Category: Uncategorized

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]

In accordance with the approved iteration of the (updated) “Government Official Calendar,” the Nation’s declared (uniform) date and time, from the Pacific Ocean on its West Coast to the Atlantic Ocean, on its East, and from the lethal land mines, installed, protectively, and strategically, across its National Southern Border with Mexico, to its Northern boundary with Canada, it is now, 2:PM  Wednesday, March 27, 2075. It is the spring season, but the sparse amount of observable trees and the meager vegetation, having for decades been parboiled by the unrelenting effect of (the, eternally debated and, purported), “Global Warming,” has rendered, the word, “verdant,” empirically obsolete. This afternoon, there is light rain, and the same, as discerned by the attuned, olfactory receptors, evinces the suggestion of a slight, malodorous, fragrance.

In consideration of the subject’s exponential importance, a brief dissertation would, initially, seem appropriate, concerning the newly, declared and revelatory, MAGA Gospels, referred to, reverentially and compliantly, as “The Gospel, According to Selwin.” The recitation of this newest, tenable, and authoritative, “ Holy Word,” is reliably, credited to an eminent Holy Man, whose identity has, wisely, been withheld from humankind, for various meritorious, reasons,  salient among which, is the effective prevention of blasphemy, as previously, rampant, regarding the well-known, name of his consecrated predecessor.

The canonical name, “Selwin,” itself, had been, for some time, the subject of contentious and divisive acrimony with European religious historians, who passionately, maintained, that the proper and acceptable style is “Selwynne.” However, after some years of erudite historical-religious debate, added to the somewhat, persuasive influence of the newly developed, AK -47 introduced into the issue, the dissenters, peaceably withdrew their claim. In honor and memory of this momentous, religious accord, raised, replicated images, of the historic, AK-47, pursuant to religious decree, appears atop the nave of each House of Worship.

 In terms of its authenticity and provenance, the (formerly contentious) name of the now, conceded “Good Book’” has the imprimatur of, former U.S. President, Donald Trump, the entirety of America’s White Evangelical Church Laymen and Priests, as well as the vocal support of the Nation’s White Christian Nationalist Militias. Said Holy Book, after so many centuries of discourse and rancorous travail, has, by substantial, interpretive compromise, settled on a unified perception of rectitude in government rule, corresponding and appropriate citizen participation, rights as between citizen and fellow citizen, and government and citizen; as, pragmatically and indisputably, set forth for all to reference and secure appropriate guidance.  Among its many societal virtues, it, has, mercifully, put a final end to law Courts, and their associated, disquieting litigation and legal controversy. Philosophically and legally, such improvement, notably, and economically, avoids unnecessary, vexatious contention concerning the authoritative boundaries between Church and State.

Among its salient and ubiquitous, civil virtues, the Holy Gospel of Selwin, legally, defines the official word, “citizen” and clarifies the associated franchise of voting.  It clearly provides, that a “citizen,” and, ipso-facto, a “voter,” is a white, Christian, male, or female, born or naturalized in the United States, and over the age of 18; a non-white, Christian, male or female, born or naturalized in the United States, over age 18, employed in commerce, government, or as domestic, with proof of citizenship, a clean criminal record, and, additionally, a non-Christian, born or naturalized in the United States, with a clean criminal record and a certification of loyalty to the United States, attested to, by a certified, Christian citizen. As a general rule, the plurality of legal votes shall determine the winning candidate, except in circumstances, reliably, deemed, by the losing candidate, to be sufficiently, significant as to warrant a valid governmental inquiry.

Since the compliant citizen need hide nothing, all public and private, outdoor and indoor areas shall be subject to permanent camera surveillance.

Immigration into the United States is to be legally, permitted only from the certified industrially, developed Nations, included in the current Congressional list, with exigent exceptions, based upon the officially, certified, employment needs of the Nation.

All citizens, as defined, herein, may own and operate such firearms as desired, calibrated up to military-grade artillery, for the safety of home and hearth, for the effective, non-judicial enforcement of undertaken obligations or responsibilities, and for the private enforcement of the new Gospels, prohibiting the practices of vaccination, birth prevention or abortion.

All books, essays and other writings are to be available for reading, (only) following official review by government inspectors, to ensure against content or thought, involving, smut, bodily, sexual or gender references, as well as shameful periods in the Nation’s history. Newspapers and media news reports are, previous to distribution, to be scrutinized by the government, for the purpose of assurance of compliance with the purity and anti-heresy, provisions of the new Gospels; tax credits are to be awarded to responsible, patriotic, private citizens, choosing, voluntarily and dutifully, to perform additional scrutiny.

Presently, underway, is an all-out, well-funded, official governmental inquiry, into the nature of the unknown, causative factors of the bizarre, paucity of libraries, museums, art galleries and theaters.

-p.

It was unfortunate for us, that “penmanship” was included among the graded courses in our early school days, especially, since it was the only, (purported) “academic” subject in which we performed, rather, inadequately. It was the only mandatory course, as contrasted with such, classically, orthodox, academic subjects as, history, English, geography and mathematics, in which, contrary to the ability of the student to understand and absorb an area of knowledge, the student’s inherent, hand skills in, transcribing the letters of the alphabet, usually in phrases, was the salient consideration.

It would seem appropriate, far in excess of one-half Century later, to, at long last, plead our partial defense to the eternally, expressed and empirically, justified, critique of our schoolboy handwriting. Some elucidation of the problem may, perhaps, be realized by a cursory reference to some relevant, historical context.

Beginning in England, the period denominated as the “Industrial Revolution,” (approximately, 1760 to 1860), ushered in a new era, evidenced, by a newly, evolved, economy, capable of efficient manufacturing processes, advanced productive engines for manufacture, agricultural advances, establishment of railroads, energy production and the continuing development of novel industrial procedures, resulting in more efficient production.

In any cursory, examination of the 19^th Century, in England, one can marvel at the development and growth of railroads and, even more, miraculous, the appearance and operation of early renditions of the airplane. The economy was, at such moment in time, fully engaged in the energetic, pursuit of improvement in manufacturing, power generation, communication, travel and trade. This incomparable era of exponential development carried with it a veritably, unlimited rate of ubiquitous changes not alone to commerce but also to the sociological and psychological persona of humankind [ref., Dickens, Marx, Steinbeck, et al.], a comprehensive subject, suitable for other writings.

Returning to our thematic context, it is notable, that, considering the (almost) universal, drive to the improvement of man’s production capabilities, the quintessential subject of writing, as compared, for example, to profit-making manufacture, was, irresponsibly, ignored. The historical, representations of our founders and their contemporaries, (18^th Century) portray them, conspicuously, wearing white powdered wigs, and to the relevant point, employing large bird feathers (usually, goose quills) as writing implements. In order to write, they were required to regularly, and often, dip the point (nib) of their quill into an ink pot.

It is interesting that despite the enormous plethora of ubiquitous, mechanical improvements to manufacturing, commerce, arts and sciences, said drippy, blotting writing instrument of old, was, apparently, neglected, and left to its often occurring, scratchy, and messy, ink blots. It is, in this context, to be strangely, observed and remembered, that the sole writing implement, available in our early childhood school days, remained, basically, unchanged, and “quill-like,”, except for the improvements of a wooden handle, and a metal nib; the latter to be dipped, into a small, lidded metal reservoir, located in the top right corner of the uniform wooden school desk.

Such archaic and predictably, sloppy and inconvenient mode of human transcription was an aggravating problem with our handwriting; however, in the interest of candor, we do not attribute our lack of talent, in the arena of aesthetically, manifested, writing skills, exclusively, to the vagaries of modern history. Setting aside, for the moment, the subject of our personal aptitudes, we would continue to, concisely, refer to the progression of the mechanical (as opposed to “natural”) evolution of writing implements, to their present configuration.

Apparently, it was late in the 19^th Century that a way was devised to manufacture inexpensive cheap steel pen nibs, a solid holder for the nib, and various iterations of an internal rubber ink bladder, filled by various developed techniques, including filling the bladder, by lifting a small lever at the side of the pen’s body or pressing a button, as well as other, archaic means.

Our lifelong, limited heliographic skills did not significantly, improve despite the ongoing progress of the pen’s mechanical evolution to “ballpoint,” then, by degrees, to “roller ball” points. For us, desired relief from the problem of our lifetime of sub-par transcription, happily, arrived in later life, simultaneously, with the development of the ubiquitously, uniform and objectively, unidentifiable, laptop keyboard.

-p.
 

Regular readers of this blogpost, may recall the name, “Kudu,” the feline housemate of “Gelato,” (Blog # 936, “TIME OUT FOR GELATO”) the larger, furrier, older of the two, and a fellow member in good standing of the feline subspecies, “Devon Rex.” Four tragic days ago, our much beloved, Kudu was diagnosed with liver cancer and was put to her final sleep by the Vet. Kudu is the third, in a tragic line, of our heartbreaking roster of deceased housecats, namely, “Cicero.” and “Anchovy. ”each of which met with similar fates due to serious illness occurring late in life.

The origin of her name dates back many years to an eternally memorable sight, while on safari in South Africa, of a large, dazzlingly, beautiful, elk-like animal, called a “Kudu” (or possibly “Koo doo”), viewed at dusk and dramatically, backlighted, atop a low hill.

 Those readers, who are or have been, at some time in their lives, owners of a domestic cat know that such pets, far more demonstrably than pet dogs, evince singular, consistent, and nuanced acts of habitual behavior (personality?). While, physically, the late Kudu,  as common to all legitimate members of the species, “felis domesticus,” can be described, as possessing the definitional feline traits, four legs, short, pointy ears, a tail, whiskers (or some indication of the same), bodily fur, of various textures and thicknesses, the athletic skill to leap, gracefully, the irresistible inclination to daytime, slumber, an insatiable, inquisitive nature and, being bereft of lexicon,  the common and exclusively limited expression of the ubiquitous word, “meow;” [  N.B. the exception to such uniformity: Devon Rex manifest the absence of the usual layer of “dander,” beneath the fur, and, consequently, the absence of an irritant causing many allergic reactions]. Nevertheless, despite the experience of being an owner of one or more housecat(s) would, inarguably, confirm the empirical, accuracy of such common traits, there are, as stated,  nuanced actions and unique predilections of individual cats, which, will empirically, vary with each pussycat. Admittedly, as a matter of reality, a general impediment to the pet cat’s objective, and, accurate description, is the human’s inexorable, practice of anthropomorphism regarding domestic cats.  

Remembering, with much anguish, our beloved, Kudu, such nuanced and memorable traits, typically, included an occasional, haughtiness and personal reserve, when one of her adult pet owners attempted to affectionately pet or embrace her, the reluctance to drink water from a bowl preferring to loudly announce by a demanding, series of loud, imperious, meows, her demand to drink from a dripping faucet, the seeking-out of remote and impenetrable, hiding places, the selection of glass windows, below which she could establish her proprietary sunny spots for luxuriating her preference for human cuisine, regularly expressed by her daily, aggressive appearance and behavior atop the dinner table, and her inimitable, style of expression, to the younger friskier, Gelato of her occasional, disinclination to play. 

The most impactful loss, as is the case with any such tragedy, human or animal, is the abrupt, unforeseen and permanent cessation of the decedent’s daily appearance, a part of the “given,” in the geometric theorem of the household. We will sorely miss Kudu. While, life experience, clearly and empirically, enlightens and warns us of the inevitability of pain, inherent in the (vulnerable) love of human or animal; the panacea for such, inevitable suffering is, decidedly worse than the ultimately, predictable and excruciating, pain of loss.

-p.

Blogpost #937                                                THE KING OF BLING

As we understand it, the semi-slang word, “bling,” denotes flashy, ostentatious ornamentation, together the crude, showy, materialistic, attitudes associated with it. The penultimate, award for such qualities, in equal functional combination with an innate, unabashed, tendency to practice deceit, are the salient features of the skewed, outward, persona of our “past President,” Donald J. Trump

Until recent days, general discussion on the subject of famous con- men, or professionally, talented and successful, “grifters,” would predictably, include the notorious, Charles Ponzi and Bernard (“Bernie,”) Madoff. The broad scope and temporal success of their perniciously, conceived and executed, acts of fraud and deceit, would, (until the present time), justifiably, award them winners, gold medals, for the substantial extent of their perverse, monetary, achievement.  However, whatever may be the extent of deceitfully, obtained, riches, attributable to these two highly, successful miscreants, the same pales in significance, when compared to the extent of deceit, and harm, caused by the amoral and shameless, Donald Trump; the comparison may be analogically, represented as the extent of difference between a trip to the moon, in comparison with a voyage to Uranus.

Considering the innumerable, acts of spontaneously, demonstrated, ignorance and manifest incompetence, perversely, coupled with the plethora of his intentionally, criminal acts, we had until the present moment, found it impossible to divine the nature of Trump’s presented persona. These acts include his demonstrated serial mendacity, absence of moral compass or empathy, and multiple commission of felonies to the extreme extent of treason against his own Nation. Trump’s proven criminal behavior includes the instigation and support of a violent insurrection against the United States, founded upon his autocratic denial of the results of a fair election (“the big lie”), the ominous, purloining of top secret government documents, extortion, bribery, as well as an additional bulging cornucopia of reprehensible acts, many, bizarrely, witnessed on public television, captured on tape, and publically known.

For, several years, we made attempts, to comprehend Trump’s underlying motivation and elusive persona, based upon his aberrant record of performance, both in or out of office, but were, essentially, incapable of doing so. We had been, obliged, by elimination, to attribute his bizarre statements and miscreant acts to some species of unhealthy, pathology.

Despite Trump’s ardent, passionate, and eternal public outcry that he was politically misled, that the election was miscounted and the Presidential victory was tactically, and conspiratorially, stolen from him, the media has uncovered and published that,  from the outset, Trump knew (and acknowledged to a few intimates) that, he indeed, had lost. Yet, multitudes of defrauded but loyal MAGA adherents, have persisted in their imposed belief and actively join in Trump’s, public program of cynical, deceit, falsely averring that he was, conspiratorially, deprived of his win. The vast quantity of such false and undemocratic, propaganda, had its (televised) apotheosis in the violent insurrection on January 6, in Washington, D.C.

The disclosure that the neurotic, orange-haired, avatar of bling and consummate practitioner of grift, (contrary to his false incitement of his vast horde of misled followers to, “patriotically,” seek redress for his “stolen” victory), always knew and had, in fact, acknowledged, to his intimate associates, that he had, in fact, lost. This revelation provided the skeleton key, enabling us, to unlock the sinister door and shine some needed light, on his singular persona and motivation.

Our previous inability to construe an understanding of our protagonist, was in no small part, due, to his complete lack of doctrinaire belief, political, economic or social. His sole and entire interest and motivation, as now confirmed, was, exclusively, to be a “Winner.” “Winning,” for “the Donald” was always, easily, definable, viz., you made large sums of money “off” (from) “Losers,” by exigent methods, fair or foul; considerations of rectitude, conscience and morality, being (for such sociopath), non-existent.

 Trump’s intended, “bling” seems to include his occasionally, exhibited and beautiful,( but silent and staid as a mannequin) wife, but, most importantly, the ownership of Hotels, Country Clubs, Golf Clubs and real estate. It would, inarguably, appear that the sole incentive of Trump’s nuanced persona, as comprehended, is one, solely, and opportunistically, to make money, by the tactical use of his  those capital assets, independent of considerations of legality, societal morality or principled ethics. In creative manner, any government inquiry, public condemnation, investigation, or actual criminal indictment, is artfully, transmogrified by him, to a fortuitous, opportunity to solicit monetary contributions, from his vast horde of underbelly, populist supporters. Having occupied the highest National Office, being twice impeached, by Congress, therefrom, and being the “accused” in a plethora of government (Federal and State) criminal subpoenas, to this “King of Bling,” has significance, primarily for their opportunities, for him to attract attention and, by grift, solicit huge amounts of money.

After the political smoke has cleared and, hopefully, normalcy is restored, we might, appropriately, make the suggestion, that the traditional award of a Presidential Library, in honor of the service of past American Presidents, not be extended to this “King of Bling,” for fear that the same might signify an historical abasement, of American Presidential history.

-p.

In view of the current angst, brought about by the existence of the Nation’s many rancorous issues, it might be suitable to take a brief and salubrious, “time out,” and consider a subject less fraught with controversy. In such salubrious context, we would introduce the reader to an extraordinary, and highly, diverting, protagonist whose given name (three years ago) is “Gelato.”

Gelato is a member in good standing of the species, “Felis Sylvestrus Domesticus”, which, just as the name of the species, Homo sapiens, refers to, humankind, applies to the familiar breed of house cat. Yet, our protagonist is not your “run-of-the-mill,” pussycat. Gelato is a small, beautiful, light tan and brown colored, “Devon Rex,” with pretty, blue eyes, unusually, velvet-smooth, short fur, and evincing a signature, squeaky, meow. Unlike his considerably older, housemate, “Kudu,” also a Devon Rex, but, much larger than our fully- grown, Gelato, the latter, having the appearance of (and meowing), like the more common, “Tabby;” with gray and black, heavy fur, but having head wrinkles, and sparse whiskers, the latter features, among the identifying marks of their mutual feline subspecies.

Gelato, albeit, small and virtually, kitten-like, in appearance, is unusually, outgoing in persona, unlike Kudu and most other cats who are friendly and affectionate, but reticent. Kudu likes to be stroked on occasion; Gelato, when awake, is demanding of attention and stroking, and manifests a constant need for human interaction; a signature, dog-like trait, as contrasted with the stereotypical, pussycat.

 Not to undervalue, the much more feline-like, stereotypic, reticence of Gelato’s older sibling, Gelato is (when not sleeping) always present and accounted for, most especially, at the appearance of the early evening, televised media news. He shares the same utility as worry beads, counselor, our angst ameliorator, bluebird of happiness, and our consoler, regarding the disturbing, media reports; such as the colossal ignorance and multiplicity of criminal acts, of our past President, Donald Trump, and the shocking, brutal, invasion of Ukraine by Putin. He is always on hand with reassuring, cuddles and head rubs (cat kisses) during the worrisome reports on the tragic events, relating to global warming, and proved invaluable during the MAGA insurrection against the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Gelato, somehow, appears to, instinctively, know when it is the late afternoon viz.,  when we watch the daily news on MSNBC, and at such times, dutifully, leaps his pas- de- quatre, nimbly, landing upon our lap to alternatively, share in our observed, joy, or ameliorate our feelings of dismay and concern. His therapeutic protocol seems to consist of head nudge requests for diversionary, scratching and/or petting, at the occurrences of broadcast reports of airplane crashes, large and unnatural forest fires, tsunamis, public shootings, incidents of bigoted abuse of fellow citizens as retribution for not being born white, or for being born with nuanced configurations of hormones and chromosomes and finding oneself “transgender.” He is consoler-in-chief for undemocratic legislation or regrettable, Judicial Rulings, as well as for draconian policies and immoral demeaning of immigrant refugees, the latter, simply seeking an acceptable life for themselves and family.
The cute, velvet-textured animal seems to innately sense, the emergent relevance of his therapeutic services, regarding media reports, disclosing the steep, ethical and moral decline of august and previously, venerated, Supreme Court of the United States, due to revelations of corruption of its six conservative, designated Justices, including, the religiously lobbied, reversal of the life-determining, and fixed precedential law, affirming the woman’s natural and solely, private, agency to elect an abortion, the unprincipled,  elimination of the established practice of “affirmative action,” compounded with the cessation of President Biden’s empathic and salutary, Executive program granting a forgiveness of a  modest part of onerous, long-term tuition debt. The little beastie, senses the significant need and impact of his vitally, needed service, on reports of book-banning and censorship of curriculum concerning the dark periods of American history.

It may well be, that Gelato’s most valuable and needed services have been rendered regarding the ongoing, reports of flagrant, undemocratic, legislative interference with the vote, the latter, being the route to the amelioration of the need for our constant and urgent call upon his counseling assistance.

-p.

As loyal devotees of John Locke’s theory of epistemology, it is our view that Man is born with a clean slate (“tabula rasa”). Accordingly, we are firm in our belief that the mandatory inclination of the individual of our sentient species, to perceive himself as a moral and responsible tenant of the planet, or otherwise, is an experientially learned, phenomenon.

The simple act of turning the warm pillow to its cooler and more comfortable side is easy and virtually, instinctive. Others of a contrasting inclination, may, unhappily, sleep on a warm, and less comfortable pillow as a felt acceptance of empirical reality. This alternative, metaphoric reference, may have application to individuals, who see their franchise of life as an unfettered opportunity for self-enhancement, as distinguished from those, who find themselves inclined to see life and its experiences as a burden and perhaps a threat to their interests or concerns.

Notwithstanding its various possible applications, and various uses, we would choose to apply our phrase, “The Cooler Side of The Pillow,” to the analogous subject of moral and ethical choice; notably, as an example of those instances in which the easy route to personal comfort, is in conflict with an, admittedly, uncomfortable and inconvenient, but morally, satisfying, choice of action.

It would be unrealistic to underplay the significant and, conceivably, enduring, impact of early childhood experience within the family. Here, within the home, the initial environment and the entirety of the then, ambient universe, i.e., the (initial) learning experiences of the young child are shaped by those acquired from his personal observation of the nature of his parents’ responses to the varied stimuli. The general experience of the parents, as to their extent of recognition of societal and personal morality will, for least some time, have a measure of effect on the choices of the young, impressionable child.

As the child matures, most relevantly, when he leaves (the context of) his original home, his own personal experiences, and notably, his recalled, personal choice of responses to varied experiences, in time, should enable him to construe an established, internally acceptable, and familiar, self-image; with reference to which, he acquires the guidance of his history of precedential reference, regarding choices, moral and otherwise. This acquired, historical, choice of standards of behavior, and perceived morality may, or may not replicate, in full or part, his early childhood teachings; what was personally comfortable and facile of accomplishment in his early life, may now, conceivably, seem personally, or ethically, uncomfortable.

It is unfortunate to note, that life presents itself with equivocal, or highly complex questions, which, unlike the apocryphal pillow, have various sides, or considerations, attendant upon them, of a practical, social or ethical context. It is seldom possible to easily achieve the aspirational, and ultimate, comfort of proper ethical choice by the fashion of an analogously simple, act like turning an anecdotal pillow to its cooler, and more comfortable side.

We have selected two fine, literary works  illustrative of the occasional presentation of events involving difficult and costly, moral or ethical, life choices, Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons,” and Henrik Ibsen’s, “Enemy of The People.”

In Miller’s, “All My Sons,” a modest-sized, aircraft parts manufacturer, during the World War 2 period is faced with the moral choice of making a small correction to his contracted airplane parts and, thereby expend his money-challenged company’s remaining,  capital, or ship the slightly defective parts and hope for the best. The unspeakable tragedy caused by his financial choice, rather than the ethical one, included the protagonist’s son, killed, when his fighter plane, crashed, presumably, due to the uncorrected, airplane part. The great tragedy was proximately, caused by said choice of the immoral, but sensible, option not to expend the balance of the manufacturing company’s remaining capital in the preventative repair of the company’s relevant, airplane parts.

In Henrik Ibsen’s, “Enemy of the People,” the protagonist, the town’s medical doctor, earns the harsh censure of his entire town for his principled and ethically, responsible act, of issuing an accurate, public warning that the municipal baths, the town’s main source of income are, dangerously polluted, due to an inadequate draining system.

The two above works, as can be easily, presumed, were selected to illustrate the humanistic theme that the exercise of ethical or moral choice, unlike the facile, decision to reverse a warm pillow, may be at a dear price. Still, as portrayed in the first selection, “All My Sons,” for individuals who are properly socialized, the ethical or moral choice may, albeit costly, nevertheless, be crucial, regarding its existential importance to society, and, on a personal level, the self-recognized, humanism and pride of the actor.

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As our recent writings on the subject would attest, we are in full agreement with those American citizens, who attribute the Nation’s current proclivity to contentious divisiveness, to its pronounced, educational divide. In our immediately, previous essay, # 934 “MOROSE BIRTHDAY,” we made reference to several resultant, impediments to the enlightened and appropriate functioning of our Democratic Republic. Much of the latter, is the ultimate effect of citizens, misguided by a limited or skewed perception of reality, based upon their own sheer lack of knowledge, and/or the persuasive influence of an effective, demagogic dissimulator, such as Donald J. Trump.

We have always maintained, that the ultimate strength and success of a Nation, is not based upon its readily available, mineral or power resources, nor its political geography, but, in empirical, fact, on the enlightened nature and quality of its people. To this point, we have previously cited by example, 20^th Century Germany; the latter, a relatively, small or medium-sized Nation, which, by virtue of a literate, easily, mobilized population, came perilously, close to the conquest of the entire World. It may be worth, again contextually, observing, that America, unfortunately, scores well behind other developed Nations in the province of education. The Nation would seem to insufficiently recognize that, existential success and desired strength, is dependent on evincing the highest possible, level of citizen education.

In our immediately, preceding writing, “BRIDGING THE GAP, #927, we offered various possible suggestions, as perceived by us to achieve salubrious outcomes in the amelioration of the Nation’s present state of unhealthy divisiveness and consequent contention; the latter (domestic) phenomenon, as stated, being founded on the Nation’s wide educational disparity. Such aspirational improvement in education would, perforce, do additional yeoman’s service in the re-establishment of America’s traditional high standing among the Nations.

Foundationally, the realization that the Nation has, in our view foolishly, chosen to replace “community” with technology, utilizing technological, systems as a proxy for normal, interactive interaction, is among the basic and harmful factors, eternally charged by us, such as the tragic loss of humanistic and desirable features of mutual recognition and reaffirmation of identity,  spontaneity of response, facility of personal and nuanced expression, the avenue for free and simultaneous exchange of thoughts and timely, reports of information, thus, hobbling, meaningful interaction and the utilization of reason. As maintained in earlier writings, this aberration is proximately, responsible for the meaninglessness of interaction, loss of nuanced, self-identity and for feelings of insularity, often, (especially, in the young), resulting in depression and anxiety. By salubrious, contrast, meaningful, spontaneous and fully, expressive, interaction, is healthier, more satisfactory and rewarding; a salient advantage of the latter is the utilized, innate capacity, to think and learn. The most desirable phenomenon would be public debate between informed and authoritative contestants, as foreseen by the Founders.

Society has, to its profound regret, has, in general, irresponsibly, failed to promote learning and enlightenment and the prized goal of self-improvement. Academic activity, even when recognized as important, is more often than not, valued in the limited context of future career and employment. Thus, mechanical engineering students study to become mechanical engineers, would-be accountants, emphasize disciplines related to finance and accounting. Happily, some discerning and responsible, institutions of higher learning, mandate core curricula, encompassing the classic courses of study (such as languages, art, history, science, philosophy, English literature, mathematics and the like) to make learning an instrument of personal growth by way of a resultant, mature perception. The preparation for a professional skill should not exclude the basic growth and intellectual maturity of the student; if anything, the future professional will be a more thoughtful and understanding practitioner of his selected calling. Contextually, viewed, he will be a more valuable, fulfilled and enlightened citizen. The progress toward wisdom, in our view, in any setting, is the progress toward self-fulfillment and happiness for the individual citizen and the collective strength of a Nation.

For so long as we continue to see empty library reading rooms, and, contemporaneously, busses and trains with young people, intent on their mindless, video games, for as long as society continues to value the movie or television celebrity, and the professional athlete, far and away, above the academic achiever, the brilliant scientist, the sage philosopher or talented author, we will all  be at a deficit in potential achievement and strength, and probably, from the point of view of Man’s unique potential capabilities, will deserve it.

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