Countdown 62: Take a Trip to Planet Sark

 If you came to my house, you should be prepared for cat hair.  Along with the five humans, there are four cats that claim residence in our home, and even allow us to sleep on their beds, use their furniture and of course, attend to all their other needs. 

Among those needs is one of a particularly "discreet" nature.  This evening, after completing the task, I walked out the front door to deliver the package to the garbage, without turning on any lights.  There is an automatic light and I trusted that it would turn on...still, I thought to myself as I confidently strode through the darkness--"To boldly go..." (once a Trekkie, always a Trekkie)

I'd like to think that the light of future will still shine for us, although it may be dark now; that we can boldly go where America has not gone before, and survive the phaser fire, the Klingon attacks, the Romulan skirmishes and the encounters with other hostile alien lifeforms (you know who I'm talking about) and emerge as peace seekers and peace makers from a planet that is highly advanced and globally unified.  I won't live long enough to experience that planet, but I hope my descendants can.

Until then, I think I'll take a trip to Planet Sark, the home of the endlessly exuberant artist, Susan Kennedy, or as she has renamed herself: Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy--SARK for short.  

She's been writing, drawing and speaking for 40 years and hasn't lost her sparkle.  I discovered her years ago and was especially taken with one of her pieces, called "How to Be an Artist." I tried to check off everything on the list.  

Our ongoing mission is a challenging one and some days we'll need a little R &. R. The crew of the Enterprise went to Risa (what happens on Risa stays on Risa), but me, I think I'll go to Planet SARK!

STEP 12:

• Make little signs that say "Yes!" and post them all around your house
• Take moonbaths
• Have wild imaginings, transformative dreams and perfect calm
• Open up, dive in, be free
• Drive away fear
• Get wet
• Hug trees!

Countdown 63: News, News, What Are We Going To Do About News?

 John and Paul wrote the song, "A Day in the Life" as the final track in their 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.  Some consider it one of their masterpieces.

It's opening lines are: 

I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph

I read the news...OH BOY and now I never want to read it again!

I've been kind of a news junkie; feeding a need for good news, hope, possibility of a future to grow old in with peace.  I want to hear the truth, but I want the truth to be uplifting because that means we're heading in a good direction.  Now each day's news comes with a dark cloud over it's head, like Joe Btfsplk, the jinxed character from the old comic strip, Li'l Abner.

Another threat, another crazy appointment, another analysis of why the Democrats lost, another look at a bleak future.  I know I need to keep informed, but it's a time to examine both the quality and the quantity of news that I ingest.  I'm quite sure that I watched too much at times and I'm equally sure that I will need to keep informed in the future, when I'm ready for it.  

The vendetta that Trump waged against truth and the reporting of truth from the very start of his first term has had widespread repercussions. The concept of "fake news" took root.  That authoritarian desire to diminish the power of the press and undermine both the concept and the source of truth is working.  While journalism can be a noble trade, with any number of reporters having faced death or imprisonment in pursuit of important stories that need to be told; media ownership is a business.  We have seen how Jeff Bezos undermined the Washington Post's editorial staff to quash their endorsement of Vice President Harris.  We saw how media outlets of every political persuasion "sane-washed" Trump's craziness and held Kamala to a different standard, we saw political theater which kept the cable news broadcasting around the clock sensations.

Yes, Democrats need a clear-eyed examination of their losses and to find better strategies going forward.   But,  that is not where the blame belongs.  Kamala ran an exceptional campaign and she is a person of good character and substantial experience.  If character really mattered, there should have been a landslide victory for her.  That there was not, speaks less of the Democrats problems and more of the profound problems in American society in 2024.  

What I think is essential for us to deal with is the willingness of so many millions of the electorate to be misled about the candidates and the mass media, as a whole, to be so willing to mislead them.  

Ignorance and greed is steering the ship of state and we will quickly run aground. So many forces have been chipping away at the foundations of our system of government for years and all of the traditional guardians of democracy have been either lazy or complicit.  That includes Congress, the Supreme Court, the media, corporations and Wall Street and the educational system.

I read the news...oh boy.

STEP 11:

Think on this for awhile, find some sources that I can trust, share them with others: what to do about news is a work in progress.

Countdown 64: It's Still a Beautiful World

 I've had a busy day...way too much time on my computer, so I'm going to share some wisdom much greater than any I could muster up.  These words have always given me both roots and wings...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927

...and if that isn't enough for one night, here is a picture of a kitten reading a book

Countdown 65: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Seasonal music on the radio, decorations and gift displays in the stores...it's the holidays!  And, if we believe the songs, "it's the most wonderful time of the year!"  In some ways, it certainly is; full of special memories and sweet anticipation, happy bustle, satisfying traditions and tasty treats.  

But we know that there has always been a dark side to the holidays, where many people struggle with financial and emotional issues and loneliness can be especially poignant.  

I remember the high expectations that my mother-in-law had for these events and how the stress of holidays would worsen her asthma and she would end up in the hospital.  One Thanksgiving stands out.  Her daughter was getting married in a small ceremony at the groom's mother's house the day after Thanksgiving.  Mom was hospitalized and would not be able to attend.  I found that out just in time to rush back to the school I worked at and borrowed our video equipment--at that time, a first generation reel-to-reel recorder.  We'd make sure she'd at least get to see a movie of the nuptials.  

It soon got even more interesting.  My side trip to school cut into the time I had to help finish the painting we were doing in the living room.  We were rolling the last wall when my husband's brother and his family of 5 arrived from Nebraska.  They'd be staying with us and sharing our Thanksgiving turkey the next day and attending the wedding the day after.  

Then we got the call.  There had been conflict between the groom and his mom.  No wedding at her house now.  My sister-in-law asked if they could have the wedding at our house; oh, and can you set two more plates for Thanksgiving?

The challenges that holidays hold are nothing new, but this year's celebrations could be especially fraught.  How can we handle time with relatives that we may have profound political differences with so close after the election?

I'd like to remind you of one really salient point that could shape your decisions about attending or inviting.  If your family/friend is satisfied with their vote, any argument you make against their choice has a 99.9 % chance of failure.  If political talk is inevitable; disaster or distress is extremely likely.  Minds will not be changed over turkey and stuffing, but relationships could be destroyed.

When caustic Fox personality, Jesse Watters, is uninvited from his Mom's Thanksgiving dinner, it should be acceptable for all of us to put our comfort, safety and peace of mind over societal expectations. 

Questions we can ask:

• Can I attend a holiday event and feel safe?
• Do I really want to be there?
• Will I have to compromise my values more than I am willing to do?
• Even if I really care about these people, can I spend all day with them comfortably?
• Can I emerge from the day with nothing more serious than a little indigestion from too much pie?

I'm going to say that it is okay to alter the guest list.  It's okay to set limits and expect people to respect them and to ask them to leave if they don't.  It's even okay to say no altogether  this year.  We do not know all the things that the future holds, but if holidays are meant to be "wonderful" we should do what is necessary to preserve the goodness inherent in the season, and in ourselves.  

STEP 10

• Make holiday decisions that support your well-being and your values
• Be more reflective about all aspects of the holidays that we celebrate this time of year
• Are all of our Traditions still meaningful?
• There is an abundance of cheap consumer goods that tempt us with glitz and glitter...how much do we really need to spend on gifts and decor? Can we make our holidays more sustainable?
• What are really thankful for and how can we best realize that gratitude in the world?
• Can you make your holidays richer and more fulfilling and less stressful and overwhelming?
• When things change, make the changes work for you.

Countdown-66 days: A walk in the park, holiday meal-planning and a game of Clue

 Today held some quiet pleasures (a walk, conversations with family and plans to get together, a stimulating game of Clue (Miss Scarlet in the hall with the candlestick) that I took time to enjoy; and some concerns about the upcoming holidays that I'll sleep on tonight and examine tomorrow.  

Here's the quiet reflections on Lochness 

Countdown: 67 days; Trying to keep away from despair

 The clown show continues...the most unfit, unqualified and dangerous people are getting their rewards with juicy cabinet posts.  I don't want to list them right now or do the research on exactly what special destruction they each plan to wreak on the American people and our formerly great country.

What concerns me, is that the only thing standing in the way of their appointments is the Republicans in the Senate.

Oh, boy...that's not a lot of reassurance.  The time that they could have stepped up and done the right thing was long in the past.  John F. Kennedy would be hard pressed to find a "profile in courage" on the Senate floor today.  

Sustained courage is needed from all of us--just not every minute of everyday.  I've spent my day working on a major fundraising effort for which I am a co-chairman--I think I deserve a pat on the back for being focused and productive.  

Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash

Find something that you did today that deserves appreciation...that good meal you put on the table, the bills you paid, the kind word that you had for the cashier, the fact that you got out of your pajamas before noon; something.  

STEP 8 Look for the Positive

• In a crazy world there is still beauty and joy--recognize and acknowledge something good everyday.
• Find a pretty journal and record a daily blessing or 1 or 2 things you are grateful for.
• It's okay if you take a day off now and then from being positive--learn some new swear words and practice saying your whole blue vocabulary list really fast. 
• Back in college I learned 5 words that roll of the tongue pretty easily...I use them sparingly (S-D-P-H-F) but they can be surprisingly effective for blowing off steam!

Countdown: 68 days...Remembering when I was President

 Someone mentioned Thin Mints the other day, and I regretted that we hadn't stocked up on those tasty chocolate wafers when we had had a chance from the girls in green. I also never had a chance to be a Girl Scout myself, growing up in the country instead in town.  

I did, however, belong to 4-H, and when I was 16, I was elected president of the "Busy Beavers 4-H Club" and got to sit in the middle of the officers at the table in the front of the gym at my old elementary school.  I don't think my duties extended much beyond presiding over these bi-weekly meetings and I expect I had a lot of help from the adult leaders (my mom being one of them). I don't remember agonizing over agendas or responsibilities or basking in triumphs of inspirational leadership.  

The power of the office was minor and I wore it lightly.  I never took time off to go golfing, used my office for monetary gain or incited insurrections.  Leveraging power to deviate from the norms never crossed my adolescent brain.

Just think how comfortable we've been most of our lives adhering to the social constructs, taboos and behavior norms that formed the sea we swam in and the air we breathed.  Even in my rebellious moments when I rolled my skirt up over my knees in response to dress codes, all my friends did it too.  We may have pushed the limits, but we understood what the limits were and knew we might face consequences for our actions.  Guilt and shame were part of our vocabulary and our experience.  We made mistakes and were set straight by parents and teachers and maybe even by Mrs. Anderson from across the street.  

Life had predictability and boundaries.  We might not have liked the rules and the expectations, but in a way they gave us a sense of safety and security.  If I was feeling uncomfortable somewhere and wanted to leave, saying my parents expected me home at 10 would be believed.  Parents were like that. Rules were like that.

But now, many of us are feeling rudderless and adrift in a tempestuous sea.  There may be rules, but we don't understand them and they don't seem to be applied fairly.  Unfair rules have long been part of life for many segments of our society, but as a nation we still honored the idea of rules and norms, goals and aspirations, if not always the practice.  We called it Democracy.  We called it the American Dream.  We called in our Beacon to the World.

Trump has shattered norms, broken rules and laws, committed serious breaches of decency, honor and tradition and time and again, he has avoided consequences and now has been rewarded with the highest seat of power.  This is seriously out of whack. Somehow, the American conscience has become uprooted from reality and from the principles that have been a consistent thread throughout our history.

This uprooting means that a ne'er-do-well sexual offender like Matt Gaetz (a Butthead look-alike) can be considered a viable candidate for Attorney General and a Fox News bloviator, Pete Hegseth (multiple adulterer) would be the perfect Secretary of Defense and rid our military of the scourge of "wokeness." The circus is in town.

 When people are able to accept "Up" as "Down" and "In" as "Out" something has to give in their psyche.  We see that there is mental gymnastics going on at a nationwide level.  Many people have to be feeling cognitive dissonance and need to practice a lot of self-justification to hold on to their beliefs.  If we point out flaws in their thinking or judgment, they can't safely acknowledge that truth.  We become the target--we are the ones that are wrong.  Responses can be ostracism (exclusion from the group, family, etc.) anger and rebukes or differing levels of threat. 

STEP 7: Seek to Understand The New Mindset of America

• Learn about logical fallacies...right wing rhetoric provides a smorgasbord of these.  My source for great critical thinking materials is The School of Thought https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com
• Detect the "tells" in conservative arguments--what strategies do you hear?  Blame?  False Equivalencies?  This is advice I found on the Rational Voices Facebook Page.

• 

  
  
• Avoid arguments that can put you at risk without reward.  Figure out when engagement is useful and potentially effective; don't make yourself a target unnecessarily.
• Recommended reading: Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
    Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. This updated edition concludes with an extended discussion of how we can live with dissonance, learn from it, and perhaps, eventually, forgive ourselves.

Why is it so hard to say “I made a mistake”—and really believe it?

When we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes, or mistreat other people, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so, unconsciously, we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong. Backed by years of research, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-justification—how it works, the damage it can cause, and how we can overcome it.

“Entertaining, illuminating and—when you recognize yourself in the stories it tells—mortifying.”—Wall Street Journal

“Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were made—but not in this book!”—Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness

Countdown 69 (continued)

 What if the German people in the 1930's had been able to look into the future and see all the death and destruction that lay ahead for them and the world?  Would they have remained complacent followers or would they have taken more decision actions while they still had a chance?  

We can't know for sure what the Trump administration will do to reach their stated goals, but we have some pretty certain clues of what they would like to do and are already selecting people to accomplish them.  

When it comes to immigration, one of the key planks of the platform, Tom Homan, former ICE director has been selected as "border czar." Don't expect compassionate conservatism from this man.  The Forbes article linked to his name is brief, but chilling...as ICE.  Mass deportations, workplace arrests, family separation, zero tolerance, and frequent use of defiant swear words.  I didn't catch any nuanced concerns about the impact this would have on agricultural production or building trades when millions of workers are deported.

When it comes to the climate, take a brief look at Lee Zeldin, former New York representative who is tapped to be the EPA chief, with a goal to " restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry..." Such priorities could be why the Sierra Club considers him to be "unqualified."

We could go on about Steven Miller, Elise Stefanik, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem; a real Rogue's Gallery of appointees is forming.

I had indicated earlier that I was going to talk about effective actions we can take.  Am I suggesting that we take on the all of these agencies, with all of their powers and bring them down?  Well, not exactly.  Several days ago I talked about planning our charitable giving to do some of this fighting for us with their knowledge and legal clout. It's for our own protection that we learn who the players are, what their agendas are and support organizations that are likely to be the most successful in combating the negative outcomes. 

I'm suggesting that we work where we are.  In a very short time, the newly elected people in down ballot races will be sworn into office; at your city hall, county commission, school board, state legislature.  It's time to get to know who they are and where they stand on issues that matter to you.  

Is your city going to ease regulations that could impact your water supply?  Is the school board going to ban books, cut staffing in important positions, or discriminate against marginalized students?  In Minnesota, there will be a Democratic governor (welcome back Tim), a senate with a one member advantage for Democrats and a split House which will have to share leadership.  Individual members can have significant impact if they do not all follow the party line. 

Here's where we can have a personal impact.  Some legislators are savvy operators, but not all.  Many
work in obscurity.  Council meetings generally don't compete with popcorn and Netflix on the couch, so unless there is a big issue on the agenda, you won't have trouble finding a seat.  Elected officials will generally be glad you are there, especially if you display cordial curiosity and not hostile belligerence.

Show up, listen, introduce yourself.  Then do it again.  Speak in the public forum if you have something to say. Invite others (offer a ride and a beverage or snack) Maybe everything will be great.  Now you know. Write and thank them for good governance, or keep going back and expect better.

Step 6: Become Informed About Local Government

1. Consult a government website to learn the names and contact information of all the officials that have direct influence on you and your community.  In Minnesota you can consult  https://mn.gov/portal/government/state
2. Send a letter or email to those officials to let them know, as one of their constituents, you'll be watching them and expecting them to live up to their oaths.  Get on their mailing lists.  Encourage like-minded neighbors and friends to do the same.  It doesn't matter which side of the aisle they are on...knowing they are being scrutinized is fine. Send both compliments and complaints. 
3. For national officials there are a number of websites that do a good job of data gathering about proposed laws and lawmakers committee work and voting trends.  I get a regular email from https://www.govtrack.us/ with the votes of my Senators and Representative and there is a wealth of other information as well.  Some of it will require a little research to understand, but a lot of the charts and graphs are downright fascinating to study.
4. Remember the tagline of the Washington Post..."Democracy Dies in Darkness". While they may have fallen down on the job, we don't have to.  We can shine a light on what is happening where we live and make a difference.