Month: August 2023

Has anyone seen Melania Trump, recently?

It seems, virtually, impossible, of late, to switch on the television news, without viewing the grimly, contorted visage of Donald Trump. The numerous charges and indictments against said twice-impeached, former President, founded upon his criminal acts, and glaring misfeasance in office, appear to be, the constant, and almost exclusive, subject of every media news program. Yet, despite the relentless,  broadcast, concerning his serious, criminal charges and the appropriate avenues of their retribution, his wife, and official,” First Lady,” seems, invisible, literally, nowhere in sight.  By bright contrast, First Lady, Hillary Clinton, during the period of the (much less impactful), charges concerning her husband’s (the President) misbehavior with Monica Lewinsky, was not merely, available for media comment and visible, but, despite the embarrassment and angst of the sordid and disloyal affair, publically declared: “I stand by my man.”

The historically, traditional, role of a President’s wife, (“FLOTUS”)  in addition to being the official hostess at the White House, is one that has always figured, prominently, in the political and social life of the sitting U.S. President. The role of the First Lady has, in recent times, come to include, in addition to the management of the White House, an involvement in political campaigns, a champion of social causes, as well as an official representative of the President at Official and ceremonial events.

Many past First Ladies have made valuable contributions to the Nation. Among those many are Michelle Obama, with efforts on behalf of working, families and the reduction of childhood obesity, Roselyn Carter whose dedication included the important area of mental health and disabilities, and Barbara Bush whose dedication was on behalf of literacy and the literary world. We can recall, with great nostalgia and respect, the humanistic services rendered to the American Nation by First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. In addition to publicly, and vigorously, championing the “Declaration of Human Rights,” supported the refugee movement, and the universal right to education, shelter and medical care. We are old enough to personally, remember her humanistic efforts on behalf of workers’ welfare when, her husband, FDR was obliged to mobilize the Nation’s industrial production, due to the advent of World War 2. In sum, many of the Nation’s First Ladies have distinguished themselves by their contributions to social reform, human rights, public health, and world peace.

The first time we saw Melania, was on the occasion in which she, theatrically, accompanied her egocentric husband, the newly, (and surprisingly) elected, President of the United States, down the infamous, Trump escalator. On this (public relations), showy occasion, and on subsequent occasions, she always has appeared half-smiling and her fashionably, slim figure, encased in an expensive, designer dress. In fact, at every one of the rare occasions in which Melania has appeared in public, she has, invariably, appeared, with a half-smile and an expensive dress, worn over her slim, manikin-like figure. We are not aware of any memorable, public statements she has made, on these rare, half-smiling occasions, in the management, or decoration of the White House, nor as to any political, charitable or social cause.

We are, accordingly, obliged to conclude that this, singular, First Lady’s sole responsibility, was to, in fashionably, in manikin style, parade in public with ostentatiously, expensive dresses, in order to present the mis- en -scene, of Donald Trump’s purported, success and great fortune. [No Eleanor Roosevelt she!]

The former President, at present, is finally, and deservedly, facing America’s retribution for his unspeakable, immorality and brazen criminality; we shall presume that there is little, present, utility, for attractive, ostentatiously, dressed, human manikins in such a situation.

-p.

This far, our autobiographic essays, have spanned the period of our life through (Thomas Jefferson) High School, (where we earned the unique, but, completely, unheralded, distinction of personally solving the classic, “Chicken-Egg” problem, [viz., “the egg came first, laid by the immediate predecessor in evolution of the chicken”]. At reader’s request, we will, in this writing, recount the recalled, salient, events of the following period of our life history. viz., our undergraduate college days; upon the optimistic assumption that they will be of equivalent interest, to that previously, expressed concerning our recounting of the previous periods of our life. Due to the revealed setting and context of our early life, our subsequent experiences, in general, were perceived with the eyes of an inexperienced, unsophisticated, first-generation, young American, of recently, arrived, poor, Russian-Jewish immigrants. Any comparison with the perceptions, attitudes, and mindset of today’s young native-born American, college students, we shall reserve, solely, to the determination of the reader.

We attended and graduated from  Brooklyn College, [of the City University of the City of New York], during the years, 1954 through 1957 (graduating, six months early), Magna Cum Laude, with a “pre-law” major in political science, having been awarded, in early 1957, a membership in the Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Brooklyn College, at the time, was a truly fine institution of dedicated learning, in which eligibility for a bachelor’s degree, mandated the successful completion of a well-rounded, solid, core curriculum in the Arts and Sciences, instructed by an eminent faculty.

To this date, we remain, eternally, grateful that tuition was not required, by Brooklyn College for students such as ourselves, with requisite High School grade averages; which empathic benefit enabled poor, but promising, students, such as ourselves, to attend an institution of higher education.

As general context, we request that the regular reader recall our past descriptions of the Brownsville- East New York, neighborhood of our young residence. The large, old tenement-style apartment houses, the streets, often tainted with horse droppings from the still extant horse and wagon merchants, the alleys and old, dented, garbage cans, the building connected, clotheslines, the water hydrants,  the garbage strewn vacant lots, the atmosphere redolent with cooking and waste smells and the frequent sight of broken, cement sidewalks.

Brooklyn College, situated in the Midwood section of Flatbush, was the first experience, in our constricted, lifetime, which could be described as truly scenic. The College’s, beautiful,  thirty- five acre, tree lined, campus, [then], including, Ingersoll Hall, the majestic domed library building, Boylan Hall and Roosevelt Hall, the  social sciences and humanities buildings, and Roosevelt  Hall the Science Building, built in the “Federal Style,”  [ now, apparently, 16 buildings] the ornate goldfish pond sitting area with beautiful plantings, the flower garden, the large athletic field, and the picturesque walks; all of which merited the description in 2022, by the Princeton Review, as one of the most “scenic colleges.” In view of our nuanced, past lifetime experience, we were impressed to the point of actual reverence with its balanced, architectural and natural beauty. But, of most significance, the College contained an eminent faculty which, for serious students, afforded an unlimited, opportunity for mature enlightenment.

Consistent with the traditions of our inherited Jewish background, learning and education were no less than sacrosanct. We can recall our parents keeping responsibly, mute, during our periods of home study, (in view of the fact that we did not have our own room) so as not to disturb. In the context of the Jewish immigrant experience, generally, educational prowess and learning, were of paramount if not, singular importance.

Brooklyn College was a “commuter College” and, in contrast to enjoying the socially independent experience of a college undergraduate who attended an “away” school, our essential,  lifestyle continued in the identical ambiance and immigrant context of our (earlier, described), family apartment. In actuality, we led dual lives; the life of Descartes, Locke, Melville and Isaac Newton, simultaneously, with the limited, provincial, and insecure setting of our family’s, alternately, overheated, or, cold, apartment, with the broken English, and the traditionally delicious, dumplings (“kneidlach”) in savory, Chicken soup.

Commutation to college was accomplished by public subway train to Brooklyn’s “Flatbush Avenue,” station. As we, nostalgically, recall, the train’s route had a regular stop at “Atlantic Avenue,” where suburban commuters affected their connection to the City subway, from the Long Island Railroad. These visibly, urbane, well-dressed commuters seemed, in our limited, empirical experience, to be somewhat novel and exotic. One fall season, we humorously, conceived of an after-shave lotion that would have the aroma of burning leaves, so that commuters might be induced to believe, that we too, were from the suburbs.

Perhaps, due to our, nuanced, background, we felt, eternally, constrained to evince, a spiritual reverence for a felt, existential value of the educational college experience. In our singular way, we, ardently, revered the professors for their perceived status and its implicit erudition. We listened intently and respectfully, took copious notes, studied hard, and, successfully, achieved high grades. Coming from our nuanced background, perhaps, due to our gratitude for the learning experience and the contributions to our ardent goal of enlightenment, we felt (unnecessarily) obliged to wear a sports jacket and tie to every lecture; as if it were a synagogue experience. While the latter practice may now seem unduly, reverential, respect for the learning experience, did result in a fulfilled educational experience, adding immense value and joy to our entire life. Our firm aspiration was to obtain a lifetime, personal, education in the arts and humanities at College, prior to our future professional (and practical) education at Law School.

Our fortuitous introduction to the many academic and cultural disciplines has, invaluably, added to our capability for rationality and maturity of perception, a fulfillment, we find, especially, valuable, at our present attainment of old age.

-p.

Readers, undoubtedly, are aware that the large, populist hordes, evidently, paying homage, with, quasi- religious fervor to Donald Trump, have, been described by the media, as “cultish,” and his sycophants, characterized,  as a veritable, “cult.” Far too little is revealed, however, regarding the fundamental, etiology of the attributed, charisma, of their sporadic appearance, over time, nor, concerning the dynamics of the irrational obeisance of their adherents. To attempt to ensure against repetition of this pathological, phenomenon which is, inarguably, perilous to democracy, an insightful analysis and understanding of the same, to the degree, rationally, possible, would be of vital importance.  In this essay, we will bravely, attempt, to hazard our own, considered, perception of the dynamics of this existentially, anti-democratic, pathology, which, in its current, configuration, we have referenced, the “Trumposis Syndrome.” Some, additional examples of the heartrending, ravages of this dire human affliction,  may be illustrated by examination of the malign political epidemics which flourished during the autocratic eras of, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and more recently, Vladimir Putin.

The pathogenic leader of the examined, syndrome, clinically, diagnosed as cult of personality, typically, and lustfully, consolidates his desired power, among the populist masses by a ceaseless attack on the purported, “privileged elites,” the demonstration of extensive,  systemic injustice, the tactical designation of (“scapegoats”), the denigration of “truth,” an expressed,  (alleged) passion in support of “justice,” the break with established governors and mode of governing, the claimed support of radical, universal change, as perceived to be desired by the disgruntled, populist citizen, the creation of a fictional, dark inside government (or selected ethnic or racial group) as the culprit in ideations of manufactured, conspiracy, the designation of parties, or policies, allegedly, responsible for the extant, and all-pervasive, injustice, and the intentional and tactical, fanning of the perceived, flames of discontent.

The cult member entirely surrenders his personal identity and previously, established self-image, point of view and principles, in willing, exchange for the communal “groupthink” (empirically, in accord with the dogma and perceptions of the cult leader) and his acquisition of (a neurotically needed) sense of security, from his, perceived, acceptance and recognition as a member of the perverse group. Thereafter, effective, recognition of factual reality, itself, is no longer, empirical, but, strictly in consonance with the perception and dictates of the cult leader and the, unwaveringly, compliant, sycophants of the cult.

The persona, lack of moral compass, serial mendacity, bigotry and incompetence of cult leader, Trump, we perceive, has been sufficiently, commented on in our past writings and clearly demonstrated in the daily media. Also, indisputable are the repugnant, anti-democratic sequelae of the subject virulent disease. These, as evident, include, (with the stereotypic assent of his cult,) the denigration of the existential virtue of “truth,” itself, in favor of “alternate reality, the deprecation of the legitimate, media, the ignorant reshaping of federal policy, the elimination of environment policies,  the negative immigration policy, racial injustice, immoral, and self-serving, Presidential behavior, spread of misinformation, especially, regarding  Covid and other pervasive propaganda, sexual and gender bias, incessant falsity, conspiracy ideation, treasonous relationships with the Nation’s enemies, injury to the Nation’s traditional partners and significant treaty relationships (NATO, Paris Accords), substantial breach of the Emolument Clause of the Constitution, interference with the right to vote ( including the “Big Lie and the insurrection against the government by his cult followers, bribery and extortion.

It is our empirical observation that, disappointingly and perilously, our National population, appears to include a rather substantial population of inadequately, educated and poorly informed citizens. Such a grim observation necessitates the recognition that the rational and appropriate operation of the American government as a democratic republic remains a matter of periodic and occasional risk.

We have recently and exhaustedly, lost confidence in our previously expressed, (optimistic) view, that programs of humanistic enlightenment might be construed to educate and inform the “populist underbelly” of our Nation; current events have shown that such an effort would be analogous to the mythical labors of Hercules.  Instead, and more pragmatically, we would emphasize our earlier expressed admonition, that all aspiring candidates for Presidential office, be mandatorily, and thoroughly, vetted by an officially designated committee, of non-partisan (or bi-partisan) experts, for fitness for office. Such a prophylactic measure would be no more onerous, yet, far more fiduciary, than the customary job interview for citizens, seeking far less intrinsically, impactful employment.

Such vetting, psychological, educational, personal and moral, would, at minimum, have prevented our Nation’s ship of State, to have been commanded by a neurotic and self-interested, Captain, with a morally aesthetic atmosphere, analogous to a late August afternoon, “Porto-Potty.”

-p.

With reference to the four (4) reported indictments (to date), issued against our miscreant, former President, most media mavens seem to be in principled accord that, as included among the four charged offenses, Trump’s attempts at subversion of the American vote, constitutes the most fundamental and egregious crime of all, because it portends an act against the institution of Democracy, itself. While we positively, affirm the seriousness of its toxic and palpable, potential to destroy our Nation’s invaluable Democracy, we would accord that grave crime the status of “penultimate.” In our view, the “ultimate,” peril posed by Trump, is the danger imposed to the bedrock, foundational existence of human society, itself, by his assault on the existential and institutional, standard of, the “truth.” The latter virtue, in fact, is among those rarified few, accorded the status of “transcendental,” by the classic Eastern and Asian, philosophers.

It is intended and hoped, that this informal essay will be read in the context of a fifth (5^th) “speaking indictment,” issued against that power-hungry, immoral, “would be,” autocrat.

Over the many eons following Homo sapiens’ evolutionary appearance on Earth, (his) survival, and successive advancement have been, existentially, dependent upon the vital premise and implicit assumption of truthful interaction with others of the species.  Truthful and accurate information, regarding, warnings of danger, location of water and food sources and available shelter, taught skills, hunting and gathering, later on, agriculture, trade and commerce, law, legal and civic principles, were, ultimately, and ubiquitously, dependent upon the mandatorily, truthful, interactive exchange of experiential, fact.  The natural necessity of the assumption of veracity, in our view, provided the foundational basis, and dynamics, in the creation, coherence and advancement of human society to date.

In advance of further expressing the contextual purpose of this writing, it might be useful to briefly, discuss our observations regarding the dynamics, underlying the individual’s choice of making truthful or untruthful statements; the latter of the two choices, notably, for reasons of personal, subjective interest.  

The normally socialized individual, after having sufficient experience, empirically, develops a personalized, sense of himself, or, “self-image,” which referentially, in most cases, is determinative of his reality perception, choices of action, and nuanced, responses to the variety of presenting, stimuli. In our view, optional choices, in times of stress, are generally made, after sufficient inner reflection, consistent with one’s said experience- developed, self-image, or individually perceived persona. By illustration, an individual who sees himself, as upright and morally responsible, will be inclined to be truthful, even when “it hurts.” Stated otherwise, the natural, or, reflective inclination to speak the truth, when tested in instances where it is against one’s interest, would predictably, vary with the degree of one’s perception of himself, as, morally, responsible, or, contrastingly,  self-interested. In instances of individuals whose self-interested persona far exceeds considerations of morality and rectitude, the degree of veracity, is, at best, questionable. Notably, the prevaricator may indeed, privately, enjoy a perverse, self-delusional, feeling of superiority, being the exclusive possessor of the truthful facts.

Donald J. Trump, upon being elevated to America’s Oval Office, (having early on, demonstrated to the entire sentient world, his skill, as a maestro of the dark, private art of serial mendacity), instituted an autocratic program of derogation of the metaphysical existence of “truth.” Said Malefactor-in-Chief was the creator and ubiquitous disseminator of the widespread, anti-societal conceit and ubiquitous program of, “alternate facts,” (N.B.: the latter, on reflection, qualifies as an oxymoronic phrase). Such egregious process of the corruption of reality, could, be tactically, utilized, when deemed, necessary, to support his false and preposterous, assertions and to deny his ubiquitous acts of self-dealing, criminality and incompetence. Trump’s, inculcated religion of “alternate facts,” spread, like the “Dark Ages,” Bubonic Plague, unremittingly, throughout his large populist cult. Matters, simply alleged and reliably, false or non-existent, including, sub-Rosa governmental, or ethnic, conspiracies which, pathologically qualify as instances of paranoid ideation, were faithfully, accepted and disseminated, by the panoply of Trump acolytes and populist cultists. Not the least of which, was Trump’s autocratic, “Big Lie,” about the purportedly, manipulated results of the certified-as-true, election, regarding which, in truth, he was the loser. The chaos that proximately, ensued, included a violent and deadly, insurrection, by thousands of Trump cultists against Washington, succeeded by a continuing and pervasive, anti-democratic sentiment, posing a latent and continuing, existential threat to the existence of our Democratic Republic.

INDICTMENT–
Pursuant to the unanimous vote of the legally, convened, and specially, authorized, Grand Jury, (consisting of traditionally, loyal, mainstream, of American citizenry), we hereby, authorize and direct, the immediate issuance of an indictment, charging defendant, Donald J. Trump, with the felonious, act of intentionally seeking to undermine and destroy our Democratic Republic,  and as a proximate consequence, all of societal humankind, by his perverse and intentional maintenance of a criminal program, directly purposed to the societal destruction of the existential virtue of empirical truth.

-p.

It is now, 4:30m A.M., on an August morning in Kingston, N.Y. It has long been our regular, daily practice to rise at this early hour to experience the theatrical advent of the day, visually and aurally, the latter, always an aesthetic experience. There is some notable, variation, specifically, dependent upon the changing of the seasons, however, from the onset of the spring season, until late autumn, the “theatrical performances” are predictably, familiar; indeed, one might conclude, “a total reprise.”

The final strains of the scratchy, syncopated, nachtmusik, of the Crickets, with the cicadas, the latter musical troupe, their accompanying collegiate, musicians, having, fully performed, and the players, long departed. A subtle suggestion of daylight, next insinuates itself, tantalizingly, between the spaces of sky showing through the trees, a reliable cue for the next performers: Tchere-u, jud-ee, cheepe-cheepe, and ark-ark, being heard excerpts from the diverse, feathered chorus’ opening libretto, for their early, daytime performance.  A distant, high-pitched, coyote howl and various staccato barks are, faintly, heard in the distance.

The woodland setting is then, suddenly, and abruptly, “stage lighted,” accompanied by a medium breeze, which sets out on its meandering voyage, apparently, causing a young, skittish doe, [fearful of the sudden onset of the unidentified, stirring,  movement], to jauntily, trot off, her white tail, perpendicularly, waving above her ample, snow colored, bottom, as a warning beacon to the witnessing, woodland vulnerable. Two turkey buzzards then dive low, to enable close reconnaissance, and seeing no prospects for a morning meal, quickly, swoop up and veer away. The dogs in the far distance, continue to bark.

Fully shaved, showered and casually dressed, we provision and activate the coffee maker and insert two slices of rye toast into the toaster, for the morning’s breakfast. It is now 6:30 A.M., however, we do not, as was our past, regular morning routine, switch on the news. We have become, veritably, food-poisoned with the cacophonous recitation of the names, Trump, DeSantis, Lindsey Graham, Rudy Giuliani and others, which repetitious sounds have become dissonant and repugnant to the ear.

The day has now become sunny and clear. We see two goldfinches, staccato pecking at our small, hanging, burlap bag filled with millet seed, circus trapeze-quality, nimble squirrels, negotiating precarious routes to our regular, bird feeders and a nervous, brown rabbit, rapidly, munching on our now blooming white and purple hosta.  A smile, involuntarily, breaks out on our face, upon seeing our longtime, neighbor and friend, “Morris.” Morris is a beautiful, red cardinal, apparently, in a long-term (if not, lifetime) relationship with “Sophie,” a female cardinal; both neighbors, live close to our house and have raised, at such venue, at least two (to our knowledge) generations of chicks, visibly, nested, nurtured and fledged in our juniper bush, at the front entrance. At the time, Morris was enthusiastically, feeding on some millet seed, which had apparently, fallen from the small burlap bag. Disappointingly, however, there seems to be no cavorting chipmunks about this morning.

At about 8:30 A.M., we sat at our desk [to produce this essay], when, a quick glance, through one of the large, sliding glass, doors, revealed, a rather large, beautiful but dangerous, black bear, ascend the deck steps and proceed to trash the patio planters and attack our several bird feeders, presumably, searching out his morning breakfast. The bear saw us through the glass doors, but was too busy, munching on wild bird seed to be concerned. We opened a distant glass door and yelled and made noise, in an attempt to shoo the huge brute away. He seemed to be, entirely, unimpressed and kept on with his delinquent behavior for what seemed to be an eternity (actually, approximately, ten minutes).

As he slowly, and ponderously, left, it seemed as if he looked back at us, and it was our distinct, impression that he was smiling.

-p.

Recently, we found ourselves, greatly dismayed, at hearing a television guest introduced and described, among other identifying, descriptions, as a “gun regulation, advocate;” a designation, where applicable, is, in fact, often routinely, expressed and unemotionally, reacted to. However, on this occasion, the recitation of the subject category, had the effect on us of a pronounced, éclat, suddenly, and astonishingly, disturbing us from a thoughtless and philosophical, deep slumber. We were suddenly, and astonishingly, awakened to the empirical significance of the distressing, fundamental, assumption, necessarily, implicit in the all- too -often, heard, identifying, description.

To elucidate, it appeared disturbingly, significant that, the introduced guest, is described as having, “notably” elected to oppose the widespread, unregulated sale and tragic impact of the use of firearms; as if the appropriate opposition to the popular use of deadly firearms were societally, remarkable.

For too long, American society has implicitly, (and erroneously), adhered to the sophomoric, belief in the faux, uncontroversial, existence of the universal concept, of two sides to every question, viz., “for or against.” Yet, empirically, and pragmatically, there exists no valid, societal argument for the citizen’s right of gun ownership and use, just as there is no countervailing argument regarding the desirability of the elimination of Covid, or any other virulent disease. The subject phrase, “a gun regulation advocate,” should not have the requisite status, capable of being employed, as a useful, description, in aid of the identification of an individual. In accordance with moral humanistic, ethnos, as with pathological disease, societal opposition to lethal weapons, should, appropriately, be deemed no less than unremarkably, universal.

The tactical claim, by some, of a Constitutional grant of a right to bear arms,” is easily controverted, by an objective reading of Article 2, in sync with, and as defined by, its contextual history at the time of its inclusion. The  Constitutionally, employed, words, “right of the People to bear arms,” in historical fact, was the result of a settlement of an early, fundamental dispute between the “Federalists” who advocated for a “Central Government,” and the “States Rights” advocates, who demanded separate State Governments. Article 2, expresses the terms of the relevant settlement between the contending parties, in which there was to be a Central (“Federal”) government, yet, the States could raise and maintain independent, standing militias, (“the People”) which militias were afforded the right to bear arms.

The horrific, nightmarish results of the tactical and specious assertion, that the Constitution grants the right of every American to own a death-delivering weapon, as is universally, conceded, has borne the bitter fruit of uncountable, tragedy, not to mention,  exacerbated, the  divisiveness and  hardening within the American Nation.

As a pragmatic matter, guns serve no conceivable purpose, other than to kill or maim. Our modest pocket knife, by contrast, has positive utility, in whittling, cutting string from wrapped packages, as a tool, used in a hobby or for repair, to cut fruit or slice cheese or bread or to open containers and jars. The gun’s utility is solely, restricted, to wounding and killing. We cannot imagine the basis of need for a weapon, solely, purposed to maim and kill, on the part of any sane and properly socialized, human being.

The periodic, occurrence of criminally, insane, mass public shootings and killings, of innocent children and adults, should, rationally, tend to convince every moral and healthy, American citizen, without exception, to unstintingly, maintain a firm and unchangeable, opposition to the tactically, irresponsible assertion of a purported, Constitutional right of the individual, American citizen, to be “armed.” Such opposition should, morally and properly be no less than, universal, and empirically, unremarkable. The thoughtless, reference, “gun control advocate,” should not have utility as a notable, characteristic or as a descriptive,  nuance, in the identification of any responsible and sane American citizen.

-p.

(Proposition)

[It requires no especial perceptivity, to conclude that a major, prevailing cause of human discontent is his lack of realistic perception of the ever-changing, physical phenomena in his natural evolving, life. Expectations concerning, personal strength, endurance and prowess about which so much esteem, apparently, is maintained, naturally, decline in older age. By contrast, the capacity for wise judgment, the latter, being honed on sufficient experience, is empirically, less reliable at childhood, than in maturity. These illustrations of temporal changes in capability, relative to the progress of maturity are generally, accepted, in principle, by all rational and pragmatic individuals. Nevertheless, such acceptance is often attenuated by phenomena such as immoderate ego, or fear of ongoing, personal decline and ultimate mortality. However, the astute consideration of genuine gratitude for the continuing franchise of life, itself, together with the empirical development of mature perception, makes the pragmatic, acceptance of maturation, with all its accommodations, good and bad, acceptable, and conceivably, joyful.]

(Discussion)

Considerations of age, and stage of maturity, as appears, are not notably, relevant in early childhood, with the possible exception, of the age’s premature, assertions of entitlement or capability. For such reason, we have chosen to consider human perception of, and reaction to, temporal, or developmental changes accompanying the natural process of aging, from early adult to old Age  (over age 70). To our theme, it is one’s degree of rational acceptance of the relevant, temporal, tool bag of available, capabilities, which avoids personal frustration and dismay, and promotes the predictive, acceptance of life’s natural progress, and, effectively, leads to rational contentment.

Too many of our society, act as complicit sycophants of the profit-making, interest of the cosmetics, apparel and advertising industries. Such individuals have thoughtlessly, permitted themselves to be evangelized, in the worship and extolling of the fantasized appearance of the young, slim, glamorous, or handsome (avatar) model, tactically, presented by the media to the consuming public. The effective conspiracy between the negative elements of, personal insecurity, unrealistic criteria and misguided aspiration, are fertile soil for profitable, exploitive commerce. The foolish and insecure wish, for example, of an attractive, woman, 45 years of age, having given birth to three children and successfully, run a household, or yearly, performed the duties of employment, will ordinarily, not meet the surreal physical criteria of the publically, presented, media created, avatar of personal appearance; nor should it, appropriately, be within her rational and pragmatic expectations. Rather, she would do well to affirmatively, celebrate her continuing, franchise of life and the fortuitous, existence and good health of her family.

The maturing male adult would do well to consider the celebration of existence of his continuing life, and not, thoughtlessly, and painfully, perseverate on his (natural) progressive, loss of strength and physical stamina. He has, in contrast, empirically, developed skills and judgment, far more useful than previously existed, notwithstanding the natural decline in male prowess. Above all, he should, happily appreciate the continuing, natural, progress of his life, and, hopefully, his acceptable state of health. His developed skills and discernment are prized assets, significantly, offsetting, in both, consequence and essential value, his decline in physical stamina.  Moreover, his developing maturity of perspective, and understanding predictably, will provide more essentially, valuable and useful, criteria, for his self-esteem and personal worth.

Having personally, arrived at the octogenarian stage, we have, indeed, found abundant happiness as a priceless accompaniment to the natural decline in physical capabilities, (even as accompanied, by a painful, arthritic payback for a long and active life) having nurtured, and benefited from the gradual and experiential, development of mature insight to an objective, and empirical, perception of our life, and of life in general. This aspirational achievement is the salient basis of our reiterated, dogmatic, statement, in relevant essays, “Old age is not a disease!”

It would seem, logically and empirically, appropriate, for Mankind, having been the singular, beneficiary of an advanced, brain, by the generous process of Natural Evolution, to pride itself on the developing area of wisdom, other than by criteria of strength of bicep, fleetness of foot or the smoothness of facial skin.

*[Much appreciation, to the classic, English Victorian author, Charles Dickens, for his kind, fraternal loan of the above title.]

-p-

Among the daunting, challenges to the appropriate functioning of our interactive society (in addition to the impactful impersonality of “smartphone” transmissions and its often, ill-timed, digital-like responses) appears to be the general absence of letters, notes, messages and other forms of personally written communication. In this era, with the exception of informally, scribbled, self-reminders such as on (usually, yellow-colored) “post-its” or quick scribbles on calendars, one seldom witnesses the employment of handwritten or transcribed writing. The latter observation, sadly, appears to be empirically, consistent with an unfortunate, all-pervasive, trend in the direction of societal impersonality, the necessary result of which is the consequential lack of the comforting assurance of emotionally, reliable familiarity.

The fusty, pedagogic debate concerning the benefits and drawbacks, respectively, of “cursive” or “manuscript” styles of writing, would now appear to be empirically, useless, since few citizens, contemporaneously, communicate in handwriting. The closest comparative would seem to be the somewhat, inadequate, act of “texting” by smartphone, by which in computer jargon, (as opposed to humanistic expression), one transmits the “bottom line information,” usually, with little or no personal context. We have consistently, maintained that Society has unwisely, and tragically, surrendered its effective, communicative modes of interaction, in exchange for the inadequate, populist, aspiration for facile and rapid “efficiency.” As a consequence, its population of citizens, with consistently recognizable identities, was socially, metamorphosed to a cold and impersonal, electronically, computerized, practice of “passwords” and “log-ins.” Society, unwisely, chose to, no longer be beneficiaries of the interactive, interaction as corresponding, individuals, with comfortingly, identifiable, personalities, but, instead, relegated to far less communicative, and less expressive, electronic symbols.

Recently, we were walking behind a presumed, grandmother and her late-teen-age granddaughter. We could not avoid hearing the granddaughter discussing a situation in which she was entirely misunderstood by a certain member of the family. When the grandmother suggested that the granddaughter write the relative an explanatory, letter, the young girl replied: “A letter? Nobody writes letters anymore, it is so retro!” We were shocked at hearing the granddaughter’s annoyed, and strident, response.

We do not subscribe to a return to the historic and archaic, age of the “belle lettre,” (although we have read sufficient of such lyrical masterpieces [of the 18^th and 19^th Centuries, to appreciate their aesthetic beauty) but we are sincerely, disturbed by the sheer impersonality and absence of contemporary humanistic, written interaction. Fashion, and folkways, themselves, do, admittedly, change, however, appreciation of the existential, societal elements, of human identity and personal, expressive, nuance, are humanistic matters, far too precious and valuable to (ever) deservedly, suffer, the epithet of being “retro.”

Written communications, such as personal notes and correspondence, by their pragmatic opportunity of offering, prior review before posting, encourage the thoughtful and precise expression of the writer’ exact intention and, ultimately, the receipt by the interlocutor, of a meaningful communication. For those who do communicate by written letter, the personal style of each correspondent becomes recognizable, analogous to the pleasant, and assuring, recognition of a familiar voice. Written correspondence can, usefully, be kept as, loving mementos or historically, biographic records.

Mankind’s writings, not unlike his anthropologically, discovered footprints, afford probative, circumstantial evidence of his prior existence, and his empirical life on the Planet.

-p.
 

The foregoing, are the transcribed, Official Minutes of the Annual Summer Meeting of the Board of Managers of the Hamlet of “Wistful Vista,” for the year, 2023. [The record will indicate that the annual summer meeting, albeit, mandated by its Charter, suffered an unfortunate, four-year, hiatus, due to the tragic exigencies of the Covid pandemic, and the destruction of the village donut shop (including inventory), from an explosion caused by a frayed, electrical connection in its downstairs basement toilet.

The Meeting started 45 minutes later than officially, scheduled, since Thelma Epicac, the Recording Secretary (and Village Librarian) was obliged to bring her pet goat, Melvin, to the vet, regarding certain emergency dental issues.

The well-attended meeting, amounting to thirty-seven members, was, called to order, by the Chairperson, Dr. Sal Hipatica, following the singing of the National Anthem, led by Ms. Flora Prune, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pitt Prune. Ms. Prune is presently, engaged to be married, October 3, 2023, to her high school sweetheart, Mr. Albert Snarl, son of Mia and Hugh Snarl, of the neighboring Village of Mattress Springs, New Hampshire. Congratulations are also due to Hugh, who was promoted to the titles of Chief Official Exterminator and Supervisory, Cesspool Inspector, for the twin Hamlets of Mattress Springs and Wistful Vista; the latter, due to the recent, unfortunate,  passing of  Mortimer Snerde, the former Officeholder of the dual departments and, sadly, as well, the area’s celebrity banjo player.

 Mrs. Elvira Swine, Acting, Executive Vice-President and CFO, of the Wistful Vista Church’s Geranium Committee, after, initially, securing formal permission to address the assembled, membership, walked, shakily, to the raised podium, breathing heavily, with excitement, while carrying a rubber-banded batch of hand-written notes in one hand, and firmly, gripping a dog-eared, worn copy of the New Testament in the other. Elvira had just returned home, after a three-week visit with her brother, Dinty Moore and her sister-in-law, Carmen. It may be remembered that Dinty was one of the chief spokesmen for the organization, “Ban the Smut,” a community interest group, whose public mantra was, “Sanitary Thoughts Only,” and was ardently, dedicated to the eradication from books, (and movies) of “smut,” “sex,”  gender references,” and the teaching of non-abridged history. Three weeks of Carmen’s excellent sausage and cheese lasagna and Dinty’s unrelenting cant, warning of “the danger of subtle propaganda in books and other publicly, available sources,” had convinced the naïve, gullible and, innately, evangelistic Elvira, that civil society is regularly and existentially, under the dire threat of dark, sub- Rosa and perverse influences. It was with such mindset that she shakily, but, dutifully, mounted the three steps of the podium.

Elvira’s sincere, naïve, and emotion-filled, presentation, regarding the postulated, existential threat, posed by the potential for subtle, sinister, and malignant, thoughts, encouraged in books and the arts, and the existential importance of their moral regulation resulted in a hushed audience, followed by a number of puzzling questions from those in attendance, such as the practical selection of targeted books and the attainment of a  mutual agreement as to “malignant influences,” the questionable mode of enforcement and the basic issue of the right of free speech.

However, the undaunted and recently, propagandized, Elvira insisted that it was the “moral duty” of responsible society to cleanse itself from evil influences” (Dinty’s personal, screed) and that the community might, appropriately, begin with the library collections of all encyclopedia. The defining nature of the encyclopedia, she continued,  is such that virtually, every subject is included, whether societally, wholesome or not; containing malignant, subjects such as race, race relations slavery, gender, cisgender and gender confused, sex and, homosexuality, unabridged history and the like. Many of the general subjects would, of necessity, fall under the repugnant categories, included within the responsible and appropriate criteria of moral censorship, and therefore, render such entire compilations of information and accumulated, knowledge, morally, unacceptable and appropriate for being morally, purged from the local library.

The assembled delegates then looked for Ms. Thelma Epicac, the Hamlet’s (part-time) librarian, to inquire as to her views on the purging of the local library of its sets of encyclopedia, and, finally, found her out back, feeding her happily, drooling, Melvin a jelly donut. When questioned, as to her view on the Official censorship of all sets of the Library’s collection of Encyclopedia, and while she was inserting a large piece of the donut into Melvin’s bearded mouth, she amicably, responded, “But we never had any sets of encyclopedia in our library.”

The meeting was concluded approximately, ten minutes later. Many members took especial notice that, as she was leaving, Elvira evinced a big smile of satisfaction.

-p.

Who is it that one we might see?
And closely, attend to say and hear
Yet chooses the pre-fabricated talk
The packaged jargon, of partisan stance.

What might one perceive, behind the screed?
Of those who espouse some media dream
A World, conceived and consumed entire,
Alas, by errant, misguided dupes?

What, in candor, does he think?
Whoever, he may be behind that mask?
One of the few, now saved from pain?
Or a hapless, casualty of reductive thought?

What, indeed, if we might see?
Under the mask and fabricated words,
Of media trope and partisan fog
With “straight out” speaking of two hearts?

We’d see each man, in his own place
Those fortunate, and those in want
In pain or pleasure, as he may be,
And, sans- words, sing loud the songs,
Of mutual brotherhood and love.

-p.

Leonard N, Shapiro [KINGSTON N.Y. 8/1/23]