow

beholden

to Epstein

without 

having seen 

any crime.

I’m 

most amazed

at how 

unfazed

the least

deserving

are 

at preserving

the worst

kind

of need.

Their greed

and entitlement,

and lack

of enlightenment,

is evident

in each

email.

It’s a tale

of whoa,

now that 

we know

just how

low 

the “elite”

can go.

The receipts

always show.

Just go

to that 

inbox.

More of Us

There are more

of us

than there are

of them.

But their

weapons

are automatic,

and autocratic;

and ours,

democratic,

often socratic,

seem

fantastic-

a legacy

now a 

fantasy-

if you

don’t see

the ordinary.

But we-

the people

whose

DNA
is democracy-

understand

that immorality

is not merely

cheating

and brutality.

It is a cancer

that metastasizes

as it emphasizes

bigotry

and purely

self interest.

More 

is asked

of us

than to

fuss

and bitch

about

this ditch

we’re in.

We’re in

it together.

Whether

you can donate

money,

time,

or influence,

the confluence

will quell

some intransigence.

Pledge

allegiance

to that which

you and I

can do to

defy

and deny

the worst;

but of greater

import,

to support

more

of us:

https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

https://app.oath.vote/set?p=top-issues

Pretti Good

They have

immunity

from the 

community

of humanity

for this insanity

in any

“blue” city-

even after

point blank

killing

Good

and Pretti.

Not

an acknowledgement

or even

embarrassment;

just

harassment

while claiming

being

harassed.

The goal

of intimidation

to suppress

immigration

reflects

fear

and loathing;

just look

at their

clothing.

Aren’t

big guns

enough?

Is this

being

tough

on immigration

with no

legislation,

just enjoying

vexation?

Each incident

no accident,

is an 

illegitimate

claim of threat.

And the president

has set

this all 

in motion

from the notion

that

intimidation

gets results.

But the adults

are protesting,

defending

the constitution;

our own

American

self defense.

The pretense

of legitimacy

for ICE

in the city,

is chapter 1

of the tyranny

of the police

state.

Will 

this state

of hate

be just

Pretti

Good?

Muscle Memory

Another chilling

day of ICE

fishing for 

some more

excuses

for the

inexcusable

abuses

and killing.

The machismo

guys

in disguise

don’t advise;

they terrorize

as paramilitary 

does.

We have 

no memory

of  such

muscle use

or such

an obtuse

administration.

The arrested

development-

an envelopment

of a city-

is exactly

what we thought

we weren’t:

a deterrent

to humanity.

We have

no memory

of muscle;

we have

an American

story

of old

and new

glory,

opening

doors

and arms,

ignoring

the harms

remaining.

The few

bad apples

here

and there

were rare,

so we thought,

and were 

taught

that we’re

the exception.

Except

that now

we accept

how 

we can fall

from heights

previously

unimaginable.

Our muscle

memory

is specified

to what unified

our glory.

What made

us strong

all along

were our

norms

and our

constitution,

and each

institution

that maintained

and expanded

normalcy

for democracy

without

a paramilitary.

Ironically,

(or maybe not)

climbing

free solo,

Alex Honnold,

the 40 year old,

scaled the tallest

skyscraper

yesterday,

Taipei 101-

streamed

live from

Taiwan,

(which still

wants

to be free

and live 

democratically).

Thankfully

his muscle

memory

succeeded

triumphantly

on live tv.

I like the 

metaphor

for climbing

to heights

even when 

it’s dangerous.

It’s incumbent

upon us

to exercise

and strengthen;

to energize

and lengthen

our muscle 

memory

and ability

for democracy,

and of course,

basic 

human

decency.

That’s what

makes

America

great again

and again

and again.

That Much

Learning how much 

is too much

is such 

an opportunity 

for discontinuity,

yet we continually

test

when

what would

obviously

be best 

would be 

much less.

But,

what 

if

there’s more

in store 

than we 

thought

before?

Enough

is a tough

sell.

Or even

tough

to tell.

We don’t

learn well

enough.

Fear

of missing

out,

FOMO,

is about

feeling

relevant

and as 

a participant

in whatever

is current.

It’s like 

living

as each

day

is the last.

Not like

the day

before,

or 

to store

more

for 

what’s ahead,

but 

for the moment

instead.

We want

connection

and protection

from 

loss.

Fear is boss.

Fear

drives

avoidance

and excess

and creates

a mess,

more or less.

It’s purpose,

is survival—

alerting

us to 

the arrival

of actual

threat.

But constant

acquisition

distorts

the position

of threat

to a bet

better met

with restraint.

But that ain’t

what the super-rich

and powerful

do—

especially 

you know

who.

Living exclusively

from 

much

to much

is a crutch.

With so much

winning

why

keep spinning;

missing

it by

that much?

Eyes on the Prize (more tries)

On this MLK

Day,

all I can say

is,

“Oy vey!”

Snubbed

by Norway

(as if they

were the 

Nobel

Committee)

he intensifies

his demand

for Greenland

as he’s denied

the prize

for peace,

saying

he no longer

feels

an “obligation

to think purely

of Peace”.

The increase

in tensions

clarify

his intentions

just from

seeing 

Green.

He’s

envious,

avaricious,

tyranical,

maniacal,

unethical

and none too

intellectual.

The prize

is still 

peace

and 

freedom

from

oppression.

Though you

realize

we must 

never

normalize

his

agression

and self

obsession,

we’re reminded

today

of MLK

and a more

peaceful,

moral,

and hopeful

day

when our

country

tries

to do

better.

Toolbox

Containing.

Constraining.

Obtaining.

Boxing.

Targeting.

Marketing.

The only tool

the fool

has 

is to fuel

fear,

and buy

out

the other

guy

and buy

in

to all

out

crack up.

ICE

picks

at towns

as

crack-

downs

abound

while they

go around

hammering

down

on the innocent,

intent

to invent

probable 

cause

for arrest.

Meanwhile,

he’ll suggest

we “invest”

in 

Greenland,

with the best

minerals

for our

arsenals

and somehow

our oil

on Venezuelan

soil

is worth

the toil

to foil.

Nothing is going

according

to Hoyle.

But this guy

who’s 

“a builder”

will hammer

away

day after day

and drill

baby, drill

until

he thinks

he’s nailed it.

He’s screwing

us

bit by bit

and won’t 

quit

or admit

enough.

Indecent

and cruel

has defined

the tool,

for this

Mr. Fixit.

He alone

wants to

rule

without

adherence,

and cares

not at all

about

actual

governance.

Feeling

boxed in?

Then begin

to activate

and donate

to build

a constituency

with coherency

and fluency

in 21st century

democracy,

which 

must look

differently

than 

in name

only.

Killing Good

ICE fired,

killing  Good;

a chilling

killing,

as she was 

driving forward.

Claiming

self-defense,

denying

evidence,

the Feds

heads

nixed

investigation

with their

fixed

interpretation.

Those present

at the event

who saw 

the incident

witnessed

an agent

fire

not at a

tire,

but directly

at the face

of Good.

Minneapolis

is a city

well acquainted

with authority

killing citizenry

while assuming

immunity.

We thought

we got further

from George

Floyd’s murder

until mere 

blocks away,

where

the other day,

Good

became

the next

victim.

And then

in Oregon,

where Feds

were in

Portand,

agents

shot 

2 people

at a targeted

vehicle

stop.

Once again

a Fed 

lead

with a shot

and then

said

he did not:

he claimed

he’d

have been 

maimed

as he

maintained

they 

were a

serious threat.

They 

may

have survived

but we are

deprived

each time

ICE fires

and conspires

to legitimize

despite

witness eyes.

They are

trying

to terrorize

US.

Why does

an ICE

agent

seeking

an illegal

immigrant

need  to be

armed

like a militant?

It’s no accident

that this

government

sees 

customs

enforcement

as lethal.

It’s unethical, immoral

and 

criminal,

and unmistakable

that they

would

do anything;

even killing

GOOD.

The President’s Crude

Now we know

“The Donroe

Doctrine”:

Mucho dinero

in exchange 

of Madero

for American oil

on Venezuelan

soil.

Putting

in custody

another

bad guy

can’t justify

“We’ll run

the country”

now.

Trump’s 

surprise

invasion

required

no persuasion

of the American

people

or 

of Congress,

no less.

But 

oil stocks

grew,

so why 

renew

energy

when we

can invade

another

country?

(Just 

a week

prior

the national 

ire

was affordability.)

Not everyone

is a Beverly

Hillbilly.

And what

about 

the instability

in that 

petro-country

without 

democracy?

We know

he loves

the oil

industry,

(his BFF

is the

head Saudi).

The military

action

may have 

been

perfection

(although

almost

100 people 

were killed),

but

the ramifications

for such invasions

are not

sympathetically

viewed.

Insatiability,

not stability,

or responsibility

drives

the probability

of more

of Trump’s

crude

presidency.

Let’s not

forget,

that at 

Trump’s 

direction,

the January 6th

insurrection

made possible

not just 

the attack

on

The Capitol,

but his ability

to ignore

democracy,

and implement

crude

policy

seemingly

for free,

or for

the deals

he 

gets

when he makes

such bets

with the 

oily

captains

of industry.

Trump’s crude

presidency

has cleverly

worked

around 

democracy.

But this

is the year

to renew

energy;

new energy

to mitigate

the worst

effects

of this 

climate crisis

Trump’s crude

presidency

has imposed

upon us.