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In the course of a pleasant, relaxed and meditative mood, this past week, we happened to think of the elder of our two cats, “Kudu,” (named after a beautiful elk-like animal, (the “Koo-doo” seen by us on safari in South Africa, some years ago). Kudu, sadly, in common with his two feline predecessors (“Cicero” and “Anchovy”) had developed a deadly disease at or about the usual (feline) terminal age of 13, and had to be “put to sleep,” by the Veterinarian.

As expected, we felt pain and mourned their loss, almost as profoundly as if they were human. A nurtured and beloved pet becomes an integral and familiar part of the family household; its loss, affirmatively, results in substantial regret and for some time is the protagonist of considerable nostalgic, recollection.  

The cataclysmic loss of a family member,  close relative, dear friend or other loved one, summons up the predictable, and tragic, stereotypical feelings of intransigent denial, irrational anger and then, finally, acceptance and profound sorrow. In some cases, the essential “spark” of life may, suddenly and unexpectedly, be extinguished, “out of the blue,” as opposed to occurring following the previous advent of a critically mortal diagnosis, or the normal and gradual occurrence of terminal old age. Whatever may be the cause, the empty place left by the absence of the deceased, person, leaves a perceived, barren, empty space in the family household and considerable emotional pain, possibly enduring for years.

Universal knowledge of the inevitable, and unavoidable prospect of the end of life, is a universal subject of man’s eternal dread, causing a great many individuals to look (perhaps, vainly) to religion for answers, understanding, or at a minimum, comfort and reconciliation. Inescapably, the unique franchise of “life” is inevitably, and eternally, paid for by the burnished, gold coin of inevitable mortality.

There appear to be individuals who, in their lifetime, choose to, tactically and sophomorically, aspire to avoid the natural concomitance, between the precious, but vulnerable, establishment of loving relationships and its eternally, concomitant and predictable, excruciating pain of loss. Such individuals thus, strategically, wherever possible, avoid intimate relationships, (personal close relationships, marriage, children and even, pets). Such individuals may, conceivably, succeed in decreasing the numerical instances of such inevitable, painful loss, but by so doing, thereby, imprudently and wastefully, decrease their singular, and ultimately, priceless, potential for a fulfilling quality of life.

-p.

 In this essay, we have undertaken to express certain principles which we have found useful in the exercises of spoken and written (as opposed to electronic) communication. It is felt that the regular observance of the foregoing principles will result in the minimization of misunderstandings and unnecessary errors. We have, for purposes of clarity, presented the same in separate categories.

The Golden Rule of Communication:
Fundamentally stated, speech is the thoughtful art of deployment of chosen words to convey intended thoughts. As is universally the case, relative to the all-encompassing world of the “arts,” there empirically, exists regarding this indispensable capability, variations in skill or aptitude.  The confident and candid assumption that something has, indeed, been said, is objectively, reliable (only) to the extent of the speaker’s personal skill at precision in the apt communication of his intended thoughts. Stated otherwise, the degree of confidence that something, intended to be conveyed, has, indeed, been effectively expressed, is based upon the objective clarity and exactitude of its actual expression and not on the actual intentions or subjective recollection of the speaker. The beneficial observance of our selected, “golden rule” of communication, will  tend to avoid unnecessary, misunderstandings, and contentious strife.

Conveyance of Specifically Intended Message:

The accurate and precise communication of ideas, by spoken, and (most especially) written, words, is pragmatically dependent upon the discernment and selection of appropriate vocabulary, uniquely and precisely (as opposed to “generally”), expressive of the desired communication. The latter admonition is the very soul and lifeblood of poetics, but, as well, vital for meaningful verbal communication.

In specific relation to the art of written and spoken interaction, we would, emphatically, caution against the facile reliance upon a thesaurus, as a solution to the cogent selection of words, expressive of one’s intended communication. Our determined priority regarding the vital accuracy of intended expression, over the years, has, confidentially, led us to the radical belief, that there seldom exist exact synonyms, such that, on the relevant occasion, adequately or precisely, describe our intended and nuanced feeling. Examples, “hot” as in tea, vs. “torrid,” as in sexy, flamingo dancer; “cold”, as in milk vs. “frigid,” as in the artic; “cautious,” as in “discerning,” vs. ”cautious,” as used when crossing the avenue. For those, properly concerned with the accurate transmission of the nature and extent of his feelings, seldom will other similar words will be found to be descriptively adequate.

The Misconception Regarding “Big” Words:

The thematic message of this writing, and the irrefutable, sine- qua- non, of successful communication is the selective use of words that precisely, express one’s intention. Such being the primary criterion we have, eternally, been perplexed by the sophomoric characterization of “big” and “plain” words. It would appear that such misconceived categories are meaningful to those who are not avid readers.

It appears that the descriptive, “big” in such comments has reference to the fact that the word, in the experience of the critic, is not to his discernment, in the popular parlance, rather than objected to, based upon the number of its syllables; to illustrate: the words, “vegetarian” and “international,” inarguably, are commonly used, and accordingly, easily understood, (i.e., not “big words,”) albeit, multi-syllabic.

In sum, effective communication requires the literary sensitivity to select those words, clearly and most expressive of the speaker’s, or writer’s, intended expression.

-p.

[“What’s in a word?” Shakespeare, “Romeo and Juliet”]

The persistence of the bizarre, unsupported canard, by Trump and his blindly, loyal cult followers, that Joseph Biden’s victory in the 2020 Presidential election, was, somehow, “stolen” from him, most especially, in the face of the multiple, consistent dismissals, by the Courts, State Officials, and relevant, federal agencies, of such entirely, unfounded claims, has become, intolerable.

The substantial numbers of otherwise, seemingly sane, American citizens, who continue to be Trump’s ardent supporters, notwithstanding the latter’s criminal, immoral and anti-democratic behavior (a substantial demonstration of which, having been viewed on public television) is bewildering. The wide and multifarious scope of the former President’s willful, errant behavior spectacularly, spans the entire range of wrongdoing, from basic payoffs and bribery, relative to his commerce with prostitutes, tax fraud and criminal negligence, to felonious interference with the right to vote and solicitation of voter record distortion, violations of the emolument clause, and inarguably, the serious of all, the solicitation of National insurrection and treason.

Prior to the single and singular, four-year term of Donald Trump who, in his brief term of office, shamefully accrued no less than two Congressional impeachments, there existed a tacit, pragmatic, presumption that Presidential candidates were undoubtedly, upstanding and moral in their private and public lives. Donald Trump, however, uniquely, demonstrated that an American President is factually, capable of being selected, notwithstanding a lack of moral compass. In his ignorance, egocentricity, serial mendacity and complete absence of principle, Trump demonstrated that with a sufficient number of cultish support, moral, societal and humanistic, principles were not (for him) personally, binding.

Most astonishing, and emotionally, exhausting, is the Franz Kafka-Lewis Carroll- fun house mirror degree of distortion of reality, evinced in Trump’s behavior and his, delusional,  Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, claim of a rigged or “stolen election.” One of the plethora of Federal and State indictments, charges his unabashed, fraudulent, telephonic request, then demand, that the Georgia Secretary of State, fraudulently, add a certain number of fictional, non-existent, votes to his election count, to grant him a Georgia State victory. Such criminal and unconstitutional, request to illegally alter the tabulation of vote results, happily, was dutifully, denied. Fortuitously, the illicit telephone request was televised and the shameless crime, in all its venality, viewed by the American public.

It is to be, especially noted, that this, televised, criminal attempt, and a plethora of additional perverse acts, intended to rig, or “steal” the vote, was, observably, performed by Trump, personally, (or in his behalf, by his minions). Yet the former President, the serial prevaricator, himself, miraculously, charged the Biden supporters with rigging the election. Irrefutably observed, however, it was the greasy, orange-haired, (Trump) hand, that was inserted in the proverbial cookie jar and, empirically, witnessed by all, (including the large, irrational, populist underbelly, of accusatory cultists, doggedly, supportive of Trump).

A reasonable application of the elegant-sounding, designation, “cognitive dissonance,” can, permissibly, be identified in a situation in which one’s actions are inconsistent with his personal and fundamental beliefs.

We are reasonably confident of the rectitude of our humanistic, assumption that, at minimum, many of the most ardent of Trump cultists, in their private (family, neighborly, societal, collegiate) lives, do, in fact, personally, conform to the societally, approved, customs, habits and social expectations; notably, as to the existential, societal requirement of truthfulness (as opposed to “alternate facts”). An instructed recollection, concerning these appropriate personal behaviors, together, with a reasonable degree of societally, aware, un-Trump-like, reminders of the diversity of other members of the community, might prove to be personally, ameliorative. It would seem implausible to imagine that Donald J. Trump’s, brazen and inane, demagoguery is of such nuclear, lethal impact, that, universally, every general listener’s persona is, thereby, involuntarily, and permanently, transmogrified into one of, unadulterated, chronic psychopathy.

From a positive and humanistic point of view, there may exist a cogent possibility as to such, unfortunately, brainwashed, Trump acolytes, of appropriate restitution to the status of confident, well-adjusted and useful mainstream, citizens. As a matter of National and moral responsibility, reasonable efforts, in such direction, on behalf of such misguided, American citizens, may be worth considering.

-p.

The reflexive recollection of a long-past event, feeling or contextual setting, ignited, by means of some random and notable, taste, smell, sound, or even ambiance, would appear to be a universal phenomenon. The momentary scent of fresh salt air may elicit personal thoughts of a seaside beach, conceivably, together with certain memorable experiences that occurred there. The sound of a school bell may summon up, sundry images and feelings of early childhood, many decades past, as can the anecdotal sight of a high-flying, kite, evoke current reveries of young, childhood experiences. Only recently, we were subjected to the contextual experience, by the fragrance of mushroom-lentil soup, the latter, by contrast, a somewhat, unremarkable, but notable experience of our younger life. We have chosen to perceive the dynamics of this associative, “mental phenomenon” as a “Pavlovian,” triggering of experientially, nuanced, associative, memory (the Pavlov response, itself, by contrast, involves, “action,” induced by the introduction of an effectively, proven, stimulus).

 It is our present intention to address (only) various recollected matters of general, societal (as distinguished from personal) relevance, reprised by our recent experience with the subject stimulus.[It is our sense that our previous observations on the  past decades of the American political scene, as well as our nuanced, childhood and maturing life experiences have been sufficiently expressed.]

The savory, fragrance of the newly recollected, mushroom lentil soup, resurrected, albeit, momentarily, an ephemeral, mis-en-scene of the sights, atmosphere and nature of societal (and personal) life in decades past. The olfactory stimulation, itself, was brief, nevertheless, the image as recalled, was all-encompassing, and perhaps, best described in salient categories.

[INSTITUTIONAL]:

 (a) Police: Past experience saw familiar neighborhood police, peripatetically, and dutifully, patrolling their assigned, local neighborhood. These municipal public servants wearing official City badges and blue uniforms, communicated an assurance of societal order, safety and assistance in times of emergency.  The movie portrayal of the stereotypical member of the constabulary, was the middle age, Irish cop with graying hair and an incessant, paternal twinkle in his eye for familiar, neighborhood schoolchildren. There are publicized, instances of these dedicated public servants, assisting at emergency births and in catastrophes, such as tenement fires.

Today, most notably, following the advent of the highly profitable, illicit drug trade, in combination with the metamorphic effect of the infiltration of undesirables into the constabulary, the citizen’s apprehension of the policeman became and remains, only slightly less than that of the known criminal.

(b) Mail: Friendly, familiar letter carriers, dutifully and laboriously, trudging along their assigned huge, with their large, weather impacted, leather bags, would greet their neighborhood recipients, upon meeting them and stop for a moment to discuss the weather or time of day.

There is little or no human interaction relevant in the contemporary, mechanized, wholesale, delivery of mail or packages and the recipients; indeed, the bulk of such interactive communication, including, shopping, purchases, payments and returns are effected by way of robotized and impersonal computer messaging.

In general terms, the contemporary, outside world is composed of strangers, residing somewhere beyond the outside of our firmly, locked and professionally, protected residential door, or, reliably, programmed into our various computer accessories. 

(c) Schools and Public Libraries: The comportment and mindset of the typical young person at school or pursuing research at the local library was, with rare exceptions, serious, industrious and inquisitive. There was, in that mainstream, a firm, socialized sense of the importance of success at learning and as well, an associated high regard for the teacher. At present, unfortunately, it would not be especially unusual to witness young students at school or, regarding those students who do attend at public libraries, surreptitiously, glancing at smartphones, held beneath the table or desk, communicating with friends or checking the latest sport scores.

[COMMUNITY]:

Social Interaction: Neighbors, living in close proximity, traditionally, enjoyed an informal, and friendly interactive, relationship which we would, appropriately, denominate, as “quasi-familial,” in its degree of mutually, exchanged, social intimacy. Conversations “over the picket fence” regarding matters of familial concern and that of tools and equipment, especially those involved in gardening, which, subsequently, were loaned and borrowed.  Events were often mutually celebrated, and Sunday dinners and joint projects were common.

It would, generally, be highly unusual, universally, to find the replication of the same quality of intimate, neighborly interaction in the impersonal, computerized (and divisive), context of our contemporary times.

[FAMILY INTERACTION]:

In a past essay, we attempted to portray the common experience of the family, sitting together in the living room or parlor, involved in jointly, listening, on the family radio to the broadcasted, news and entertainment.  The essay was intended, essentially, to convey, the point that the era of such family intimacy and mutual identification, is no longer existent.

When we recall the pleasant, aromatic smell and taste of mushroom barley soup, we, essentially, are caused to accrue a rather poignant reminder, of a presently, non-existing, and foreign, contextual world.

-p.

In response to certain readers’ requests, that we furnish our perceptions of the three subjects, included among the bizarre, portraits presented in Blog.# 951 “PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION,” but not [yet] the subject of comment, we will here, responsively, furnish, as requested, our perception of the balance of the loathsome, personalities,  viz., Steven Miller, Sydney Powell and “Mike” Pence.

[Steven Miller]: This individual portrait at the subject exhibition, merits the rare distinction of being a real-life, “doppelganger,” or resurrected spirit, of a stereotypic, arrogant member of Adolph Hitler’s advisory cadre. His physical bearing and deportment, as well as his publically, demonstrated, cold and heartless persona, is in its actual extent, rare for any American citizen; let alone for a first-generation son of Jewish, Belarus immigrant parents.  We have, when contextually, relevant, declared our disappointed and incredulous, reaction to any American citizen in a Nation, entirely composed of immigrants and their progeny, who, ungratefully, and selfishly, would close the door to needy foreign supplicants. Miller, himself, despite being, himself, a first generation, son of immigrants, is, inarguably, the personification of a supreme, heartless, and, pathologically, dedicated, xenophobe.

Consistent with his cold, mirthless and stern, accusatory countenance, Miller, a personal advisor to former, President, Donald J. Trump, is, personally,  credited with being the trademark  author of the miscreant, past President’s, heartless, policy of anti-immigration, including the administration’s inhuman, Nazi-style, policy of separating immigrant children from their parents. Other perverse accomplishments include political efforts to make it impossible for Chinese students to study in the United States, by his dissemination of false propaganda regarding a reprehensibly, false, threat of espionage, and even more perverse and convoluted, the irrational, and contradictory, meme, that such exclusion would hurt elite universities, who were critical of Trump and his “Big Lie.”

Miller’s own paternal Uncle, Dr. David S., Glosser, has been quoted, publically, as saying, of him, “I have watched with dismay and increasing horror,  an educated man, aware of his heritage, who has become the architect of policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”

[Sidney Powell, Esq.]:  One has only to briefly, take note of Powell’s, permanently, fixed bland, stare and non-emotional emptiness of visage, to attain an accurate (and non-dynamic), rendition of her nuanced, persona;  dominated, apparently, by an overriding, ethereal and gossamer, “not-of this world,” perception. Behind the noisome, contrived, mask she is acknowledged, by many populist citizens as true royalty, being the acknowledged, Queen -monarch of conspiracy, the undisputed, and celebrated, diva of the art of paranoid ideation. Computer chips made of bamboo, infesting ballots, deep government cabals and left-wing espionage, programmed voting machines, coastal, elite deception, George Soros (whoever he may be), the rigged and stolen Presidential election, socialism, communism, indeed, whatever paranoid ingenuousness can conceptualize, as evil conspiracy, is real and in the nefarious, process, of actively, and tactically, being deployed against the victimized American citizen, by powerful, undisclosed, “deep government” sources. Such, undoubtedly, is her steadfast rationale for the consistent, judicial dismissals of every one of her numerously, filed, and “meritorious” legal actions.

She has deservedly, been disbarred, as well as justly, and appropriately, indicted, along with the many conspirators, seeking to destroy our democracy by the falsely, perpetrated, bogus allegations regarding the vote; including, pure, and unabashed, (non-factual), charges of jerry-rigged, voting machines, and, as well as her personal participation in the autocratically, motivated, January 6, 2022, Washington insurrection. We cannot predict the remote possibility of a circumstantial change in her permanently, fixed and wan smile, but we are supremely confident, that regardless of the expected outcome of the criminal, anti-democratic charges against her, she will, by virtue of her proclivity for paranoid ideation, construe for herself, some satisfactory, protective ideation or some, jerry-rigged, defensive, rationale.

[“Mike” Pence]: We are obliged by the self -imposed, strictures of candor and intellectual honesty, to readily, confess to a total inability to comprehend, and therefore, to characterize, at the very minimum, the very, genus and species of Trump’s second in command; let alone, purport to usefully, comment on his yet, non-disclosed, persona. Any attempt to divine some personally, characteristic, identifiable, or noticeable, reaction to any empirical, stimulus, is frustrated by his stony, permanent, non-changing, mask-like, facial appearance and inexpressively, inarticulate and hollow, unearthly, stare. When, on rare occasions, he does choose to speak, his words are, muted, unemotional and hollow-sounding.

We shall, responsibly, undertake, in the interest of the personal attainment of enlightenment, to view a greater number of Sci-Fi movies on Netflix, in order to effect a sincere, empirical, attempt at the acquisition of a more cogent, apprehension of this ghoulish, former Vice-President; the universal, emotional darling, as appears, of America’s Christian Evangelical voters.

[N.B. This writing, fully, concludes our undertaking, to furnish a complete set of portrait interludes, for our selected, “Pictures at An Exhibition.” Blog. # 951]

-p.   

Should one venture to curate an exhibition of framed,  portraits, evincing the visages of the co-conspirators, charged in connection with Trump’s felony crime of election interference,  a certain five, in our view, would, predictably, be selected, as the most bizarre and outstanding: Donald J. Trump, posed, sullen, forbidding and menacing, Rudy Giuliani,  inebriate, dripping with perspiration, the latter, color- enhanced with black hair dye,  Mike Pence, ostensibly, a protagonist-villain for the stereotypical,  ghoulish, sci-fi movie,  Sidney Powell, a vacant, bland,  half-smiling, “what me worry,” portrait, Roger Stone, a poltergeist-like middle age double for the  “Artful Dodger,” of Dickens’s novel, “Oliver Twist,” and the menacing, beady-eyed, under-rock resident, the reptilian, Steven Miller.

-+-In our view, all five bizarre, countenances, would, qualify for the morally, contextual, message, ascribed to, in Oscar Wilde’s, “Picture of Dorian Grey.” Analogous to the particular symphony, after which our essay is named, each portrait, can be approached and perused, prior to the accompanying statement concerning [our perception of] his character and persona. In the referenced, peripatetic, symphony by Modest Mussorgsky,* musical tone poems are expressed, relative to each respective picture. In this writing, we shall confine ourselves to the character and persona, of the first portrait (picture) in our exhibition, viz., that of Rudy Giuliani.

Following the horrific events of 9/11, Giuliani, simply, by virtue of then occupying the position of the Mayor of the City of New York, was, popularly (and undeservedly), beatified as, “The Nation’s Mayor.” However, upon factual review, Rudy in fact, was later found to have, in fact, exacerbated the horrific incident by:  irresponsibly and thoughtlessly, locating all of New York City’s emergency agencies in one place, the vulnerable and attacked, World Trade Center, and, as a further, impactful, act of tragic carelessness, failing to approve a vitally needed, emergency telephone system, which, irresponsible, acts of gross malpractice were responsible for many, avoidable, mortalities, and injuries; particularly, among the endangered, firefighters, battling the conflagration in the collapsing, Trade Center buildings.

During his term as Mayor of New York City, Rudy courted political favor, as a declared, enemy of crime, by championing the infamous, “stop and frisk” policy of the New York City Police Department. The policy dynamics were as follows: during an (arbitrary) stop, if a police officer, “reasonably, believes,” that someone is carrying a weapon, he, in such instance, is legally, permitted to pat down, or “frisk” his outer clothing. Mercifully, the policy was later, judicially declared, unconstitutional, since it was, predictably, found to violate the individual citizen’s rights, particularly, men of color.   

Giuliani enjoyed a steady downfall, descending to the lowest level, with a recent, criminal indictment, charging that he acted as Donald Trump’s chief conspirator, in the plot to overturn President Joseph Biden’s election victory. He, made incendiary remarks to motivate the hoard of populist, Trump cultists, to storm the Capitol Building, on January 6, 2021, and, encouraging them to engage in, “A trial by combat.” At another instance, he admonished the rebels to, “take matters into their own hands.” He was justifiably and with ample cause, disbarred by his applicable Bar Association. In his Georgia indictment, he is criminally, charged, among other things, with making false statements and soliciting false testimony. Additionally, in a highly publicized, State lawsuit he is accused of the knowing, injurious defamation of two innocent, [mother and daughter] Georgia poll watchers.

The television media has presented to the American public, Rudy’s participation in the ménage a trios with Trump and Putin. Other televised and newspaper, pictures have been shown, revealing a smiling, Rudy Giuliani in casual, open collar, casual and inebriate, celebratory occasions in the fraternal company of smiling, well-fed Russian oligarchs. 

Upon viewing this portrait of the exhibit, somehow, colorful and descriptive adjectives, such as, “opportunist,” “unprincipled” and “ego-centric,” seem, convincingly, to present themselves.

-p.   

Has anyone seen Melania Trump, recently?

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

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

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

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

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

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

-p.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-p.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-p.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-p.