The Purple Finger Of Fate

The Arab Spring is evolving into the unexpected as winter approaches. Back when the Muslim Brotherhood raised it's head in Egypt, some like Sean Hannity, worried about what would happen if they took over the countries as elections were held.  Others, far more actually, assured us they were too unorganized to be of any consequence.

Well, strange things have been happening.  The Islamists are winning.  Of course, being Islamist countries some form of Islamism is going to win.  What's happening, though, is that the secular opposition is losing.  This has the potential of being dangerous.  Especially if there is a return to strict Shariah law.  Women's rights will be decimated.  Degrees of repression and radicalism will be the order of the day.  Yet this is what the people are voting for.

Why?  It's worth thinking about because we're going to have to deal with transforming governments for some time to come.  Consider just two of the countries, Egypt and Libya.  Both secular, both considered friends of the U.S.  Yet both were ruled by the most cruel and repressive of leaders.  What has secularism done for them?  Look, too, at Iran and Syria where the monsters are still in place.

So what do you do when suddenly free to choose what type of government you want?  You go back to your roots.  Islamism.  Not thinking about how restrictive and repressive it is by nature and in the end nothing will have been gained.

I think we're about to see a classic example of unintended consequences.  The struggle for freedom and economic stability may be lost as quickly as the current despots were run from power.  It's a frightening scenario.

It will be a time when diplomacy will require untold amounts of patience and prudence.  How long will it take for the Muslim world to recognize the answers lay in a moderate middle is any ones guess.  Meanwhile, all we can do is watch and wait.  It's likely not to be to be pretty.

An Escape Into Myself

Today, Halloween, seemed an appropriate day.  Especially after what I'm watching happen to Herman Cain.  I'm not sure I have the stomach for what's coming as the campaign unfolds.

But today, for an hour or so, I was cocooned within myself in one more attempt to gain control over my back pain.  I went to a hypnotherapist.

We were in a loft area, her home office.  She sat next to me and had me relax in the biggest, most soft recliner I've ever sat in.  We talked about what ailed me and how the doctors couldn't pin point the cause.  About how I want to get off the pain medication because it's nearing the point if being ineffective.  About what sort of life I had before the pain became all encompassing and what type of life I'd like if I didn't have it.

Then she had me close my eyes, relax and so began my decension into myself. It began with attaining a peaceful vision and the feelings that went along with it.  She'd ask me to drift back to a time before the pain and what happened that might have caused it.  What was I seeing.  It didn't take me where I had expected but it clicked.  We worked through several scenarios as I slid deeper; I could feel it.  We equated the physical pain with an emotional pain then began to unravel it.

For a long time I thought it wasn't working then all of a sudden strange things began to happen.  I could feel degrees of release.  We spent some time at it. Talking.  Reacting.  By the time she brought me back up the pain hadn't disappeared, but had, indeed, receded. I felt like a rag doll.  I didn't want it to end.  I can't recall when I last felt so relaxed.

I was told to expect things to be happening in my body for the next two or three days.  I was told I would not relapse.  Positive thinking if nothing else.

I will undoubtedly go for another session after I see what the final outcome of this one is.  It has been several hours now and I'm still as mellow as I can be.  Again, I don't want it to end!

With all the ugliness in the headlines today, it was a saving grace in more ways than one.  One more step toward healing. I'm looking at the bell that sits on my desk year round.  Like the one from the Polar Express.  To hear it tinkle you have to believe.

Today I choose to believe the therapy will work.  I only wish I could believe as strongly in the decency of the press and the politicians.  Maybe one out of two is enough.  At least for today.

Ah, Herman, Don't Change

The political pundits are beginning to take their toll on you.  It makes me sad.  You've been a breath of fresh air in an otherwise same-o, same-o campaign.

Herman, understand that not all voters are as tunnel visioned on abortion as the Christian conservatives.  Your gut instinct was to give your opinion as to how you saw the issue.  For heavens sake, it was the truth!  And a whole lot of us out here agreed with you.  To change your stance to enhance yourself in their eyes diminishes you in the eyes of others.  It's not the issue to lose on.

Consider, at this point in time, Roe vs. Wade is the law of the land.  End of discussion.  We have far more pressing issues  that affect all of us that need to be addressed.

As for your comment on the border fence, it was funny.  Put an electrified wire on top, a moat with alligators on our side and a sign on theirs saying they'll  be dead.  It's what most of us are thinking when we sit around bandying about ideas on how to fix the problem!  It's a shame we don't recognize a good jab when we hear one.

That's a large part of our problem these days.  We have too many people analyzing and spinning everything said to fit their own view, be it narrow or not.  It doesn't serve us well.

Yep.  It's obvious you're not a practiced politician.  That's your appeal! You tell it as you see it.  When you start bending to the will of the bullying pundits you'll lose every time because they spin better than you do.  That's the point isn't it?  You don't spin.

Just continue being yourself.  You might be pleasantly surprised where the chips fall. The axe men might be surprised too.  Maybe not so pleasantly.

By the way, I love your 'Yellow Flowers' campaign ad! It, gasp, made me laugh!

Just Who Are The Racists?

I'm getting tired of other people telling me why I think the way I do.  Especially when it comes to Presidential candidates who interest me.  Especially if it's Democrats making assumptions about Republicans.

Okay, I'm an Independent but in order to be able to take part in the process I have to declare a party and when Independent is not a choice I choose Republican.  So to have a cable network analyst suggest it's because he's a black man who knows his place infuriates me.  That I feel like I'm not racist because I like the guy.

That they can make such statements astounds me.  It sounds like racism is surely percolating away just below the surface of those who think that.  Can they be serious?

I do like the man.  Would I vote for him?  Should he win the nomination you bet I would.  Would I vote for him in the primary?  I don't know enough about him to say 'yes' for sure.  I'm looking seriously at several.  But if I don't it will have nothing to do with race.

This is already the most silly of silly seasons I've been witness to. The President out there putting out executive orders faster than you can say Halloween. He ought to slow down or he'll have run out of material long before next November.  Then what will he do to buy votes?

The question always comes back to what's he been waiting for?  I won't even start on Congress.

Let's go back to our President.  You know what?  I voted for him and he is anything but a black man who knows his place.  A lot of other Republicans and Independents also voted for him or he wouldn't have won.

Perhaps it's because he was barely in office before I began my criticisms.  I'm sure it's assumed it's because I closeted my racism during his phenomenal run for the Presidency then could no longer contain it.

It couldn't possibly be because I disagree with almost everything he has, or mostly has not, done since taking office.  Now that we have one of our own my conscience is being eased.

Yep.  I like Herman Cain.  He makes me laugh.  I listen to what he has to say, agree with him on some issues and disagree on others.  Plus there's always the question of how he'll get things done if he has a hostile Congress.  That, of course, applies to all the candidates no matter their race.

Do I think Obama was ineffective when he had both houses because he was black? Or now that he has only the Senate? Not at all.  I think it's because he's in over his head and doesn't know how to lead nor govern.  He'd had no experience what-so-ever prior to being elected.

So don't try to accuse the Republican party as a whole of being patronizing in order to soothe our inner racism.  In fact I think the party couldn't be happier than to have a man of Mr. Cain's accomplishments and experience suggesting the Democratic party isn't necessarily the best one for any ethnic group.

I guess 'one nation, (with or without under God) indivisible, with liberty and justice for all' doesn't resonate any more.  Neither should the assumptions of closed minded 'analysts'.

What Is It We Want?

With primary season just around the corner I've been doing a lot of wondering just what it is Americans, as a whole, want.

When a movement like Occupy Wall Street overstays it's welcome, they lose the impact of their message.  The problem is they didn't have one in the first place.  At least not a cohesive one.  They want equalization of the wealth.  That isn't going to happen.  What will happen if things go their way, those who have the wealth and the ability to create it will be brought down.  The occupiers will not be elevated to their level.

I remember a time, long ago, when a neighbor who had been widowed for a time was bemoaning the fact she couldn't find a respectable, successful three piece suit like Hub. I suggested that she should have something to bring to the table and I didn't mean food.  I think the same holds true for the occupiers who want, want, want but what do they have to offer?  Of course some of the involved do, and a great deal, but it's hard to separate them from the image of the masses. In the end, their point is lost.  They become a law stretching, if not breaking, irritant.

The politicians on all levels are going to have their hands full.  First I'd like to see them all present their ideas and defend them rather than tearing down their opponents.  The reason why both Cain and Paul are as popular as they are is they keep it simple and they passionately believe what they say.  Newt is great at explaining where the government has gone wrong and why but fixing it is another thing.

Eliminate those three and we're left with candidates pandering to every cause out there and convincing no one of their abilities or sincerity. The unopposed President is doing exactly the same thing with his executive orders.  Had he led with these ideas months ago his ratings would be a lot higher.  Now they seem exactly what they are - stabs in the dark of desparation.

Everyone is struggling with the facts.  We, who are out here suffering with no end in sight, have to realize there is no quick fix.  We didn't sink this low over night and it isn't going to be fixed by political posturing nor cutting expenditures all in one fell swoop nor just raising taxes.  We're in for a slog.

That's what we want!  A plan.  Laid out in simple terms we can understand. With steps to be taken and a time table.  It's not that there aren't any already out there but special interests and ideaology have swept them under the rug.

We really need moderates on both sides of the aisle.  They are out there too but they're not getting the press they should.  So far the internet and third party efforts aren't making headlines either.

So what do we do?  Well, as fruitless as it is, I'll keep blogging.  I know, I hear the collective groan.  The rest of you malcontents, and I mean that as a compliment, need to step up to the plate and demand answers that aren't being given to questions that aren't being asked.  While you're at it, look over the candidates and figure out who cares more about the country than party or power.  And vote for them!