WE ARE ...

WE ARE ......

We are what we are because of who we are and where we are. I have often thought that I have lived in the best of all possible times. My segment in time has allotted me the many opportunities that I currently enjoy as a human living in America in  the twenty-first century.

But what if I had appeared in my ancestral Scotland 1000 years ago; or in my ancestral Northern Europe (Germany) 500 years ago; or  as a Kalahari bushman in Africa 100 years ago; or as a Jew in Palestine 300 years ago; or as a member of the Shawnee indian tribe in Eastern North America 500 years ago; or as a Mongolian today? Everything about me would be different. I would look different. I would have different experiences. I would feel differently about my surroundings, other people, animals, plants, food, work, pleasure, religion.

If I had lived deep in the past, I would now be blind (I have a degenerative eye disease that only modern medicine can help).

I had an appendicitis at age 34 when I had three young children and emergency surgery saved my life. Had this happened in Scotland a 1000 years ago, I would probably have died from a burst appendix.

I am lucky to be alive here, now, in this segment of time.

I believe the life force we all carry first appeared on Planet Earth about 3,800,000,000 years ago. This spark of life was first started as an experiment by the Creator and we (all life forms) who inhabit Earth are the current holders of the light. As living beings we do not create new life, we merely pass it on to the next generation. What this means is that the original spark of life has been carried by organisms from 3.8 billion years ago until now. 

Think about this. How many Y's or FORKS in the road did our ancestors face. One path led to death and destruction and the other to survival and living.  Literally millions of times our predecessors faced adversities and survived, others at the same time faced those same problems and died.  We and everything alive on Earth today are the survivors. This is WHO WE ARE.

I  was born in 1940 and grew up on  a dairy farm in a quiet valley in rural Pennsylvania. Our pacifist Amish and Mennonite neighbors did not present a threat to social order and in many ways we were isolated from the problems of the outside world; protected as it were from the real world. Had I been born in Japan, Germany, Palestine, South Africa or China on that date my life would have been much different.We are very much a product of  WHERE WE ARE. 

      

TRIBALISM IS IN OUR DNA

TRIBALISM IS IN OUR DNA

I grew up in a farming community in South-Central Pennsylvania dominated by four distinct tribes of people. These tribes were mostly defined by their religious beliefs and the church they attended. Some of them also differed in dress and farming methods, but all were Protestant and of the same race ("white").  The first 18 years of my life were spent in this agriculturally centered community.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a tribe as "a group of persons having a common character, occupation or interest." By that definition the 4 groups I grew up with could definitely be defined as tribes.

The four included the Old-Order Amish, the Mennonites, the Lutherans and the Presbyterians. I began school in the Fall of 1945 by attending the local one-room school. Concord School was my school home for 5 out of my first 6 years of public education. I was the only kid in first grade and my classmates in this 8 grades classroom included Amish, Mennonites, Lutherans and Presbyterians (I was Presbyterian) and we were taught by a Mennonite teacher. School was the ONLY place where the four tribes actually spent much time together. In school we studied together, visited together, and played games together; but once we left school grounds, we went back to the tribe.  The Amish to their horse and buggy, no electricity and German language; the Mennonites to their plain clothes, white bonnets and black cars; the Lutheran and Presbyterians back to their "English ways" of cars, electricity and tractors.

Anyone who visits a large city on this planet can readily observe that Homo sapiens are tribal.  We collect with people of a similar religion, language, culture, ethnicity, race, etc., because we are more comfortable around "people like us".

This United States is an amalgamation of hundreds of tribes from around the world.  From our beginnings in the 1600's to the twenty-first century, this land has been and continues to be a beacon of opportunity.  My ancestors came to America in the 1700's from Scotland and Germany and along with many others, helped settle what was then known as the frontier in central Pennsylvania. Because this land was so vast, and the opportunities so great, people from all over the world have come here. Today, no other country in the world has the wide diversity of humans that we do.  

For thousands of years the tribe has been our identity.  We were Christian, we were Jewish, we were Muslim, we were Hindu,
we were African, we were English, we were Japanese, we were Indian and it is a very long list. In the USA of today we are struggling with how we can all be identified as Americans. 

It is a work in progress. We are being tested like never before. The challenge we face is---can we retain the values and culture we cherish as a tribe and still be Americans? Can a nation with such wide diversity survive and prosper in the twenty-first century, or is the effort going to be abandoned as just too hard?  Our children and grandchildren will grade us on our success or failure.

The United States is in political turmoil because our current leadership in Washington does NOT recognize that all who live here, are AMERICANS. President Trump is doing everything he can to create chaos among our wide variety of peoples, because he seems to enjoy seeing people fight and he thinks it is to his political advantage. Sadly, he lacks the capacity to appreciate the wide diversity that is America today.

The Know-Nothings (GOP) who are currently running the country have no vision for the future, so they need to be defeated and replaced with people who are forward looking and are willing to work toward a brighter future for generations still to come.

Donald J. Trump looks at a picture of America and sees ONLY HIMSELF. 

VOTE

TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE KNOW-NOTHINGS

TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE KNOW-NOTHINGS

Donald J. Trump knows nothing and he demonstrates that fact every time he opens his mouth or makes a decision. He knows nothing about the economy, tariffs, trade, diplomacy, war, climate change, or any other issue requiring his attention. He is incapable of normal human discourse so he uses insults, put downs and ridicule against anyone who opposes him or his ideas; and resorts to exaggeration and self aggrandizement. The Republican Party, when prodded to respond to his bad behavior, says nothing or defends his hate filled rhetoric.

Trump and his followers are the current rendition of the anti-immigrant party of the 1840's and 1850's called the KNOW-NOTHINGS. This movement in the middle of the nineteenth century was highly secretive and when asked where they stood on an issue responded with "I know nothing".  

The anti-immigrant sentiment at the time was sparked by an influx of Irish and German immigrants, mostly Catholic, into major cities across the country. Supporters of the Know-Nothings included the working classes and people who had a dislike for those whom they perceived as the elite.  The members, mostly Protestants, viewed the Catholic Church as a threat to their way of life and the immigrants as a threat to take away their jobs. Riots occurred in  major cities including New York, Chicago and Baltimore; but the most notable violence occurred in the Spring and Summer of 1844  in Philadelphia.  The unrest was sparked by conflicts between Protestants and Catholics over singing hymns in schools and led to riots in which Catholic churches were burned and at least 29 people were killed.  Immigration was the singular issue for the Know-Nothings and their influence waned as the threat of a coming civil war loomed large over the country.

The GOP is dying.  At the national level it is being destroyed by leaders unable to expand their view of the world to include people who are different from themselves.  Led by Trump's hate-filled speeches and rallies, the Republican Party is becoming a "whites only" political movement unable to appeal to the wide diversity that is America.

Donald J. Trump is not a normal human. He is interested ONLY in himself and what makes himself look good in the eyes of his "base".  His derisive  bulling attitude toward others makes those around him hesitant to criticize or disagree with his decisions, so they keep quiet and go along, hoping they will survive. When asked about Trump's latest diatribe or terrible action members of the Republican Party choose to say nothing or defend it with some weak-kneed excuse. Calling this political party the KNOW-NOTHINGS at this point in history seems perfectly fitting. 

Trump is a WHITE SUPREMACIST.  

I do NOT believe the vast majority of persons who call themselves Republicans support the goals of the white supremacist movements.  They, like their compatriots from the 19th century, fear the "other"; people who look different, speak a different language, worship in a different manner, or dress in different ways. Their fears and concerns are universal and are born from ignorance, isolation, lack of experiences and limited education. 

The farmer in Pennsylvania, the coal miner in West Virginia, the steel worker in Ohio, the autoworker in Michigan and the cattle rancher in Montana who have voted Republican all of their adult lives now face a "terrible choice". "Do I continue to support a party that is lead by a white supremacist or do I do the unthinkable---Vote for a Democrat?"  This is the political future facing Republican voters in the upcoming elections. 

The future of the  United States and our democracy will be determined by how the current political turmoil is resolved over the next year or so. The KNOW-NOTHING PARTY (GOP) must be defeated in the upcoming elections. It will not be easy. The Democratic Party has to show America it has a vision for the future that is all inclusive, that is forward looking, that is positive and is  sustainable, if it is to rescue the United States from the clutches of the Know-Nothings. The well being of the whole world is at stake and we must not fail.

FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL GRADE US ON OUR SUCCESS OR FAILURE AND IF WE FAIL, THEIR ASSESSMENT WILL BE BRUTAL.

NOTE:  Information for this post was gleaned  from a story in the July/August 2017 issue of National Geographic History magazine.
   






  



  

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOW AND WE ARE THE CAUSE

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOW AND WE ARE THE CAUSE

The climate on Planet Earth has been changing most of my adult life.  The changes have been slow and are now manifesting themselves most dramatically in places like Alaska, Siberia, Greenland and Antarctica.  These alterations of our environment are NOT reversible and there is not an easy cure for this condition.  

This is an ecosystem problem. An ecosystem is a web of interconnected entities that make something work.  The human body is our ecosystem and when all of the parts of this marvel are working together we are healthy and we feel good.  When this system breaks down we get sick and feel terrible.

The Earth's ecosystem is called the Biosphere and it is sick and getting sicker due to our activities.  Some have likened humans affect on the planet  as to a disease. If you examine human incursions into the natural environment it is strikingly similar to a kind of cancer.  When a homeowner buys land for a homestead, he clears it of all native vegetation, builds the house and then plants green concrete (grass) and nonnative wallpaper plants to make it look "natural". 

Towns and cities resemble tumors as they expand their boundaries seeking more land for housing, roads, businesses, industries, etc.

It is my belief that the Biosphere is life on the planet and it will treat humans as a threat to its survival. We are facing the possible extinction of the human species if we continue on our present path.

During the last Ice Age about 15,000 years ago humans were mostly hunters and gatherers, living off the land. We were part of the ecosystem with a stable population and living within our "means". The activities we participated in were sustainable  and we did not have a very negative impact on the Biosphere.  About 10,000 years ago humans invented agriculture and everything changed.  From maybe 1 million humans  at the time, a reliable food supply, combined with increased safety of living in enclaves with others, the number of humans increased dramatically.  Today there are more than 7.7 Billion of us on the planet with future estimates reaching at least 9 to 12 Billion in the next 50 years.  This is NOT sustainable. 

If the Biosphere is sick and we are the disease, it has no choice but to use it's immune system to cure itself.  We do not appear to have the political will to limit humans numbers or control the methane and carbon dioxide pollution spewing into the atmosphere. Disease has always been a limiting factor in human existence, but with the worldwide rise of  modern medicine, drugs, hospitals, etc, just about everyone survives. No one wants to go back to "survival of the fittest", but unless we limit our numbers and our impact on the planet, I do not believe we will survive as a species.

Why do I worry?  In the twenty-first century humans are concentrating in huge cities of millions of people, often living in poverty and deplorable conditions where communicable diseases,  like EBOLA,  can spread easily.  Like chickens in a huge house, when one chicken gets sick, they all die. 

We have choices.  The religious and governmental Patriarchal world that has ruled humanity for the last 10,000 years has to change.  This rule by MEN since we lived as hunters and gathers has given us our modern way of life but can not keep on this unsustainable path. If the male of the species can't lead humans to a sustainable future, then it is time to let women take the reins of power, so they can make the needed choices for survival. I for one am willing to step aside and let them run things.  Men have screwed up the world and it is time for us to get out of the way.       

    

TRUMP IS BASICALLY ROTTEN

TRUMP IS BASICALLY ROTTEN

The true nature of the human condition really crystallized in my mind some years ago during a group discussion of good versus evil. After listening to this serious back and forth for about 20 minutes, I raised my hand and asked if I could speak. I said "I don't believe you can describe man as being either good or evil, I think MAN IS BASICALLY ROTTEN." The group broke out in laughter and the quote was mine!

This quote has been my working hypothesis when dealing with my species ever since

After looking in the mirror and realizing I was basically rotten, my first question was "am I alone or are other people rotten as well?". So I started observing human behavior in its raw form and what better place than in a school with a 1000 teenagers running all over the place (the middle school where I taught science for many years). What about politics, business, TV, the movies, the internet and all the places where we humans hang out? It was a revelation and as well as a relief to realize I was not alone. 

I eventually came to the conclusion that we humans are all basically rotten. The struggle to control our basic nature is life-long and never ends. It is EASY to go with the flow, think only of yourself, and allow   your wants and needs to come first. It is HARD to be honest, truthful and put others first---it takes work, courage, patience, perseverance and commitment.

My observations: If we are to survive in human society, we  need to learn to share, to give, to love, to consider the needs of others. Those who recognize and learn to control their rotten nature (selfishness) are able to make positive contributions to family, groups and societies. Some individuals unable to control their rotten nature end up sad, unhappy, bitter, unpleasant and often become isolated from other people. In extreme cases they become social outcasts and end up spending time in prison or mental hospitals, abusing chemicals, attacking and abusing other people or in the worst case---end up dead.

We have a common humanity on this planet. We find people in every society, every religion who do good deeds, share what they have and put others before themselves. And we have persons in these same societies in every country who abuse others, steal and kill. They have not, for whatever reason, learned to control their basic rotten nature.

EXHIBIT #1: DONALD J. TRUMP is basically rotten.  He appears to be devoid of positive qualities that make us human---empathy, kindness, love, wonder, compassion, etc.  He exhibits  the dark side of humanity and appears set on a path of self-destruction that he seemingly can not control.

The entire planet is experiencing the anti-human behavior of this sad, bitter old man, who is unable to experience the true human emotions we all cherish.  For us to have more peaceful societies and move toward a better future, Mr. Trump and other leaders in his mold need to be removed from power and replaced with individuals who will move humanity toward a better tomorrow. 

I am cautiously optimistic about the future.  Most people I know have found a way to cope with their own shortcomings and to develop means to survive in a multicultural, multiracial 
world that they can not really control.  The anger and fear exhibited by some of the citizens in this country is based on ignorance and lack of real life experiences; and can only be cured with education and experience.  Many of these folks are in a bubble where they live, work and worship with people just like themselves. Once we humans get to know people of other cultures, races, religions, etc. our fear of them dissipates and our tolerance increases.

Donald J. Trump will eventually melt away where evil always goes and the world will pick up the pieces and move on.  He and his supporters will be forgotten as people move forward. trying to resolve the many issues we face such as climate change, environmental pollution, over population, nuclear weapon proliferation, resource depletion, etc.  

This will require a commitment from all of us, who care about our country and our world, to get to work. No one else is going to do it for us.  

See you at the polls.

ELECTION 2020, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

ELECTION 2020, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

I have followed politics since I was a teenager in the 1950's.  It is very much akin to being addicted to a soap opera.  It is constantly filled with battles, drama and the outcomes are never assured.  The Presidential election of 2020 will be no exception.

This election for President would seem to be pretty straight forward---a Trump-Pence ticket against a Democratic slate yet to be determined.

I don't think so.

I believe something dramatic will happen within the next year to alter the trajectory of the 2020 election for President of the United States.  There are several possibilities:

1.  Trump is impeached (Not likely.)
2.  Trump resigns because of his criminal exposure or that of his family. (More likely.)
3.  Trump dies or is incapacitated by a stroke or heart attack which 
renders him unable to continue as President.  His unhealthy diet and unhinged behavior have to be stressing his body to the point where something may give out. (Very likely.) 
4. Trump is killed by an accident, such as a plane crash. (Slim chance.)
5. Trump is assassinated. His use of the hate-speech approach to the election has made him a lightning rod. There are a lot of people in this country who are offended by Trump's behavior and as we have seen in the past some are driven to violence. George Wallace is a good example of a candidate who used racist, hateful speech while running for President who was injured, but did not die from an assassin's attack.(Worst possible outcome.)

Donald J. Trump will definitely die at some point, we all do.  It will be really interesting to see how his "base" supporters react. If he manages to live to an old age, will his religious supporters treat him as a deity when he passes? My guess is that the Trump family will put Donald's body in a mausoleum in Trump Tower and charge the public to view his remains. 

If Donald is injured or killed  by an act of violence his white supremacy supporters, who often threaten violence themselves, are not likely to take the events lightly. If he is killed or attacked by a member of a American minority or a person from another country,  violence and bloodshed will likely result.  

Trump's recent racist rants toward women of color who serve in the U. S. Congress are incendiary and will lead to more hatred and violence. He needs to govern or resign. Since he does not know how to govern a country of more than 300 million people he would do us all a big favor if he would just shut up, resign and go back to New York.

In any event, I believe Donald J. Trump will be gone from the scene by the summer of 2020 and the scenario for the Presidential election will have changed dramatically. 

With Donald gone, Mike Pence then ascends to the Presidency and the Congress has to replace Pence as Vice-President. Mitt Romney would be the most likely Republican to be elevated to this position.  So now you would have President Mike Pence and Vice-President Mitt Romney running the country until the election.

During the run-up to the Republican National Convention Mike Pence decides he does not want to run for President. The Party elevates Romney to the Presidential Nomination and Nikki Halley is selected by the Convention to be the Vice-Presidential nominee.

A ticket of Mitt Romney and Nikki Halley would provide a formidable Republican opponent to any Democratic candidate for president.

My advice to the Democrats---Expect the unexpected.

"THE OTHERS"

King Donald worries constantly about  "others" coming.  The King's friends had brought "others" into his kingdom to do jobs no one else wanted to do. The "others" brought their families and friends and soon the "others" out numbered the locals.  This made the locals anxious and fearful of these people who were a different color and spoke a strange language.  The King had assured the locals he would build a GREAT WALL to keep the "OTHERS" out, but the knights of the square table could not agree on anything, so no money was made available. The King became enraged and had his stooges declare a ban on the "others" coming into the kingdom, but the keepers of the LAW stood in the way.

Desperate. the King ordered  his chief stooge, the round-faced grinning Howdy Dew to solve the "others" problem. Howdy did not like the "others" either, so he gleefully grabbed  these "other people" and sent them out of the kingdom at a rapid rate.

UPDATE:  The King's temper tantrum over the WALL continues and he now is defying the Knights of the Square Table by having his underlings steal money from other parts of the government to pay for his ego trip on the Texas border.  Most people know the WALL is just for show---so the King can install a large mirror to use for admiration of himself.