We Can Talk About It Now

We could try to reason, but you might think it treason. The Band, We Can Talk About It Now, from the album Music From Big Pink
The above is one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums, by one of my favorite bands. It comes to mind because, for a brief while, I have the Senate hearings on the Supreme Court nominee's confirmation on the TV. Not for long, I can assure you. Seemongly, we can no longer talk about it and many do think that all attempts to reason are treason.
I am not commenting on the Nominee. He seems to be a cookie cutter model of all the rest of the Nominees. Probably a nice gut, bright enough but not brilliant and definitely not a creative thinker. In short, competent, but dull. I really do not care if he is confirmed or not.
My problem is with the state of dialogue in this Nation. So far, all I have heard in this hearing is a lot of statements. Each side is making statements, but they are talking at each other. There is no give and tale, no reasoning.
Since the writings of Plato and his recreation of Socrates' dialogues, verbal give and take gas been the basis of reasoning in Western Civilization. That seems to be gone now.  A society cannot function without such conversation without becoming a dictatorship. We are a democratic republic and cannot survive as such without talking to each other and engage in give and take, reasoning together.
So far, no and this seems to have become the norm. There are some others voicing opinions, but they are in the gallery screaming incoherently..
To some, this hearing is important and they are getting a sham hearing, and that is all there will be until we learn to talk about things and to reason again. I do not think that day is soon to come.
But, it is a good day, mild and pleasant and I feel pretty well. My advice is to ignore the whole mass of lunacy and  have some fun. Blessings to all of you.

Back to the Madness

All right, now. had a nice weekend and a stormy, but quiet Monday and I' m ready to go. I think. That's the thing. Sometimes, I read and watch the news and my brain sits idling and the poor thing just doesn't know where to go.
Well, let's just jump right in.
A long time Congressperson (is that right?), Maxine Waters, from California, is calling for Trump supporters to be harassed and driven from the marketplace. Literally. I can think of no more frightening comment. The lunacy and danger of her statements should be apparent to all. My first thought was, 'okay, she has just killed the Democrats in the mid terms', but, I see actions around this Nation, mostly, and sadly by the young and the minorities, and I realize that many, many feel the same. We Americans are rapidly descending into a state of near war between the opposing factions and the up coming elections will not be pretty.
There are street demonstrations blocking immigration hearings and more concern is being shown for illegal immigrants than for America's impoverished families. Veterans, kids, the handicapped and the elderly are shown less compassion than  drug smuggling violent thugs crawling into the Southwest.
Day by day, the level of discourse is growing harsher. People, not all, but many, can no longer have dialogues. They either scream and threaten or refuse to speak.
Any mention of God, has, for some time now, been met with scorn. For the last several years, it was a gentle scorn, a condescending ridicule. Sort of,'oh, isn't that cute that they believe in such a thing." Remember Obama 'a comment about 'clinging to  their guns and Bibles." Now, the rhetoric is hostile and any mention of beliefs will likely get you shunned. Next comes active persecution and a banning from the marketplace. Remember Revelation? "He without the Mark of the Beast could not buy or sell." This is why Water's call for ousting Trump supporters from businesses and social events, and ousting in a forceful manner, is so disturbing. Folks of that mind set need to remember that line about clinging to guns. Those who cling to guns tend to use them when threatened and Americans are a cranky lot, especially in the conservative regions. And, whether the left like it or not, there are a lot of those folks.
No one in their right mind wants violence and there is no need for it, if we can just get back to civil discourse. One side seems willing and the other does not and that is the problem. Many on the left are determined to have their way, with no compromise. Well, that's not going to happen.
There is another option. If things get bad enough and elected officials cannot govern, and things are closer to that than anyone wants to believe. a group who thinks they have the power, can seize control and suspend the Constitution. That was codified under Obama, after being a well kept secret for years. All that information is available on line if you want to hunt for it. I did once and it is a daunting task which I once did and won't do again, I have far too much to do. If that were done,  it would be nightmarish for some and not too bad for many. The Military would likely run things and a rather conservative wane would sweep the land. I really doubt it will come to that, but who knows? The way to stop such drastic measures is to grow up and learn to speak civilly and listen.