Jharrin4's Blog

In the last few days, one of the most toxic symptoms of societal sickness flared up here in the US of A. This particular red flag reminder of our illness was once again on full display at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. I am referring to the latest incident of a mass shooting. Two Brown students died and several others were wounded when the now well-known term “active shooter” became a waking nightmare on that campus. The perpetrator of this assault on civility has yet to be apprehended.

This tragedy occurred on December 13. As the news coverage unfolded, hour by hour, news reporters eventually–and at this point expectedly–took note of the absurd commonality of such an outrageous event. Mass shootings average a little more than one a day in the United States. Let that sink in. Brown’s entry into the active shooter file specific to those happening at schools was followed by the thirteenth anniversary of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtown Connecticut.

Sandy Hook is now not just the name of that school, but a name that for millions of a certain age look back on now with growing exasperation, outrage and anger. How could it not? However, Brown’s tragedy, while triggering fresh disgust and revulsion, almost exactly 13 years after Sandy hook now likely also conjures up a large dose of resignation. That is to say, resignation regarding our country’s seeming unwillingness to enact much stronger, much more regorously monitored access to weapons of virtually any caliber and size, especially the dreaded assault rifle used in many of the mass shootings.

Resignation. As in expecting more mass shootings. And that assertion regarding mass shootings now being less and less unusual, less lingering in their shock value derives from December 14, 2012. At Sandy Hook Elementary. That incident was incredibly shocking, stomach-turning and beyond belief: Twenty first graders, either six or seven years young had their bodies ripped open and apart by semi-automatic weapons. Six adults, all faculty or staff, also died in the assault. That first grade classroom became a kill zone that sent shock waves far and wide. How could it not? That the shooter was profoundly deranged but still able to have access to the weapons used to carry out the carnage would dictate and demand more stringent gun laws. Enough is enough, already!

Of course! Congress. Stand up to the NRA. These were little children. At school. Can you not now grow a spine and do all you can to make this type of senseless slaughter very unlikely to ever occur again?

Congress’s response was to do…nothing. Nothing.

My interpretation of that political nothingness was that barring an overthrow of our entire government, no future mass killings using bullets of varying size and deadliness would make any difference to elected officials. The unspoken message to an outraged population outside of the Beltway was, we make a lot of money by keeping the status quo. We have been bought and paid for by the gun lobby. Sorry, but money talks.

As a result, subsequent mass shootings by lunatics–many of whom in spite of overt mental illnesses–are going to happen. The crazed shooters in many cases (almost all men pulling the trigger) obtained their firepower legally.

So now, there is danger everywhere. What area of daily life is safe? In some cases, gunfire misses its target and goes into someone’s home, killing a father or mother or an infant.

Places of worship have been shot apart.

So too, shopping malls; convenient stores, department stores, offices, warehouses; public spaces; healthcare facilities; movie theaters; civic buildings; restaurants, bars; nightclubs, outdoor music festivals; or simply anyone simply walking to any to of the above established kill zones.

We are a gun crazed country. And have been since long before becoming right now an entirely crazed country with a crazed, very dangerous government.

When and how this dread is rendered null and void is very uncertain. Worse case scenario is an armed resistance. If it devolves into that revolutionary level of throws the bums out, rest assured, it will not be difficult getting guns, guns, guns. Every make or model. Military grade hardware. That assurance of easy access to arms was written in the spilt blood of those first graders at Sandy Hook.

They’re out there. They are appendages of a sick creature. Its quotidian dystopia is not its own master. Inevitability is. It is only a matter of time before they are gone, along with the entity that spat them out like bilious bile. The infectious splatter has contaminated the national, natural landscape. And its people. Some of the contaminated victims have succumbed to its targeted attacks. Others have been damaged. Physically. Mentally. Some are hiding from the creature’s tentacles. For decades this nefarious creature was made impotent, kept in check after being beaten back, bloodied, battered and too weakened, too restrained for it to reemerge.

But such vigilant safekeeping became weaker and lazier as time passed. Eventually, the forces that once stopped it in its tracks became too distant, too few in number. Their voices barely heard. History was allowed to become hazy, its lesson unlearned in ensuing generations. Ignorance became a default setting. Decades of complacency, capitulation, incremental compromising, magical thinking and eventually stupendous stupidity allowed the creature to re-emerge, again immediately ominous in appearance and temperament. It bellowed and barged around. Sensing it had been given authority to act out its hateful, historical instincts, it blustered and badgered, denigrated and denounced any expressed opposition. Its confidence being bolstered by its ability to withstand what little force its opposition displayed.

Until…

…the same process that permitted its resurrection had seen the creature for what it was and ordered it out of its position of authority. The creature, now used to its extremism as a daily affirmation of entitlement, refused to step aside. It refused to abide by any other authority than its own. It attacked the process. It vilified any perceived betrayers. The creature showed its fangs, its claws, its willingness to take by force what it needed not do before in gaining power.

To the great relief of many who were repulsed by the creature’s smug sense of self-importance, it was not allowed to force its way back into power. It’s vocal opposition assumed that it would be permanently banished, if not destroyed as it was so many decades past when it also sought total domination.

Tragically, absurdly, stupefyingly, the creature was not banished. Not barred from any possible place in the only process– besides force–that would again permit its hideous specter to appear and resume its dangerous agenda. In spite of once again having defeated the creature, having denied it any further access to the levers that it must control to enact its divisive, racist, belligerent, demagogic desires, its previous unlawful awfulness was not prosecuted. Those that could have made certain its initial re-emergence could now be impossible to repeat, failed in spectacular fashion. The means by which the creature could regain power were left unaltered, betraying recent historical reminders of the urgency for such assurances for those that knew they would be primary targets again. The creature’s stated agenda this time was far more dangerous, more sweeping in its vengeful intentions.

Now, the creature is far more dangerous than before, creating chaos and fear. Its appendages are out there, virtually unchecked. That it is back is an indictment of a System that has become a betrayal of trust for those who needed to be protected.

However much longer this will be tolerated is uncertain. The System appears impotent, bordering on blatant self-preservation only. The forces that crushed this type of aggression will not be the same as eighty years ago. Resistance now will not be in combat uniform. This current creature’s opposition will seemingly be civilian. How and when this current crisis of governing gone horribly haywire is gotten rid of cannot be foretold. Time will tell.

When that time does inevitably come, it will vanquish this radical autocratic monstrosity and necessarily take the corrupted and complicit System that failed its public down as well. To not do so, is to–again– demonstrate having still not learned the lesson taught all those decades ago. What few remain who aided in destroying fascist fanaticism decades past deserve to know after this creature, too, has been vanquished, is that it will never be allowed to emerge again.

Maria Corina Machado. She is the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. That decision by the Nobel committee was met with controversy. On the surface, it might seem justified as she seeks to end the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, who is considered an authoritarian.

A brief history lesson about Venezuela: It achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 and became a fully sovereign nation in 1830. It established its own constitution, institutions and government. Officially, it has a federal republic with the President as the head of state and a National Assembly as its legislature.

However, today, after more than twelve years of his presidency, Maduro has gone down the path of dismantling its democratic institutions, with its elections being considered not free and fair. The government is now characterized by a lack of civil liberties, suppression and severe human rights violations.

Getting back to Ms.Machado, and that Nobel Peace prize. On its surface it would seem justified since she wants Maduro gone. Replaced by, who else, herself. The question is, what is Machado’s own political background? Is she a true reformer? A person who supports human rights, free and fair elections, a government that its citizens can trust? A fierce supporter of peace, far and wide?

Hmmm. First off, she dedicated her Peace Prize to—Greta Thunberg! Not really. Hell, no. Greta who?, asked the Nobel committee, apparently. Maria the wannabee savior for the people of Venezuela, dedicated her prize to Donald Trump. Yeah, the guy who, not all that different from Mr. Maduro, is currently wiping his ass with the U.S. Constitution, dispatching masked, armed and unidentifiable ICE goons into communities, spreading fear and loathing. Under the guise of wanting to deport immigrants with hard core criminal histories, his “gestapo” will arrest anyone who gets in their way. Brown, Black, Asian communities are especially terrified. By now, however, it is clear no community is safe, even upscale, predominantly white areas. U.S. citizens have been “taken”. Children have been taken from their mothers.Trump is as much an authoritarian as Maduro or any number of other far-right governments scattered about the globe. And so what does that say about Maria Corina Machado, kissing one authoritarian’s ass while vilifying another?

Of course, DT wanted the Nobel for himself, but the Nobel committee couldn’t possibly ignore the hypocrisy and denunciation it would have garnered. So Maria, the Peacenik gets it. Maria dedicates it to her favorite authoritarian, while posturing as a legitimate person of the people. She has been described as the Latin American version of Margaret Thatcher. Meaning right-wing. She is a supporter of Israel. Peace Prize? Israel? Genocide?  I’d say that she is essentially part of the rise of global fascism.

Oh. I should add Venezuela has oil. Lots of oil. Same as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and even Canada. We want it but overthrowing any of those other countries, with the exception of Canada–maybe—would be orders of nuclear WW3 more difficult. Central and South America? Our CIA is very good at regime change down there. We throw our weight around, but still–even with a mentally addled gasbag as “leader”– know who to move-in on, and who to play the longest of long games with.

One might assume the GOP is enamored of Maria. But apparently so is the Democrat Party. Recently, U.S. Democrat Senator Dick Durbin posted a press release singing Ms. Machado’s praises: “her steadfast and courageous fight for democracy” and “steadfast courage in the face of cruelty”.

Keep in mind, however, that when “far-right and fascism” is invoked here in the United States, it is not just the current Republican Party that is aiding and abetting such. Recently, Senator Dick Durbin, a very high ranking Democrat sang Maria’s praises in a press release. Among other accolades bestowed upon Maria was her “Stedfast and courageous fight for democracy” and her “steadfast courage in the face of cruelty”. Durbin used Maduro to contrast Machado as worthy of such praise. The conflicts of ideological interests be damned. She may be okay with a genocide but, hey, no one is perfect, right?. Margaret Thatcher? If the shoe fits…

Durbin, as with the Democrat Party, from its members in congress to statehouses with Democrat majorities, down to local precinct captains, are as compromised and collusive in our current dramatic shift to a far-right government, run by a buffoon who should have been held accountable by the Biden administration for nothing less than a televised, live-streamed attempted insurrection. Trump didn’t have to steal his way back into power.  He was virtually escorted back into the White House by the Bidens, Schumers, Pelosis, Durbins, and an empty suit Attoney General named Merrick Garland.  Durbin’s fawning over Maria Corina Machado is an affront to any notion of “leadership”. Thanks to him and the Democratic Party’s complicity in this embracing of a far-right shift, as of today the government is shut-down, and the felonious flim-flam man they refused to prosecute is using food as a political point of leverage, as well as the public’s access to healthcare, childcare and other once norms that back when transcended political differences. It’s always messy, this politics thing, but now it is horrific messy, and the two parties have pretty much morphed into one. Corporate high rollers call the shots, and so much for we the people. Durbin is not seeking re-election. He’s in his early 80’s and has his nest egg. A useless tool of that corporate version of the “opposition party”. Good riddance.

There are many already establishing their candidacy to replace him. Including myself, a member of the Green Party. It is clear that the Duopoly needs disruption. The electorate needs to embrace the idea that voting Red or Blue has zero upside–unless, of course one is of the billionaire class. In a country of 340 million people and about 1300 billionaires, I’d say there’s a lot of people who haven’t been thinking very critically, the time is now to start doing so. Press releases from a Democrat praising a fascist should be a wake-up call, If not then we continue with that so-called “American Dream”. As George Carlin once said, it’s called a dream because you have be asleep to believe it.

The alarm clock is ringing! Wake up!

Happy Halloween, boys and girls, kids and kiddies. Especially those of you in, say, certain neighborhoods with a preponderance of Hispanic families. 2025’s version of all things spooky, creepy but all in the spirit of good fun might be creepy alright but not much fun. Actually, anyone and everyone is a potential target of this fun-killing thing out there.

By now, the adults in the room, any room, anywhere, are well aware of what is going on. They know how long it has been going on. Some of the adults in whatever rooms they occupy are aghast at what is going on. And by now it is obvious why it is going on. Other adults are just fine with what’s going on. I’d assert those agreeable to what is happening are very much in the minority. But power corrupts, right? Today–October 31–just happens to be Halloween on this 282nd consecutive day of what’s been going on but should never have been allowed to start, let alone go on. And on...

Boys, girls, kids and kiddies, your parents and other adults who don’t at all agree with what is going on wish this were all a scary bedtime story. And maybe in some future, hopefully not too far away, it will serve as a spooky beddy-bye story told with great inflection, intonation and other animations of voice and body that all scary stories invite. Our current moment constitutes a troubling tale of monstrous behavior by a small but controlling adult world. It is a tale being told day by day and its ending has yet to be determined. It must and will end, eventually. In a future yet to be present, its entire story will be rendered as history and valuable lessons learned in its passing.

Therefore, children of a more innocent future era, by the end of the adult’s rendering of this freaky tale of terror, the monster will have been done away with, allowing for the young, impressionable mind to slip off to sleep, assured that Daddy and Mommy, and the grown-up world all around them, will always slay any monster that threatens them. And eventually, when they reach adulthood, they will decide for themselves what is truly monstrous and why they must not tolerate its ability to gain strength.

Better yet, they will develop a clear sense of right versus wrong and seek to prevent any monster from being created in the first place. Preventive vigilance. In so doing, their children will only have fictional monsters to behold, knowing that as an adult, anywhere, occupying any position in society, that is their essential and abiding responsibility.

As trick or treat day unfolds at this very moment, clearly, certain adults have not prevented a monster from being created. In fact, they have also allowed it to flourish and spread fear, at this point in any and all communities. It is a most frightful story playing out in real time. That it is Halloween doesn’t matter. The monster at hand doesn’t abide by any established norms or traditions. This monster will roam about until it is stopped, banished into exile, or completely destroyed.

Until then, one need not be a small child to feel afraid. Regardless, as a once very influential adult famously said during a different context of unsettling, dangerous developments “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”.

History, often in the worst ways, does repeat itself. But only if adults fail to learn those valuable lessons it offers. There is absolutely no excuse for this current monster to be real. Its presence is a shameful failure of responsibility to keep children, especially, safe. Any and all children. Anywhere and everywhere.

Close to a year of this. It still feels unreal .

Unreal is right, but when was the last time anything felt real? But in a really good way.

Hmm. How about September second, nineteen forty-five?   Not that we were around for it. But I have family members that were. Certainly not many are left that helped make that day so memorable.

September second, nineteen forty-five? You mean the atomic bombs that ended the war?

Close. Fat Man and Little Boy. But those two were dropped on August six and nine, nineteen forty-five. September second of that year the Japanese finally surrendered. The allied troops defeated the axis fascists. Man, it must have been a huge celebration, and wild to be alive and a part of it. The newsreels show it, but to be there had to be a natural high. Accompanied by a lot of 90 proof toasts. Now we have November fifth, twenty twenty-four. That was sweet, but its buzz has kinda worn off. It’s not like he or his troops ever actually surrendered. Took him by force.

I know. Agreed. We dodged a bullet, but everyday there’s still more bullets to dodge. Literally, at times. Fuck em all. He’s still in crook’s castle. The stinking head of the stinky fish’s body still flopping around out there, gasping for air and sniping and posting their bullshit, swearing they’ll get him out of that funky hideaway. Fuck em. Not gonna happen.

You know that and I know that, but they don’t know that. Too fucking stupid to see it’s a lost cause. He lost. They lost. But their crazy crap still gets support from their leftover office-holders that keep claiming he got robbed. I’m so tired of this shit. Almost a year now.The clown in crook’s castle. They have no idea where his new home is. They can’t even be sure he’s still alive. He lost. They lost. But tell that to them, eh? Hell we don’t even know where that castle is.

Is the top brass ever going tell us–with our top security clearances–where the hell he is? Not that it matters as long as he’s still locked down, locked in, locked out and unable to say anything that will ever be heard beyond the castle’s four walls and hopefully very low ceiling. But I’d really like to know. I’d really enjoy at least a closed-circuit camera to watch him rot away, psycho-babbling his usual bullshit.. Assuming he is still alive. Would they even tell us if he croaked? Damn. Almost a year. To croak in crook’s castle! What a bit of juicy schadenfreude that would be.

Yeah. But for now we just process what they send us to help identify the leftovers out there trying to find him, and still carry out their fascist Project Perfection. Cannot imagine how fucked up this country would be if he wasn’t stopped. That’s why we do what we do. Keep that from ever happening. Put all of em in their own crook’s castle.

I heard that. We won but knowing his looney cult members are still out there, and sniping away, trying to disrupt and keep a lot of people on edge. It’s like a cancer that hasn’t been totally excised. Probably never will be. We beat them in that bloody world war, but not in any final, total victory. I mean, look at the shit we are doing right now. Crook’s castle. He’s not going anywhere, but there are still brush fires always to be put out. They’ll get worn down, eventually. Right? Gotta trust who’s running things now. After the last ten years, I’m still not sure we have the right people in charge. Remember how they barely won when they should have crushed him and his lackey, dopey followers?. And they lost to this buffon once before! But as long as he stays in crooks castle. As long as the leftovers are found and made to realize they’re never going to win.

I feel the same way, bro. What we do here in our own secret bunker is keeping history from repeating itself. Isn’t that what we’re doing? All of us who helped stop Project Perfection. But yeah, it was close. So, gotta make sure that castle is inpenetrable. Gotta put a boot on the leftover’s necks. Gotta get rid of the malcontents. Then we can all relax. Leave all this bullshit behind.

Yeah. Like when we kicked the fascist’s asses eighty years ago. Dams straight. Eh? We’ll make sure they can’t come back again. How could they? They’re evil. We’re good. Simple. We have more fire power than them. We have more money than them. We have nuclear weapons. We can’t possibly mess this up. Can we?

The man in crook’s castle. We stopped him. Can you imagine what things would be like if we lost?

I’d prefer not to think about that. Let’s submit our surveillance report. We know who they are and where they are. Just a matter of time.

Yeah. But I still wish I knew where that castle is. Just to make sure he’s actually there. Seeing, ya know, is believing. I’d sleep much better knowing.

i heard that.

Here we are, early September. However, there’s plenty of summer weather left, with fresh air options for fun still to come. The “taste of…” festivals certainly haven’t run their course. Food, rides, live music. Get out of the house and chill out. What’s not to like?

Well, sadly, some of these annual festivals have decided not to take place here in 2025. Those would especially be festivals celebrating Mexican or other racial/ethnic communities. Their reasoning to cancel is a mix of logic and emotion. This year that well-meant event’s attendees could be unwittingly setting themselves up for a “taste of detention”.  Imprisonment or deportation. Why aid ICE with an inadvertent sting operation?

In the Chicago area, there is an annual celebration of Mexican Independence Day coming up this month. Events includes the El Grito Festival in Grant Park and the Little Village 26th Street Parade. Those celebrations still intend to take place as of today, September 3. With the same ICE raids always becoming daily news, there is the additional recent threat by the Tin Pan Wannabee Dictator stating military troops will soon be sent to Chicago. Because it is a “crime-filled” city with “incompetent and corrupt leadership”. That, according to someone quite familiar with PROVEN criminal activity.

The Illinois Governor, the Chicago Mayor and many other statewide and local office holders, plus civic organizations have been blunt in their rejection of such a troop deployment. Chicago police have been told to not cooperate with any troop/ICE attempts to further create turmoil for Hispanic communities. Will confrontations turn violent? Will Chicago be the place of serious, successful, pushback? The city has as much as said, fuck off to this threat to occupy it. Labor unions (whose members are of all races and ethnicities) are defiant. Is the threat to “invade” really serious or saber rattling by the corrosive and and contemptable bully from 1600 Mar-a-Lago?

How did we get to this egregious political point in time? While racism has stained our history as a country since its founding, (white slave owners declaring “All men are created equal”) the persecution of Black and Brown people, working class people of all races, genders and ethnicities has never been as blatant as right now. But it should never have been allowed to become this ill-tasting toxic stew of fear, hate and lawlessness.

Recall, the previous Democrat administration had FOUR YEARS to hold the current wannabe-King to account for his role in the 1-9-21 deadly assault on the Capital. If that option carried a degree of difficulty beyond the Biden administration’s ability, what about 34 felony counts of falsifying business records? Or being convicted of sexual assault? Or, the virtually daily violation of the Emoluments Clause. This clause is part of the Constitution. It is meant to forbid any public officials–particularly the President–from receiving benefits that could compromise their independence and loyalty to the nation.

Clearly, what I now always refer to as Duopoly brought us our current dystopia. Referring to Democrat or Republican implies a choice. A truly terrible fake “choice”. 90 million potential voters chose not bother with the 2024 election. For many of those millions it was the failure to punish DJT for any of his criminal convictions. Many others were turned off by Democrat Party’s disgusting military/financial support of the documented bombing and killing of Palestinians, especially children. Moral bankrutpcy.

My last posting stated we needed more choices than this Duopoly. I, personally, am a member of the Green Party. However, the Duopoly goes to any length to muffle the Green messaging. People ask, “why haven’t I heard about the Greens?”.  Answer: the corporate media won’t acknowledge their presence on the political horizon. Or the political universe, galaxy or solar system.  Greens do not take corporate/Super PAC money.  Their platform seeks economic and social justice across the country and the globe. These are Green Party platforms antithetical to the Duopoly, which is wholly owned and operated by the corporate/billionaire class.

We must think past this absurd “lesser of two evils” nonsense. It’s an evil of two-lessors. We need to–and can do-–so much better. Let’s hope September in Chicago and elsewhere will prove to be a show of resistance that proves to be a harsh reality check for the destructive hate and fearmongering (now in its eight month!). Those responsible for this fascistic descent into darkness know that there are approximately 265 million Americans who did not vote for any part of it. And like the legendary Howard Beale, they may becoming more and more “mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore”.

To the ramparts. We have nothing to lose and everything good to gain.

A beautiful day here in Chicagoland, August 13. Sunny and low 80s. Low humidity. Biking to a nearby park, the scene is placid, peaceful and welcoming. Squirrels dash about. People on benches eating, or laying about, one or two reading a book (yes, reading a book). A great day to be outdoors at midday. Or all day. The ambience is an antidote for the rough weather days . This type of absolutely ideal day is a gift from Mother Nature. Everyone, anywhere they may exist on our blue and green sphere, should have the same agreeable weather. After all, it’s a fair weather day that helps to sooth and smooth-out–if just for a day–the myriad externals of daily life which produce mindsets beset with crumpled, crinkled consternations.

If only this day could be bottled, canned, shrink-wrapped and thus be at one’s command. Some control. Maybe more than some. Lacking access to fair weather at will, we can still  imagine it every day, daydreaming a bright, soft and serene alternative to what now amounts to a undeniably deeply disturbing descent into political darkness.

Dark? Among other atrocities, children being perfunctorily killed, in a flash or by slow starvation, while those who could stop it simply choose not to. Minorities are being persecuted. “Taken”. “Iced”. Women are under siege: a miscarriage might be a felony in certain areas. Women’s right to vote being casually considered by some far-right voices to be taken away –a crucial right finally granted only 105 years ago. Callous, gratuitous toxicity.

While a beautiful day weather-wise can be a balm, climate chaos is more the norm than the exception. Climate action? Like Gaza, no sense of alarm with certain authorities. In fact, polluters have allies in high office. If only the powers-that-be could be neutered and unable to procreate their progeny of greedy, amoral, and ruthless offerings.

A Gallup News poll from October, 2024, resulted in 58% of respondents saying we need a 3rd party. A major 3rd party. Another poll from We, the PeopleSeptember of 2024 showed an “independent” party was preferred by 69% of respondents. Independent from that Duopoly, of course. Independent from corporate donors that would dictate their policies. That is what any 3rd party should be–ideally.

There is such an ideal 3rd party. It has been around since 1984: the Green Party. Peace. Planet. People. Local and national, the Green platform seeks to provide relief from the corporate owned and operated Frick or Frack fraud that has created the dystopia of today. A two-sides-of-the–same coin System that supports genocide, empire and constant conflict.

Give it a try. We need to do better, that is unarguable. It’s up to We, the People to unite and fight for brighter days. We all have the power to make positive change. It starts with understanding we all have that power.

Yesterday, the Guardian posted an article addressing the current state of the nuclear age we have lived in for a very long time now. The article revealed that there is a increasing number of nuclear weapons being added to what once a total of 2,636 in 1955. Today, there are approximately 15,850 “ultimate weapons”.

Of course once upon a time, the number was zero. Until 1945, when there were two. Those two atomic bombs belonged to the United states. Both of them were dropped on Japan. 80 years ago today (August 6). The first bomb, given the name of Little Boy, was dropped on Hiroshima. It killed an estimated 140,000 Japanese–mostly civilians. The intent was to force the Japanese military into complete surrender, and thus end World War Two. When that did not immediately happen, bomb number two–given the name Fat Man–was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945. It killed 74,000 people. Two bombs. 214,000 dead. 38,000 of them children.

Japan then surrendered.

In the 80 ensuing years since those two atomic bombs were dropped, a nuclear weapon has never been used in anger. And as noted above, from those initial two devasting weapons, we now have over 15,000 of them, all much more powerful than Little Boy or Fat Man.

Post-WWII brought the Cold War. The Soviet Union then created their own nukes. Fall out shelters became a thing. Duck and Cover drills took place in elementary schools. All the while the number of nukes kept growing. As did the so-called Nuclear Club beyond the U.S. and the old Soviet Union. There are now nine members of this club. The additional seven are the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. That nuclear genie will never go back into the lantern created by the terrors of science. And some of the leaders of that 9-Club membership are less than towering figures of diplomacy, politeness or even-tempered governance. Indeed a few are clearly capable of irrational decision-making.

Over these 80 years since those first two bombs displayed their massively deadly power, the Cold War concept of mutual assured destruction seems to be a successful deterrent for nuclear war occurring. Also known by the spot-on acronym. M.A.D. the reality that even one deployment of even a short range nuclear weapon would trigger many others in retaliation. And goodbye, humanity. But so far so good, in spite of the few clearly dangerous leaders who have the authority to command firing that first shot since August 9, 1945.

Right now, our geopolitical reality is there are “leaders” for whom the large scale killings of perceived enemies is not a problem. They have no moral confines with which to consider. Everyday there are updates on horrific conflicts around the world: the sickening genocide taking place in Gaza;  the civil war in Sudan; senseless bloodshed in areas like Myanmar, Haiti, and the Sahel region of Africa. Syria and Yemen, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In the U.S. Black and Brown. poor and marginalized people in the cross-hairs of a nefarious, racist, xenophobic administration.

The history of the world is one of conflict between humans based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationalism or resources. Or even pettiness. That history precedes by several thousand years the creation and use of Little Boy and Fat Man. We continue to kill one another for factors stated above, and it seems to be virtually overlooked that we must include nuclear/atomic weapons as a means of settling a score.

Only 80 years ago. Death by thermal radiation, a blast wave, acute radiation sickness. While much of humanity rails and denounces the abhorrent ongoin killings of innocent men, women and especially children, hoping that somehow a shared sense of benevolent humanity can emerge from this current global madness, nuclear annihilation is just one impulsive act of lunacy from a global endgame.

Such a scenario seems unimaginable. However, there are still today survivors of those two bombs dropped on Japan. Ask them how unimaginable an experience that is. M.A.D is still the ultimate deterrent to another nuclear attack. But in a world gone as mad with the thirst for power, persecution and even extermination as here and now, this 80th anniversary of the nukes dropped on Japan reminds us all it could still be worse. As in, we all–instantly or semi-instantly–die in a blinding flash.

Given the increasingly dire and dystopian developments since WWII, it takes a fierce and relentless determination to choose to still fight for a brighter future. To establish an enduring light that defies the darkness. What other choice have we?

For the majority of people in the U.S., there is a now well established sense of concern for the country. We have a rogue government that since January 20, 2025, has displayed its intent to exploit the have nots, or those who have a little, or those who have more than a little but are each day wondering when they, too, may be in the crosshairs of the latest “executive order” or legislation aimed at taking more and more away from what once was a fairly secure sense of well being.

It’s no walk in the park for working-class minorities, women and even many children of those being targeted. Yes targeted. Many have been “taken”. It appears to be a vicious intent to make the U.S. as white as possible, and particularly for uber-wealthy whites. There are protests. Huge turnouts. Unfortunately, there seems to be little official pushback by any part of the government, and that is either by design or sheer cowardice.

Six months of this descent into virtually lawless governing. Seems a lot longer, though, huh? Maybe the mid-terms…

Meanwhile, in another part of the world, there is also a population living under duress. Duress: threats, violence, constraints or other action brought to bear on someone. Or, in this case, not just Brown, Black, poor Whites or women. This “other” population would very likely trade places with those of us in the U.S. who are now in the evil legislative crosshairs initiated on –1-20-2025.

Many of us feel uncertain about the future. For some others, the future is now. No past. No future. Only the waking here and now. Moment by moment. With evil ready to pounce.

Evil is nothing new, but it has various levels of intensity. And duration. For the people of Palestine, in Gaza, each and every one in that populace is plagued by an official force of Pure Evil. Its blatancy is a stain on humanity. There is not even a hint of nuance for the Palestinian plight, with each day a literal challenge to obtain food, water, medicine, or any sense of safety. Palestinians have, for generations, been the target of oppression and violence. To be born in Palestine is to have been, by birth, ethnicity and location, automatically designated as a target by the country of Israel. They have been in the crosshairs of its evil intent for decades, but at this very moment, their plight and persecution has reached a point at which we, as a human race, become less humane every day. Ignoble. Unforgivably so.

The Israeli government (and its military), over the past 21 months, has killed estimates of over one hundred-thousand men, women and children. The catalyst was a Hamas attack on Israel that killed about 1200 Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023. Simple math would clearly indicate that attack has been used to declare a “war” on Hamas. Hamas is not the people of Palestine. It is not a war that is absurdly asserted by many news outlets. It is a genocide. No other conclusion can be drawn! The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court have both designated it as such. Sadly, and incredulously, those conclusions are not enough for seemingly any other country to intercede, to say enough! Enough!

The indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, the well documented cost of human life via cellphone video capture, have made these attacks an endless horror story. underscoring an evil that now connotes an incomprehensible, numbing sense of business-as-usual. That food, water, medicine and more that the people of Palestine need so desperately has been turned into a twisted, venal, heartless and hateful game of “beat the clock”. That is, four aid supply areas have been set up. The supplies are made available in the dead-of-night, and a report in today’s Guardian profiles a young Palestinian who tried to get his hands on some of those supplies before Israeli tanks start firing on him and so many others rushing desperately to do the same. The article estimates there might be about a 10-minute window for those who risk their lives to get there, get some supplies, then safely make the sometimes very long trek back to their families, many of whom are on the brink of starvation, dehydration, and other life-threatening conditions. And each day, dozens die in the effort. Every. Day. Day after day. After day. A genocide graphically documented. Without consequence to those committing the atrocities. Again, where is our humanity?

Where are those that have the power to stop this? They are out there, but without the moral courage to step in and step up to this abominable reality, their power is solely symbolic. Shamefully so.

What is Eviller than firing upon a starving, defenseless, dying people seeking to survive, if only for one more day? Where is the goodness of humanity that is capable of stopping this? It becomes less perceptible every day.

Here in the US of A, we do enjoy our French fries. And our French toast. You can get your fill of those two “French” inspired foods at your nearby you-name-it-drive-thru fast-food emporium or at just about any casual diner serving breakfast chow. In either venue, these culinary delights will fill you up and up as they go down very easily.

Then there are much more authentic French delights to be had such as quiche lorraine, ratatouille, bouillabaisse, crepes, escargot, coq au vin, foie gras, charcuterie, beef bourguignon, or creme brulee. And so many more dishes in which to indulge when the Franco Jones hunger pangs hit. Of course most of the above loftier dishes are enjoyed at a restaurant. Perhaps at a very expensive destination. Special occasions destinations. The priciest place to indulge in very elegantly prepared French delights in Chicago is Alinea. Want tiny portions and a huge tab? Then it’s Alinea that beckons: $500 per person. That does not include drinks. Wow. How exclusive. Must be the hedge fund barons or uber-mojo investment bankers who don’t think twice about dining there. They don’t need a special occasion. Maybe not even a reservation.

What would be a special occasion that specifically connotes things French? Special in what context? Well, how about today, July 14, 2025? Can you say Bastille Day? Okay, that’s the Americanized moniker for what the French refer to as “La fete nationale” or 14 juilliet.  On July 14, 1789, French peasants, craftsmen, shop owners all banded together and literally stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison that symbolized the French monarchy’s oppressive power. The goal was to seize weapons and ammunition and free the unjustly incarcerated. Three years and two days after the Bastille was attacked, the monarchy fell. By 1799 the French Revolution was complete.

Liberte, egalite, fraternite!

The U.S. revolutionary war was taking place at about the same time (1775-1783). France today is a republican state and a parliamentary democracy. Meaning it has an elected President who then appoints a Prime Minister. Today, we here in the USA have an elected President, an elected congress and a congressionally appointed Supreme Court. Until about 5 months ago, this system of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial provided a “checks and balances” function as proscribed in our Constitution, wanting each branch to ensure that no individual branch could become more powerful than the other two. I say until about five months ago, because, well folks, neither the congress nor the Supreme Court show any interest in reigning-in the current President-who-would-be King. Perhaps you have noticed?

Then and now…

…Bastille Day, July 14, 1789. 236 years later, the French have that above noted President/Prime Minister/parliamentary democracy. 242 years after the U.S. Revolution we have a pseudo, quasi, crypto, ersatz, virtually unchecked President, along with a very unbalanced three branches of government. The U.S. just again observed its Independence Day of July 4, 1776. As usual, fireworks. backyard barbeques, NASCAR, apple pie and baseball, and an annual hot dog eating contest (the winner of which this year ate 70.5 “tube steaks” in 5 minutes!). And Old Glory flapping high on a flagpole, on lapels, buttons, T-shirts, coffee mugs, even a tattoo or two.

Well, for the majority of the country it’s now not as usual as it usually has been. Did you pig-out or protest? I know there were protests but no prisons were stormed. No beheadings. But the momentum may be building. Remember, July 4, 1776 and July 14th, 1789. Long held grievances between the haves and have nots simmering, kindled with the firewood of oppression and injustice, heated by flames that sucked the air from gasping commoners, causing the pot to boil over and stain the floor of history forever! (with kudos to the writers of the 1970 film Start the Revolution Without Me).

Okay. Revolution is not a laughing matter, but I, for one, cling to my snarky sense of humor. And an appetite for justice. It’s as simple as eating French fries and plotting a reply to our disappointments. To the ramparts! Storm that Bastille. And when we emerge victorious, we can all have a big belly laugh at the expense of the vanquished.

And we celebrate with French fries, French toast or an all-American hotdog or two. Or 70.5. Damn straight! The American way.

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