America the Beautiful

As we continue to be bombarded with gaslighting stories of urban unrest/rebellion in our cities across the nation, allow me to share our actual recent on-the-ground experience in the city of Portland, Oregon…

We pulled into Portland in mid-September as the penultimate stop on our epic 55 day road trip throughout the Pacific Northwest. According to Trump Administration declarations, this was during the time that the city was under siege by ‘the radical left’ agitation and chaos. What we experienced as we walked from our Airbnb on 28thAveNE onto Alberta Street, was a series of restaurants, coffee houses, art galleries, Cannabis shops, alleyways featuring fascinating murals from local artists, and a diverse population of inhabitants exhibiting a friendly and very mellow vibe throughout the neighborhood. 

A day later, we explored the less quaint Kenilworth section in search of a much needed laundromat. No art galleries or trendy coffee houses here; only a hard scrabble, working class neighborhood. The laundromat/dry cleaner establishment was operated by one rather elderly Asian woman who, at first, seemed a bit dubious of these two obvious interlopers. During the course of our lengthy stay due to the volume of our load, we observed a diverse procession of locals, many of whom exchanged warm greetings and neighborhood news of the day with the proprietor who also seemed to have noticed our interest in the passing scene. What we observed was simply a day in the life of this hard working immigrant and the heartfelt connection she share with her neighbors. As we folded the last load of laundry and were preparing to leave, we received a beautiful smile that suggested, during the course of the afternoon, we had been accepted, albeit temporarily, into her neighborhood family.

The following day, we ventured downtown to get a better feel for the inner city. First stop was the world famous Powell’s Bookstore, a place where the radical left would surely gather to plan their strategy for the next assault on the city. What we found instead was a citadel of literature and learning where the complete works Karl Marx could be viewed across the aisle from a similar collection by Ayn Rand.

We then continued our walking tour of downtown and soon encountered a gathering of homeless citizens who, instead of plotting their next uprising, were engaged in a group sing-along replete with guitars, a drum, and several accompanying tambourines. 

We ended our day, with a hike through the wilds of Washington Park where local terrorists cells surely must be lurking amid the underbrush. Alas, we were forced to endure the tyranny of the Rose and Japanese Gardens! 

Portland is peaceful; Portland is welcoming; Portland celebrates diversity and free expression; Portland is civil; Portland is an example of America at its best! 

Accountability for War Crimes

In the wake of the deployment of a US warship into foreign waters in Latin America and the recent extra-judicial killing of sailors on the open sea under the direct orders from DJT, let us be clear that such actions are in clear violation of international law. Furthermore American law states that, unless mandated by Congressional approval, no President can legally wage war on an adversary/enemy without supporting evidence that our national borders are subject to imminent attack. To do so is both an international and domestic crime. Accordingly, the perpetrator of such an act should rightfully be prosecuted in The Hague as well as in Washington DC. Let the rule of law be restored, honored, and respected once again by holding all implicated parties accountable through proper adjudication. 

Ask First

 Memo to all house sitters, renters, and chief executives of the United States: you do not have the legal or moral authority to make changes to the residence  without first obtaining permission from the owner to do so!

In the Streets

We thoroughly enjoyed Saturday’s No Kings March in San Francisco wherein we were proud to participate in the patriotic expression of our right to assemble, redress a multitude of grievances, and exercise the right of free speech. Not a ‘stunt’; rather, a collective assertion of resistance to the current authoritarian regime and a celebration of democratic principles. BTW: my favorite sign was: ‘Make Orwell Fictional Again’!!

Only a Pawn in Their Game

 When reading the often truth-averse commentary coming from various apologists for the current authoritarian regime, my assumption has been that they repeat familiar talking points with the knowledge that they arelying but nevertheless willingly volunteer to repeat the propaganda perhaps in deference to some imagined fulfillment of conservatism’s destiny. I have increasingly become aware, however, that some of these devotees have become completely untethered from reality and actually believe the lies in keeping with the current White House occupant who similarly fails to separate fact from fiction.

By contrast, the architects of Project 2025 are not delusional in this sense. They are perfectly aware of the lie and embrace it’s practice as simply a means to a ‘greater’ end; namely, the establishment of a unitary executive with plenary power under indefinite authoritarian/autocratic rule in service and subject to perennial corporate oversight. The ‘true believer’, as a loyal sycophant, becomes especially useful in the Project’s attempt to bring to an end the democratic model of self governance and replace it with their favored, autocratic system of societal organization. Such a gambit will always require pawns like these to facilitate the realization (however misconceived) of their dark purpose.

Keeping War in Perspective

While welcoming the cessation of hostilities in Gaza, we also are well-advised to acknowledge that exercising US leverage over Israel is something that the current and past administrations could/should have done to bring an earlier end to this tragic war. 

Furthermore, to suggest that DJT is now a viable candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize while, under his direct orders, federalized military troops and ICE ‘brown shirts’ in Chicago and Portland are actively, illegally, and brutally attacking American citizens and others under the pretext of a non-existant  insurrection is manifestly absurd.