The Committee's subpoena to Donald Trump to testify resulted in the 45th President failing to comply and suing the Committee.
Former integrity chief Jack Smith, has been appointed by the Attorney General as a special counsel to "oversee the Justice Department's criminal investigations involving Donald Trump" as NPR describes HERE
QUESTION: Will the Committee's final report rightfully include findings about all involved in the January 6th seditious activities in addition to those of former President Donald J. Trump -- the Congresspersons, Government law enforcement departments including FBI, Secret Service, other organizations, any religious entities, possibly any corporate and private financial backers?
UP WHERE WE BELONGsung by Buffy Sainte-Marie
This is the composer's version of the song which is best known from the movie, "An Officer and a Gentleman" sung by Joe Cocker. "Buffy won an Oscar for this song with Jack Nitzsche and Will Jennings."
PERSPECTIVE
How we view life's experiences is all a matter of perspective. Buffy Sainte-Marie, now 81 years old, recalled in her youth being taught in school that in 1492 Columbus discovered America, but as an indigenous native Canadian American Cree Indian she knew that wasn't true. She said, in 1492 we Indians in America discovered Columbus.
Buffy expressed a variety of thoughts in her music's lyrics through the years including some about current events as others like Bob Dylan did. Elvis Presley and other singers performed and recorded her songs. Her career progressed until unbeknown to her the U.S. government began black-listing her, suppressed her music recordings she discovered years later in her FBI files. Not realizing her activism had become of concern, she thought her popularity has just waned.
Other credits Buffy has acquired included repeated appearances on Sesame Street introducing that young community to indigenous people. The story-line with her husband continued through her pregnancy, subsequent natural breast-feeding of her new-born baby.
Thanksgiving's celebration fostered my remembrances of what I was taught about the holiday in school. We focused on the Pilgrims and the Indians forging a friendship by sharing a meal.
Were some of you in later generations taught more facts about the Pilgrims and Indians relationship?
I have long since learned there is much more to the story of the Native American Indians, the indigenous people of our nation, from whom the Pilgrims began taking their land with and without their agreement.
The American Indian perspective on the Thanksgiving myth can be viewed on PBS.org HERE
"Wampanoag historian Linda Coombs and Narragansett Knowledge Keeper Cassius Spears speak with filmmaker Yvonne Russo about the experiences of Native populations at the time of European settlers' arrival in New England 400 years ago, and what is actually known about the first Thanksgiving."
The arriving pilgrims encountered the aftermath of a plague thought to have been brought to them a short time earlier by fishermen. Thousands of Indians died in this fast moving disease that decimated their villages of their health care providers and even those who bury the dead. Seeing this devastation a pilgrim leader reported God had cleared the land for them revealing an insensitive, even heinous view -- lacking in compassion for other human beings to say the least by this Christian likely intolerant of others different spiritual views.
Centuries later I recall attending the reading of a new book by author Dee Brown when we lived in Arizona. "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" proved to be a novel describing how the American west was won. Heart-breaking descriptions reveal the "...systematic destruction of American Indian tribes in the late nineteenth century" as Good Reads reviews HERE
Native American Cultural Heritage Month is currently being celebrated on PBS. A number of programs are being aired about life on the reservations today you may find of interest.
Indian reservation life can still leave much to be desired for many residents lacking basic utilities taken for granted elsewhere. Agreements between the Indians and the U.S. Government also can continue to present challenges resolving.
Now may be a reckoning time as our nation's people need to relinquish the colorful notions and stories told about our history. The reality of our indigenous people, also of those held in slavery often has been romanticized and is long overdue for truthful descriptions.
We might also want to take special care to tolerate, especially in leadership positions and news disseminators, only those committed to speaking, writing truth.
DJT, 45TH President, is suing the Committee in what appears to be his classic technique designed to avoid or delay having to respond to their subpoena compelling he testify, initially delayed to ll/14/22 at his request. If 45's political party takes control of the House of Representatives as is presently expected, pundits expect the Committee will cease to function meaningfully and/or will be terminated since his party has previously declared the Committee to be nonpartisan.
QUESTION: Will the top U.S. government officials in the executive, legislative, judicial, other law enforcement individuals including Secret Service, FBI, Police Departments aligned with organizing and support of the January 6th Capitol coup/insurrection/assault ever be held accountable to the American people?
MIDTERM ELECTION RESULT projections as I write this restores my faith the majority of the U.S. voting public is determined to maintain our form of democracy with the current Administration retaining Senate control. There is much more to be accomplished.
May such voter numbers increase in all future elections. This dedication to thoughtfully participate in all future elections must continue in order to preserve our democratic republic based on our current major political parties ideologies.
So Cal where I live actually received about three inches of rain, more in other communities. Snow fell in California mountains, including Northern California, earlier in the season than usual, leading us to hope there will be more rain and snow contributing toward ending our drought.
BIG BEAR BALD EAGLES FRIENDS site HERE you may read the latest report about the eagle pair, Jackie and Shadow, recently observed to have returned to the area. Likely these eagles may soon begin refurbishing the nest in readiness to hatch a new brood for 2023. The Friends update (9/29/22) describes all the maintenance and enhancements provided for live 24/7 audio and video coverage of the eagles' nest with a spectacular background view of the surrounding area and lake.
LIFE'S DISRUPTIONS continue for me interfering with my having any semblance of routine. Annoyingly, to say the least, I'm again periodically experiencing nights when I'm unable to sleep with or without itching. Early in October I wrote HERE about what I took to be a simple allergic reaction I attributed to Kiwi fruit. I've not eaten any Kiwis since but clearly my problem is far from over. Surely there has been ample time for the Kiwis to leave my system.
A pattern has developed with increasing reactions including itchy feelings, inflammation with red rash splotches spreading these symptoms, finally over my whole body this past week. I did get a high dose flu shot at the end of the previous week but don't think that would have been a causal factor. Coping with these symptoms, erratically trying to get adequate sleep through varied daytime hours is my priority as I address this not-always-so-mild discomfort while I try to figure out what is the cause. I think I best wait for my final Covid booster vaccine until this issue is resolved.
Most recently I have begun to wonder if some new bamboo fabric pajamas I began wearing weeks prior to my symptoms might be the cause, so I've ceased wearing them. I never heard of bamboo fabric much less considered it could trigger such skin issues, but I don't yet know if this is the cause. I continue taking an antihistamine. I have consulted with my doctor who was unable to provide a curative medication, referring me to see a Dermatologist which I will do if there is no resolution soon.
The Night Watchman, 2021 Pulitzer Prize winning novel for fiction written by Louise Erdrich captured my attention to read on sleepless nights, selected from my stack of unread books. Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, has authored many novels, as well as volumes of poetry, children's books, and a memoir of early motherhood, received numerous awards. She lives in Minnesota with her daughters, owns a small independent bookstore, Birchbark Books.
Recent news stories about efforts to suppress the native American Indian vote reminded me of this historical fictional story based on the author's grandfather's life. The story describes Indian life on their reservation, the challenges they face surviving attitudes and obstacles encountered from our government. They deserve to retain decent productive soil on land where they can live and prosper, keep their culture, language. All this with individuals lives created are embedded in a story of the true Americans on this land our immigrant forefathers forcefully took from them.
The Brennan Center explains how voter suppression laws target Native Americans HERE. These citizens often have to travel many miles to vote, may have few, if any, ballot deposit boxes they can readily access to name a few deterrents. Native American voting rights need to be protected by Congressional action with just such a bill defeated in the 2021 Senate.
A political party that actively attempts to thwart citizens ability to vote in our elections through sabotaging restrictions including gerrymandering undermines the basic foundation of our Constitution and form of government.
FREEDOM -- Jon Batiste
An American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, television personality, and Grammy Award winner.
U.S. Select House Committee on January 6th HEARING
"The eighth Jan. 6 committee hearing on its finding is scheduled for prime time July 21 [Thursday] and will walk through the events of Jan. 6, 2021 "minute by minute," Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said Tuesday. The hearing will focus in on the 187 minutes between Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally on the Ellipse and his tweet urging his supporters to go home," USA Today reports HERE. (check schedule where you live for date, time confirmation, where to view)
"Thank You for Your Servitude" by Mark Leibovich is a book worth reading about some in Congress who have been cynical and hypocritical "about-face" enablers now making excuses for our ex-President, shifting his accountability for words and actions by blaming others. Fear has been a factor which is a hallmark of authoritarianism. The author is interviewed on Amanour and Company-PBS with segments you can view on the site HERE, also on this video:
PBS NewsHour
Earlier today, Sat., July 16th as I write this, I received my Covid 2nd booster vaccination. Originally, I planned to wait for the next vaccine expected in October or November. Currently, scientific/medical reports convince me given the rapidly increasingly high level of Covid infections here in Los Angeles County that having stronger protection now would be wise. Outdoor exposure, especially in groups, may even be a more real possibility I also read.
This BA.5 omicron variant has evolved "...to be more contagious and evade the immune protection that people had from infection, vaccination or both" Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, is quoted saying in the "Mayo Clinic News Network" report HERE.
"A new study published in Nature found the variant was four times more resistant to messenger RNA vaccines than earlier strains of omicron. The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are messenger RNA vaccines."
Currently there is no evidence of a higher death rate from BA.5 but "...you have very little protection against BA.5 in terms of getting infected or having mild to moderate infection. You have good protection against dying, being hospitalized or ending up on a ventilator."
"...among the unvaccinated with this variant, they're about fivefold more likely to get infected than people who have been vaccinated and boosted, about 7 1/2 times more likely to be hospitalized, and about 14 to 15 times more likely to die if they get infected," says Dr. Poland.
I keep wearing my "N95 masks ora KN-94 mask when indoors and in crowded areas outdoors" as Dr. Poland recommends. What new variants may be in the offing, I wonder?
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Environmentally, the SoCal drought with hot temperatures rolls on, water usage restrictions continue -- so what's new?
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I've been trying to locate some lab sites that are easily accessible for parking, require minimal walking to the store and once I'm inside since I've been having some mobility issues. Most of the large chain drugstores place their pharmacies, clinics, labs where they can draw blood clear at the back of their stores. It sure would be nice if they provided riding carts as some grocery stores do but that seems not to be the case.
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Podcasts seem to be popular with many people though I haven't devoted time listening to any of them. They could be enjoyed I realize while engaged in other necessary activities about the house. Maybe some podcasts could be an entertaining source of humor. There seem to be an abundance of podcasts described as humorous including for seniors, older people, boomers, other age groups, various interest areas. Perhaps some of you have favored podcasts. We do need lots of humor.
Laughing is contagious but living alone can limit that shared stimulation. I recall when I was in undergraduate college some of us operating our campus radio station gathered in the control room one day. We decided to record ourselves laughing which started with artificial laughs. The next thing we knew we were laughing genuinely at the ridiculousness of what we were doing. Our laughing kept getting more hilarious to each of us until we all were laughing so hard our stomachs hurt, tears were coming from our eyes -- we were quite out of control.
I wonder if there would be a health care market for such a potentially therapeutic recording releasing all those healing endorphins -- a simple plain recording of laughter, nothing else, with which to laugh along?
The U. S. Supreme Court Dobbs vs Jackson pending legal case is one demanding significant attention. This case decision will have profound consequences in our nation for women and men due to ramifications for Roe vs Wade that legalized abortion in 1973.
Reading CNN's account of Politico that first published leaked Justice Alito's proposed 1st draft majority opinion (98 pgs)* suggests to me an ideologically obsessed Court. The majority judges appear to have gone to great lengths citing as a basis for their convolutional interpretation of our constitution justification to overturn a fifty-year precedent rule recognizing a woman has a right to decision-making about the health of her own body. The Court's final decision is expected to be announced in late June or early July.
*(Note: click on emphasized content items to link with source.)
What I'm writing here is not about discussing the religious and moral question of abortion though those are signifiant issues individual women consider for themselves based on what they believe, also in consultation with their health care provider(s)/physician. Current reality and history through the ages is that some women will look for ways to end pregnancies as has always happened whatever one's belief and whatever the law.
NPR's fact checks include: the majority of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal in most or all cases; the rate of abortions has decreased since 1973; more than 60% who get abortions have a religious affiliation.
The issue of abortion with questionable issues about life has been so politicized which is reprehensible since the matter is one that should be between a woman and her doctor much less have a court of law injected into the matter. But that's what has happened.
What is really at stake with this currently pending case decision is: does the U. S Constitution guarantee equality for women?
Abortion is the current issue chosen to answer this question. There may be even more issues introduced later with rights of privacy and other fundamental rights also threatened if Roe vs Wade is overturned.
One such right to consider, a friend wrote me recently: "...the right granted in HIPAA should apply to women's reproductive rights. It's nobody's business but patient/doctor."
"HIPAA: The health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge."
"Abortions: Past, Present and Future" with an unsettling photo referencing Handmaid Tale-like laws is written by Jean you can view by clicking on her blog: "Misadventures of Widowhood". She has advocated "keeping abortions safe, legal and rare."
"Handmaid's Tale" references Margaret Atwood's book to which she referred in a current Atlanticarticle. She wrote: "I invented Gilead. The Supreme Court is making it real. I thought I was writing fiction". She went on to write, should this Supreme Court adopt Judge Alito's majority opinion to overturn Roe vs Wade the United States would be "...turned into a theocratic dictatorship based on 17th-century NewEngland Puritan religious tenets and jurisprudence." She asks, "Is this where we want to live?"
Margaret Atwood's 'Handmaid's Tale' Is Inspiring A New Generation
Some of you may recall Ronni Bennettt's blog, "Time Goes By" (TGB), you can still access by clicking on that link. Some of what she wrote over the years is current even now as you will see.
(Ronni's writings with comments are still available on her internet site which she made significant effort to ensure would be available for a period after her expected death just as many fellow bloggers said they wanted. Since her blog's continuation by a friend as Ronni wrote she had arranged has not occurred and no explanation after 2018 has been provided as to when or whether if ever will, I'm taking the liberty of linking for you to some of Ronni's blog posts to share here.)
Ronni hoped blog conversations would continue many timely topics she introduced that are not outdated today. She documented what she wrote, identified thoughts as her opinions when she expressed them and sometimes offered suggestions about how to resolve some issues. She often cited examples of the subjects about which she wrote to bring to others attention. Ronni hoped other bloggers would also note examples they encountered in their lives writing about them, too, perhaps attracting additional bloggers to do the same since many doing so might influence desired change. One such topic was Roe vs Wade and issues concerning a woman's health.
"The Supreme Court Abortion Decision" Ronni published first at Blogher, then on TGB in April 2007 questioned the Court's ruling on a case "...banning late-term abortion with no provision for the health of the mother". In lieu of the strong words I think Ronni would be writing today I recommend you read what she wrote then that is still pertinent.
Ronni felt so strongly about the matter that in her forthright honest manner she revealed in that article her own personal harrowing experience as an example of what women were and can be subjected to if Roe vs Wade is overturned by the Court.
Ronni also wrote: Until a man is capable of giving birth and/or every man is forced by law to both financially support and participate in the gestation and raising of every child he fathers, and such law is enforced without exception (a permanent ankle tracking device for those who run comes to mind) no man has a right to discuss abortion, let alone to vote on it.
In September 2018 Ronni shared in another post "The Penis Legislation Act"during now Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh's Senate hearings for that appointment. He was questioned about his views on a woman's right to choose.
Read Associated Press Newsfor what Kavanaugh and other judges said in their nomination hearings about Roe to the Senate panel.
The point of all this I want to make is the simplicity of the issue -- it's not complicated.
Our Supreme Court's decision should affirm in the case before them now upholding the 50-year precedent Roe vs Wade rule ensuring women's right to make health decisions for their own bodies as the Piedtypeblogger notes in "It's About Equality" with excerpts below:
"From 'America Is Not Ready for the End of Roe v. Wade' by the New York Times editorial board on May 6:
The principle is clear:
Women and men should have equal control over their own bodies ...
Even more fundamental than our religious and/or unscientific differences about when human life begins is that simple statement: Women and men should have equal control over their own bodies. To deny women the right to abortion is to deny them equality with men. Period.
Gender equality in the United States either is, or it isn't."
Thousands gather for pro-abortion rights rally in Los Angeles and across the nation/ABC-TV 7
Remembering my mother with much love and affection this Mothers Day! Tributes to my mother have been written here previously that may be read in the archives. Increasingly I experience a desire to share my thoughts with Mother the older I become. She always listened when I wanted to talk. If only Mother was alive today.
Mother, having become a single parent and the sole support of our family saw that there were funds available so I could have the requisite uniforms as a Brownie then, when I "flew up" those of a full-fledged Girl Scout. Maybe this Scout song was added later as our troop never knew it. After mother wed again, then later when my family moved to the country scouting was no longer an available activity for me.
GIRL SCOUT SONG "MAKE NEW FRIENDS'
Thinking of the people at varying levels of acquaintanceship/friendship I've known during my lifetime they have likely affected my life. I've previously written of some of them here. A few others come to mind.
Early in my life, my fifth-grade teacher, Miss Barroway, who a week before had wrapped my knuckles hurtfully with a wooden ruler for exchanging written notes with my boyfriend is one such person. This day I was staring at a pulsing throbbing on her neck as she sat behind her desk at the front of the room. Staring intently back at me as our eyes locked, she suddenly called to me to come up front causing me to quickly gasp wondering what had I done now?
I was immediately relieved when she announced I would read the spelling words to the class as she arose and departed the room. Later, our principal, Miss Broome, entered the room to tell us our teacher had a heart attack. I must have seen the carotid artery on the left side of her neck pulsating.
Then there was the Jr. High boy and girl enraptured with each other whose names I don't recall now who were the only classmates that befriended me, a new student at this third of new schools in different states I was in that year. A fourth school soon followed with a much more friendly student body.
I remember my high school English teacher who introduced me to important mind-expanding literature including Shakespeare via Hamlet. Nor can I forget she had us memorize the last stanza of 19th century poet William Cullen Bryant's poem, "Thanatopsis", that is encouraging and reveres life, but notes death is part of the life experience. This poem assumed increasing meaning to me as I became older.
"Thanatopsis"
"So live, that when thy summons comes to join The innumerable caravan, which moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."
People we've known and admired can disappoint us but we can still respect their more positive qualities I remind myself now when I think of her.
This disappointment with her for me is because during my high school years, a classmate, Jim, rejecting his father's unknown KKK racism to me then had written a final paper for our English class supporting school integration. I never knew of his paper's subject matter which I didn't learn about until recent years. That was in the early fifties of the 20th century.
The teacher had given Jim's written thoughts to school administration, who possibly ultimately referred them to the retro-thinking school board. He was actually expelled from school though I hadn't known all that then.
My classmate was ahead of his times. A few years later integration did occur after I moved away from that southern state, though only after the federal government had to bring in troops for the integrating students' protection and to prevent violence.
Having previously been following in his father's footsteps, Jim had altered course. He went on to a university, then studied to become a minister, was active in the 1960's integration movement, continued his dedication to include assisting those seeking citizenship and asylum in the US. as he presently does. Now he's also active in the long term care facility where he and his wife reside in Illinois.
After my undergraduate college graduation, having returned to my northern home state I was distressed to discover racism was present there, too, but just less obvious. Unexpectedly, a situation arose necessitating friends there and I take action to circumvent and bypass a racist exclusionary effort by an organization to which most of us belonged toward a new member of our group of friends.
Such protest and resistance is precisely what I believe each of us must do in everyday living if we're ever to truly integrate to fulfill America's and democracy's promise of equality for all. This does not occur with that population minority striving toward converting our nation to an autocracy contrary to their occasional words.
Undergrad college in my early years brought lifelong friends as did the university in Southern California where I returned for post graduate study many decades later. In between those years were relationships formed as a consequence of my various employment settings. There were also neighbors who became friends wherever I lived around the country through the years. Everyone impacted my life in one way or another contributing to the person I've become.
The harrowing circumstances in Ukraine, refugees fleeing to Poland, Russia's Nazi-like behavior in the war-like invasion of their neighboring country, threat to other nations, prompts me think of a Holocaust survivor, Isabelle Teresa Huber.
I had the privilege of knowing her in recent years during the short time she was part of our writing group. She had been a professional classical music pianist among her talents. When she joined our group she was in the process of writing her first book recounting her life experience as only one of three children to live and escape her Poland city during WWII at age three. She and her mother were separated for a time but ultimately reunited, eventually coming to the United States.
Isabelle's mother came to live with her and son-in-law doctor husband. He painstakingly regularly engaged her mother in periodic conversation about the early years his wife didn't fully recall. He took notes of the unraveling of his wife's family's comfortable life then disintegration when the Nazis arrived, her father's departure, how she and her mother escaped, the countries where they lived, how they survived. All this storytelling became part of her book a regular member of our writing group and longtime personal friend of Isabelle, Nan Miller, was facilitating and editing.
Her book, "Isabelle's Attic", was originally published in 2013 which I reviewed on Amazon. I looked forward to her next book but her life and that of her friend, Nan, aiding her took quite a different turn. Isabelle's highly respected orthopedic surgeon husband who had retired, sold his practice, later coped with Alzheimer's Disease, and had to be institutionalized, then died in July 2020. Meanwhile, Isabelle developed a terminal illness and died in November 2020 -- click on her Claremont Courier obituary with her photograph. Her second book never could be completed for Nan's editing.
Meanwhile, Nan's husband and later she also coped with serious medical conditions that prevented their further writing and publishing plans following up on Nan's first published book in 2013, "Girl 44", about her early life as a foster child known by her number 44.
There have been so many more people at a different level of friendship whose names are prominent in my memory but I won't attempt to write about them now.
Each of you have interesting stories of those individuals entering your life and the varying levels of friendships you have formed, I'm sure. Perhaps you are prompted to recall some of them to share?
Be forewarned that I am feeling compelled to express what weighs most heavily on my mind right now with thoughts on the future of our nation. Of special interest presently, as I cast my ballot and others vote across the U.S.A., is my concern our current nation's leader seems to be continuing to betray our constitutional capitalistic democratic republic. We would be wise to remember his words and actions the past four years have gradually, chaotically bit by bit seemed to be systematically designed to destroy our trust in our government.
His goal appears to have been to alter our governmental system into what could be described as a capitalistic theocratic autocracy.
Capitalistic because of his strong emphasis on money, but largely for the benefit of himself and an oligarchy of a select number of the most wealthy supporting him, but not the majority of our citizens.
Theocratic because he panders to a religious extremist minority-in-number dedicated to forcing their protestant social beliefs on everybody rather than living in a society tolerant of others that also permits them to practice their own views.
Autocracy because he chooses to dictate everything to everybody, diminishing or eliminating the power of our other branches of government -- legislative, judicial and condemning anyone questioning him including in the fourth estate -- our free press.
Our government system will cease to exist as will freedom for anyone who might think or speak differently from him given his intolerance.
We would be wise to ask ourselves if our President is betraying or violating his oath of office to defend the intent of the country's founders and our constitutional democratic republic.
Is he placing our nation's citizens at risk of losing our democratic republic as one of the founders, Benjamin Franklin cautioned -- "if we could keep it"? When asked "And why not keep it?" Franklin responded, "Because the people, on tasting the dish, are always disposed to eat more of it than does them good." So it is we could lose the freedoms our founders gave us.
While our current leader claims to care about all of the people, quite obviously that is just one more of his documented thousands of lies. What is really alarming to me is how many people supporting him apparently do not realize what he is doing or don't care.
Our leader is aided by this backing of the political party he hijacked whose members have failed to learn any of the twenty lessons from the twentieth century Timothy Snyder describes in a few hours of easy-read layman's language in his small paperback book "On Tyranny":
"Timothy Snyder reasons with unparalleled clarity, throwing the past and future into sharp relief. He has written the rare kind of book that can be read in one sitting but will keep you coming back to help regain your bearings."
This book description is by Masha Gessen who eloquently predicted four years ago what to expect from our new leader then -- it has and is occurring. Gessen also described how to survive based on experience as a citizen reporter in Russia ultimately perilously dissenting with leadership there before needing to come here and having dual citizenship with the U.S. now.
A recent Guardian interview includes this statement from Gessen, "I never thought I'd say it, but Trump is worse than Putin". Gessen went on to say, "in order to actually survive Trump's attempt at autocracy we have to give up the idea of some imaginary pre-Trumpian normalcy and commit to reinvention. And that is really what these protests are about."
Trump defies a basic democratic tenet by refusing to state he may not relinquish the office of the President if he is determined not to have been reelected. This from a person who is in office now having received less than the majority of popular votes in 2016. He suggests resolution of the 2020 election winner may end up being decided by our Supreme Court, apparently in expectation they will decide in his favor.
I can't help wondering if an earlier election in 2000 with Florida's hanging chads was erroneously given to a Presidential candidate that actually lost the election when our Supreme Court was injected into that process, then chose to decide who would be our President. The consequences of that decision in subsequent years have been profound in our country and the world.
Preventing a stolen election in 2020 is critical but may not be easy since the Republican Party with the U.S. Senate leader seem complicit in allowing the loss of our democracy as does the Attorney General. They think they control their President who has seduced them by establishing several of their ideological goals, but when unable to prevent potential takeover if he is reelected, they will find in the following years they've given away our and their democracy and freedoms.
The Republicans have been taken over by a minority-in-number faction of their once proud political party backed by private ultra-wealthy forces but fronted by those claiming to be representative of ordinary people under the guise of the Tea Party nomenclature intended to misleadingly imply a connection to a historical American event. Reference: Dark Money.
The Supreme Court may be a wild card presently but there is ample reason to be concerned their allegiance for constitutional interpretation will fall on the side of big money, just as it did when they basically concluded corporations were people, unleashing corrupting monies into political campaigns. The pending appointment replacement for Associate Justice Ginsburg is another factor. Reference: 'Corporations Are People' Is Built on an Incredible 19th-Century Lie -- "How a farcical series of events in the 1880s produced an enduring and controversial legal precedent."
We citizens must be ever vigilant in order to preserve our freedoms and rights best achieved with our current system of government, not an autocracy led by a dictator. We must educate ourselves and vote at every election level. We do need to continue progress toward healthcare as a human right, equality for all, and a more equitable distribution of wealth. Along the way, we better take action to preserve this planet on which we live or eventually for future generations nothing else will matter.
Simba, the surviving one of two Big Bear Bald Eaglets, has
reached an age when he could make his maiden flight any day now.After
his first flight he is expected to return to the nest, as he will do following each of his practice flights for a week or two before finally departing to seek his fortunes
and fish in the big wide world.
When I tuned in late Saturday afternoon 6/29 Simba was
quietly resting in the nest as a parent was perched nearby surveying the
surrounding wooded area and scenic lake.Suddenly Simba arose, repeatedly spread his massive wings, flapping them
as he would need to do in flight, hopping about, balancing, evolving into an
airborne short flight-like bounce onto a heavy branch on the nest’s perimeter,
then back to the nest’s center to scrounge about in the twigs seeking snacks
and to prune his feathers.
Just before dusk Shadow, (Simba’s father) flew in presenting
a fish that was enthusiastically received.Simba was able to feed somewhat independently but continued to accept
being fed occasionally as the two ate together. Later Shadow departed, Jackie (mother) flew in,
rearranging the nest’s small branches.Simba soon appeared desirous of settling down
for the night as darkness closed in.He
moved head first to go under Jackie’s wing as had been the positioning for
sleep when he was younger though he has been sleeping alone for some time.Jackie paused
only briefly, then quickly moved away, grasped a small branch in her beak,
moving it aside.Then she hopped to the
large branch outpost where the parental birds generally have taken turns
standing watch and from which they launch their takeoffs and landings.
Simba could only accept that he was on his own now as
appears he continues being prepared for the separation process, so snuggled down in the
nest all by himself.He’s only a little
over ten weeks old but already more mature in a bird’s life, I guess.
Some of us have been dedicated to the concept of living in place
– remaining in our own residences alone or with another as we age. A commitment with the ability to carry outthis type of arrangement can be easier said
than done given aging’s challenges.We all may encounter some of these issues sooner
or later.
Some of the unpredictable considerations revolve around
finances when unexpected expenses occur necessitating house and property
upkeep.Health needs due to physical changes may cause us to reconsider our options including recognizing and accepting we have a
need for help.Hiring
dependable, trustworthy, caring, competent assistance from occasional to
regularly scheduled periodic aid, or even a full-time live-in caregiver can
be no easy task, often is a trial and
error process.
The support available in my community and nationally in this
digital age has significantly improved compared to that of only a few decades
ago.The large number of Baby Boomers has
likely prompted increased responsiveness to meeting the needs of older
people.Predictions include an
expectation of high demand for independent living accommodations, more medical personnel and those who can
provide home assistance -- possibly with a shortage of such individuals.
Health need changes with aging can be expected, though to
what degree can be unpredictable.How
likely will a person(s) be able to remain in their single dwelling residence given
all the variables?
What kind of living choices may be prevalent
in the future though may have limited availability for my present generation?
I recently read this HomeHealthCareNews interview with Gerontologist
Dr. Bill Thomas who has directed his energies with innovative ideas about our
older lives you may find of interest. (Dr. Thomas authored a seminal still pertinent book some years ago "What Are Old People For".)
"The houses we’re
creating [at Minka] are really meant to be plugged into sophisticated
approaches to home care, so that we’re able to actually optimize the housing
and care in a way that can help people stay out of the hospital, out of the nursing
home, out of assisted living and live the life they want to live."
THRIVING IN PLACE
I wrote here months ago about starting a
support/conversational/educational group at our local senior center to address
needs, experiences, sources locally and otherwise to facilitate successful
living in place with a group we call Thriving In Place.We haven’t wanted to just live to age in place,
but to thrive in the process.Initial explorations of some of the aging
choices, in addition to living in place which some wanted to learn about have
been explored.
As we’ve ratcheted down to focus on topics related to
remaining in our residences the number of our active participants has dwindled.Individuals simply did not, or were no
longer able, to attend (as a couple
participants noted had occurred due to health issues) to engage in the
specifics to learn and aid one another with information, seek answers to our questions.We are
taking a hiatus for the rest of the summer and disappointingly to me, may not
resume this fall.Living in place blogger’s comments and reports,
as many write about here and on their blogs, will continue to be of interest to
me.
One of the bloggers I follow, Jean, who lives in Michigan and blogs at “TheMisadventures of Widowhood” has been living in place for a number of years, but
in June made a decision to adjust her plan – sell her home and has made a
commitment to move. She is sharing her rationale
for doing so, the experiences she is having – all of which is food for thought
wherever we live.Those interested in learning from her
experiences may want to begin by reading her first post on the topic at the beginning of
June, then subsequent ones – click on this link: “Visualizing My Next ChapterAgain”.
I wonder if others are encountering situations where they are re-examining their living environment choice, may be considering making a change, or think it might have been better if they had chosen a different setting than their current one?
The book “The Other Side of Eden” by John Steinbeck IV and Nancy Steinbeck, I reviewed in my previous article that you may easily access by scrolling back to there. Considerable interest in this book has been expressed to me both in comments, private emails and verbal discussions with people I’ve encountered in my daily life. For that reason, I have chosen to share additional links to Internet websites I subsequently initiated researching in response to that interest.
In my previous article titled, “Choosing Books We Read – Steinbeck IV,”I described the varied route I followed which resulted in my selecting this particular book. After the book’s selection, I took note of the fact John Steinbeck IV was the son of a famous parent who was recognized world-wide with notable awards for his writing. I became particularly intrigued with how being the child of such a recognized figure could, and sometimes does, impact some children. I could name numerous children of famous public figures and celebrities whose lives have been positively and/or negatively affected by their parents’ status, as probably many readers could also. Naming or making comparisons with these children is not the focus of what I write.
My particular interest centers on the informative, sensitive account of how John IV perceived his life that he wrote about in his uncompleted autobiography before his unfortunate premature death. There may have been several “uncompleteds” in his life at certain stages. We each must make our own way through this world on a sometimes barbed and thorny, occasionally crooked rutty road, fraught with detours, even dead ends. Only the naive fail to recognize the challenges in making this journey, which is more difficult for some than others, for a multitude of reasons both within and beyond our control.
When we’re children we are especially vulnerable to adult influences that can contribute to complicating the rest of our lives. His untimely death is doubly tragic since not only was he deprived of life, but his wife, children, and family missed his love and companionship. His friends, plus those who recognized and appreciated his talents and skills, would no longer benefit from the further materialization of his unknown potential.
Who of us does not see life through varying lens at age 20, then 40, next 60, again 80 years and, for some, even 100 years or more? Actually, even life view changes at 30, 50, 70 and 90 can be significant. John IV was sharing his observations in this book from the viewpoint of a mature adult in his mid-forties who had many unique experiences throughout his life. One of his writing achievements when in his twenties is the highly acclaimed Vietnam memoir, “In Touch.” Since we have his perceptions at mid-life, he might even have wanted to share an account of a further evolved life viewpoint about which he could have been motivated to write in the following years.
His wife compiled “The Other Side of Eden” knowing of his intent to have his writings published. She wrote additional chapters to augment his and their life narrative, specifically noting at the beginning of each chapter the ones he wrote, those she wrote and any that might be a combination of his views, as she knew them, coupled with her own knowledge and perspective.
Co-author Nancy Steinbeck’s website can be reached with a click HERE for the book jacket description and reviews.
She reads from the book HERE. Note: This 9 min. reading requires you to download a RAM file and follow the written instructions to access. There is also a slide show on the site that requires a Real OnePlayer to watch but if you do not have a necessary plug-in or helper application you can download a free one there.
For anyone interested in John Steinbeck IV’s father’s legacy through his award-winning novels (discussed in my preceding article,) I suggest this link to The National Steinbeck Center.
John IV’s brother, Thomas, serves on the Board of Directors, there in Salinas, California, in the heart of the story setting for some of John Steinbeck’s novels. The city is a scenic 17-mile drive from the popular vacation spot, Monterey, for those who might want to plan an interesting travel experience to both places. There are some spectacular colorful ocean scenes along the coastal Monterey area on writer, Thom’s web site HERE, which also contains information about his books beginning with his first, "In The Shadow of the Cypress."
