I started thinking
about
Armistice Day
that we no longer
celebrate.
Instead,
we honor
war veterans
with a holiday
as there will be
mini pauses
for humanitarian
causes
in Gaza
for four
hours.
Armistice
is the basis
for a path
to peace.
While remembering
those who served
we tend to forget
their service
was in
the service
of peace.
And peace
requires flexibility—
not just
to seal
the deal—
but in order
to heal
from the ordeal
of reality
and the tug
of war.
I’ve been away
from
home
for
just a week,
not yet
unpacked
after arriving
so late.
Returning
home
is a constant,
wherever
we go
whenever
we go.
We travel
and seek
home
somewhere
else.
Eighty degrees
on the east coast
in October
does not feel
like home.
Election
denier as
Speaker
of the
House
does not feel
like home.
My pillows
and bed
are insufficient
to comfort
my anxiety
about losing
home
as I know
it.
I don’t know
how
to be
at home
in a burning
world
that seems
to be
a matter
of arson.
I was
always
fearful
of fire—
of getting
burned.
Arsonists
are everywhere.
And yet,
some flames
are diminishing.
The criminal
confessions
mount,
and I still
have
the idea
that we
can return
home
and renovate
it;
upgrading
and updating
for better
protection
against
destructive
forces
that prove
to surface
and multiply
without
intentional
safeguarding.
Meanwhile,
we can
return home
to ourselves and
to each other
creating
home
in the face
of arson
and a world
on fire.
Returning
home
is a constant—
even in
your house.
Being
home
is intentional.
You
are
home.
Welcome
home.
History lessens
the exclusivity
of now.
What seems
unique
is really
a tweak
of actions
of factions,
reactions,
and distractions
that humans
do
to
each
other.
This October
surprise
attack
by Hamas
upon Israelis
shocked
and horrified
in scope
and scale;
each
detail
grotesque.
Historical
comparisons
to 9/11,
’73,
and even
The Holocaust;
to Nazis
and Isis—
the ultimate
barbarism—
casts Hamas
among
other
embodiments
of pure
evil.
From eternity
to here,
history
does not
lessen
the reality
of evil
of humans.
We like
to think
we progress,
and we do.
We like
to think
we are more
sophisticated
than our
ancestors,
yet
history
proves
to be
more complex,
with effects
that traumatize
and catalyze.
History
must
humanize.
It is
the story
of humans,
sometimes
beyond
comprehension.
But that
is the
task
that history
asks.
We like
to think
we are
different
and less
naive
than our
predecessors.
But even
our successors
will have
or
will be
aggressors
or oppressors,
and certainly
transgressors,
because
humans
have such
capacities.
Forgetting
the lessons
of history—
human
actions
and
reactions—
lessens
the ability
to strengthen
stability.
Fundamentally,
fundamentalism
lessens—
a lesson
learned
from history.
The progress
and ideas
of accessibility,
diversity,
and inclusivity
that make
the present
feel
like sustainability,
become
thwarted,
distorted,
supported,
and exported
by extremists
who are
zombies
of history,
trying
to lessen
the inevitability
of time
and evolution.
I still
hope
for all
humanity
that sanity
will prevail
and we
can exhale
while learning
the lessons
now.
Teens
at a rave
sprayed
with bullets
in a wave
of gunfire
before
hostage
taking
of babies
to old
ladies,
making
this
the most
brazen
invasion
on the
occasion
of 50 years
plus
a day
since
another
surprise
attack.
The malevolence
and violence
which is now
inheritance
justifies
nothing.
Failures
of intelligence
or negligence
without
precedence
is as shocking
as this
perversion
of nationalism
or whatever
it’s supposed
to be.
My heart
hurts.
I ache
for
humanity.
It’s so very
exhausting.
Thoughts
abound
suggesting how
to live
better.
More this.
Less that.
Kale?
Pro
Democracy.
Anti
Autocracy.
Greener.
Cleaner.
Healthier planet,
gut,
you name it.
Safety.
Growth.
Resilience.
Endless
issues
demanding
urgent,
immediate
attention.
Everything
feels like
crisis
self imposed.
Backlash to
institutional
disparities,
injustices,
bigotries—
hate
with deep roots
like oaks trees
and hickories
live for
centuries.
It’s overwhelming
and painful
to reckon
how we are
living now.
I can not
tolerate
the intolerable,
or accept
the unacceptable,
which is inundating
us
daily.
I am enervated
but not
yet
defeated.
The culture
that I embraced
is being
gutted
without conditions
suitable
for growth.
We may
or may not
need kale,
but the gut
needs
to be rid
of toxins
and create
homeostasis
to foster
health.
With
the former
guy
who branded
himself
on tv
saying,
“You’re fired,”
the wannabe
important,
desperate
for attention
and power,
led
the charge
to fire
the Speaker
of
the House.
An assault
on The House
of Representatives
again,
this time
we witnessed
from within,
it is clear
that
fire
and power,
assaulting
institutions
and traditions
while
calling themselves
conservative,
is the Republican
brand
in the 21st century.
Cruelty
sparks drama
while pretending
it’s some sort
of political
philosophy.
This century
began for us
with a disputed
election
followed
by a terrorist
attack
from
abroad.
The answer
to difficulty
and complexity
it seems,
is assault
weapons.
Now in human
form,
some openly
carry
banners
and weapons
of hate
to intimidate
to feel
important.
AH,
to be
seen
in scene
after scene,
matters more
than governance.
It’s the anti
social
media power
that
fires up
the pyromaniac
group.
I thought
of calling
this
“Burning Down
The House”.
But fire power
is really
the only
discernable
stance
beyond
no taxes
that is consistently
attempted
at all costs.
Excusing
hostage
taking
with a government
shutdown.
Excusing
mass shootings.
Excusing
insurrection,
and then twisting
and distorting
truth
while nuclear
secrets
were being
shared.
The relentless
spray,
like an
AK
47,
requires
more
than duck
and cover
and remaining
silent.
“Every time
I hear
you,
I feel
a little bit
dumber”,
hailed
candidate Haley.
Honestly,
I feel this
all the time
every time
I hear,
read,
see
news.
Some want
candidates
to say
what the
voter
feels,
like:
Make
America
Great
Again.
or
Yes
We
Can.
Defund
(you name
it)
or
My pronouns
are…
or
Build
Back
Better
or even
The Climate
Crisis—
no matter
how valid,
the issues
have been
poorly
constructed
taglines.
These have
caused
backlash,
mockery,
spin,
failed explanation,
but little
social connectivity
beyond
the already
connected.
Even
pro-lifers
understand
the misnomer,
and seek
to advance
a more
effective
rebranding
to keep
abortion
a crime.
Knowing
the fraud
perpetrated
in front
of us,
while
pretending
it’s just
business
as usual,
keeps us
fighting
a rather
uncivil
war
of culture.
Languaging
the culture
becomes
most
important.
‘Alternative
facts’
is now
an alternate
reality.
‘Alternate’
electors
were
real news,
despite
the
declaration
that
‘lame-stream’
(Palin’s Seussian
coined term
for mainstream)
news
is Fake
News.
As 21st
century-
speak
defines
a new era,
now
the sides
have different
languages
further
balkanizing
the states
we are in.
I feel dumber
every time
I hear
the attempts
to project
fraud
on the
electorate
when the
evidence
is abundant.
As the
dumbing
down
gets dumber,
it seems
to get
dirtier.
Disregard
for any
correlation
between
verbiage
and
reality
means
anything
can be uttered
or typed
with no
accountability.
Fraud-
shmaud,
as there
is no debate
about
who they applaud
on his own
stage
staging
a get- out-
of- jail-
run -for -his-
life-
candidacy
for President.
Our feeling
defeated
and depleted
is the goal.
I’ll take
feeling dumb,
but we can’t
be numb
to the inanity
and insanity
being perpetrated
upon us.
Don’t withdraw.
Don’t stay silent.
Don’t be mute.
Don’t be dumb.
Hunter
bought a gun.
He allegedly lied
as he applied
for a weapon
of self destruction.
Now the gatherers
of signatures
to change
the gun laws,
lead by
Hunter’s father,
speak about
trauma
with compassion
for the son
whose depression
and addiction
may have resulted
in terrible
decisions
and deceptions.
But hunting
Hunter
has been
the obsession
of the opposition,
intent on indicting
and impeaching
Bidens
while abiding
by
and supporting
Trump’s
overt corruption
with distortion
and endless
disruption.
Gathering
actual evidence
before condemning
to sentence
is the order
to law
in this democracy.
Hunting
Hunter
may lead
somewhere.
But it will
never lead
to equivalence.
Any ambivalence
about the
malevolence
of the false
equivalence
should be
mitigated by
following
justice,
not merely
as
an opportunity
to inflict
pain.
Hunting for
sport
kills
the innocent.
If hunting
Hunter
tracks
a crime,
let justice
be served.
The American Heritage Dictionary
gives the definition
of McCarthyism
as:
Joseph?
Kevin?
Neither sir has
much decency.
McCarthyism Too
is the Speaker’s
pathetic
listening
to the reactionaries
desperately grasping
for enduring power
at any
and all
costs.
The third
most powerful
American
is powerless.
He knows
he can
only
retain
his powerful
position
by launching
an impeachment
inquiry
into this
Joe
(Biden).
The Un-American
Activities of
one party
continue
with endless
attempts
to instill
fear
and loathing
as they fear
and loathe
the truth:
that they
have
bupkis
to offer
now
beyond
hate
and
lies.
To be
a Republican
in name
only
means
being
a 21st
Century
McCarthy
MAGA
acolyte.
A
MAGArthy.
The fictions
being told
will be sold
among
non-fictions.
There will be
volumes
recounting
the fabricated
accounts
of corruption
at all levels
of government,
while those
deeply committed
to the rules
and rule
of law
have continued
to work
anonymously
as always
upholding
standards
that the rest
of us now
realize
have been
a privilege
to obtain
and maintain.
22 years
after
the twin towers
were destroyed,
the threat
is now
within.
They hate
our freedom.
They hate
our democracy.
They are not
a regular
military.
And they
brought
us
to our
knees.
In between
then
and
now,
so many
thoughts
and
prayers.
We are stuck,
deep in a state
of despair
and destruction;
of never
seeming
to accomplish
the mission
of creating
a more
perfect union
without
retrograde
motion.
Our environment
is in crisis.
A generation
passed.
We can not
pass
on the next
generation.
lou sight 