some 'spalining Lucy

Ricky Ricardo always seemed so frustrated with his wife Lucy during her many madcap meanderings. In almost every TV show, somewhere along the way Ricky, exasperated, would say "...you need some 'splaining Lucy..."

Today after hearing about a supposed affair between Herman Cain and his on going 13 year affair with girlfriend Ginger, the self proclaimed spokesperson for what truly is Christian and Christ like, Mike Huckabee, came forward to pronounce his God like revelations.

It seemed to Mr. (holier than thou) Huckabee that a supposed consensual relationship between two adults is more evil and worth dropping out of the race then a non consensual sexual abuse from one aggressive man to another submissive woman. Somehow in Mr. (closer to God then thee) Huckabee a woman experiencing abuse of any kind is no big deal, but a woman embracing the sexual advances of a man is a sin.

I as a man am confused, if I was a woman I would be furious. Mr. Huckabee, you need some ‘splaining.

Today, we hear that the Republicans are furious that they are being kept to their promises. It seems when the Super Duper, we will will fix the ills of this nation special committee was formed, the promise made was that if the brightest bulbs selected to sit on this extra special committee to deal with deficit reduction could not find consensus then some triggers would take place to begin the process of lowering our deficit. The triggers would include cut backs of the social net programs such as social security, medicare and military spending.

Thanksgiving Day has come and gone the deadline for the extra special, we will cure the common cold committee and now the triggers are expected to commence.

But wait, the Republican politicians want to renege on cutting anything that has to do with the military. They are happy to stop providing with adequate retirement money, they are pleased as punch to avoid paying for any medical needs of the public, and they sure as hell think its fine and dandy to stop feeding the hungry. The Republicans insist we must be able to protect this country from any foreign invasion. But I ask if we have poor, hungry, sick Americans what the hell use is saving our country from the enemy from afar when the enemy within will cause the downfall and destruction?

Republican lawmakers you have some ‘splaining to do insisting a bloated military budget takes priority from the bloated stomachs, bloated debt, and bloated future of the citizens of this nation.

The Republican/Tea Party voters, the anti Romney gang, the ones who once loved Michelle, then Rick and then Herman are now embracing Newt. These self proclaimed “values” voters want a true Conservative as their president, and look for the candidate who can hate better, fabricate more, and double talk like the best snake salesman around. (They somehow make a distinction between double talk being good but flip flopping being bad).

Now it seems that Newtie is the MAN... despite his two adulterous affairs while married,... despite his wheeling and dealing with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, making at least three million dollars off of the tax payer,... despite his linty of ethics charges as Speaker of the House,... despite his commercial with Nancy Pelosi stating climate change is mad made.

It seems Newtie is now mister popular with a block of voters who seem to lay claim to Christian values, Conservative ethics, and conclude that both the New Testament and the Constitution are the same document. All of Newties indiscretions are washed away as if he was baptized once again. All of Newties immoral, unethical mean and tempestuous behaviors are okay.

Well core Republicans you have some ‘splaining to do as to just how hypocritical and ignorant you must be to make Newt your first choice. Do you all really hate the rest of us that much that you now support this vile,lying, arrogant self serving individual?

At least when Ricky asked Lucy to ‘splain what just happened, the comedy writers on the show provided a few laugh lines for Lucy’s retort, and the director told Lucy to showcase her wide beautiful smile. The audience laughed and looked forward to the next episode knowing the trouble that would ensue, but somehow Ricky would save the day and it all would end happily ever after.

Somehow with each new episode of some ‘splaining to do in our current day life there are no laugh lines or happily ever after. Wouldn’t it be nice if the voters could begin to provide some of their own ‘spalining and change the dialogue to include less ‘splaining and more sense?

telling a story

Today, hoping I would find something newsworthy that would not “piss” me off and maybe find some good news for the 99%, I found two stories. Both stories have the “piss” me off factor in common, each had a different purpose, but both had a common theme.

STORY ONE:

While the nation's largest banks were publicly reassuring nervous investors of their stability during the height of the financial crisis, they were also quietly approaching the Federal Reserve, hat in hand. The total price tag: $7.77 trillion, many times the amount of the better-known TARP bailout.

The magnitude of the government's assistance to struggling banks allowed them to grow even bigger and continue paying executives billions in compensation, a report in Bloomberg Markets January issue said Monday.

Fed defended its actions back then by contending that the biggest financial institutions in the country were too big to fail — a phrase that has become a bone of contention among lawmakers, some of whom argue that a "too big to fail" bank is one that's too big to exist. (msnbc.com)

STORY TWO:

Carol Johnston, Walmart’s senior vice president of store development, said that store managers have seen an “enormous spike” in the number of consumers shopping at midnight on the first of the month. That’s typically when those receiving federal food assistance have their accounts refilled each month.

Becca Reeder and her husband, T.J. Fowler, are one of the families shopping before the sun rises.

When NBC News visited their home six days before the first of the month, they had no milk in their refrigerator. Among the few things left were water, bacon grease for the dog’s food, a little bit of apple juice, cheese and tortillas.

The newlyweds are both certified nursing assistants but have been unable to find work in their field. Fowler is commuting an hour and a half round trip to a part-time job flipping burgers at a fast-food restaurant and Reeder is not working.

They never imagined they would need food stamps to get by. (msnbc.com)

Somehow, whether it be by secret vote, fabrication or out and out arrogance, the politicians of both parties have decided that if you are big you are better. They have decided if you are small you are both too minute to count or actually too invisible to be of importance.

Somehow too big too fail is a good thing and making you even bigger so your failure can really never take place is like American pie, motherhood and the bald eagle. Somehow corporate welfare is a good thing. Somehow too little to be noticed is the fault of the too small people hiding in the shadows. Somehow too small to count is unPatriotic, UnAmerican, socialism.Somehow welfare for the poor, the underemployed, the elderly, the unemployed is anti Capitalism. Somehow if you are not a Lobbyist, able to place dollars in a PAC, or a campaign, you have very little clout with our current crop of criminals calling themselves politicians. Somehow small is bad and big is good. Somehow once again as talk filters out of both sides of the mouths of Presidents, Legislators and Senators, and hypocrisy runs rampant, and truth is replaced with fiction and fabrication, the rich stay rich, powerful and greedy.

We hear the harangue from many Republican/ Tea Party and Blue Dog Democrats that the unemployed are lazy, the poor are selfish, and the elderly asking for more of their fair share then they deserve and any kind of welfare will be the ruination of this nation. We hear that corporations should be the rulers of their turf and any intervention by the government would tear down the pearly gates of democracy and be replaced by the fiery gates of socialism, communism and fascism. That is except when it comes to feeding the bottom line of those corporations with tax payer dollars, in that case welfare has its merits.

One story talks about greed and gluttony a cover up and government secrets. The other story talks about survival on a meager salary, fighting to feed your family and looking for the American dreams as tarnished as it currently seems. Both stories talk about an America that seems to be without morals, ethics and value.

All I want is a story with a happy ending for not just the 1% but the rest of the 99%. Isn’t it about time?

paying close attention

US Senate To Vote On Bill That Will Allow The Military To Arrest Americans On American Soil And Hold them indefinitely (addicting info.com)

We were told that weapons of mass destruction were going to rid America of our red, white and blue, then we were told that the Patriot Act would keep our bald eagle flying, then we were told that the Occupy Movement was a bunch of anarchists, lazy folk and if they were not arrested or peppered sprayed by police we would no longer have apple pie. Now it seems that the military must arrest and detain our citizens as if this country was a dictatorship keeping the bad guys in power or else we will no longer have motherhood or baseball. Are the red, white and blue, the bald eagle, apple pie and motherhood worth anything at all without the one true identity of America...Freedom?

We are told that now is not the time to spend any additional government money on alternative fuels: (various and sundry news papers and news outlets especially conservative communication organizations)

During the the 1973 oil embargo by the Arab states, this country came to find out that dependence on foreign governments to supply us our unsustainable quench for oil, had more dips in the road and very little smooth sailing. We found out that as powerful of a player as the US was in the world, we were brought to our red, white and blue knees and had to beg borrow and steal just to feed our engines, fuel our houses, and light our nights.

We were told by the president, the Congress the auto makers that being beholden to any other nation to keep our economy pumped and primed would end here and now. We saw the rockets red glare, we were the land of the fruited plane, we were all Uncle Sam’s kids and he would lead us to alternative energy. And for about 36 months, leading into 1976, our bicentennial, we forged together, we tightened our belts. We were promised the sun, moon and earth and sworn to that this was like Custer’s Last Stand, the first shot at Fort Sumpter, the Blockade of Cuba, and we would never look back.

And the sad thing is we never did look back. In 2011 we are told that drill baby drill is what will keep America strong. We are told that the Progressives who want solar, water, wind energy are really anti Capitalists and in turn anti American. We are told today is not the time to begin to end our reliance on oil, that we need to drill more and some time down the line we can act like Hippies and rely less on oil.

We are played the National Anthem, recite the Lords Prayer, sing America the Beautiful as the lobbyists who run this government demand that their puppets in Congress, fool the people of this nation into thinking anything but OIL, OIL, OIL is evil, evil, evil. And we all as a nation pledge allegiance to their snake oil.

American’s are treated as if we are ignoramuses, unable to understand how our government is run, the healthy priorities of our lives, and that someone other than us is more capable of making decisions about freedom, health, environment, and personal choice. We are given rules and regulations as to what makes a GOOD AMERICAN. We are told just what our founding fathers really meant ( as if any of the current mavens was alive at the time) when they established this nation, and that anyone who questions, petitions for answers, or does not readily stand to attention and cow tow to corporations is a socialist, communist, anarchist. We are lectured to by hypocrites, liars, the greedy and the gluttonous.

Everything is based on words, terms, phrases all like a big marketing plan. If it is good it is red, white and blue, if it is right it is apple pie, motherhood, baseball. If you doubt you must not understand the roots of this nation and you are an enemy of the state.

I often wonder just how much freedom must be lost before it can never ever be found again. I often wonder just how gullible one can get before reason and rational never return. I often wonder how we define being American as being sedentary, senile, subdued?

Most countries run by dictators give the army a whole of freedom while restricting freedom for anyone else! We say it can not happen here, but have we paying close enough attention?

love, not war

In the past many years I have heard complaints by some that there is a war on Christmas. The blame many times was heralded against the agnostic, the atheist, the non Christian American who still believed in a separation between church and state. Many conservative talk radio jerks blamed it on the fact that since Obama came into power it was a socialist plot to eliminate ALL Americans from celebrating the holiday. For some the mere insistence that government buildings should remain neutral and not showcase any religious icon was reason to scream war. And for some it was very simple, Christmas was and is both an American holiday as well as a religious celebration so don't mess with it.

In my own opinion I felt that Christmas decorations displayed on city streets the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas music being played in store after store, commercial radio stations making it a 24 hour parade of Christmas music, houses displaying Christmas lights, some right after Halloween, and commercials extolling the Christmas season proved that if there was a war on Christmas it must be those in favor of Christmas who are winning.

But that was then and this is now, and NOW I actually believe there is a war going on and it is giving Christmas a BAD name. For two weeks prior to BLACK FRIDAY we were warned that SALES, SALES, SALES, DISCOUNTS, DISCOUNTS, DISCOUNTS would take place and if you didn't BUY, BUY, BUY you did not understand what Christmas was about and more so you were rather unAmerican.

And to lull you into doing the correct thing, stores were going to be open Thanksgiving night. The hell with family values like eating turkey together, sitting around the table communicating with one another, having quality family time, actually giving thanks, none of that indeed. Nope the stores, you know the all American Christian value stores, like Walmart. Target, were going to be open at 9 pm. And if you really had to spend that time with your family, what would Jesus do, you could abandon your family and BUY, BUY, BUY at midnight (realizing that the juicy discounts would be over).

And in the midst of making Christmas bright, the shoppers stomped upon one another, pepper sprayed one another, shot one another in the parking lot, grabbed gifts out of the hands of one another, or ignored dead bodies on the ground to get that perfect Christmas gift. And as they did all of this Noel, Noel, White Christmas, What Child Is This played like hypnotic melodies through countless loud speakers.

So the corporations, knowing just how poor many Americans are decided to play a game called mouse in a maze. Place the cheese at the end of some confusing maze make the mice either eat their fellow mice, starve or fight to the finish and get the cheese, the cheese being a dozen flat screen TV's half a dozen XBOX games, a few video cameras and whole lot of crap in between. Make the desperate feel that pushing, shoving, leaving their family behind was a good thing and you the CEO, just think about the bottom line of your own corporation. And somehow all of that resonated in the minds and bodies of those who decided pushing, shoving, greed and gluttony was what this Christmas season was all about.

I am not a Christian, but I enjoy hearing about the beauty of Christmas, the birth of Jesus and the hope and promise his birth provided for humans on Earth. I am not Christian and being a religious minority I never questioned the need to celebrate this holiday or questioned the amount of space, momentum and energy in anticipation of this holiday. I am not a Christian but I enjoy participating with others as they celebrate this holiday with pious, joyful and emotional meaning.

But this year it seems to me the holiday season so far looks nothing like the spirit of Christmas at all. I believe, greedy corporations, needy people, selfish people, big business have declared a war on Christmas. I believe any hint of the birth of Jesus and his purpose and message are missing. And if this trend keeps up they will never be found again. It is not the agnostic, the atheist, the non Christian who have delivered a bloody blow to Christmas, but those who somehow think chaos, selfish, greed is a sign from God.

If we don't stop this newest trend it will be one more occasion that is nothing more than a Hallmark Card, a reason to shop, and just one more day to act like a lemming.

Make love, not war!

the day after Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving the day after... What makes this day best in not necessarily the left over turkey, the thank goodness I have the day off, the football games or The Sex in the City or Twilight Zone marathons but the ability to suddenly be infused with memories. There is a whole lot of planning for Thanksgiving, and during the hubris, hubbub and hurry the hours go astray, minutes wash away, and moments seemed blurred with a to do list sometimes longer then we wish. We seem to be caught up in the moment, or getting ready, getting there and getting settled. It is after all of that, that many of us suddenly remember how much fun, food, foolishness we just had and we weave those new memories into a tapestry titled my many Thanksgivings!

Thanksgiving when I was a kid was always at my parents home. There was some unwritten rule or maybe it was the 11th or 12th commandment, that surely stated, Rena Buncher would ALWAYS have Thanksgiving dinner. My mother would cook a turkey, make a brisket, prepare the salad, bake a kugel, prepare a green bean casserole, make a vegetable soup, and always a homemade cake, brownies, and pie.

She permitted jello molds to be brought in by her sisters, dips and chips by neighbors and perhaps bottles of pop (soda for those not from Pittsburgh), but everything else was prepared, cooked, or baked by my mother.

The memories I have include, at least one trip to the emergency room to stitch some deep cut to my mothers hand, a trip to the pharmacy to buy aloe for the burns on her hands from not using pot holders, kvetching from my mother that this would be the last Thanksgiving, and weird orders by my mother to clean parts of our house we were sure no one ever noticed like the baseboards, the shelves on which her holiday plates and glasses wee stored, and to remove all of our coats (four kids and two parents) from the living room closet so company could hang their coats when they arrived.

I remember going to the neighbors houses for card chairs and card tables, collecting extra silverware from the neighbor's for the 20 people sitting around the table, and finally going to the neighbors homes and providing them with left overs, probably enough to feed them for the next week.

I remember thinking that being a male was terrific, since only the women were stuck clearing the table doing the dishes and then placing them back in the various cabinets. I remember my three sisters complaining how unfair it was that they had to do this work and my mother saying your brother got all the card chairs and tables he deserves to rest now.

I remember dinner being finished the dishes done and everyone somehow fitting into our living room. I remember stories being shared of life in the old country, life when my relatives arrived in this country, and life of my aunts and uncles when they were not even parents. I remember the sweet smell of perfume , the stale odor of cigars, the pungent aroma of kosher dill pickles and green tomatoes, the amazing almost dizzying delights of chocolate cake, apple strudel, coconut icing, strawberries and banana. And I can still sniff the deep, rich fragrance of Romanian coffee, smelling so good but tasting so bitter.

Thanksgivings have changed for me as I moved away from Pittsburgh, as my relatives got older as my kids became young adults. I remember the old, and am grateful for the new. But no matter when or where or how much older I get, it is the day after Thanksgiving that I look back and reflect, remember and reminisce reminding myself of the moments and minutes that make me who I am.

I hope this day after Thanksgiving finds all my friends and family recalling one more memory, one more milestone. Happy day after Thanksgiving!

literature and life

After Chicken Little causes widespread panic--when he mistakes a falling acorn for a piece of the sky--the young chicken is determined to restore his reputation. But just as things are starting to go his way, a real piece of the sky lands on his head. Chicken Little and his band of misfit friends, Abby Mallard (aka Ugly Duckling), Runt of the Litter and Fish Out of Water, attempt to save the world without sending the town into a whole new panic.(“Henny Penny” by Joseph Jacobs)

At The Family Leader's Thanksgiving Family Forum in Des Moines, Iowa, Newt Gingrich used his platform to once again attack Occupy Wall Street and dismiss concerns about economic inequality and corporate power in America. Gingrich said that the Occupy Wall Street movement proves "how much the left has collapsed as a moral system in this country, telling demonstrators "go get a job right after you take a bath."(right wing watch.)

And as Bill Clinton was being lectured to by Newt Gingrich on (Clinton’s) infidelity, Newtie was practicing his own adulterous affair. While Newtie was promising the taxpayers a stronger government on the side of the American taxpayers and that he was a champion of taxes, he took those same tax dollars to pay for his partisan PACS. Newtie swore as he he usually does when caught, they made me do it. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are evil he said. If president he (Newtie) will immediately 100% privatize both agencies. This while he recently has received 1.6 to 1.8 million dollars doing consulting work for the agencies.

Newt has the sky falling over everyone else’s head thinking his lies, hypocrisy and double talk will shelter him from any falling objects he may have thrown in the air in the first place. And Newt is still embraced by Christian Conservative, Family Values first, Republican/Tea Bag Party Americans. It makes you wonder the morals, values and ethics of those supporters!

Christine Penmark seems to have it all: a lovely home, a loving husband and the most "perfect" daughter in the world. But since childhood, Christine has suffered from the most terrible recurring nightmare. And her "perfect" daughter's accomplishments include lying, theft and possibly much, much worse. Only Christine knows the truth about her daughter and only Christine's father knows the truth about her nightmare.(“The Bad Seed”, by A. L. Beneteau)

Michelle Bachmann, Minnesota congresswoman charged that Obama's beliefs run counter to a basic tenet of Christianity. "The 10th Commandment teaches those shall not covet thy neighbor's goods," she said. "It's time to act on this self-evident truth." (first read) And Michelle is outraged at the subsidies provided to people, communities demographics in tis nation by the current administration calling them “the worst kind of socialism”.

It seems that the Bachmann family owns farmland in Minnesota, and they receive farm subsidies to help balance their bottom line. It seems Michelle and her “we can cure the Gays” hubby, Marcus indulge in receiving government subsidies for their farmland because among other things it benefits their budget. Mr. Bachmann also runs a clinic and receives government money to offset some of the cost the patients might have to pay for among other things kick the gay out of his/her psyche. The subsidies the Bachmann clan receive is Capitalism at its best but anyone else wanting health care, social security unemployment checks is Socialism at its worst.

And Mrs. Bachmann is still sought after to speak at such venom and vitriol groups as Focus on the Family, Family Forum, Americans for Prosperity. It seems if you address your hate toward others, avoiding your own shortfalls, never owning up to your own infallibilities you become a hero. And Michelle is still in the running for president by those if she hates like I do I will pardon her on everything else wrong with her Republican/Tea Party, God discovered Americans.

Michelle seems to have it all at least seems to have all the answers and like most bad seeds once the fruit ripens the taste is not as good as it looks.

The Danger of Blindly Following Tradition

The village lottery culminates in a violent murder each year, a bizarre ritual that suggests how dangerous tradition can be when people follow it blindly. (“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's wife, were booed by some NASCAR fans as they served as the grand marshals for the racing circuit's final event Sunday.

Obama and Biden were at the Homestead-Miami Speedway to promote Joining Forces an organization that promotes the hiring and training of veterans. (political hotsheet)

The House has voted to let the Pentagon continue using taxpayer dollars to sponsor NASCAR race teams.

By a 281-148 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort by Minnesota Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum that would have ended the practice. McCollum aides said the Army is spending $7 million on a sponsorship this year, and the Air Force and National Guard are spending additional money.(courant.com)

One of the most Americana culture icons of tis nation we are told is NASCAR. It is a sport, if you will, made from sweat, masculinity, the colors of both the confederacy and union, the blessing by God to America, and as red white and blue as baseball and apple pie. It is a place where rednecks and closets blue collared rednecks can coalesce and show off the power of the automobile,dependence on oil and the mechanics who in a matter of five minutes can patch, repair and set a race car in motion.

What better place then to herald the triumph of returning Veterans and to remind the nation of a key program chaired by the First Lady and the wife of the Vice president , Joining Forces.

We salute the flag, we know our rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, helped our flag still be there because of the dedication of the Troops, many of whom are now Veterans, and many of whom like the millions of other Americans, need employment.

And so this First Lady and the Vice President’s wife have joined forces with the military to encourage support for our Vets. But despite all of that, some in the crowd of NASCAR, a sport subsidized by our government, (when we are pulling back money from the Arts, education and health care) found it necessary to boo and to instead display their ignorance and tolerance. Somehow many of these FOX TV viewers, Rush Limbaugh lemmings, I like God because he hates the same as I do Americans had to boo instead of applauding the efforts and energy of these two public figures. There are traditions handed down from family to family, generation to generation it can be as simple as buying a ticket to NASCAR to as complex as believing the bigots, bastards and bogus who incite distrust, animosity and hate. For the people who found the red white and blue in cars racing around a track but failed to find it in a First Lady celebrating our Vets I have to wonder just how patriotic they are and how the tradition of being a patriot seemed to go asunder. Makes you wonder just what kind of information about America has been shared from generation to generation?

these times

My Grandma Braff used to tell her grandkids never tell someone who has just eaten a three course meal that you are hungry. Never tell someone who in the cold winter days of Pittsburgh, is wearing a sweater, thermal underwear, and a warm coat you are cold with only your spring jacket. Never tell someone who has lost a loved one how sorry you are unless someone you loved has passed. She believed that those who have conveniently forgotten what it is like not to have will never understand the need of others. She believed that people are cruelest when their stomachs are full, their house is warm, and they can conveniently walk away from anyone else’s troubles because they really don’t have to relate.

And with the arrogance of a person so enmeshed in her Ivory Tower the Chancellor of UC Davis, Linda Katehi felt little remorse for the non violent students who by just expressing their first amendment rights were protesting in support of the Occupy Movement. Thinking she was safe in her wardrobe of arrogance and ignorance she had little to say regarding the Campus police as one of their officers walked down the line of seated protestors pepper spraying them. Some of whom took it directly to their faces. Chancellor Linda Katehi in fact defended the actions of her police and did not want to discuss any side of the issue but hers and her Campus police.

If it had not been for a video of this incident going viral, the Chancellor could have easily pooh poohed it and blamed the conflict on malcontents and hooligans. She could have ignored the root cause of the protest and wined and dined with her wealthy alumni raising money for future endowments wishing those pesky protestors would just wilt away. And yet the problem would still fester and the infection would continue to spread.

The few times I remember my Grandma Braff babysitting us, I do however remember her set of rules she would establish as she took the reigns of power at being the adult in charge. She would say do not come running to me blaming someone for hitting or pushing or yelling, just tell me what happened and why it happened. It is not about claiming she did it or he did it, if what they did is bad then I will deal with it. It is the action I will deal with then look at the person who did it.

Now in the aftermath of the horrible pedophilia actions of Jerry Sandusky the talking heads are no longer spending time discussing pedophilia, but burning the fires of indulgence and discourse to the edges by deciding what if it was not boys Mr. Sandusky had been showering with or touching of the legs but instead it was girls. Now it becomes about the sexuality of he matter for both the predator and the victim. And once again all the ‘mavens’ have decided to make this case agains Sandusky more about anything but the truth that pedophilia unchallenged, not addressed can and will grow more dangerous.

When a witch hunt goes after the witch rather than the action, there is something wrong. If pedophiles are straight or gay they are aggressors looking for prey. I am tired of hearing about the sexuality of the pedophile and tired of statistics claiming gay men or straight men are more prone to be pedophiles. We miss the point of the action when we speak like that. We suddenly pontificate about the issue rather then look at the dirty facts of that issue because in this current American culture it is so much easier to talk about it, place blame then to fix it.

So, now all the homophobes will feel self righteous enough to lay claim that anything from same sex marriage, same sex parenting, even Gays in the military are sure signs that once we condone all of those freedoms more and more boys will be sexually abused. The Gay community will find itself once again defending something that is not solely owned as an issue for just that demographic and we will rant and rave about the actor and not the action.

I loved my Grandma Braff, but the older I got I considered her commentary and communication difficult to understand. I thought she was an angry lady not able to embrace her current world and perhaps still angry about her immediacy of leaving Romania and coming to America. I pontificated about her comments that I perceived as negative, but now realize what I thought was negative was in fact practical.

I was looking at the world in those preverbal rose colored glasses thinking the better of people before even considering the worse. But now the words of wisdom my Grandmother spouted seem to make a whole lot of sense.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness...(quote from “A Tale of Two Cities”, by Charles Dickens)

What has happened to us as a nation where caring, consensus and concern used to be a priority. What happened to us as a land where the common good, the common cause, helped us help ourselves and those around us? What happened to us as a country where we sought to resolve the problem instead of so resolute to lay blame?

I wonder what my Grandma Braff would have to say about America 2011?

who are these people

Now it seems that pepper spray no matter your passive, aggressive or neutral stance as a protester is the weapon du jour of American police departments to be used against any to all Americans using their First Amendment rights. It seems that any age, any color, and gender anyone who doesn't move fast, who doesn't make any motion to move, who has moved but not far enough away will receive a canister, a hose, a spray gun worth of pepper spray. It seems similar to those in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria who don't fit into the pattern of behavior their government leaders deem appropriate receive pepper spray. And like countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Syria, those politicians, dictators, monarchs justify their aggression and continue to do so without much of a whimper from anyone but the protesters.

So, I need to know why we heralded the revolutions of tyrannical governments during the Arab Spring, applauding the average citizens of those countries to yell loud and yell long for freedoms denied, but our own American citizens trying to protest the imbalance of wealth, the imbalance of power, the imbalance the haves vs the have-nots are met with disregard from Mayors to Police Chiefs and the only reward for equality is pepper spray?

Michelle Bachmann and most of her cohorts describing themselves as Christian Conservatives running for president from the Republican/Tea Bag party declare and deride that Obamacare is pure and true socialism. They cannot be more vocal more critical, more verbose on the horrible road America will ride if we let this demon of socialism come to fruition and provide health care to those in this country who cannot afford it. They know how to tell their constituents, many of whom also pride themselves in being Christian Conservatives how awful this Affordable Health Care Act will be, but they never seem to tell their Conservative Christians followers what they might place in law instead. They all brag that they know how terrible it would be for universal health care to happen, but none of them tell their Christian Conservatives what they would do help the masses.

I am curious as to just how Christian these candidates are and how Jesus might view their ability to deny all Americans the right to be healthy, stay healthy and live healthy. I wonder if Jesus would place his arm on their shoulders and say sure, let the market place decide the price of living and maintaining a healthy life style. I can hear him saying I agree with Michelle and your cronies, it is about corporate greed first and human life next. I am so tired of Christian Conservatives being anything but Christian.

So, we have a week left for the SUPER DUPER WE ARE MEN AND WOMEN OF STEEL COMMITTEE to try and lower our deficit. They had been handpicked from both parties to tackle the hard questions, to find common ground to SAVE AMERICA. They told us, no they swore that politics would not be on the agenda, that partisanship was not permitted, and that revenue and cuts would find fair play. We were told they are the elite, the men and women of the Congress who will find a way to make America better.

Now we see angry Senators and Congress people avoiding the press, telling the reporters who can place a microphone under their talking heads as they try to avoid saying anything incriminating, we will be here as long as it takes. Except it has already taken long and we don't have much more time for them not to do anything but pontificate and blame.

And all the while this SUPER DUPER WE ARE MEN AND WOMEN OF STEEL COMMITTEE pander to their corporate bosses, their wealthy lobbyists, millions of men and women are unemployed or running out of unemployment benefits, losing their homes, lacking health insurance and eking out an existence that fill many with depression and distress.

Where are the majority of Americans with heart, soul, brains a conscience? Why have we let Mayors permit their police departments to pepper spray away our First Amendment Rights? Why are good religious people, who actually practice the spirit of God, permitting so many people to shout blasphemies in the name of God? Why are we ignoring the influence the wealthy, the corporations, the greedy are demonstrating by paying our politicians to worry about their own careers rather then the lives of average Americans?

This time in our American history is puzzling, confusing, and unfair. When do we take back our country from phonies, partisan politicians, and people who live for the lie and fear the truth? How much longer does this divide thrive? When does a common goal revive? When?

about cockroaches

Alan Keyes, Republican/Tea Party Congressman from Florida, today blamed increasing acceptance of homosexuality for the potential cover-up of child abuse at Penn State University. Writing for WorldNetDaily, whose editor Joseph Farah already blamed gay rights for the scandal. Keyes said that acceptance of homosexuality may have been the reason that claims of child molestation and rumors floated by sportswriter Mark Madden of child prostitution were not reported to the police.

Keyes suggests that the “almost religious promotion of homosexuality” created a culture of “political correctness” that prevented people from investigating Sandusky. Keyes said that people at Penn State were probably afraid of crossing “the zealous advocates of homosexual rights” who he accused of “pretending to draw the line at the sexual abuse of children”: (right wing watch.com)

And like most cockroaches when the lights are lit, they come out of the crevices the corners, the dark dank places they call home and infest our lives. Like most cockroaches they live to breed, they pray on the scraps, and they leave feces behind every step they take. And like most pests they are annoying and until we find the wherewithal to rid our homes of their nasty ways we feel overwhelmed and confused.

Congressman Keyes is an elected official who seems to think his own shit is made of a fragrance called American bigotry. He was elected at a time when throwing out the current crop of bums was popular and a time when hate, bias and bogus were palatable for political rhetoric. He considers homophobia to be the American way, incorrect innuendo the Constitutional means to govern, and equality a socialistic soliloquy established by anyone anti American. And HE IS IN CONGRESS ABLE TO MAKE OR BREAK LAWS.

One more moron who insights some evil religious ruminations, who quotes a God who must be the devil himself and who has a group of followers who refuse to insist on truth but love how fiction and fable have a resonating tome to them.

Now the rumor mill begins, once the game of telephone starts where you tell the person sitting next to you a lie he/she then embellishes that lie and spreads the cancer to the next person and soon fact no longer functions and the Gay agenda, the Gay religious dogma, the Gay apocalypse is upon us. In Salem they called it the witch trials, in the 50’s they called it Mccarthyism, in the 2010’s they call it blame everything on my own lack of knowledge or ability to glean the truth and my love to hate.

Pedophilia is a horrible plague among humans. It is a sickness that can and does destroy lives. It haunts innocents and creates monsters of men and women and hurts boys and girls. It has more to do with the inadequacies of a frail human and nothing to do with he or she being hetero or homo.

But for people like Congressman Keyes who got elected not because of the good he could do but more so for the accusations and accusatory comments he made, he grew in popularity because for the unintelligent it is easier to find and name a scapegoat then ever, ever try and solve a problem.

And as I have often said before in many other blogs, Congressman Alan Keyes can and will get away with this homophobic rant and ignorance as long as weaker people, those without conscience, who use God’s words to prop up their own bigotry and hate, who refuse to listen to truth will permit him to rise to the top.

When do the sane re-inherit this nation of ours? When?

worse, better

If Newt Gingrich’s popularity in the polls has climbed in-spite of his do as I say never as I do mantra… if he can proclaim any indignities that he may have been accused of on all the intervening forces out to get him…if he can wash away the truth and embellish it with his made up facts…then congrats to this man because fame can only loom in ones life despite the flaws because those who want this man to be their president seem to have lower standards and ideals for the leader of this nation.

If Kim Kardashian’s rehearsed life is revered and she is a cultural Icon and all she does in life is vogue for the cameras…if her sham of a wedding is dissed and discussed and her lack of respect for anyone but Kim is applauded…if her extravagant gluttonous and greedy life style is glamorized and made glossy…then congrats to this lady because fame only happens when others striving for less in their own lives live vicariously through people with disregard for respectable behavior. They become a cartoon character.

If Herman Cain’s arrogance for women, ignorance of history, inability to understand foreign policy makes him a suitable candidate for president…if his goon of guards restrict the press to ask questions, deny free speech responses and he is still invited to speaking engagements…if his lack of respect for the average voter, his scorn for the unemployed or underemployed, his disregard for open access to presidential candidates is embraced by his followers…then congrats to this man because his 15 minutes of fame is now prancing toward and hour and he still takes himself seriously enough, encouraged by those whose own depth and honor are missing, to pursue more fiction, less truth and disregard for anyone who is not Herman Cain.

If Rush Limbaugh’s harangues, fabricated versions of truth, replacing facts with his fiction make him numero uno on talk radio…if he can bolster bigotry, rant racist tomes, and incite hate through innuendo creating division and divide…if he can provide enough fodder for the fools, enough rants for the ridiculous, enough crap for the compliant…then congrats to this man for selling so many bridges like the one in Brooklyn to so many finger pointing, its their fault not mine, lets stereotype so we can feel better about selves lemmings and losers.

Haven’t we learned throughout the history of civilization that tyrants, hypocrites, dictators, demigods, false prophets, and people who are no more than a façade became immortal not because of their wisdom or zeal but because people stopped thinking with their brains and instead took up their emotions and fears and like the lemming let themselves be led. Haven’t we seen the rise of mere mortals to become bigger and bolder only because humans didn’t ask questions didn’t stop to think before they acted, didn’t mind having someone else speak what was on their own minds when it comes to hate, bigotry and bias.

Whether it is dunces running for president, cultural quirks, or a drug addicted radio personality, none of these men and woman could be hero’s heralding millions of dollars and tons of importance if the everyman and everywoman did not permit these vagabonds, interlopers, empty shelled self serving to survive. Newt, Kim, Herman Rush would not be so scary if we all finally took of their masks and revealed them to be useless, users. Just simple people with simple minds.

So sad that we have the power for better but end up with worse.

not much we do

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be (“Greatest Love of All”, by Michael Masser, Linda Creed)

The president's efforts to make school lunches healthier has hit a roadblock in Congress, with some of its members attempting to unravel his plan. They're pushing back against Agriculture Department initiatives to limit french fries and pizzas, reduce sodium and boost whole grains on school lunch lines.

The changes had been requested by food companies that produce frozen pizzas, the salt industry and potato growers. Some conservatives in Congress have called the push for healthier foods an overreach, saying the government shouldn't be telling children what to eat. (Huffington Post)

So I need to digest this information. The same Republican/Tea Party politicians who… want to interfere in the reproductive rights of women insisting that rape or incest is no reason for an abortion… who insist that only opposite sex couples can raise and adopt children permitting some kids to stay in foster homes until they become an adult… who would rather make cuts to education than increase taxes from corporations… who don’t care how many kids might be living in an unemployed home wanting to cut back unemployment insurance…whose mantra is ITS FOR THE CHILDREN…these same group of self serving, serving their corporate masters now say the government has no rule in the nutrition of all the kids for which they claim to be advocates!!!

Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend
Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth uh
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof (“Smiling Faces Sometimes”, the Undisputed Truth)

During the impeachment procedures trying to oust President Clinton from office, one of the more verbose and virulent voices heard among the crowd belonged to the Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He stood upon a holier than thou Christian bully pulpit and proclaimed the sins of Clinton, a married man, who above all else was cheating on his wife. Newtie then went on to say not only was this wrong because Clinton was elected by good honest people, but God himself pontificated that the union of marriage is only sanctified because that union is made from one man and one one woman and will remain honest, sincere, and loving from the you say I do until the day you die.

He pronounced Bill Clinton and adulterer, a sinner, a sham as he himself was in the midst of a sexual affair with another woman while being married. Newtie’s excuse was that the pressure of politics made him do it. If in fact Newtie had not been such a dedicated public official he could have been a more dedicated husband. And Newtie knew that the God he prayed to understood the distinction between his acts and those of Bill Clinton.

In the past many months as Newt Gingrich has been running for the candidacy for President from the Republican/Tea Bag Party he has insisted that the Dodd/Frank Bill: A Bill to create a Sound Economic Foundation to Grow Jobs, Protect Consumers, Rein in Wall Street and Big Bonuses, End Bailouts and Too Big to Fail, Prevent Another Financial Crisis is a laughing stock and the creators Senator Dodd of Connecticut and Congressman Frank of Massachusetts be jailed for interfering with good ole’ capitalism of this nation. Newtie also insisted that the failure of Fannie Mae was not because the bankers or the businessmen were greedy or glutinous, but the politicians were the culprits for poor lending practices and too much oversight.

And today we find out that the Gingrich Group and Mr. Newt Gingrich in particular received 1.3 million dollars as a consultant from the leadership of Fannie Mae. And once again Newtie so full of himself and his do as I say never as I do Mojo, blamed others for his involvement. He is astonished that anyone would think his intention were anything more then doing right for the nation.

You've got to accentuate the positive

Eliminate the negative

Latch on to the affirmative

Don't mess with Mister In-Between (“Accentuate the Positive”, Bing crosby and Johnny Mercer)

All we hear is how a bunch of hippies, homeless, unemployed lazy bums, selfish college kids and God knows what other brand of hoodlums are creating uncalled for dissent in regards to the Occupy Movement. The billionaire mayor of New York City, is proud of over night raids on Zuccotti Park and having his Police Commissioner tell his soldiers of fortune to nab any of the press who might show pictures of the armed arrests and to knock down anyone in their way send them to jail and provide them with the unheard of no communication with loved ones or attorneys. The Mayor saying at a news conference he understands the first amendment freedoms and he understands when too much first amendment is not healthy. And the debate rages on focusing not on why the Occupy Movement is so important, or why conditions have erupted like open wounds in this nation to cause the Occupy movement but instead we are only discussing tents, no tents, hippies no hippies, anarchists or real citizens.

The horrific events surrounding the coaching staff, the league of Board members, the university officers, the police response, the Attorney Generals response or lack of response to the child abuse, chid endangerment, possible pedophile violations at Penn State saturate the news outlets. Shock and Awe are the responses of many to most of the journalists, neighbors students and friends of both the predators, those who looked the other way or for the victims themselves. How could this happen in America, how?

But then one has to wonder why something like this was even discovered given the lax response by the Catholic Church and the off again on again concern of the public to the thousands of allegations of chid abuse, child endangerment, and pedophilia by its employees, and the lack of any kind of enforcement to protect kids from this unreligious behavior.

We seem to look at the newest shiny object and squint our eyes, beat our chests and utter how in the world. Then those objects fade and we find a new dangling fruit and scream and holler and act amazed that something as heinous, hideous, horrendous as this could happen on our watch.

We bailed out the banks, we permitted corporations to be called people, we stiffed the poor and rewarded the wealthy, we permit Congress to be bought and sold so how come we are shocked that finally a movement of the 99% has erupted? We watch as one law suit after another is presented and millions of dollars paid by the Catholic Church never really stopping the abuse but trying to pay their way out of it. We watch as those on the top never own up to their responsibility but blame the workers for the indiscretions. And now we scratch our heads and say Oh My God how did this happen?

Plot Summary for Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing: As the title of this play suggests, there’s a lot of fuss over nothing! Claudio and Hero fall in love and plan to get married, but the villainous Don John slanders Hero with false evidence. The wedding is ruined and Hero faints. Her family soon suspect slander and decide to pretend that Hero died from shock. Don John’s evil plan is soon revealed and Claudio mourns Hero’s death. Eventually, Hero is revealed to be alive and the marriage goes ahead as planned. In the play’s closing moments, it is reported that Don John has been captured for his crime. (about.com)

Sadly we have become a nation revved up on ridicule, motivated by the moment, and boasting to blame. We have become a country whose memories are short, indifference paramount until it affects us directly, and reaction just that after the fact. Sadly crisis’s only lead to possible corrections, circumstances become potholes, and nothing gets done until we believe we have no other choice. Sadly we much ado about nothing, and do nothing at all about the real.

take it or leave

Today we have seen the Occupy movements throughout the country become managed by the Mayors and Police Commissioners and redirected according to their interpretation of the First Amendment. We have been told that public safety was the main reason for the dismantling of tents and overnight accommodations, and that the concern of the protesters physical health was weighing heavily on the minds and souls of the Mayors and their Police Commissioners. We have been told via briefings and talking heads from the various Mayors that the protest can continue but with new rules. Rules by the way decided upon by the Mayors and Police Commissioners. And we were told take it or leave it!

We were told by Governors in the early 60's in the South, that in their state segregation of public schools and state owned universities was the rule. We were told by those same Governors and many Mayors that the police, the police under their jurisdiction would insure that no new rules or regulations would become the law. We were told that those Negro's and their Liberal out of state carpetbaggers were dirty, UnAmerican, communists, and anarchists. We were told that those people knew nothing of the wants and desires of the "real citizens" and it was the job of the Mayors and Governors to maintain the status quo, the right way to be an American. And we saw beatings, jailing, violence and mayhem. We were told take it or leave it.

Whether you consider yourself the 99%, the 1% or somewhere in the middle, the one thing you hopefully consider is that so far in this great nation of ours you still have protection of free speech. You still can protest, make your voice heard and seen and you can still insist there is another side to the situation. You can argue the situation, you can promote your side, you can find a soap box and preach your gospel or you can grab a seat in the audience and listen. You had to believe it was not a matter of take it or leave it. Until now...

We have had bullies try and make us take it or leave in the past. We had Joe McCarthy define for us what an artist could produce and if we didn't take it we could be blacklisted. We had presidents tell us Viet Nam was a necessary war because if we didn't take it the 'domino' theory of one nation after another nation falling to Communism would take place and soon we all would be speaking Chinese. After 9/11 we have had personal liberties taken away from us because if we didn't take it and permit the US Government to find terrorists in every nook and cranny we all would be kneeling in a Mosque and reading the Koran.

Today Mayors, Quan of Oakland Bloomberg of New York City, Adams of Portland among a half dozen other politicians, civil servants, have redefined the meaning of the First Amendment. Today they have given new definition to how we can express our First Amendment, how we can protest, where and when we can protest. Today none of these Mayors have tried to solve the problem but instead have infected the wound and made it more painful. Today these people who were elected to power because of the power of the Constitution have made parts of the Constitution powerless. And along with doing so have made many more Americans less American.

Democracy is dangerous especially because thank goodness it inspires dissent and discussion. Democracy becomes even more dangerous when we no longer have the right to decide or discuss our own fate. Democracy can die a dangerous death if we no longer permit to be expressed.

sinkholes

If you’re down and confused, and you don’t remember who you’re talkin’ to. Concentration slip away, ‘cause your baby is so far away.

Well there’s a rose in the fisted glove and the eagle flies with the dove, and if you can’t be with the one you love, honey, love the one you’re with, love the one you’re with, love the one you’re with, love the one you’re with. (“Love the One You’re With”Stephen Stills)

Today the newest polls now show Newt, (I can cheat on my wife but had better not cheat on yours) Gingrich as the baby doll of the Republican/Tea Party voters. Falling from grace so far have been Michelle ( born in the USA socialism is good when it helps me but bad for anyone else)Bachmann, Rick (if you have enough cronyism you can buy that stairway to heaven)Perry, Herman(womanizer, womanizer, you’re a womanizer, but I can’t be a sexual predator because I am a married man) Cain. Seems those who talk loudly about values and morals love to pick and choose their leading lady or leading man based on anything but values and morals. Why do the so called Conservatives with Christian values always rally behind the liar, the faker, the fool? Each month they seem to love the one they are with and never really know the one they want.

O-ver there, o-ver there, send the word, send the word, o-ver there,

That the Yanks are com-ing, the Yanks are com-ing,

The drums rum-tum-ming ev'-ry where

So pre-pare, say a prayer, send the word, send the word to be-ware

We'll be o-ver, we're com-ing o-ver,

And we won't come back 'til it's o-ver O-ver There! (“Over There”, George M. Cohan)

Seems the drums are ready to rum tum once again if any of the Republican/Tea Party boys and girls with maybe the exception of Ron Paul become our President. Seems the Yanks will be calling a a GI Joe or GI Jane to hit the fields in Iraq and bring democracy (whether they like it or not because that has a proven track record in history to work) to the land once called Persia if any of the candidates for office from the Republican/Tea Party get elected. Seems the same men and women who have never served in the military, the same men and women who are not quite sure how to fund the Veterans Administration, the same men and women who are so far removed from the American families serving as Troops, want to make war without even trying for some kind of peace. Seems the hawks are flying wildly and squawking about our red white and blue without worrying about those who they will send far away to defend it. Why do most of the Republican/Tea Party candidates fail to understand that America can be strong without always sending our Troops first?

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

I leave and heave a sigh and say goodbye -- Goodbye!

I'm glad to go, I cannot tell a lie

I flit, I float, I fleetly flee, I fly

The sun has gone to bed and so must I

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye (“So Long Farewell”Rodgers and Hammerstein)

Much like the public squares in countries like China, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain trying to dissuade protestors from making change in their government hierarchy and the imbalance of the have’s and the have not’s the Mayors of such cities as Oakland, Denver Chapel Hill, Portland and Salt Lake have decided free speech is no longer free while on their watch. Many mayors with the help of their Police Commissioners, Chamber of Commerces, and people with either their head in the sand or up their asses have become creative blaming unsanitary conditions, health hazards, or mob violence as the reason to say goodbye to the Occupy protestors in their city. It seems that free speech when speaking frankly and honestly about our own treatment of Americans is intolerable, and like the storm troopers, presidential elite guards, goons with assault weapons of dictatorships, monarchies, or Communist governments the Mayors of American cities self righteously proclaim they are doing it for the people. Never has been a good way to find consensus without conversation. Bullets and bullying always prevail, at least temporarily.

We are faced with fear, greed, intolerance and it seems all we want to do is draw lines in the sand. We are faced with division and all we hear to cure this is more divisiveness. When we are pushed we want to push harder. We want answers in black and white when all around us is grey.

When an irresistible force such as you

Meets an old immovable object like me

You can bet just as sure as you live

Somethin's gotta give

Somethin's gotta give

Somethin's gotta give (“Somethings Gotta Give”, Johnny Mercer)

So far we have been lucky that the differences in this country have been manageable, but looking the way, calling names, ignoring facts only make a teeny tiny sinkhole grow large enough to swallow whole towns, and maybe in this case whole countries.