This has been quite a year under the current administration.
When the leader of one of the most influential nations on the globe calls a female journalist “piggy” and “ugly” on record to shut her up because of her line of questioning, well, I truly worry about the daughters and granddaughters yet to have voices in the near future. I refuse to imagine what he says in private to his wife.
He was convicted of rape yet voted into the White House by 49% of female voters! (there seems to always be a complicit female in crimes against females. Example: Ghislaine Maxwell) I am absolutely flabbergasted by the decisions of intelligent women that supported and continues to support the current administration.
There is also an escalation of rampant militarization tactics against tax-paying private citizens on the basis of false criminal charges (in some cases no charges were made, just forcible arrests) including, the “free” press: journalists and war correspondents. There have been documented evidence reported locally to my point.
Mainstreaming white, Christian nationalism is a frightening portend of history repeating of an almost a cult-like following (can you spell Nazi?) which has produced a No Kings protest on a national scale from the other half of the American population with sympathetic rallies occurring simultaneously in Europe.
In addition, Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale written as fiction may actually be taking form as reality in some states: termination of pregnancy deemed unlawful even if a result of rape. What’s next?
Oh, an AI-generated actress. YIKES! And NO. Absolutely not.
Chat GPT addictions. HORRIFYING. Are there group meetings for those addicts yet? This is a serious form of a mental breakdown.
The band-width is fragile and for the first time in history, a billion (and counting) people are online scrolling. Platforms and servers are crashing. Our reliance on tech and “smart” appliances is an insidious encroachment on our psyche and organic way of living.
Yet, the bell stills rings for pennies for heaven at the entryway of grocery stores from dedicated servants of God dressed in their pristine white uniforms. Tis’ the season. Actually the bell rings year-round for pennies which may soon become obsolete. Christmas carols plays in all the stores with hopes to instill the joy for spending despite economic budget and healthcare cuts from that “Big Beautiful Bill.” Black Friday was not much.
Now that I have chilled your bliss and harshed your mellow…
Thank goodness, the simple pleasures of hugging our babies (or fur babies) can still soothe our fearful hearts. Preserving the peace by withholding our retorts to grumpy elders becomes more important than ever in these challenging days.
Wait! I am a grumpy elder! Dang it, when did that happen? As my wise father-in-law once said, “No one gets out alive.”
May my kindness always exceed my expectations for gratitude returned.
May you stay safe and be warm with a full belly.
j