By CHARLES ANDREWS
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, MARK CALENDARS
The next NO KINGS DAY resistance gathering is March 28, locally in Palisades Park, north end, with Ocean Blvd. closed off. See you there.
March 28,
STATE OF INSANITY
I spent overnight wrestling with my emotions that surfaced from forcing myself to sit through what I knew would be a childish rant of simple-minded self-aggrandizement and one lie after another, totaling hundreds, in what has been traditionally an annual address to the nation by our president, about serious, pressing issues, good and bad. The State of the Union. Not the state of your delusion.
But… well, you know. Even if you didn’t watch, who knew it would be the longest ever, creeping up toward two hours? Oh sure, it gave Democrats more ammunition in the midterms. But will they use it? Effectively? Honestly? Ask Will Rogers.
If you are a kid with an alcoholic mother and she shows up at back-to-school night spitting out insults and accusations, people will know it’s not your fault. Your friends will know the rest of the family are good people. But still, it’s embarrassing.
My parents gifted me with a love of travel, to see new places and meet new people, and even without a fortune, I have been fortunate to be able to travel a lot. So Tuesday night, I couldn’t help but think of my friends around the world who would be watching this spectacle, and thinking of me and my family. Of the USA. Thinking what? In Italy, Kenya, Germany, Greece, Cuba, Netherlands, Russia, England, Norway, Morocco, Iceland, Thailand, Canada, Jamaica, Spain, and France. These are real friends we stay in touch with.
WORLD OPINION
Do you care? You might, if you had friends all over. Some of us do. I believe a big problem with many narrow-minded Americans is that they have not traveled and have a distorted view of our place in the world. “USA! USA!” – are you kidding me? We are all connected, not only the diverse humans in the US, but all over the globe. The neighbors, our wise teachers, advise us to love without qualification, without boundaries.
I hurt for the suffering in Gaza and Ukraine as much as in West Virginia and New Mexico. When you have friends born in Cuba, you have a different outlook than some at what our government is doing there. (Currently, causing even more suffering than usual by cutting off every drop of oil going to the beautiful people of that unique island nation. For God’s sake, why?)
And now – such previously inconceivable suffering and outrage by our own government against our own people. I doubt Jefferson et al ever imagined it in even their worst nightmares. But that’s where we are, on the verge of a deadly dictatorship, all made possible by the army of slavish sicko-phant Republican enablers who ignore the law and Constitution and all human decency in the hope they will be a favored lieutenant of the orange oligarch.
That makes them really stupid to ignore all the bodies already thrown under buses and to think that won’t happen to them. Hell, he was fine with his personal J6 brown shirt army hanging his own vice president. Mark my words, he will kick his children and his Yugoslavian First Lady, Melania, there too if it comes to that. Hitler shot his wife and dog before he shot himself, so hiding under a bus might not be a bad idea.
MY EMBARASSMENT, SO WHAT?
You’re right, except on the diplomatic front, it goes much deeper than that. When Trump made his distraction noise about taking Greenland, the world paid attention. Grabbing a sovereign territory by force or coercion? That’s Putin level. Because of his record, heads of state, especially from NATO nations, had to take it seriously. And that crossed a line that could not be forgotten. It will take decades before American presidents can be trusted again. If the voters elected this one, there could be another Nazi waiting his or her turn. It is just astounding the lasting damage this narcissist nabob has caused. And so sad.
But here’s the thing. We would never have asked for this horror show, but since he has dragged us here, there have been some really good effects for the long run. How much have we learned about our history, about how our government is supposed to work, from this know-nothing who doesn’t care and probably hasn’t read a book since “Little Toot.” Now we see where the defects were, the holes, the loose or missing language. We can fix it. As long…
AS LONG AS WE AREN’T SATISFIED
With just electing Democrats and taking both houses and throwing the GOP rascals out. That must happen, of course. But then, we are just back where we were, and that wasn’t good. Because there are a lot of blue meanies, too. It may seem so hard to find great candidates not intent on enriching themselves through being re-elected forever. How do you think there are so many millionaires in Congress on $174,000 a year?
As unattractive and even dangerous as we have made politics lately, it seems to me that good candidates, interested only in representing their constituents and making life a little better for everyone, are stepping forward in increasing numbers. And, good gloriously, it is happening in Santa Monica too. Just a few months ago, I was among a group eyeing the fast-approaching elections and despairing, where will we find good people? Now, there seem to be a few choices. Not yet vetted properly, but it is encouraging. Let’s get so many good Santa Monicans that we have to work hard to pick the best three.
Build on the ashes, folks. Keep hope alive. The future’s so bright I have to wear shades. And SHOW UP FOR NO KINGS DAY!!!
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 40 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or rebuke to him at therealmrmusic@gmail.com
