Category: Uncategorized

On January 20, 2020, the CDC confirmed the first cases of Covid-19 (originating in the City of Wuhan, China) in the United States. Expeditious and diligent research and development successfully produced an effective vaccine and the Nation, and the World, developed and commenced, general prophylactic and curative protocols to treat and prevent the spread of the disease, which disease had intensified to the level of a “pandemic.”

It was empirically determined that wearing a well-fitting mask, along with the administration of the newly developed vaccine and physical distancing, helped protect the individual and others from the disease. Since such time, compliant citizens, wishing to avoid the illness and its possible spread to others, have wisely and dutifully, ascribed to the uniform practice of wearing a facial mask in all public appearances. We have nevertheless, not been able [despite respecting its salubrious purpose] to avoid the feeling upon continuously seeing uniform crowds of unidentified, masked individuals, as somehow, eerily dystopic, as often portrayed in science fiction or horror movies.

It may be the strange mystery of unfamiliar uniformity and the absolute unanimity of such previously unheard of practice, which still appears eerie and at times, no less than extraterrestrial. There are no neighborly faces to confirm, no polite smiles, a dearth of guttural communication and a surfeit of energetic head movements, the latter, as ersatz vocabulary. There is no doubt about the mask’s absolute necessity (except for thoughtless and irresponsible complaints about alleged feelings of loss of “liberty” from citizens of the Nation, who really should know better). Yet the scenario, nevertheless, remains mysterious and anti- (or, “un”) social.

Removed (with valid medical reason) from sight, are those portions of the physiognomy, customarily utilized to impart expression or reaction, and meaningful interface (or is it, “inter –mask”) communication is barely possible. Not only is there a dearth of the usual “small talk,” but, often an actual lack of identity between the muted, putative conversationalists.

Masks are effective roadblocks to the communication of human reaction, emotion, agreement or the opposite, attraction and love, interest, boredom, apathy, care,  approval or otherwise, degree of emphasis or significance, or human reactive communication.  It may generally, be said, that the (necessary) protective action of masking, has the dual negative effects of arresting normal societal interaction, as well as the intended disease. We find, especially strange, the sight of group of young masked toddlers, looking like identical Russian toys, dystopic and mechanical.

The significant losses directly attributable to this continuing, horrific, viral event, in addition to the most tragic, viz., the losses of life and health, are beyond counting. Oversubscription of hospitals and clinics,  career and economic loss, academic and school loss, business failure, political complications, and aggravated divisiveness, family and organizational disruption, travel restrictions and their proscription, theatrical failure, and cancellation of public events, business loss and insolvency, product and food shortages, limitation in social interaction, economic inflation, mortgage and debt defalcation, frustrated business transactions, and a veritable plethora, of regrettable others.

Although not definitively included, among the worst implications of the pandemic, for whatever it is worth, the empirically mandated, “masquerade” phenomenon nevertheless, is the most cinematic.

 –p.

It would appear that the celebrated Serbian tennis star, Novak Djokovik, while, reportedly excellent at the sport of tennis, may be somewhat, less proficient in his understanding of mature social and community responsibility. The tennis star, asserts, with ardent eloquence, that he, as an individual, has the right to refuse vaccination (for Covid), since he, alone, has the ultimate right to determine what substances go into his body; he is willing, therefore, to forego his right to participate in the leading world tennis matches, like Wimbledon and the French Open. It is our view that his ardor and willing sacrifice are only comparable to his intransigent naiveté and lack of sense of community responsibility.

At some point in time in the history of the Homo sapiens, it was empirically determined that living in society, was far preferable to the precarious attempts at surviving alone. Mutual protection, joint food gathering and social interaction were among the salient benefits reaped by living with others in community. Living together in society, however, necessarily meant the evolution of the pragmatic need for mutually agreed rules of conduct and social responsibility.  

It was Rousseau, who famously created the term, “The Social Contract,” pursuant to which, members of society willingly agree to surrender certain personal rights, deemed for the society’s public good, in exchange for the many benefits of living in that society. By practical necessity, the designated leadership of the community retains the ultimate determination as to the designation of the subject matter properly included in the category of “the public good.”

The outbreak of the worldwide epidemic of a virulent, highly contagious virus (the “Covid Pandemic”), mandated the societal enactment and promulgation of relevant, health-oriented, prevention and treatment measures. Among the preventative measures, were, vaccination [timely developed and approved], plus the public prophylactic behaviors of masking and distancing. It was determined that these protocols were responsibly necessary not only for personal protection but as well, for the prevention of spread to others (i.e. “the public good”).

Mr. Djokovik should realize that his ardent declaration of personal rights are valid and recognizable only to the extent that they relate, exclusively, to matters of his own personal interest, but no further. In the sport of tennis, he may reside in his own, private bubble, but as an individual, necessarily partaking of the many services and benefits of society, he is bound by societal obligation, as responsibly analogized in the concept of the “Social Contract.” No one, living in society, is an absolute sovereign over himself; not even naive sports celebrities.

We were especially surprised, by the media reports of the large conglomeration of truckers blocking the highway between Detroit and Windsor Canada, in angry protest against an applicable mandate requiring the wearing of masks. In addition to compliance with the self-same “Social Contract,” these protesters, are members of a profession, so highly regulated, that their claims of outrage, demanding liberty from restrictive authority, seem bizarre and thoughtless. The same is empirically inconsistent with the protesters’ constant, daily experience. Truckers, of all people, live with and by, rules regulations and ordinances, respecting licensure of themselves and their vehicles, labor and commercial rules, traffic laws, driving and highway restrictions, inter-state laws, employment agreements, labor regulations, hourly strictures, and conceivably, the provisions of applicable trade union agreements.

Alas, in today’s world, mature perception, a close concomitant of human enlightenment, appears to be a rarified and esoteric commodity.

-p.

                                                                                                                                                          We are steadily (and rather, impatiently), convalescing from the joyless experience of a six-day sleepover at St. Luke’s Hospital. As should be understandable, such an unexpected break from one’s routine lifestyle naturally causes him to take particular notice of, and to re-examine, his customary routine and practices. A salient feature of our personal choice of activities is our preference for the writing and dissemination of the present style of authorship, known as the “blog.” As the number assigned to this writing indicates, we have produced and distributed, in excess 0f 640 “Blogs.” We have accordingly elected to dedicate the subject of this writing to the subject blog, itself. 

As writing blogs it is prominent among our choice of activities, [and, as we have penned so many], it would appear to be evident that we greatly enjoy the activity; what we nevertheless, detest, is the name, “Blog.” The latter’s sound is the diametric opposite of being euphonious, viz., a sound like “splat,” or “glug,” and would be suitable for the description of something blocking traffic, an artery, or perhaps the current of a small stream. We would have preferred a more pleasing name like, “mini-essay,” “literary reflection,” or perhaps, something like “selected thoughts.” However, like other mainstream American citizens, we traditionally accept the inherited lexicon, as it, acceptably, exists.

Aside from its cacophonous name, the literary form is to be lauded for its many ubiquitous qualities, making it a highly desirable style of written communication; a written form, in our view, somewhere in the mix, between the literary forms of the “belle lettre,” and a personal editorial, written by an author familiar to the reader. It may be observed that there exists no prescribed style nor form to this style of writing, which is ordinarily familiar to a writer’s regular reader; the subject, or content, varies with the author’s inclination.

Because the style of authorship is traditionally informal, it is equally suitable for literary consumption, by both the truly serious and the casual reader. The unpredictable and varied subject matter makes each distinct reading, a fresh and exciting experience. Equally, important, the permissive, liberal format makes possible the author’s utilization of subjects as diverse in distance as the local Dairy Barn is to the Milky Way or, indeed, as light years distant in humanity and moral character, as a Mr. Rogers is to a Donald Trump. All subjects, political, social, literary, gender, anthropological and meteorological, are grist for the Blog’s mill; historical references, current events, personal recollections, social and artistic criticism, civil rights, morality, virtually, any topic of anticipated interest to the reader, may be appropriately discussed and, hopefully, enjoyed.

Lastly, the facile mode of dissemination, viz., by computer e-mail, makes distribution to regular readers, quick and simple, and invites thoughtful and relevant response.    

-p.

Caution, dear reader, brace yourself. In a few days, the perennial tsunami, appearing every February 14, will predictably reassert itself, in all its traditional force. The sole fans of the feared flooding are the usual suspects, the greeting card companies, the chocolate manufacturers, the florists, the retail jewelry businesses, the pajama industry and the novelty sales folk. The expected high tide of the Valentine’s Day inundation, judging by previous experience, will submerge all land masses, human population and baffle all reason. Among other phenomena, the advertising industry will publish a stage 4 hurricane of notices, featuring photo-shopped, seemingly amorous couples, in intimate proximity, to their highlighted sales merchandise.

Since (mercifully) this holiday has only a short half-life, one day, the need for effective, sales propaganda becomes urgent. Unaccountably huge profits are earned by companies who, presumptuously, maintain that there is a realistic (and commercial) need to supplement the interaction of couples, who love one another, with their manufactured paraphernalia. Greeting card companies are especially guilty of this self-serving assumption and hire distinguished “poets” to create trite doggerel, consisting of inane expressions of love and fidelity, for the thousands of presumably, aphasic, anonymous consumers.

The most objectionable of the various Valentine’s Day symbols is the trite, red valentine “heart,” an outmoded and retro- configuration, broadcast without relief; on all holiday products, greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, stuffed toys, pillows and candy boxes. This stale symbol is glaringly imprinted on all items for sale on Valentine’s Day, as well as on the consumer’s mind, by some Manchurian Candidate type, propaganda.

Various research people [ who apparently have no more pressing fields of inquiry for the employment of their Ph.D. acumen] have uniformly reported that the classic red symbol is derived from an early, incorrect understanding, by [no less than] Galen and Aristotle, who believed that the heart contained only three chambers. [It may be noted, that Dr. Galen and Mr. Aristotle were, innovatively, accurate on many other subjects]

The valentine depiction of the human heart, maintains the very same proportionate degree of accuracy, as a wood duck, in appearance, bears to a moose. Nevertheless, it has, over the ages, been foisted upon, and willingly accepted, by the consuming public.

In truth, the human heart is shaped like a pear and is the approximate size of a man’s fist. This life-or-death chest muscle is taxed with the existential job of circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body. It has no time, or noticeable inclination, for holiday Hallmark sales propaganda, as the purported source of love, courage, strength or kindness. The statement, “He has a good heart” should be reserved, solely to a positive determination by a cardiologist, and not a comment on such traits as a person’s, love, generosity or empathy. We are only concerned with cardiologists and not “cardeologists.” How would you value a positive comment on generosity, like, “He has good kidneys.”

It is certainly inarguable that all human thought and emotion are exclusively functions of the brain and, empirically, not the traditionally romanticized heart muscle. Admittedly, however, it would be impractical to artistically create a brain-shaped cartoon figure to serve as a symbol of the holiday.

The senseless valentine “heart” is best replaced by a preferable love symbol, the unique and marvelous tulip bulb. Certainly, the outline of the traditional bulb is simple to replicate, artistically. More important, the bulb has always been a reliable symbol of future growth and predictable beauty. Relative to the modern conception of true and healthy love, the tulip bulb is independent and self-sustaining, having within its inner self a sufficient systemic source of future nourishment as well as the natural ability and inclination for growth and the achievement of its innate potential.

The tulip bulb, in the Middle Ages, was thought to be magical and priceless. There are historical records of its individual sale for the modern equivalent of several thousand dollars. If you should offer one to him/her and it is refused, we earnestly suggest that you look elsewhere.

ADDENDUM:

Why should it be necessary to dedicate a one- day holiday in recognition and expression of love; and, further, to do so by trite gifts of holiday nonsense? Love, where it is genuine, is experienced on a regular basis, and expressed in tender interaction and caring, personal acts. This one-day holiday is sadly comparable to gifts of free turkey dinners on Thanksgiving to the needy. Hunger exists year-round and the poor and unfortunate need more than a gratuitous symbol.

* perennial message

-p.

“Agent Orange,” was a tactical herbicide, used by the U.S. Military during the Viet Nam War, and has been proven to cause major deleterious health effects on individuals exposed, possibly extending to their offspring. It may categorically, be listed, among many hazardous materials [“hazmats”] that have been empirically, demonstrated to pose substantial risk to life, health, property and/or the environment. The category generally includes toxic chemicals, fuels, biological, chemical and radiological agents. Many of these dangerous items pose great risks, even when not being transported, and need to be stored safely and properly.

Matter [reportedly, anything that occupies space and has mass] can be classified according to physical and chemical “properties”, accordingly, we would respectfully request that limited to our present expressive, [literary] purposes, we may be permitted the following, unorthodox, analogous classification. For  purposes of effective description, and, based upon his singularly dangerous and deleterious “properties,” we would seek, [unofficially] to literarily classify, Donald J. Trump, as uniquely combining the dangerous properties, of an ignorant, orange-haired homo sapiens, and that of the toxic and destructive properties, of the hazardous chemical, known as “Agent Orange.”

Some brief, cursory reading in the general area of hazardous matter, leaves one with the initial impression that, of great relevance to the art of classification, are the physical “properties” of the matter under consideration. It is felt that a brief recitation of Donald Trump’s “properties,” or, potential for damage and destruction, together with some reference to the dire and hazardous results already accrued, from man’s unprotected exposure to him, would, we would find acceptance in this dynamic, analogous, classification, as literarily permissible, albeit, admittedly, not chemically valid.

The surprise election to the American Presidency, of Donald Trump, was the singular elevation of an ignorant, incapable, neurotically, egocentric, former television game show host, to the most influential and powerful office in the free world. His election victory may, conceivably, be accounted for by an unprecedentedly, large vote of the discontented, information- literacy- challenged, “Underbelly,” of the American population, mesmerized by Trump’s tactical, snake oil demagoguery, plus the financial support from the air- polluting members of big industry, which appear, to value profits over human health, and thus, like Trump, oppose health regulations.

For the past five years, the Nation’s unprotected exposure, to the toxic person- agent of Donald J. Trump, [both in and after office], has caused a veritable plethora of [preventable], tragic mortalities, major injuries and sustained and permanent damage, much of which, analogous, to the pernicious properties of the authentic Agent Orange, will, sadly, continue to wreak havoc in future generations.

[Environment ]: Trump’s neurotic, egotistical ignorance, has led him, and his cultish, loyal sycophants, to repudiate of all science and scientists; particularly, his obdurate denial of all environmental findings of the World’s recognized experts, concerning the dire and imminent dangers to the Planet, of global warming, caused by air pollution. In fact, the dynamic and hazardous effects of such global warming have already manifested themselves, in the form of irregular seasons and weather patterns, fierce storms, incalculable forest fires, tsunamis, discernably, hazardous damage to the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps, and consequent, unprecedented rises in sea level, some actually, obliterating national boundaries.

[Health]: It might appear symbolically significant and meaningful, that the virulent Covid-19 Pandemic and Trump’s investiture as U.S. President were, almost, malignly, coterminous. However, most ironically and tragically, not before Trump, as newly installed President, had egotistically and irresponsibly, disbanded a specialized agency appointed by the previous President, Barack Obama, to serve as a watchdog for World epidemics

In record time, the proficient Science of Pharmaceutical Medicine was able to produce, an effective vaccine, and develop prudent prophylactic protocols, against the virus. However, from the start, Trump ignorantly and reductively, played down the dangerous features of the virus, publicly likening the same to the common cold. Later, In lieu of prudently and responsibly, advising the obtaining of the developed vaccination, and compliance with the various protocols, as approved and advised by the Nation’s Medical Authorities, he ignorantly, and irresponsibly, augmented the infection and mortality rate, by shamelessly, mocking such prudent protocols, as well as vaccination, and by, incredibly, advising as an alternative, the ingestion of bathroom cleaning fluid. 

Thus, masking and vaccination evolved to a demonstrated badge of political loyalty, in an already dangerously divided Nation. The “anti-vaxers” and anti-maskers, determinatively demonstrating thereby, their loyalty to the Orange guru. It was much later, in time, that Trump confessed, that he had indeed, been vaccinated, but, regrettably, not soon enough, to avoid hundreds of thousands of cases of preventable infections and deaths. An alternative homage of loyalty to Trump was the widespread administration, of a popular, veterinary horse wormer in lieu of vaccine.

[Democracy and the Nation]: From the start of his elective term, Trump initiated the classic autocratic policy of demeaning the essence of truth and of empirical facts, proclaiming instead, the existence of “alternate facts,” which were, subjectively, more acceptable to him and, accordingly, to his populist supporters. He launched an attack against the critical free press and the responsible media, and created a propaganda-like reality, suitable to himself, and apparently, loyally acceptable to his followers.

Thomas Jefferson declared that for a democracy to succeed, what is mandatorily required are literate, informed citizens. In addition to his un-American, demeaning of the free press as well as the basic concept of truthful facts, Trump, ignorantly, and to the delight of his many populist [underbelly] supporters, denigrated education, the arts, academic and scientific inquiry and the basic need for human enlightenment. He appointed cabinet secretaries who were completely unfamiliar with their designated office but willing to support Trump policy, regardless of wisdom or rectitude.

Trump, publicly tolerant of bigotry, attracted the loyalty of the atavistic, prejudiced cohort of our population, including the numerous White Christian Supremacy groups and Jim Crow perpetuators, during, and following, his one term as President. After his elective loss to Biden, he, autocratically, enlisted his mob of followers to mount a violent [unsuccessful] insurrection against the Capitol Building, purposed to change the purportedly, “stolen” outcome [“Big Lie”] of the election.

 In addition, and as a serious and devastating, blemish on the existence of democracy, he and his autocratic, sycophants, have caused State enactments of voting restrictions, aimed at the votes of communities of color, because statistics showed their past election preference for his opponent, Biden.

To responsibly undertake, the recitation of the full extent of Trump’s effected and potential damage, to the Nation, domestically and internationally, and, to the institution of Democracy, itself, would appear to be a veritable, Quixotic challenge and an empirically, never-ending, task; one that would, doubtless, evince harm, notably, surpassing the dreaded potential of the hazard of the actual Agent Orange, which, by such comparison, may seem to be a mere herbicide.  

It might be wise to have Donald Trump [the human Agent Orange], hermetically sealed, in an appropriate container, for prudent storage, distant from the venue of Washington, D.C

-p.

The apocryphal Biblical tale relates that Moses, the leader of the  Hebrews, fleeing from Egyptian enslavement, ascends to the summit of Mount Sinai, and returns to his people, bearing a two-part stone tablet, upon which are inscribed, the fundamental moral imperatives, commonly known as the “Ten Commandments.” The Seventh Commandment, “Thou Shalt not Steal,” is the present topic of discussion.

What is divinely proscribed, by this Commandment, specifically, is the unauthorized taking [theft, stealing] of another’s private property. The offending verb, “steal,” seems to be unitarily simple, in its objective consideration; however, human history, inclusive of certain recent events, has indicated that compliance with the Biblical admonition is convoluted by subjective determination.

 The, now infamously known, violent and unprecedented insurrection, staged against the Capitol Building,  on 1/6/21, violently mounted by pro-Trump terrorists, declared to the world, “Stop the Steal;” the mantra conjured up, for such violent, undemocratic event, by the loser of the Presidential election, Donald Trump. The “steal” appears to relate to the political event of the regular, transfer of the office of the American Presidency, to a successful candidate, by the Board of Electors, symbolically, overseen, by the outgoing Vice-President, the designated official; in this case, Mike Pence.

The multi-certified, Presidential election, attested to the clear victory of the Democratic Candidate, Joseph Biden. Donald J. Trump, the accredited loser of the election, refused, or was egotistically unable, to accept the reality of defeat and, without benefit of inquiry, determined, or defensively constructed the paranoid ideation, that, in truth, he was the true winner of the election; his delusional ideation of victory was articulated by his martial summons to his cult followers, to “Stop the Steal.”

Many hundreds of violent Trump supporters, in response to such call to arms, stormed the Capitol Building, causing injury, damage and even murder, due to their neurotic leader’s inability to accept defeat. Their mantra, was tactically, worded in language, relative to the prevention of sin, referenced to the Seventh Commandment, proscribing theft. However, as a semantic matter, one might ask in what manner or circumstance was a danger of theft [“Stop the Steal”] possible, or in any way, relevant or even, rational. Whose private property was it that was in danger of theft?  Neither, the Office of the Presidency, nor the existence of the elective results are, in any respect, “property,” and clearly, not the property of any deprived or aggrieved owner.

One can confidently assume that members of the insurgent “mob,” never chose to inquire into the semantical or philosophical issue, as to whether an “election,” per se, can indeed, be “stolen.” It would seem more evident, that the insurgents concluded, pursuant to Trump’s distress call, that their ballots had been miscalculated or altered and, as a consequence, the [accurate] results of the election were, perverted or “stolen” from them.    A maddened and incendiary, “patriotic” lynch mob actually called for the hanging of Trump’s Vice President, Mike Pence, the official charged with the ceremonial duty to deliver the tabulated results of the election, denigrated by Trump.

Thus the use of the words, stop the “steal,” was the tactical misuse of a punitive phrase, which when rationally or appropriately used, denotes the prevention of an activity that is Biblically and societally unacceptable and preventable. What was, in reality, instructed by the delusional mantra was: reject and oppose the official, certified, count of the election, which, “falsely” demonstrated the success of Joseph Biden. The prevention of such a travesty is vital to the continued existence of our Democratic Republic; accordingly, severe punishment for Trump and his minions is mandatorily required, to serve as a future deterrent.
 

It is of existential importance, that the American public, eternally, be obliged to be on guard against those whose ignorance can be wrongfully stewarded to oppose democracy, the rule of law and moral reason.

-p.   
 

It will be recalled, that our former sociopathic and miscreant President, Donald J. Trump, confidently proclaimed to the American public:  “I can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue, and get away with it.” This outrageous, indisputably, pathological, and societally bizarre, boast, to our outraged perception, is, bizarrely to say, the only, apparently predictable, concept to emerge from the would-be, autocratic lips of this arrogant and egomaniacal, miscreant.

It is a matter of public record and, of private witness, that a  plethora of demonstrated and evidentially confirmed,  intentional, premeditated and deliberate crimes, felonies, personal and traitorous, have been intentionally committed by Trump, [to the applause, blessing and ‘thumbs up” of his loyal,  “underbelly” American cult]. The latter cohort of discontented, vociferously, dangerous, ignorant, reductionists, together with the numerous Republican toadies, fearful of losing the approval of the Orange Deity and, as a consequence, the votes of his rather numerous, cultish, acolytes. The salient example, consists of Trump’s publicly avowed admission, on numerous occasions, that he was the instigator, cause and, personal impetus, for the violent and deadly, January 6, insurrection.

We would ask if there is, in the long history of American Jurisprudence, precedent for any admitted, nefarious criminal, even, regarding a minor intentional criminal action, permitted to go free and unpunished? How does such a, twice impeached, avatar of classic evil and continuing existential threat to our Democratic Republic, as a minimal consideration, deign to walk free and further, [the absolute pale of rational, endurance], like a proudly crowing rooster, trumpet his impending candidacy, again, for the American Presidency? Is this reality or a theatrical Comic-Tragedy?

Irrespective of the vast amount of the existing, televised and journalistic derisive comment and articulated outage, some of which, attaining the literary level of oratorical brilliance, Trump’s Teflon status, unchangeably, remains, frustratingly untouched and unbridled. There appears to be more than ample testimony, inclusive of, publically, and privately witnessed crimes, most of which were,  demonstrably performed, before the television camera;  privately witnessed fraudulent action,  a plenteous larder of specific damming, admissible evidence, written, electrically recorded and photographic, including the express admissions of Trump and his guilty confederates, relevant expert and lay testimony, official [legally obtained] recordings, damning admissions and correspondence, in essence, all manner of relevant and prosecutorial proof, admissible, under Federal and State Evidence [procedural] Statutes. Yet this important criminal is untouched. What, in the civilized World is going on?

Do we, candidly, err when we, teach our children that all men are equal before the law?

 Are the authorities, somehow, mesmerized, by a covey of Joycean Sirens, newly escaped from the Greek Islands, eons ago, traversed by Ulysses? The eternally ongoing deliberative discussion and written comment seem, frustratingly, to incessantly continue without end and, like the articulated frustration of an impatient, luckless and hopeful fiancé, “all talk but no action.”

Justice William Gladstone, wisely, juridically and historically, declared, “Justice delayed, is justice denied.” [previously stated in ancient Hebrew lore, “Perke Avot,” and, more recently, in Martin Luther, Jr.’s, “Letter from a Birmingham Jailhouse].

The American citizen is completely and justifiably, dependent upon the government administration to maintain order and is the dependent beneficiary of the latter’s, solemn, undertaken and fiduciary responsibility to protect him and his Democratic Republic, from all enemies, foreign and domestic

The purpose of this diffident essay is to enunciate a frightened cry for emergent relief by way of appropriate governmental action before it is too late for the Nation and its responsible citizens.

-p.                                                          

The prevailing national concern, at present, is the dogged persistence of the Covid virus, in all its mutational personae. Yet, despite medical statistics, which report a far more favorable rate of prevention and cure by submission to vaccination, and the recommended prophylactic protocols of mask and distancing, there are many ignorant Americans, who continue to adamantly resist compliance.  One would ordinarily assume that an individual would, in his own interest and of those around him, [the virus being highly contagious] avidly pursue those recommendations.  However, many, resignedly, do not having eschewed any available intelligence and self-determination, in their cultish obeisance to Trump’s populist and ignorant regime.

The above recitation illustrates only one relevant illustration of the perverse effects of the Nation’s bourgeoning accumulation of under-educated, poorly informed citizens.  It is that portion of our population, which, in addition to the above irrational obstinacy, persists in evincing atavistic, racial and religious prejudice,  that actively seeks to interfere with the [minority’s] voting franchise, exercises a blind, selfish and history-denying, opposition to immigration, that, opposes the natural right of women to make autonomous decisions about their body, promotes gun ownership [in the face of the uncountable number of tragic shooting incidents], deprecates science and learning, and completely ignores environmental concerns, including the existential threat of global warming.

The profound nature of their ignorance continues to be an imminent danger to our democracy, as was publicly demonstrated last year, by a violent, bloody, insurrection; mounted by a cohort of such “underbelly” American denizens, against the Capitol Building in Washington D.C., and purposed to illegally, and unconstitutionally, set aside the result of a proven valid, Presidential election. The outrageous, and unprecedented incident was, affirmatively and publicly, inspired by the perverse loser of that election, the dangerous, egocentric, would-be, autocratic czar, Donald J. Trump. Shocked and disillusioned, right-thinking American Citizens are now, expectantly, anticipating punitive retribution for the wrongdoers and their financial supporters. It is regrettable, that, observably, no action regarding the amelioration of the source of such threat to our Nation has been studied and proposed.

It would be unforgivable and conceivably, dangerous to “throw up our hands,” and resign ourselves to an assumption of an eternal existence of this class of ignorant, limited and discontented people. A suitable and effective solution to this sociological and political problem, is vitally needed.

Our recommendation would be to approach the problem by the uplifting of the eternally, angry and discontented, underbelly of the Nation’s population. It has been our view that the portion of our population, lacking in education and possessing only a limited, reductionist perception, [of themselves and their environment], have little possibility of personal life-enhancing, self-esteem and communal participation. Such a veritable, arid desert, of hopelessness and dissatisfaction, ineluctably, leads to frustration and, presumably, the need to project the blame elsewhere, i.e., on blacks, Jews, government.

We have, on many occasions, referred to the prescient admonition of Thomas Jefferson, to the effect that an educated and informed citizenry is required for the success of a democracy. It is our view that the dynamics of our following prescription have the dual potential of securing democracy and, as well, enhancing the lives of such disillusioned and disappointed citizens. The suggested approach is consistent with the theme and eternal message of this blogspace, regarding the nexus between self-fulfillment and happiness. It is our firm belief that a more knowledgeable citizen would have a richer, more thoughtful and more fulfilling life and participatory citizenship. History affirmatively shows that education is the great equalizer, financially, socially and politically. Our suggested program would incorporate the following:

• Requiring High Schools to have a core curriculum, to include, in addition to literacy, mathematics, American History, geography and High School level Science and Mathematics.
• Extending mandatory education to 4 years of High School [flexible hours for working teens]
• Upon graduation, in addition to a diploma, graduates would earn, a lifetime voting certificate, the latter, mandatorily, required to vote [at the attainment of legal voting age.]

With respect to “(c),” the existing voting Statutes would require alteration to accommodate the new educational voting requirement, adjusted with the date of its enactment. The creation of a more rounded, aware and thoughtful citizen, would be a positive addition to our representational democracy. There is scant democratic or practical value, to our representative democracy to the efficacy of votes of ignorant and unaware citizens, proven vulnerable to demagoguery].

Especially relevant to our principal theme, however, is the personal benefit to the formerly rudderless, discontented citizen, who would acquire a new and enlarged perception of life, and conceivably, an awareness and increased involvement therewith, which will positively, lead, personally,  to a more fulfilling life, and, Nationally, to a thoughtful and useful citizen. 

-p.     

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In mitigation of the discomfort engendered by the dual attributes of advanced age and a painful back, we spend a considerable portion of the day in the intimate embrace of a large, adjustable, leather chair. Our country home, situated at the edge of a large woodland, in Kingston, New York, is benefited by a great room, [or,” living room”], with a high, vaulted ceiling, big clerestory windows and rooms with see-through, framed glass walls. As a consequence, the indoor impression is one of being outdoors, amidst the trees and greenery. Much of the time thus spent in such comfortable venue, reading, watching movies or television news, is punctuated by appreciative glances through the nearby large picture windows, at an uninterrupted outdoor ambiance of alternatively, verdant or snowy, woodland; and most excitedly, at the appearance of woodland animals, including, deer, wild turkey, birds, squirrels, woodchucks and several others.

We saw him, the other day, upon routinely looking up from our reading. He appeared to be a beautiful example of the coyote species, with lush gray and black winter-coated fur, solitarily, padding, along the snowy ground. To our astonishment, [perhaps, our imagination] the beautiful animal appeared to look back at our window. We understand that It is not common, in this geographic location, to actually see this animal [a rather recent, territorial immigrant, from America’s Southwest] and, conceivably, just as uncommon, to see him ambling about singly, without an accompanying pack. It was, to our, [admittedly, creative] perception, as if he were paying us a brief personal visit. Our somewhat bizarre, perception of the event, admittedly, was no less than surreal; but that bizarre reaction warrants some empirical and rational explanation; and we would humbly request, of the reader, a bit of patience.  

The sudden, surprising appearance of this recently transplanted animal, as indicated, seemed to evoke, in us, a surreal and autobiographical moment. It is to be noted, as previously written, that our family, its life, perceptions, and environment has, over the years, likewise,  been significantly reconfigured and uprooted in venue, in previously unforeseen and truly substantive manner. It was, subjectively, as if this transitory coyote was our personal, symbolic biographer.

Regular followers of this blogspace are aware that we have previously offered a series of essays on the subject of our childhood lives, as first-generation Americans, living in the nuanced ambiance of newly arrived, Ashkenazi-Jewish Immigrants in 1940’s Brooklyn. We briefly described the large and aging, brick apartment residences, the exotic olfactory mélange of Old World cooking aromas, the electric- sparking, trolley cars banging along on iron, street-level tracks, the remaining horse-drawn carts of, fruit vendors, old clothing [junk] collectors, knife and scissor sharpeners, the coal barrel deliveries through steep chutes, running down from the street level windows to the building cellars, and of the streets and back alleys, the mucho- macho ice delivery men, the diverse pushcarts, ethnic food stores, and the poor and antiquated synagogues.

Primarily, however, we sought to create a visible cameo of the displaced, newly arrived, Russian immigrant, his recent escape from a life of violent anti-Semitic pogroms and personal privation, and his aspirations for a future American family; such thoughts, obsessively, spiced with the ruminative recollection of his past, nightmarish life, in the dark, cold and personally vulnerable “Old Country.” His was a mandatory and existential, migratory life change to an exotic new territory and life. We also attempted to colorfully, but respectfully, allude to his dedicated, dignified, but often frustratingly, comedic efforts, to “Americanize,” with especial reference to the new presenting language, but also, the alien ambiance, pace and folkways, of the “New World,” of the extant, Brooklyn, New York.

We venerate and extoll the adaptive genius of the beautiful coyote, as symbolizing and paying tribute to the human immigrants of goodwill, who, like our parents and other America’s immigrants, made, and those who aspire to make, a new and better life in this land.

-p.

Recently, the United Nations Food Program identified Yemen, as having the World’s largest food crises, not driven, primarily, by conflict. It found that nearly, one-half of its entire population is severely undernourished, and more than one-half of its young evince stunted growth due to scarcity of food. Similar gruesome conditions appear to exist in far too many areas of the globe. Lack of food, reportedly, is a significant cause of war, and, empirically, most wars are causes of lack of food. Aggravating the sad situation, as we read the news media, is the ever-increasing incidence of internal wars and insurrections.

As related in an early blog, [“THE OATMEAL SOLUTION”] when driving, we took notice of the many large World War 2, naval vessels floating, uselessly, in storage on the Hudson River, in view of the highway. We posited the suggestion that these unused vessels be sufficiently sanitized, refitted and reengineered, to healthily store, vast amounts of cooked, nutritious oatmeal, for shipment to areas of the globe, needing food assistance; regardless of previous designation, as friend or foe. We were then of the opinion, that a well-fed, World population would be less likely to go to war, that American-international relations would be uplifted, and that such an action would be an appropriate exercise of moral empathy. We are still of that view. The graveyard of Naval Vessels conceivably may not still be there, yet the sentiment, founded in empathy and peacekeeping, persists.

Needy countries would be notified, in advance, of the intended gratuitous deliveries, however, with the mandatory admonition that the food be responsibly, distributed only to the needy areas and bearing a notice that the breach of such mandatory requirement would, summarily, result in the immediate cessation of the food program.

 Belligerent, hungry Nations, ex., North Korea and Communist China would, predictably, be less saber-rattling. Other Nations, so assisted, presumably, would tend to seek better and closer relations with the U.S., and, as well, their neighboring countries. The above program as conceived would be a supplement to the traditional modes of seeking peace, viz., arms control agreements, treaties, and student, athlete and culture exchanges.

One recalls, in Shakespeare’s instructive, classic play, Julius Caesar, the protagonist looks at Cassius and warns, “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.” Perhaps some hot, nutritious, oatmeal [with raisins] would have amended the classification, of the great work, from the literary category of  ”tragedy,” to that of comedy [he only had two categories.]

-p.