Something to Think About

Taken from a friend's post. In order to defeat something, you must understand it. I encourage everyone to read this and understand it is many people's point of view. You may not agree with some of it or any of it. That is not the point. This is a very honest statement on those that back the President and what they feel and believe. Read and understand. 

If you are a liberal who can’t stand Trump, and cannot possibly fathom why conservatives would ever vote for him, let me finally fill you in.

It’s not that we love Donald Trump so much. It’s that we can’t stand you. And we will do whatever it takes — even if that means electing a rude, obnoxious, unpredictable, narcissist (your words-not ours) to the office of President of the United States — because the only thing we find more dangerous to this nation than Donald Trump, is you.

How is that possible you might ask? Well, you have done everything in your power to destroy our country, from tearing down the police, to tearing down our history, to tearing down our borders. You are systematically destroying our schools, and brainwashing our kids into believing socialism is the answer to anything (despite being an unmitigated failure everywhere), while demonizing religion and faith, and glorifying abortion, violence, and thug culture.

From calling us racists every time we expect everyone of any skin color to follow our laws equally, to telling us that our “tolerance” of lifestyles we don’t agree with isn’t nearly enough....no, we must “celebrate” any lifestyle choice or gender option (forget science) you throw our direction, or you think it’s fine to calls us homophobic or some other degrading slur — and ironically, all while lecturing us on hate speech. While you gaslight us about 52 genders, polyamory, grown men in dresses sharing public locker rooms with little girls, and normalize the sexualization of young children, you simultaneously ridicule us for having the audacity to wish someone a “Merry Christmas” or hang a flag on the 4th of July, stand for the national anthem, or (horror of horrors) don a MAGA hat in public. So much for your “tolerance.” Do you see why we think you are hypocrites??

We’re also not interested in the fact that you think you can unilaterally decide that 250 years of the right-to-bear-arms against a tyrannical or ineffective government should be abolished because you can’t get the violence in the cities you manage under control. Free-speech should be tossed out the window, history erased, and those who disagree with your opinions, are fair game for public harassment or doxing. Spoiled children with nose-rings and tats who still live off their parent’s dime should be allowed to destroy cities and peoples livelihoods without repercussions. That chaos, and lawlessness, and disrespect for authority should be the norm. This is your agenda. And you wonder why we find you more dangerous than Donald Trump?

Your narrative is a constant drone of oppressor/oppressed race-baiting intended to divide the country in as many ways as you possibly can. You love to sell “victim-hood” to people of color every chance you get because it’s such an easy sell, compared to actually teaching people to stand on their own two feet and take personal responsibility for their own lives, their own communities and their own futures. But, you won’t do that. You will never do that, because then you will lose control over people of color. They might actually start thinking for themselves, God forbid!

This is why we will vote for Donald Trump.It is not because he is the most charming character on the block, nor because he is the most polite politician to have ever graced the oval office. It is not because he is the most palatable choice, not that we love his moral character or because he never lies. It is because we are sick to death of you, and all of the destructive crap you are doing to this once beautiful and relatively safe country. Your ineffective and completely dysfunctional liberal “leadership”(?) has literally destroyed our most beautiful cities, our public education system, and done it’s damndest to rip faith out of people’s lives.

However bad Donald Trump may be (and he is far from perfect), every day we look at you, and feel that no matter what Donald Trump says or does, there is no possible way he could be any worse for our country than you people are.

We are sick to death of your stupid, destructive, ignorant, and intolerant behavior and beliefs — parading as “wokeness.” We are beyond sick of your hypocrisy and B.S. 
We are fed up with your disrespectful divisiveness and constant unrelenting harping and whining and complaining (while you live in the most privileged nation in the world), while making literally zero contributions of anything positive to our society. Your entire focus is on ripping things down, never ever building anything up. Think about that as there is something fundamentally very wrong in the psychology of people who choose destruction as their primary modus operandi.

If Donald J Trump is reelected, rather than blame us, look in the mirror, and blame yourselves. Because, you are the ones that are responsible for the rise of Donald Trump. You are the ones who have created this monster that you so despise, by your very actions, your refusal to respect your fellow Americans, and the things that are important to us.

You have made fun of the “fly-over states,” the people who “cling to their guns and religion,” the middle class factory workers and coal miners and underprivileged rural populations that you dismissively call “yahoos” and “deplorables.” You have mocked our faith and our religion. You have mocked our values and our patriotism. You have trampled our flag and insulted our veterans and treated our first responders with contempt and hatred.

You have made environmentalism your religion, while trashing every city you have taken responsibility for. You scream from the rooftops about “global warming” and a “green new deal” while allowing tens of thousands of homeless people to cover your streets in literal sh*t, garbage, needles and plastic waste without doing a single thing to help them solve the environmental crisis that your failed social policies are creating. But we’re supposed to put YOU in charge of the environment while gutting our entire economy to institute this plan when you can’t even clean up a single city?? You complain — endlessly — yet have failed to solve a single social problem anywhere. In fact, all you have done is create more of them.

We’ve had enough. We are tired of quietly sitting by and being the “silent” majority. So don’t be surprised when the day comes when we finally respond. And trust me it’s coming, sooner than you might think. And also trust me when I say it won’t be pretty. Get ready.

If Donald Trump is reelected, it will be because you and your “comrades” have chosen to trash the police, harass law-abiding citizens, and go on rampages destroying public property that we have all paid for and you have zero respect for.

If Donald Trump is reelected it will be because we are sick of your complete and utter nonsense and destruction. How does it feel to know that half of this country finds you FAR more despicable than Donald J. Trump, the man you consider to be the anti-Christ? Let that sink in. We consider you to be more despicable, more dangerous, more stupid, and more narcissistic than Donald Trump. Maybe allow yourself a few seconds of self-reflection to let that sink in. This election isn’t about Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden. This is about Donald Trump vs. YOU.

So, if on the morning of November 4 (or more likely December 29 by the time the Supreme Court will weigh in on the mail-in ballot fiasco we are headed towards) if Donald J. Trump is reelected, the only people you have to blame is the left-wing media drones and yourselves. You did this. Yep, you!"

Time to walk away! 

Some Thoughts on the Upcoming Election

I really need to SAY something. Also, I need to DO something. This is just the beginning of my doing my part to help get rid of tRUMP. Read on!

If you feel you cannot vote for Biden, you can at least vote for someone not named tRUMP! Therefore check the box for Biden! This is my attempt to sound like tRUMP himself.

Not voting at all or voting for someone who has no chance of winning, is as good as a vote to continue supporting the direction in which the U.S.A. has been heading.

During the convention, it was good to finally hear people tell it like it is regarding tRUMP as president! I did not detect ANYTHING ERRONEOUS in last night's convention speeches.

The convention was not about politics, it was not about "platforms" promised and then not fulfilled after elected, it was about people, a government for "We The People."

Some things for which I am thankful to tRUMP are his transparency in lying, manipulation, gaslighting, ability to "spin"; and being antisemitic, misogynistic, racist, homophobic, and anti-immigrant; finding all kinds of loopholes to make the government take on his "face" and his being greedy, self-serving, mean, inarticulate, ignorant. Thank you tRUMP for showing us how evil a person can be!

It is absolutely beyond me to think that anyone could still vote for tRUMP knowing what he has shown us, said to us, and by his actions (usually against us).

Fake news is always a good excuse, but when you watch the man, listen to the man, see what the man is doing to our institutions and our country and our people ... HOW CAN YOU STILL SAY YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM?

This is so much bigger than tRUMP. This is so much bigger than Democrats vs Republicans. This is about human decency. This is about the basic definition and love of humankind. This is about the future of our nation!

How can anyone who considers themselves a Christian, or any religious label for that matter, vote for tRUMP? If you're feeling disenfranchised with any aspect of our government, a vote for tRUMP will make things worse and should make you feel even worse.

Show me who has NOT suffered as a result of tRUMP's time in office, except those who are not only very rich but very greedy about being rich at the expense of the rest of us.

Not all cops are bad, not all politicians are bad, not all Blacks are bad, not all Whites are bad, not all men or women are bad, not all entitled people are bad. Yes, some are and they bring us all down with their actions and power-seeking. What has tRUMP's administration done to solve problems? What tRUMP has done is actively sought to divide us by exaggerating "good vs bad" and by bringing down all of our American Institutions without providing any better alternatives.

Money and wealth is not a bad thing as long as one does not take advantage of others to get it. And hopefully once one has money and wealth, they continue to be compassionate and generous in their sharing it with others. Not just giving it away but doing things for others that matter!

Honestly, I NEED to begin a series of UNFRIENDING family and friends on Facebook, who still feel that tRUMP has been good for the country and will give him their vote in November! I cannot let those people be part of my life when our belief systems are so different. I cannot let them make me less than I am by continuing to let them be part of my life! 

Five Levels of Vulnerability

I experienced my first level of vulnerability in March of 2020 during COVID 19 while turning 75 years old. It was a Personal Vulnerability. Not only was 75 years old a difficult milestone, but 75 years old during a pandemic, in which I chose self-quarantine to protect myself from the virus made it more difficult. I felt my age, I felt young of mind but old of body, my mortality became more apparent.

The next level of vulnerability arrived recently in the form of Species Vulnerability. With so many people, especially health compromised and older people becoming ill, ending up with life-threatening difficulties for the rest of their life, or dying based on viral droplets that could be spread by someone infected and ill or by an infected asymptomatic carrier, was frightening.

The fact that this interloper was doing its work around the world was frightening. Hearing of hospitals running out of tens of thousands of beds for those infected and hearing of thousands of people dying from it in a day was frightening. Hearing about approximately 16 million COVID 19 cases around the world and close to 700 thousand deaths is mind-boggling!

Then came the next level, Cultural Vulnerability. Many people could not go to work or had to figure out how to do so from home. Parents had nowhere to send their children while they worked. Kids no longer had schools to attend or summer activities in which to partake, like swimming pools or day camps.

Funerals and religious services could no longer be attended. Visiting ill or dying relatives in the hospital longer no longer permitted. No longer could I visit with friends, stop for a friendly chat in the condo elevator lobby, go out to dinner with a group. No longer was I able to comfortably shop for groceries. Birthdays, weddings, and funerals could no longer be celebrated with family.

Theater and entertainment as we knew it ended: legitimate theater and musicals were closed, concerts and meetings were canceled. Travel and vacations were curtailed then canceled. I did not mind the isolation of my condo, it felt more like personal solitude, but my heart was heavy for those less fortunate than I, those suffering job loss, those who had to work anyway through these dangerous times, and those who did not have homes in which to shelter,

Societal Vulnerability struck when so many poor, homeless, Latinx, and Black people seemed to be carrying more than their share of COVID 19 and because I was a White, Male, Older Citizen I was "entitled" and part of the problem! Rioting over police brutality towards Blacks and Latinx increased and took place not only in the US but across the world.

Most recently, in the last few days actually, for me it seems that Democracy Vulnerability has struck. While the Trump Administration has been horrible in so many ways from day one of the president's inauguration, he slowly has undermined all the progress the U.S. had made over the years in so many areas. His lies, cheating, misogyny, racism, homophobia, greed, vanity, etc became the new norm. His approach to government has led to violence, hatred towards others, and stirring up antiblack and antisemitism and antiimmigration.

Anything that does not report him in a good light is "Fake News." His approach to leadership is one of "Gaslighting" and confusing issues. He seemed to appoint people to each important government post, who in the past opposed the very work that the post demands. In fact, many of these appointees are in effect dismantling the office of which they are in charge.

Now he is sending government troops to cities to quell rioting in ways that resemble the "Secret Police" of Hitler. The result of this action has caused more disturbances which will necessitate sending more troops. The use of war type tactics against the people who are demonstrating is unforgivable. The blurring of the roles of police from protection to suppressing freedom of speech is frightening.

His supporting voter suppression, fighting against voting by mail, and saying he will not leave office if not elected adds to anarchy. Will he attempt to cancel elections "due to COVID 19?" Is he taking advantage of the disturbances to create a police state, a military state?

While most of this horrible situation is blamed on Trump, it is bigger than the man. There are so many others who are behind his frightening leadership. We know that Black, poverty, and diversity issues have been with us for a long time. Perhaps the one thing the Trump Administration has done is made the actions of government and not caring about these issues, more transparent. It seems to have divided the population in their beliefs.

It seems that the U.S. in reality is based on power and greed and does not exist for the well being of its citizens. We are also seeing many other countries in the world in this new light of power, control, and greed. The US is no longer and hasn't been for a while, the idyllic country leading the way for the world.

All of this saddens me, makes me feel vulnerable on so many levels, and causes me to wonder what will be the future of life in the U.S., in the world.

The World Today

In its most basic terms, Enso is the Japanese word for ‘circle’ or ‘circular form’. Think of a regular circle. You could choose to see it as a representation of nothing (that is zero)

On the other hand, the circle could be a form that encompasses everything within it. Perhaps you see it as both. In a way, that is the epitome of a Zen state of mind, where nothing and everything exists. Form is void and void is form.

I wrote this to a friend on Facebook in response to his difficulties in facing the "world" every morning even though he has so much to be grateful for:

• • • • •

So beautifully and heartfully articulated. You could be accused of being too emotional or sentimental, but I believe that is your strength. You have the right to your tears, they are well earned during today's battles.

I do believe, and I'll mention his name, Mr. tRUMP has done us a service by making all the difficulties of the times so transparent. I believe that the destruction of America has been ongoing, we just have not been aware or have avoided awareness.

The good that also comes out of the (pre-COVID 19) is that maybe we have learned to not only listen but to hear, to empathize, and maybe to begin to change those negative ideas around us and behaviors that maybe even the "self" has not been aware of. 

In many ways we all want security, we want our stories to have happy middles and endings, we do not really want to acknowledge how ugly people and the world can get. By really seeing that, I believe we can begin to change. When we are blind to the reality around us, nothing changes, it just accumulates and multiplies.

Also, (with COVID 19) we are in the middle of a Buddhist lesson (for which we most likely have not yet established a strong practice) EVERYTHING CHANGES. Nothing stays the same. We are not the same people we were this morning, at the cell level and at the intellectual level (hopefully.) 

I believe for a long time now (maybe since the beginning of time) we have been lulled (or allowed ourselves to be lulled) into a false sense of security that it will all end happily. Maybe some of it will but for the most part, there will be happy and there will be sad, there will be joy and there will be sorrow, there will be life and there will be death.

This is one of the great lessons Gregory taught me as we traveled together on his journey through Alzheimer's. Life just is and is the total of all the details, wanted and not! 

Love you, John, Cry if you must, but don't forget to laugh. (You do list the things for which you are grateful in your wife and children, and that is good!)

An Inaugural Dichotomy

Last night I asked my new friend "Alexa" to give a speech. She seems to be smarter than "Siri" in that Alexa can tell a joke, ask a riddle, recite a poem, ask a "knock-knock" joke, recite a limerick, recite a haiku, and do a "Roses are Red" for Valentine's Day.

I crawled into bed, cozied under the sheets and comforter, and asked Alexa to give a speech. Ironically, the speech she chose to give was Mr. Trump's inaugural address. It lasted 18 minutes and I listened as intently as I had avoided it on January 20, 2017.

I was amazed at the wonderful things he said, the new insights, the promises for the future. His speech included everything we wanted to hear, although many of us would have preferred hearing it coming from Hilary. It contained everything a loyal citizen of the United States would want to hear and would hope to see a President accomplish.

It said things like: 

Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People. 

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. 

Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. 

The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. 

Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. 

That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.

In looking back, however, in the last four years, Mr. Trump has done very little to accomplish the goals he talked about. He has dismantled so many government institutions, lied often and easily, and made up facts and figures to cover his lack of knowledge of the facts and figures.

He has been Homophobic, Racist, Anti-Immigration, Anti-Education, Masagonist, Anti-Semitic, Nationalist, Supremacist, and I cannot count how many other descriptors.

He has behaved as though he is above the law and manipulates Administrative decisions to meet his own needs.

Many of his moves to protect and support the poor, the underclass, the workers have in fact made life worse for them.

The difference in what he said and what he has done stands out like a neon sign flashing in the night, "CLOSED FOR BUSINESS."  

REMARKS OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY AT THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.

We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.

Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.

We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.

Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.

Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.

Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.

Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.

The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.

It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.

This is your day. This is your celebration.

And this, the United States of America, is your country.

What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.

January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.

The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

Everyone is listening to you now.

You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.

At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.

These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.

But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.

This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.

The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.

For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;

Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;

We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;

And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.

One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.

The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.

But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future.

We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.

From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.

From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.

Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.

We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down.

America will start winning again, winning like never before.

We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.

We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.

We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.

We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.

We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.

We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.

We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.

At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.

When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.

The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”

We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.

When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.

There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected.

We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.

In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.

We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.

The time for empty talk is over.

Now arrives the hour of action.

Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.

We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.

We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.

A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.

It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.

And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.

So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:

You will never be ignored again.

Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.

Together, We Will Make America Strong Again.

We Will Make America Wealthy Again.

We Will Make America Proud Again.

We Will Make America Safe Again.

And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.

In Reality, We Are At War !

A vision came to me this morning that the United States of America has survived many wars but we may be facing, if not being in the middle of, a war that has the potential to destroy the republic, our democracy, and maybe our very existence.

Since leaving England, The United States of America has been at war every twenty to thirty years and sometimes more often.

My "vision" named itself ... the Second American Civil War! There are many causes that led to the First American Civil War and in many ways, the nation is at least as divided again. We just might already be involved in Civil War II. 

This time it is not the North vs the South, Slavery, Industry vs Farming, State's Rights, or Succession but rather a division presenting itself all across the geography of the entire nation and the nature of this "war" is a social, philosophical, political, ideological, intellectual one.

Our country is divided as it disagrees and often comes to fisticuffs over many mirrored issues: wealth vs poverty, educated vs ignorant, white vs black, haves vs have nots, fair vs unfair incarceration, freedom to bear arms vs mass shootings, health care vs illness, native-born vs immigrants, straight vs LGBTQ+, science vs religion, church vs state, religious vs non-religious beliefs, male vs female, entitlement vs rights, city vs rural vs farm, etc

But how will the Second American Civil War escalate and eventually end? Will American's take to wearing gray vs blue uniforms, will fighting erupt on every street corner, will family fight against family, will the red states or the blue state secede from the Union

It seems to me that the First American Civil War was about governance issues in a newly founded republic. It seems to me that the Second American Civil War is about PEOPLE vs PEOPLE: Black vs Brown vs White, conflicting ideologies, respect for one another, acceptance of different ways of life, divergence in beliefs, hostilities towards those who are different, poverty vs affluence, and anger. Maybe it all boils down to fear of the different

When I was young and studying history in school, the United States was referred to as a "Melting Pot," with many people from divergent backgrounds, belief systems, religions, and countries coming together to create one new nation.

When I was older and teaching young people history, the United States was referred to as a "Salad" or "Stew," made up of many different entities creating a new type of dish with each item able to retain its original identity yet contribute greatly to a new entity.

How would you describe our country today? I am usually not a negative person and am optimistic about most things, but this time I am worried!

The American Dream Has Turned Into a Nightmare

I am not an expert in this area ... but in case you do not know the story behind MS-13, read / watch this. It certainly a scary situation but an easy one on which to inappropriately latch arguments and instill fear against immigration in general Those people on the border to Mexico are seeking assylum by entering the U.S., for the most part, are not part of MS-13.

The article from BBC says that Trump is blaming Obama but Obama's administration is NOT to blame. At this point no one in particular is to blame, not even Trump, except he is using the situation to fan fear and to manipulate his agenda and that of his cronies and followers.

Also, for the sake of argument, MS-13 is what happens when people have no where else to turn, no place to grow their families, poor health, little food, horrible living conditions, etc. Watch the short video attached to this article. Imagine yourself and the people you love having to live under those conditions. Revolutions come when people have nothing to lose!

There is no excuse for MS-13's violence and criminal disregard but I think that in reallity this is what happens when people are so alienated and at risk that there is no hope. They are fighting for their lives in the only ways they know how, and they have created new standards on how they relate to their own, to society, to life. 

In a parallel universe and in many of the same ways, Trump's supporters are also feeling so alienated and at risk they they see little or no hope. For them the "American Dream" has turned into a nightmare. They are for the most part still operating within societal norms and standards of behavior and decency (but lower and lower) and their discontent is also growing.

Without trying at least to understand MS-13's viewpoint (while not condoning their attrocities) they and similar renegade organizations will continue to grow. People like Trump and his cronies will continue to use them as a fear factor. We will see not only the continued breakdown in our civilization as we know it but we will also witness the move towards more of a military state which will the continued diluting of everyone's human rights as an excuse to contain the breakdown and violence in societal norms.

I have not even begun to broach the idea that the U.S. is not alone, the world has become a nighmare of a place to live for so many people in so many countries.

I do not have any solutions to offer but do know that we need to somehow come to grips with the fact we are all in this together: from black to white to red to yellow, from Jew to Christian to Muslim, from the richest to the poorest, from the educated to the ignorant, from the best behaved to the worst behaved, from the governed to the government.

In some ways we cannot blame the current atmosphere of life in the U.S. and the world on Trump, it has been a long time sneeking up on us, as well as blatently shouting but going unnoticed and unheard. We can and should deplore Trump and his cronies and supporters for using this frightening, devistating situation to manipulate their own discontent, power and wealth.

We must begin to support each other in ways that respect individual differences, build us up without dehumanizing, listen to each other so as to better understand who we are, support our needs not manipulate them. Making "America Great Again" is a reality, it is just that Trump and his people are using that sound bite to their own purpose and in effect, whether you want to admit it or not, making America less and less.

Celebrating July 4th

There are a number of ways to celebrate July 4th.

Of course, for me, an important one is celebrating Gregory's birthday! He always used to say he was the reason we got a day off and fireworks. I always used to say, "Happy Birthday to Gregory and to our Nation!"

The piece below was shared with me via e-mail by my aunt. I have seen several other comments like this, not only for July 4th but recently also for Memorial Day (should be a day to remember our veterans who sacrificed their lives to protect us and not only for BBQs!)

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.

Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly.  He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The

home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his  gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.  It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free! We thank these early patriots, as well as those patriots now fighting to KEEP our freedom!

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more MEANING to it than beer, fireworks, HOT DOGS,  and picnics......

The two sides of the coin seem to be "Make America Great Again" and the other side which already belives"America is Great!" 

One reflection is "Trump" vs "NotTrump."

While the U.S.A. is a pretty good place to live, it is certainly not perfect and has a long way to go to become perfect! 

"Trump seems to be trying (and succeeding) in taking the U.S.A. one way (I believe) towards worse - you can add the descriptors) and "NotTrump" (trying to bring the U.S.A. back to middle moving towards (I believe) better -  you can add the descriptors here as well.)

So if you are "Patriotic," how you think depends on who you support and with whom you agree. There currently seem to be no answers, only confusion. If I fly the American Flag at my door what does that mean? If a Trump supporter flies the flag at his door, what does that mean? Time will tell.