United States

No Surprise Party

I claim

to hate

surprises, 

but

I delight

in being

surprised

every day.

Not by

secrets

kept from

me 

suddenly revealed,

but seeing

and hearing

the familiar

people and places

with fresh

eyes and ears. 

I think 

that’s 

the secret

to sustaining

love

and growth,

which 

I easily forget

daily. 

I also

assume,

expect,

and mindlessly

repeat

myself 

daily.

But I do

get moments

each day 

that are revelatory

and worth

savoring.

Beyond

the personal,

our politics

challenges

what we

thought

we knew

about 

ourselves

on some

path 

called

progress.

I am

surprised

by how

unexceptional

we have

revealed

ourselves

to be. 

American 

ideals

are subverted

daily 

as our cold

civil war

rages

with outrageousness

and contempt

and we 

still remain

surprised.

To many,

this prolonged

moment

of doubt,

deception,

hate,

and chaos,

is unexpected;

a shock

or series 

of shocks

to our system.

To others,

the system

has always

allowed

for this.

The culture

wars

are political

and (un)civil;

fought

through

weaponizing

language

and consolidation

of support

further 

othering

and degrading,

ensuring

constant

indignation.

By now

this should be

no surprise.

We should

expect

this fight,

at least

for some

time.

President Biden’s 

surprise

visit to 

Ukraine

was a well

executed

secret

and a

reprieve

from

the dreck

here at home.

I am admittedly

surprised

by relentless

preservation

of anger

and hate.

It’s too 

exhausting

for me, 

But I get

that it is

addicting,

and provides

some

weird

reassurance–

collective (party) ego

reinforcement—

that has 

no room

for surprises. 

Drill Baby, Drill

Thank you,

Sarah

Barracuda,

for your 

intro

course

in being

coarse

as a 

political

strategy.

We thought

you failed

but we

still flail

at the

crude,

rude,

vulgar

ideas,

much less

speech,

intending

to rally

the base.

Baseslessness

and

shamelessness

are weapons

of mass

destruction.

Drilling down

on deception,

extracting

sludge

for the sake

of election,

and when

that doesn’t

work,

then insurrection.

You know

the drill:

Here comes

the next

conspiracy

with remarkable

adherency,

not to 

mention,

attention.

Free speech

is the claim

to seeking

fame

and power.

I don’t know

how to beat

the hate

that comes

with guns

and seeks

to create

a Red

balloon

across

America.

This is

not

a drill.

What the World Needs Now

I used

to think

Cupid

was

stupid;

a mascot

tot

projectiling

weapons

to pierce

hearts.

A day 

of

forced

“love”, 

I thought,

was 

a good

excuse

for selling

stuff.

But in 

the name

of love,

I too

celebrate,

reminding

myself 

to pay 

attention,

and return

to my senses,

especially

mid 

winter. 

Intimacy 

requires

nurturing

(today,

ironically

by a baby).

The kids

remind us

of what

matters:

love.

We inherit

conventions

that we get

to rethink:

I quote

here

the wikipedia

definition

of arrow:

“A typical

arrow

usually consists

of a long,

stiff,

straight

shaft

with a weighty

arrowhead

attached

to the front end.”

“A container

or bag

carrying

additional

arrows

for convenient

reloading

is called

a quiver.”

Love

is not 

forced.

But it is

a force

we must

reckon

with

as we

remember

it’s power

to bring

forth

new life. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Truth and Dare

It’s January 6th

and the House

has been

overtaken by

hostage

takers

again.

The Coup Crew

are still

at it, 

denying

an

election.

This time

is non

violent,

but

intentionally

disabling

and 

dismantling

the democratic

process

and

institution.

The not

Kevins

are not

going

to give

in.

Their attention

is too

useful

to them.

They are

base,

and feign

rebel

status.

People

are rooting

for the

standoff

to end,

not for

Kevin McCarthy

to be

Speaker.

There don’t 

seem

to be

good 

alternatives

now,

but 

Americans

want their

government

for which

they pay

taxes

and vote,

to function.

We all know

the truth

of January 6th.

How 

dare

these members

of Congress

dismember

The House. 

Again. 

These Days

The shortest day.

Phew.

We are heading

Toward

More light

However 

Gradually.

When darkness

Sets in

For 

Long

Stretches,

Flickers 

Of illumination

Feel

Miraculous.

This season

Of miracles,

Like always,

Celebrates

The gifts

We give

And get

From

So much

Effort.

We create

Suitable

Conditions

And 

Unsuitable 

Ones. 

These days

With

Less sun

Feel bright,

Extended

With lights

Reminding

Us,

Rededicating

Ourselves,

Somehow 

Miraculously,

Birthing

New life;

New possibilities

Even 

In the

Cold

And

Darkness

That pervade

These

Days.

Starting At The End

22 Years

Ago

the world 

ended.

George W Bush

became 

POTUS

after the longest

and most

disputed

election

until now.

The Supreme Court

settled

that one.

(And back then, 

The Supreme Court

justices

didn’t pal

around

with 

Fascists or 

Insurrectionists.)

The beginning

of the

end. 

My father

died

22 years ago

today.

He was 64.

Could it get 

any

worse

than that?

Katrina.

The end of the 

world

begat

the beginning

of constant

disruptions

and distortions

and terrorism

in the 

USA

and around 

the globe.

Citizens United.

9/11

and 

beheadings.

Daniel Pearl.

Anthrax.

Shoe bombers.

Waterboarding.

Abu Ghraib.

Patriot Act. 

So many

changes to 

the fabric

of 

what was

The United

States

of 

America.

The internet

and social

media

revolutionized

and then

cannibalized

humanity.

The first 

African American

President,

elected for 2 terms,

undermined 

at every possible 

moment, 

denying

a Supreme Court

Justice

hearing,

and Congress

praying and thinking

when 

children and other

innocents

in schools,

churches,

movie theaters,

clubs,

military bases,

etc

got gunned down

by “lone

wolves”.

But he and Congress 

kept us

from falling

off 

the economic

cliff,

with a 

gradual

recovery.

Still

the Affordable

Care

Act

became law

and Gay

Marriage

became

Legal.

Green 

Energy 

meanwhile

became more

mainstream,

despite

FRACKING

and pushback

against

any social 

or climate 

progress.

But Freedom!

Libertarianism!

Crypto

Currency

Hype

and 

failure.

And 

Trump,

who

after

losing 

a second 

term

over 2 years 

ago,

still

haunts

having 

unleashed 

the

walking

dead—

Zombie 

Apocalypse

Now—

After 

supporting

an actual

insurrection

at 

The Capitol

among

other

coup 

attempts, 

the MAGA

army

is like

COVID

still infecting

even

though

we declared

the COVID19

Pandemic 

that shut 

down 

the world

for 2 years 

from

March 2020

to March

2022

over,

as

the virus 

mutates 

and threatens

continuously.

The oldest

are the 

most

vulnerable. 

Even the 

Biden-Harris

(Yes, the first

Black-Asian-American

Woman

VEEP),

team

can not

seem

to inspire

much hope.

Or change.

22 Years

ago, 

the world 

ended

at only

64. 

Three Sum

The last time

I had dinner

with someone

I didn’t

know

was a few

months 

ago

by 

the pool

with

other friends

in common.

It was not

random.

We were

introduced

intentionally.

We realized

that,

like us,

they used 

to live

in Connecticut.

The guys 

play golf.

Commonalities.

We shared

likes and

dislikes. 

We would

learn more

background

each 

gathering.

In sum,

we were

introduced

with knowledge 

of some

sameness:

shared

experiences,

people,

and likes…

conversation

starters.

Imagine

sharing

a meal

with

a like 

minded

friend

(supporter)

and their

like 

minded

friend.

A conversation

starter,

“Nice 

to meet

you.”

Even

as

racist

white supremacist

neo

nazis

are the

dinner

companions!!

It was 

just

dinner, 

with 

gross

bigots—

whose calling cards 

are crazy 

bigotry—

who 

we can

only hope 

get

just

deserts.

They 

may

be

three

stooges,

but

their

audience

is

weaponized 

and

eager.

The sum

total

of the

dinner

is 

the horror

of hate–

racism

and

antisemitism

metastasizing

rapidly

as

the “dinner

party”

stayed

silent and

complicit.

Trickles 

of 

rejection

days

after

knowingly

avoiding

and

trying 

to balance

what?

Not 

staying aligned

with

a loser, 

versus 

aligning

with

hate

and

abetting violence

by abiding

all.

Put On Your Nancy Pants

Put on

Your

Nancy

Pants.

They 

Make

That 

Guy’s

Ass

Look 

Big.

Well,

He’s 

A

Huge

Ass

Anyway,

But the

Contrast

Couldn’t 

Be

Greater. 

Politics

Aside,

Her

Skill,

Ability.

Facility,

Strength.

Acuity–

A Bad

Ass

Wrapped

In

Decency

And

Dignity

Who

Understands

Governance

And models

Leadership

Like no

Other

Who has

Walked

That

Path–

Steps

Aside.

Before

A

Crisis,

There

Is

An

Opportunity

To

Follow

Suit.

Unlike 

The

Supremes

Who

Did

Not

Choose

Grace,

Or country

First,

Madame

Speaker

Defines

Accomplishment,

Grit,

Determination,

And poise,

Despite

The noise.

Whatever

Path 

You

Walk,

Put on

Your 

Nancy

Pants. 

Costume Party

It’s

That

Time

Of

Year

When 

We are

Treated

To 

Tricks

Of the

Trade of

Politics.

I learned

The term

“Ballot

Mules”

As 

“Mule

Watchers”

Deputized

Themselves

To Guard

Against

Fraud

At

Drop

Boxes

Anywhere.

Dressed

In

Tactical

Gear,

Armed 

For

Battle

with

Guns

Against 

Ballots,

One

Party

Spreads 

Fear

By 

Insinuation,

Intimidation,

Instigation,

Imitation,

And threats.

Wearing

Fatigues

Vested

With weaponry

Is hardly

A show

Of strength

Or power.

Who 

Is

Afraid

Now?

The ones

Who are

Armed to

The teeth!

Suggesting

Violent

Resolution 

And

Insurrection

In

The name

Of

Patriotism

Is 18th 

And 19th

Century

Cosplay.

21st Century

America

Has become

Wearing

And

Fatigued.

Terrified 

of

Losing

Power,

They 

Are

Dressed

To Kill.

We are

Battling

The Costumed

Party.

Vote

Democratically. 

Dis-cuss:

Disquiet

Discomfort

Disturbing

Disempowering

Displaying

Disaffection

Distorting

Disagreeably

Disallowing

Disambiguating

Disapproval

Disavowing

Discarding

Discernment,

Disciples

Disclaim

Discomfiting

Disconnected

Discord

Discouragingly

Discovering

Discredited

Discrete

Dishonesties.

Disengaged

Disinformed

Dishonroable

Dismissive

Disintegrating

Disjuncture

Disseminating

Disorder

Disowning

Distracting

Disreputable

Disputes,

Disgracefully

Discussing

Disingenuous

Disintegration.