Author: plinyblogcom

In our view, of all the noteworthy portals passed through by which one acquires an alternate status or amended perception of reality, graduation from an institute of higher learning, may be the most pivotal. Concededly, such milestone events as marriage, having children and becoming a grandparent are momentous and life-changing; nevertheless, we would resolutely, and, perhaps, radically, maintain that the individual’s transitional, milestone of (college) graduation is, ultimately, the most impactful and foundational. The reader might, generously, elect to reserve any, understandable, skepticism until a later point in this essay.

To be clear, our stated recognition of the great significance, or major dynamic impact, of the event of graduation, is relevant to the subject of university or graduate education. The “graduations” from schools of lower level education are not within the context, nor applicability, of this essay.

This is the perennial season of college graduation, and the joyous event is being universally, replicated in all its academic pomp and ceremony. According to our research, such formal and elaborate ceremonies, including the wearing of the traditionally, appropriate cap and hood, date back to the European 12^th Century, and include a formal, academic procession, attired in Middle Ages style, robes and hoods.

The traditional event symbolizes and celebrates the publically, recognized accomplishment, or conclusion of hard work, during stressful years of study, and affords the deserved individual, the opportunity to celebrate the significant accomplishment, together with the others who have, jointly made the similar, successful voyage.

The classic setting of the college graduation, having been, described, sufficient for the thematic, purposes of this writing, it would now seem appropriate, to  express our promised views on the “paramount” significance, to the involved individual and his society, of this perennial “Rites of Spring.”  

To properly evaluate the merit of our views, regarding the singular, importance of college graduation, it would appear to be useful, to, very briefly, examine the landmark event, from each of its points of reference, personal, sociological and political.

For the graduating individual and his family, the event ushers in the beginnings of a gradual realization,  as too his acquisition of an independent, capability to reason maturely, and to maintain confidence in his observations. It marks the conclusion of his perceived, earlier role in life, evincing, dependence, (traditional or empirical) on parental or other sources, for needed guidance in judgmental decision-making. The ceremony of college graduation, universally, and realistically, termed a ”Commencement,” has publically, and ceremoniously, confirmed his newly acquired status as a recognizable adult citizen. From the point of view of development, the landmark ceremony is an affirmation and certification of the production of additional, responsible, members of the American community. From the graduate’s personal perception, his new status is a long-awaited moment of self-affirmation. His familial relatives can enjoy the successful accomplishment of an intended and responsible goal. The Nation and society,  benefits from the graduate’s signature accomplishment and his future value, as a useful citizen.

The prevailing turmoil and divisiveness, presently, roiling the Nation, to the terrifying, extent of rending vulnerable, the Democratic Republic, is empirically, the proximate result of its numerous hordes of inadequately, educated, poorly informed, and easily misled, citizens. To, once more, reprise the wise, and notably, prescient, admonition of Thomas Jefferson: “For a Democratic Republic to succeed, it requires well-educated and well-informed citizens.” As the Nation has traumatically, learned, the most profound and dangerous divide in the American Nation exists, between the educated and well-informed citizens, and those whose education and political-social awareness, are determinatively, lacking.

The satisfactory, productive yield of educated and useful Americans is of existential necessity to the continuance of our Democratic Republic, the sine qua non of its continued existence. The benefits of enlightenment to society, in general, are especially inclusive of, rational and just laws and policies.

The individual citizen’s vital capacity for reason, his accumulated knowledge and maturely, developed perception, are the quintessential requirements for the success of our democratic republic. The award of a college degree is a notable indication of the potential worthiness and usefulness of the citizen, willing to accrue the responsibility of enlightened citizenship.

-p.

* Thanks to Igor Stravinsky, for the use of the above title.

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In accord with the intended context of this essay, we would request the reader, to momentarily, put aside his natural feelings of dismay and horror, regarding the unjust bloody war of aggression, initiated by Russia’s aggressive, autocratic, President, Volodymir Putin, against the sovereign Nation of Ukraine,(led by its democratically, elected, courageous, President, Volodymir Zelensky.) We would further ask that, during such elective moments of “time out,” he might, metaphysically, observe the fact that, were the subject events portrayed in contemporary literature or theater, it would be observably, analogous, in form and content, to a secular form of classic, medieval morality (or, “Everyman”) play.

The eternally, contending forces, of good and evil, are respectively, represented and evident in the protagonists, viz., Putin (aggressor-sin) and Zelensky (innocent victim-virtue). The moral challenge waged is, eternal and is waged between the two, morally contrasting leaders (protagonists); in this case, mutually, named “Volodymir,” in lieu, perhaps, of the age-old, traditional, “Everyman.” In this context, we would describe Putin’s persona and appearance as unsmiling, ferret-like, menacing, and with the expenditure of little eye contact during an interaction. We would, by contrast, describe, Volodymir Zelensky, the elected President of Ukraine, as oval-faced, light-bearded, warm and amiable.

Putin, the evil and ambitious autocrat and titular President of the globally, immense, Russian Nation, evinces a veritable, Napoleonic desire for power and conquest, and little inclination for empathy. He (sinfully), unlawfully and absent provocation, deploys Russia’s immense military forces to violently and unmercifully, overwhelm and, swallow up the weaker, innocent Nation of Ukraine. Putin is reported to have boasted that it was his expectation to take Kviv in no more than one week, install a personal lackey as President, and put an end to any European Union, NATO or any Western cultural expansion. His avaricious dream was to increase his power, as well as that of the former, fascistic, Soviet Union.

Putin, accurately and pragmatically, described as Russia’s dictator, may also be identified as its richest and most corrupt, oligarch. Following the (predictable), economic, failure of Marx’s “Scientific Socialism” [Communism] in Russia, (a subject, of utility, it appears, only for late evening, coffee house debate) the Russian Nation, by degrees, clumsily, morphed into an entity, politically and economically, controlled by corrupt, billionaire, business oligarchs, under the sovereign authority, of its richest, most powerful and singularly, corrupt, “President,” Putin; the latter, a power-hungry autocrat, and former KGB,  master at manipulating informers and suppressing information.

 As universally, reported in the World and National media, it was the megalomaniac, Putin, alone (and not on behalf of Russia) who desired and implemented the Ukrainian adventure,

Putin has defensively, expressed several spurious reasons, for his declaration of war on Ukraine. Among his publically, declared, (faux) justifications was his tactical (and false) assertion that Ukraine was under Nazi influence” and, thus, posed a continuing, existential threat to peace. Of all his falsely stated “justifications,” this, may constitute the most empirically, and historically, ludicrous. It should require no supporting argument, to declare that Jews, have eternally been the singularly, despised objects of Nazi hatred, pathologically, deemed by them, to be fit only for the WW2 death camps. The falsity of Putin’s assertion of the presence of Ukrainian, Nazi influence, is empirically, revealed by the democratic election to the office of Ukrainian President, (the “virtuous” Volodymir, in our analogy to medieval morality plays) and, additionally, the Nation’s Prime Minister, both popularly, known, to be Jewish. In sad fact, the grandparents of our virtuous, protagonist, were killed in the holocaust. At this point in the writing, we would seek the reader’s indulgence for a brief, but relevant, digression.

The reader may recall several of our earlier writings, based upon our various recollections, as first-generation Americans, residing in the 1930-40’s ambiance of the old-fashioned, Jewish, Brooklyn neighborhood. Our experiences now reveal an interesting and curious phenomenon, relative to certain observations made in the present writing.

In the early days of our Brooklyn childhood, it was not uncommon to hear, in English or Yiddish, observations made by European immigrants, to the effect that the Ukrainians were the most implacable and cruel haters of the Jews; that, as such, Ukrainian military personnel were usefully, and preferentially, assigned to  Jewish Death Camps. It was, indeed, many decades ago, that we had heard narratives, of cruel, anti-Jewish, Ukrainian and Polish abuse. The current situation, as above related, hopefully, may enable the empirical conclusion, that atavistic prejudices can, in time, be eliminated.

Returning to our contextual analogy to the medieval morality play, it is our sincere belief and expectation, that Good will soon triumph over Evil, and that the virtuous, Volodymir, will doubtlessly, prevail.

-p.

*[The above title has been temporarily, borrowed from Frank M. Stockton (1882), “The Lady or the Tiger,” a short story in which the protagonist has to hazard a choice between two unmarked doors, one enclosing his love, the other a ferocious, large-toothed, orange Tiger]

It, should not be hyperbolic, to observe that, at present, our Democratic Republic is perilously, divided and existentially, vulnerable. For decades, hotly contested issues such as race relations, guns, abortion, election integrity, immigration, tax and economic disparity, the social status of gay and transgender Americans, resulted in the development of “tribally,” divided, insular groups of “group think” citizens, engaged in virtual, “Cold War,” with similarly configured groups of disparate views. This, notably, was in stark contrast to the prognostications of our optimistic Founders, to the effect that informed citizens of goodwill would constructively, debate the contested issues of the day, with the results, being useful to the governance of a Nation, “by and for the People.” To the contrary, an unanticipated, divisiveness, was to develop, then worsen and, finally, metastasize.

The unfortunate and consequential addition of an effective catalyst to such existent divisiveness was exacerbated by the surprise (and, ultimately, tragic) elevation of an incapable, former second-rate, television game show host and real estate grifter, to the Oval Office. Shortly, thereafter, the historically, perceived, high moral stature of the American Nation, palpably, declined, both internationally, as well as domestically. On the international scene, Trump’s total ignorance of the Nation’s international relationships and treaty agreements lent our traditional allies an unpredictable, “Jack-in-the-Box” perception of its policies; America’s supportive relations with its traditional allies became confusing, while Trump’s developing, love of autocracy, and its signature feature of unlimited power, motivated him to befriend the leaders of the Nation’s historic enemies, Russia, China and North Korea.

The most troubling and vexatious characteristic of Donald Trump appears to be his unique ability to completely alienate certain groups of people, and utterly, captivate others. It is not difficult to comprehend the dynamics of his censure by the mainstream, American citizen. His complete incapability, coupled with the negative, empirical results of his excessive neurotic arrogance, his disrespect and antipathy for learning and advancement, shamelessly, inclusive of medical and scientific research, (as evidenced during the pandemic), his demonstrated, complete lack of moral compass and failure to adhere to tenets of societal morality and acceptable behavior, were ultimately, terrifying, and unpredictable; his neurotic theories, all self-serving, would appear to qualify for the most original of paranoid delusionary constructs.

On the domestic scene, Trumps programmed action to disparage America’s media, his perverse preference for subjectively construed, “alternate facts”) demonstrated his un-American love of autocracy, and is consistent with his amply, demonstrated, lack of moral compass. The reader is doubtlessly  aware of the multitude of serious crimes perpetrated by this bizarre National Leader, inclusive of the payment of bribes to silence call girls with whom he, apparently, had  regular commerce, attempted rigging of the election results by illegal and improper demands to Secretaries of State and otherwise, attempting to sabotage  the (certified as accurate) election results, fomenting an insurrection on the alleged grounds that the election victory was “stolen,” from him, without a scintilla of supporting evidence,( when it was he, himself, who  demonstrated  autocratic chutzpah, in his attempt to alter the voting results (viewed on public television), invited, caused and extolled a bloody insurrection against our Democratic Republic,  expressed his praise and support for the insurrection by the right-wing  Christian White National, fascistic militias and to other citizens, too dense to realize that an (alternate) autocracy would, also, suicidedly,constrict their own freedoms. [See our earlier essay: “Lemmings”). Despite two Congressional impeachments, several, separate, imminent criminal indictments for the most egregious of Federal crimes, including sedition, as well as a host of civil cases now pending against him, including tax fraud, the orange-haired sociopath has publically, and brazenly, declared his intention to run again, for the American Presidency; another Herculean Labor of hubristic chutzpah. Remarkably, the right-wing media continues to publish his disproved lies and delusions regarding the subject of election and his false statements on the subject of social politics.

Trump’s large, cultish, horde of populist underbelly citizenry, no doubt, instinctively, attracted to him by his unorthodox, anti-establishment and errant social behavior, is the mother lode of his politically, pervasive, power. His denigration of truthful facts (“truth”), in favor of subjectively, preferred, “alternate facts, has metastasized into advanced conspiracy ideations, such as, “The Stolen Election,” “The Great Replacement Theory,” ”Pizza Gate” and enough bizarrely, conceived, notions as might bedazzle a casserole cooked with the savory ingredients of Franz Kafka, Louis Carroll and  J.R.R.Tolkien.

It is extremely worrisome that many, non-delusional Republican lawmakers and politicians seem to be inclined to support Trump and his followers, solely for fear of losing the votes of his vast inventory of populistic supporters. Republican politics has, indisputably and regrettably, morphed into the concern for votes from the vast, National inventory of populist, Trump supporters, rather than the responsible concern for constituents and for National issues, political and economic. Our traditional, two-party, political system has effectively, and shamefully, degraded to the singular issue of Trump’s acceptability or non-acceptability. Political and economic issues are the proper, subjects of our two-party system, but, like the proverbial, apple barrel, it has been spoiled by our rotten, Orange-haired, apple.

The existentially, vital route back to the satisfactory choice of the correct door, leading to the continued existence and proper functioning of our democracy,( inclusive of our traditionally, two-party system), is to affirmatively, vote for it. Success will favorably, be rewarded by the beneficial avoidance of the democracy-eating, autocratic tiger.    

-p.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Considering the entire cornucopia of errant and bizarre behavior of our twice impeached (and soon to be multiply indicted) 45^th President, our understanding has been challenged by the slow and, virtually diffident progress, of the administration in the effectuation of his well-deserved, retribution. We, in tandem with a great many citizens, have disappointingly, observed an apparently, incoherent and dysfunctional administration of plain justice for his plethora of criminal, seditious and undemocratic behaviors.

 We have observed with impatience, the yet, unexplained, dysfunctional, discomfort on the part of the parties, committees and appointed prosecutors, in the prescription of the inarguably, justified, punitive action in his case. Some would argue that the uncommon, hesitation is the result of his unique, situational status as former President. We, emphatically, do not agree. We feel that if the uniquely, assertive and bizarre persona of the accused miscreant were rationally, understandable, less exotically, sui generis, (and bizarrely,, attractive to our populist underbelly) the prosecutorial agency of government, would, by now, have, confidently administered appropriate, punishment. With the reader’s indulgence, we would attempt to explain.

Herman Melville, best known, internationally, for his outstanding classic, American novel, “MOBY DICK’, was the author of a contextually, relevant, short story, “BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER” (1853). Our interpretive understanding of the fictional tale,, provides, in our considered view, an analogous understanding of the thematic, dynamics behind the observable, hesitancy, to date,  to summarily, punish Trump.[ As an  aside, we have eternally recommended good literature as the key to the mature perception and understanding of humankind’s classic, (repetitive), problems and eternally,  confronting issues.]

In the literary work, Melville introduces the reader to a “scrivener” (hand copier of legal, official documents) whose employer directs him to do something, within the regular purview of his job. Bartleby responds, “I prefer not to do so.” The situation is repeated until the employer fires him and asks him to leave the premises.  Bartleby states, yet again, that he prefers not to do so. Bartleby does not leave and, ultimately, the employer, himself, is obliged to move to a different office.

As we perceive it, the purport of the short story (and, indeed, the intended context of this essay) is basic and metaphysical. Organized society, existentially, depends upon the acceptance of relationships, official, as well as non-official, upon certain mutually undertaken, but not necessarily, articulated, assumptions and expectations, upon various and many implicitly, assumed expectations and traditionally, recognized assumptions regarding behavior. Members of society, in addition to the necessary adherence to the “Social Compact” (or “Contract”) maintain fixed and fundamental expectations, regarding the nature and kind of behavioral response to various, presenting, stimuli.

In Melville’s short story, reality is completely, upended. In the expected scheme of things, employees obey the employer’s instructions; Bartleby does not. To further distort reality, he refuses to recognize his firing, and even his employer’s firm instruction to leave the place of business. His refusal to leave, is revolutionary, and experientially, dystopic, leaving the employer no alternative but to, himself, leave the office premises.

In the same sense as Bartelby acted (or failed to act) in accordance with expected, societal, empirical normality, as a matter of personal principle, the bizarre and societally unprecedented behavior and mindset of Donald J. Trump, is analogously, unorthodox and alien to societal normality; by contrast to Bartelby, motivated, not by radical intention, but, apparently, by mental disorientation; lacking any rational compass or philosophy. What U.S. President would proudly, declare on public television, that he could get away with shooting people on Fifth Avenue.

Trump, a truly, unique combination of bizarrely configured, traits is the possessor of a one-off, sui generis, persona; accordingly, our sincerely dedicated, authorities have been, slowly, but with  difficulty, learning the skills to punish such an alien personality who resides in a neurotic, self-centered, singular, bubble.

-p.

Our quotidian breakfast of morning media
Nourished, but our sadness and lament
The wars, injustice, the human failings
Does rudely, overspill our morning bowl
In sad attendance of the daily drama
Of vile events, once thought, inconceivable.

But one morning, when so sadly, employed
We saw thru the window, three white-tailed deer
Tails slowly wagged, they walked as they nibbled leaves.
Eschewing the drama, we rushed to the entrance door
To view more closely, the welcome tan beauties.

The gentle beasts walked peacefully, and silently
Unconcerned with such human artifice,
Such as war, bias and the National Debt Limit
The sole concern, is more succulent leafs
As they walked on in tripartite peace.

Looking upward, at the trees’ yellow-green primavera
Which, as appeared, seemed to be straining sunward
Like blue-jay hatchlings awaiting mama and food
We also saw blushing red tulips, and white-centered daffodils
All of whom, seemed to say,
Cross the portal, come to the woodlands
See quotidian life as naturally, it was to be.

Leonard N. Shapiro 4/30/23

[Precis: It would appear that education is the dividing line in American politics. The following essay will reveal our understanding as to how big business, anti-regulation interests induce the inadequately educated, poorly, informed, citizen to vote against their own, personal interest.]

As known, Evolution’s paramount species, Homo sapiens was generously gifted, with a brain of higher quality and more utility than that of other fauna, roaming Planet Earth, thus, affording to him the existential, capability to develop and exercise judgment. Reason, based upon learned, empirical experience, is the ubiquitous and dynamic mechanism with which he suitably, guides his life. However, all too often, actions are performed and decisions taken, not based upon reason, but upon extraneous stimuli (examples: passion, erroneous, or self-serving, influence of others, fixed routine or habit, associations derived from perceived similar, past experience with like stimuli (or similar person).

A diverse, plethora of interests, shrewdly aware of the common inclination of individuals to choose, or be persuaded to, facilely, “short circuit” decisions, for reasons, not founded in reason, will tactically, utilize various socially persuasive devices to influence the targeted individual or group, most impactful of which, may be that of “associative choice.”

Whether the context be commercial, political or personal, it should not take an in-depth analysis, to identify, the Terpsichorean performance, often aimed at the poorly, informed and vulnerable citizen. This dance of deception, subtly, eliciting the desired point of view, or, contextually, the desired political position, (and, hence, the vote) cunningly, utilizes the behavioral phenomenon, made famous by Dr. Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936). Such dynamic process is the conditioned (i.e., “Pavlovian”) predictably, engineered response, elicited by the repetitive application of previously associated, stimuli. In the most famous of the Russian scientist’s, classic experiments, dogs, mouths hungrily, watered,  at the recalled, repeated association of a ringing bell with being given food.

It is, far beyond the intended scope of this writing, or, indeed, our capacity, to undertake to relate the manifold instances of empirical applications of the ubiquitous, Pavlovian (conditioned) response, so vital in marketing, public relations, politics and human interaction in general.  At present, we are concerned, specifically, with the pernicious and demonstrably successful, impact of that, non-rational, associative technique, on the hordes of citizens, thereby induced to espouse rightward-tilting, dogma.

Such arrogant and tactically, manipulative, practice is indisputably, analogous in virtue, principle and dynamic technique, to the grift, popularly, identified as “Three Card Monte,” or the “Shell Game.” In the latter “games,” the player is the victim of a fool-proof, sleight-of-hand maneuver, consistently overcoming his hapless, confidence. In lieu of the utilized, three playing cards or three walnut-type shells and a pea, the political charlatan, tactically, evokes, by way of reflexive response, the desired, political response from the victim. In lieu of Pavlov’s associative bell sound, certain “buzz-words” have been instilled by repetitive, tactical propaganda, aimed at eliciting the desired “reflexive” (or “associative”) response; from their designated targets; typically, the large horde of ”underbelly,” populist American citizens. Constant bombardment by so-called,  ”News Media,” like the undemocratic, Fox News and a cadre of unprincipled radio commentators, cater to the uninformed populist, spew hatred, false accusations and MAGA’s specialty, “alternate reality,” to a highly, receptive, cohort of ignorant and discontented followers, who are effectively manipulated and tactically, convinced, that the official news reports, heard or read, are tactically false, and that the propagandist broadcaster, by contrast, is, exclusively and responsibly, revealing the authentic and truthful, facts, to his loyal audience. In fairness, the official patent for the promulgated concept, of “alternate facts,” must indisputably, be granted to its ingeniously egocentric creator, Donald J. Trump.

The political concept of the Pavlovian style, “shell game,” universally, features constant, repetitive, (like Pavlov’s bell)  right-wing, media messages, which, consistently, portray false and misleading versions of contemporary events, or purported objectionable inclinations or actions, taken by the demeaned subject, most often, encapsulated in a word, recalling their reality-skewed, often, defamatory, diatribes. In this regard, there appears to be a virtually, unlimited choice of tactical and manipulatively, uttered names and references, which, are, by their programmatic, repetitive association with tactically, chosen, negative or unwholesome references,  words, people, or concepts designed to create the intended, indisposition towards them.  For purposes of illustration, we will cite, and briefly comment on a few, instilled, “knee-jerk,” negative, buzzwords.

 [Word stimulus: “Socialism,” “Socialist”]

At the top of the motivational, or associative, knee-jerk, buzzwords is the word, “socialist.” It is our observation that proposed assistance to the economically, needy or affordable health care as a part of America’s exercise of compassionate capitalism, is predictably, awarded the inculcated, (faux) epithet, “socialist,” or awarded the presumably, obnoxious designation of “Socialism.” This Pavlovian installed negative attribution, to the government’s exercise of needed assistance, is tactically, installed in the mind of the unschooled citizen, despite the raw truth that all Americans, including the manipulative interests, happily avail themselves of its full benefits.

 The traditionally pernicious goal of the perpetrators of this absurd, tactical charge, typically, is the big business sociopathic ideation that profits are more important than the monetary expense of compliance with government regulations, protecting human life and health. The participation of the federal government in disaster control, protection of food, water and medicine, loans and financial assistance to business, apparently, do not enjoy the epithet of socialistic enterprise. As appears, the dreaded scourge of evil socialism only arrives, regarding matters of assistance to, or safety for, the needy citizen.

[Name stimulus: Nancy Pelosi, Hilary Clinton

The cynically, arrogant engineer of reflexive responses can confidently expect the desired result by the mere mention of the name, Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton on right-wing media. Rep. Pelosi, until her recent retirement, the talented, idealistic and much revered, Leader of the House Democrats, was, energetically, demonized by the disgraceful President Trump, making predictable a Pavlovian, visceral response of venal hatred, from any of the auspicious MAGA acolytes upon the mere mention of her name. The subject, conditioned response was especially articulated, by a MAGA madman, psychotically, fracturing her husband’s skull with a hammer.

The tactical mention of the name of the former First Lady, Hillary Clinton, reflexively, evoked the Trump demand, “Lock her up!” from the MAGA cultists. Clinton, a former, Secretary of State, inadvertently, had a few classified documents on her computer server, and upon their discovery, responsibly, cooperated in their removal. No such “Lock him up,” was angrily, demanded when it was revealed that Donald Trump intentionally, and illegally, removed cartons of secret government documents and attempted to refuse to return them.

[Word stimuli: various]

Shamefully and neurotically, it appears that any reference to any term relating to gender, such as “gay,” “transgender” and the like, evokes contempt and hatred from the biased and right-wing dodo, too ignorant to understand that no baby has the personal choice of configuration of genes and hormones. We are, additionally and competently, advised that the newborn child, additionally, has no choice of skin color, nor of the specific ethnos into which he is born.

 References to the term,” immigration” that, responsively, evoke predictable, bias, in some citizens, ironically, and selfishly, omit the inescapable, empirical fact, that our Nation, is entirely, composed of immigrants and their descendants.

In our considered metaphysical and empirical view, that a large population of inadequately educated and poorly informed, citizens, poses an existential danger to the existence of a Democratic Republic; one, conceivably, yet more existentially, hazardous, than the dangers of attempted sedition.

-p.

We remain hopeful, that the feelings of ennui, or impatience, at the perceived repetition of an identical theme, such as is the case regarding this essay, is far less painful than the recognized tragedy of its reiterated subject. We speak, yet, once more, of the widespread tragedy of popular gun ownership.

Reportedly, no less than Five Thousand American lives, (many of which were young schoolchildren), were senselessly, and tragically, killed by psychopathic, armed gunmen, so far this year, (viz., in the past four months, alone). For many decades, thousands of innocent adults and children have been murdered,  grievously, injured and/or,  chronically, traumatized, due to the unregulated ownership of instruments of hand-held, human destruction, the pernicious singular accomplishment of the Nation’s right wing.

A tactically false, self-serving, and illusory reading of the Constitution’s Second Amendment, which in part, affords to “the People” the right to “bear arms,” has been the fundamental, holy grail, of the NRA, its minions, and those others that chose to assert the purported right to privately, maintain weaponry. Any instructive reading of the Nation’s history of the relevant period would identify the specific identity of the  Amendment’s determinative, grant, by its words,The  People.”

History recounts the fervent debates, between the “Federalists,” who stood for a Central Government, for the new Nation, and the “States Rights,” people who, advocated the cause of separate, State- controlled, entities. The relevant portion of the Second Amendment, relates the terms of their, hard fought, settlement, of the issue, viz., the establishment of a governing Central Government, yet, reserving the right of the member States, nevertheless, (“the People”) to raise their own independent, standing militias which would have the right to bear arms. The self-serving, ersatz ,right-wing gospel, would have the saner portion of the public, accept their self-serving and dystopian, belief, that the elegant, white wigged and philosophical Founders, intended to create a historically, radical experiment in political  democracy, conducted and populated by “ Wild West gunslingers.”

[N.B.: in the age of our Founders, “arms” connoted, “muskets.”]  More on the dystopian image of a society of “gunslingers,” after the following, b rief, but fundamental, inquiry.

We have never been able to successfully, comprehend any acceptable use for firearms, other than in the context of defensive, wartime. What utilitarian service can possibly be facilitated by a gun? Why would a mentally healthy, normally, socialized citizen require an instrument, designed only, to cause death or grievous injury to another? Our small pocket knife, by utilitarian contrast, can be serviceable in cutting string, opening packages, slicing cheese and fruit, whittling, cutting bait and fishing line, sharpening pencils, slicing salami, cutting fabric, poking needed holes in tight leather belts and in many other acceptable applications. What conceivable, purpose can be accomplished by the use of a gun, other than the intentional act of bloody, primitive, killing or crippling other human beings?  Are the gun activists, lizard- brained enough ascribe to the belief that our learned and pacific, Deist Founders, intended to create a Nation in which there was a  Constitutional franchise to kill or maim one’s fellow citizen?

With the catalytic, assistance of the unique and unprecedented, persona evinced by Donald J. Trump (in or out of office,) the less than sufficiently, educated or troubled, citizen was induced to perceive modern reality as non-factual, conspiratorial, and threatening.  Society thus morphed into notably, less neighborly, spontaneous and personal interaction and more isolation. Comforting, informal, and routine conversation, to a significant degree, was superseded by a more constrained and selective style of personal interaction. Anecdotally, those citizens, naturally given to innate feelings of loneliness and insularity, experienced an exacerbation of such feelings by the new and unfamiliar context of reality, further promoted by the mandatory isolation and required masking during the Covid pandemic.

It is our considered view that, in significant part, due to the unpredictable, unorthodox and incapable Trump stewardship, long established and fundamental mores of the Nation appeared to be bypassed, inconsistently recognized or skewed. Reality was assaulted to the dystopic extent that even the settled assurance, afforded by  universal consensus as to empirical facts  was upended by subjective, “alternate” facts, giving faux substance to the most paranoid of conspiracy ideations. The observed result, amounted to an increase in a previously, developing, divisiveness and balkanization, of the American population, with everlasting damage to its previously existing, assurances of security and National cohesion. Mistrust and even, fear, began to supersede traditional assumptions of citizen loyalty and commonality. The unfortunate tragic-comedy of the “winking approval” of the “would be” autocratic orange-haired, despot, as it did, the anti-democratic, bigoted, White Christian Militias and most profitably, the NRA.

Guns of varying potential lethality are seen at supermarkets, stores, schools, churches, synagogues, public parks, gymnasia, cars, in public transportation, and stadia. Not since the Hollywood portrayal of the of the era of the Old Wild West or, perhaps, the California Gold Rush, has there been such a visible proliferation of guns, not to mention, modern improvements in unlimited impact, from pistols (automatic or otherwise) shotguns, rifles, to rapid-fire, military weaponry.

Unless mainstream American is able, by vote, educational means, or otherwise, change the tactically, errant reading of the much abused, Second Amendment, the Nation will continue on it’s dark journey along the Pinocchio route, only to arrive at a dangerous, dystopic and non- democratic, nightmare.

[pliny SUGGESTION]: As a  fraternal gesture to the saner portion of our Nation’s population, those “Right to Life” adherents who, simultaneously, and unhesitatingly, advocate for liberal gun ownership, should, at a minimum, try medication.

-p.

We reliably experience a negative, visceral reaction, with each viewed replication of commercials, hawking the sale and cosmetic use of botulism toxin, (the latter, high on the list of the world’s most dangerous substances) for the purpose of removing facial wrinkles.

Such antipathy is founded on two separate and distinct bases. The first simply relates to a general concern for physical health; the second, by contrast, resides in the more esoteric context of emotional health and the development of mature perspective. Such latter concerns relate to widespread issues of personal insecurity and resultant, sophomoric, criteria for acceptability. These subjects are far more complex in their comprehension, than our initial, straightforward comment implicitly, questioning the ethics of marketing programs, designed, to exploit commonplace, egocentric insecurity.

With regard to the second (more complex) context, we have long been puzzled, as to the questionable election of individuals (mostly female,) inarguably, desirous of experiencing a long and fulfilling life of salubrious, good health, to assent to the conveyance, under their protective skin, of one of the Planet’s most toxic substances?  What are that person’s exigent priorities? Does one refrain from smoking, avoid ingesting too much sugar, control the extent of his ingestion of alcohol, eat sufficient high-quality protein and limit the ingestion of fat, regularly partake of fruit, fresh salads and vegetables, stay sufficiently, hydrated, get regular exercise, to then, voluntarily, choose to introduce a deadly toxin into his systemic chemistry? The intriguing question, as to “purpose” constitutes our salient theme.

We are obliged to assume that the sole, (conceivable) motivation, for this voluntary, hazardous, ingestion of such exotic body pollutant, is the compulsive, desire, responsive to the tactical lure of advertisements, to eliminate spontaneously, developing, facial, or body wrinkles, (a chemical property of biotoxin). Such compulsive, aspiration, can, by simple psychological diagnosis, be pathologically identified, analogous to the medical detection of dangerous, toxicity in the systemic bloodstream.

We would assert, contrariwise, that the mature perception and respectful acceptance of the stereotypic, stages of gradual and progressive change in physical appearance,  gradually occurring during the natural progression of life (for those, fortunate to live a normal lifespan) is the healthiest, most effective and commendable, route to temporal happiness and long-time, personal satisfaction.

The issue regarding the possibility of harm arising from the use of Botox toxin for cosmetic purposes can be seen as a sub-text in the more basic, subject of insecurity, perceived, self-image, fundamentally, making one vulnerable to the tactical, commercial ratification of faux criteria, for social acceptability.

The significant commercial success of many manufacturers of apparel and women’s cosmetics may well be attributed to the combination of human frailty and self-conscious insecurity, catalyzed by such business enterprises by attractive advertisement and canny sales tactics. Without such insecurity, especially regarding, the neurotic fear of aging, profits may, possibly, decline, but, only at the expense of the confidence, self-assurance and equanimity of humankind.

In an earlier writing, we emphasized (as if it were conceivably, necessary) the empirical fact that aging is not a “disease” but a natural, and often, dynamic, and productive stage of life. Contrasted with some loss of physical prowess and the possible acquisition of some discomfort, old age has a plethora of valuable and ultimately, satisfying benefits, viz., the beneficial reward of years of an empirically, developed, perception, matured and curated, by personal experience. So much of the reality of life, is sufficiently, and finally understood, accepted and appreciated. Such wisdom, or, mature perception of reality, is of existential necessity in the acquisition of a fulfilled life.

Finally, and perhaps, of overriding significance to the continuing evolution of humankind, is the assessment and recalculation, where needed, of Man’s priorities regarding his attribution of relative importance, based upon his reason and founded in his experiential understanding of “life.

It would seem to be inarguable, that over the course of Man’s lifetime, the acquisition of a mature perception of himself, in relation to other members of humankind, be they, subjectively, perceived as similar, or exotic, as well as the global environment, itself, would be a far more appropriate undertaking, than neurotically attempting, to publish, as our, selected true identity, a “freeze-frame,” outer appearance, anachronistically, replicative of ourselves at an earlier, (and decidedly, less informed), stage of life.

-p.

It requires no especial exercise of scrutiny to observe that the patience of the mainstream, American citizen, has been sorely, tested by the seemingly, eternal and frustrating delay, in the meting out of retributive punishment to the former President, Donald J. Trump and his lieutenants, and, thereby, attain, a much needed reaffirmation of the Nation’s signature democracy, and it’s moral aspirations toward universal equality.

The mainstream citizen was totally, “gobsmacked” by the news that Donald Trump, a real estate grifter and glitzy, third-rate T.V. game show host, was elected to the Office of the American Presidency. He could not, possibly, have any idea of the ensuing National ramifications during Trump’s term as Chief Executive, nor, of more consequence, the resultant morphing of the traditional democratic image and persona of the American Nation.

It took precious little time for mainstream voters to, discover that Trump was completely incapable and unsuitable for the high office, fortuitously, afforded to him. With precious little wisdom and experience, the ignorant Chief Executive appointed a like, unsuitable Cabinet, consisting of serial flatterers, rather than knowledgeable and dedicated National advisers.

During his single, and singular, four-year term, in which he was, unprecedentedly, twice,  Congressionally, impeached, the Nation was managed with the sagacity and rationality of the protagonist in Lewis Carrol’s “ Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. Historic allies of the United States were offended, while, venal enemies of America, like Russia, North Korea and Mainland China, were befriended. Existentially important treaties, (military), (i.e. NATO), as well as environmental, (viz., Japanese Accords) saw disparagement or actual withdrawal. His mismanagement and irresponsible oversight of National affairs, were evident, regarding the Covid pandemic, taxes, education, scientific research, and other precedential areas of leadership responsibility, with special emphasis on immigration, racial justice and women’s rights.

It may be ominously, noted that the foregoing, explicit, demonstrations of ignorance and prejudice, were lauded and deemed highly acceptable by a large, newly federated horde of literacy-challenged and disaffected Americans, who seem to identify with, and delight in Trump’s generally, brash unconventionality and demonstrated racial and gender bigotry..

The historic Nightmare is notably, exacerbated, by Trump’s copious criminal felonies, many of which, were publicly viewed on National television. Two of the latter instances, cited, in slightly more detail, hereinafter, are his seditious invitation, addressed to his cultish sycophants, to stage the 1/6 violent, insurrection at Washington’s Capitol Building and his brazen telephonic request to Georgia’s Secretary of State, to falsify the latter State’s voting results.

Trump’s plethora of criminal acts also feature, sub -rosa, conspiracy to secretly, bribe prostitutes, personal and business tax fraud, substantial violations of the “Emoluments Clause” of the Constitution, illegal conversion and purloining of secret government documents, sexual assault, violations of  Federal and State Tax Laws, bribery and extortion.

In similar, autocratic fashion to his mentors and friends, dictators, Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jung-Un and Viktor Oban, who he publically, referred to as admirable leaders (“top of the Line”). Trump chose to avail himself of the classic, autocratic tactic, “The Big Lie,” viz., alleging, despite the absence of a scintilla of proof to such effect, and the multiple certifications of accuracy of Biden’s win, that the election was” stolen” from him by the Biden supporters. Such, “Big Lie,” was the alleged basis for the Trump incited, anti-democratic,” clarion call to his populist base, to stage the 1/6 insurrection, aimed at the destruction of the Nation’s Republican Democracy.

We have been, frustratingly, unable to comprehend the continued, persistence of the large, underbelly, populist following ( inclusive of many House Republicans) of  Donald Trump, despite universal public knowledge of his criminal, civic and domestic miscreance, his incapacitating ignorance, his exclusive and neurotic love of himself and his proven, lack of moral compass. In the course of the National trauma, experienced during his one term  as President, his demonstrated, hatred of democracy, exclusive, self -adoration, his pathological absence of conscience, empathy or moral compass, Trump has given rise to existing hordes of his devotees, loyal disbelievers in empirical fact, and convenient promoters of conspiratorial ideation.

We are confident that, in the very near future, appropriate and sufficient, legal retribution will be meted out to this miscreant individual and his compliant accessories.  Nevertheless, in our view, any celebratory, inclination, based upon the expectation that the extant contemporary challenge to America’s democracy will thereby, have been defeated, may be unrealistically, premature, or possibly, Pollyannaish.

-p.

* Apologies to Mr. Charles Dickens for the use of the above title.

[Phil N. Blanks, had only recently, retired from his (“disappointing”) career as a (“bored”) Court clerk, and lived alone, since his contentious wife, Hortense, left him, after eight and one-half months of marriage,(for a bald, mustached, tenor- saxophone player from Hoboken. Getting out of bed, one rainy Monday, he happened to recall an exotic article that he read in his local barbershop, entitled: “Uncovering the Meaning of Life.” The subject article, as he recalled, concerned a certain, Nepalese Guru, who, reportedly, after seven years of dedicated fasting and silent meditation, was successful in the discovery of life’s ultimate, “meaning.”  Phil hoped that the receipt of such a fundamental revelation from the holy man might afford him some objective and mature insight, into his present, grim existence.

To condense the ensuing facts, Phil, at substantial monetary expense, great physical effort (flight to Nepal, transport by a bouncy, water buffalo-drawn cart to the crest of the mountain, the site of the guru’s residential cave) at last, arrived at the Guru’s dark cave and, as instructed on a posted, multi-lingual notice, deposited the requested, monetary donation in an empty jar (still containing a tattered, commercial label, “mango chutney”). After a period of silence, a bearded and wizened, the elderly guru, dressed in a yellow-stained toga and a green turban, asked: “What can we do for you, young man?

Phil, in nervous anticipation of an ancient, metaphysical, reply, inquired, in a respectfully, submissive tone:   “Holy Sir, what is Life?” The Guru, after a brief, period of deep inner contemplation, with closed eyes, and in chanting meter, intoned the answer; “Life, my son is a river.” Phil, confused, respectfully, but diffidently, inquired: “What do you mean, by the words, “a River”? The Guru, suddenly, shocked, and in a sudden state of panic and high anxiety, shakily, responded: “You mean it isn’t?”]

Having accumulated sufficient years to inarguably, qualify for the category of elder citizen, we feel qualified to assert certain contextually, relevant, points. It has been our observation that, in his later years, there often occurs in Man, a useless, but, irrepressible, inclination to inquire of himself, the metaphysical question: “What is the meaning (or, purpose) of life?” It is the uselessness and irrationality of this latter experience that provides the theme and context of this writing. As will be maintained below, the extent of utility of such inquiries is, at most, limited to their occasional use as an expression or release, of temporal frustration or disappointment.

To empirically, conclude that any of our Planet’s fauna (including Homo sapiens) or flora, is alive (has life) is simply to have made the determination that they are “self-functioning,” i.e. ingesting, voiding, growing, procreating. To have life (to be “living”) is, relevantly, to be self-functioning. The growing blade of grass has life, the mechanical lawnmower does not.  A horsefly, a goldfinch, a snake, a bobcat, a deer all have life until they cease functioning.

Life, itself, is a unique, singular and fortuitous, phenomenon, one that, is a mechanical-chemical-biological matter; it is nature’s grant of a fortuitous franchise, for fauna and fauna, to enjoy the privilege of function within the parameters of their innate capability and environment. Can one rationally, declare that the life of the horsefly, goldfinch, snake, bobcat and deer have any “purpose,” or “meaning,” other than to live?  Competing species, in nature, strive solely, to live and procreate, Disney Studios or the Hallmark Card Co., notwithstanding.

Nature’s singular, and priceless grant of the franchise of life, itself, is procedural, i.e. it simply and fortuitously, provides the arena, for sentient beings, i.e., Mankind, to possess the opportunity, or elective choice, if desired, to seek substantive, personal meaning and purpose. It does not carry with it, ancillary purpose or meaning; the latter qualities may be developed in the potential of the individual of the human species, himself, to derive meaning, and exploit opportunities, in his own life, or to refrain from doing so. There is no program, or implicit motive, ancillary to the acquisition of the natural franchise, to live, and, when deemed appropriate, to elect to, or refrain from, living a (chosen), rational and meaningful life.

For the five years of its existence, this blog space has been, primarily, focused on, and dedicated to, the advancement of meaningful life and has attempted to extol, among other things, an elective interest in reading good books,  appreciation of the arts and sciences, and the pursuit of individual, outside interests, and their resultant, progress toward mature understanding and acceptance of one’s inner self, the exotic potpourri of other human inhabitants of the Planet, and, hopefully, to the attainment of the ultimately, meaningful, goal of wisdom.

-p.