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While We Still Have Time

In spite of the grimness of the times in which we live, there is still hope. If you feel, like I do, that the usual discourse about matters of critical concern tends to be superficial, misguided, and false, then you might find some solace and inspiration here. I will try to offer insight and a holistic perspective on events and issues, and hopefully serve as a catalyst for raising the level of dialogue on this planet.

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Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States

I was born in 1945, shortly before atom bombs were dropped on Japan. I served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. I earned master's degrees in Economics and Educational Psychology, and certificates in Web Page Design and as a Teacher of English as a Second Language. I followed an Indian guru for eight years, which immersed me in meditative practices and an attitude of reaching a higher level of being. A blog post listing the meditative practices I have pursued can be seen here.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Mission Accomplished

I got booted from Twitter, supposedly for violating their rules against abusive behavior. I had been answering Trump's tweets since before he was "elected," usually including links to songs on YouTube. The offending tweet was actually a response to a Stephen King tweet, but I also forwarded it to Trump. The song I included was 30 Days in the Hole by the late 60s British band Humble Pie.

I was having too much fun, giving Trump theme songs like Stevie Wonder's He's Misstra Know-it-all, Warren Zevon's Lawyers Guns and Money, Jimmie Rodgers' In the Jailhouse Now, Monumental Fool by the Steep Canyon Rangers, Billy Joel's Big Shot and others. It was stressful, though, and it served its purpose. I'm amazed I got away with it for so long. I wasn't abusive, making statements of substance about Trump. I consistently told him he was a deranged criminal sociopath. That isn't abuse. It is fact.

I answered Twitter. When I first "appealed" their decision I was offered the opportunity of getting back in good graces by deleting the offending tweet. I declined the offer, so no more Twitter for me. In the grand scheme of ethical decisions it was easy. My life hasn't descended to the level where I need Twitter to make it meaningful.

Deleting the tweet would also mean that I rescind the belief that Donald Trump is a deranged criminal sociopath. Oh, kind sirs, I didn’t mean to say bad things about our dear president. Please take me back. I promise not to say anything critical of Donald Trump, leader of the free world, man who is perfect in every way, and who never does anything wrong. Spare me.

If my tweets to Trump were so bothersome that he demanded that I be removed from Twitter, then good enough, mission accomplished. He knows he is a deranged criminal sociopath. He just doesn’t want anyone saying it. This is how it is with any bully, any dictator. Deep down inside they know they are evil beings, but can avoid facing their iniquity by demanding subservience and approval.

As for Twitter, it’s a business, instituted to make a profit. Its record of allowing real abusive behavior is evidenced by its continued acceptance of the tweets of Donald Trump. He can cow a business. An individual person, not so easily. I suppose people who work for him are cowed on a daily basis. To be cowed on a daily basis is to be a coward. All for a relative 30 pieces of silver, and we’ve seen how that ends up.

I consider my work with Trump over. He really will be gone soon. Too much momentum is building against him. His mental decline really is crescendoing. At some point he really will disintegrate. He really will have a complete mental breakdown, a heart attack or a stroke. He has lasted far longer than I expected, but he has finally used up his fifteen minutes of fame.

For anyone interested, I know a way you can have some fun. Answer Trump’s tweets. Not every day, but at least a couple of times a week. Refer to him as “The Drumpf.” Not Drumpf, but the Drumpf. Say that he is a deranged criminal sociopath. Finish with links to articles from Salon, Huffington Post, Slate and Smirking Chimp. Or links to these songs: 30 Days in the Hole, He’s Misstra Know-it-all, Lawyers, Guns and Money, In the Jailhouse Now, That’s How Every Empire Falls, He’s Gone, Monumental Fool and Big Shot. One link per tweet, but you can reply to your own tweet as many times as you want and they will reach Trump. It will carry on the tradition.
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Here's a song for Twitter. Here's another. And another. And another. Johnny Cash. Tom PettyBob Marley. The Grateful Dead.

For some background on Trump's mental-character state, this article adds some clarity. This too. Yale psychologist Brandy X. Lee believes Trump's mental health has been deteriorating for some time, and that he will end up wrecking the country. She edited a book, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President

R.I.P. Robert Hunter. He wrote the lyrics for Ripple, my favorite Grateful Dead song. He wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead, mostly sung by Jerry Garcia. John Perry Barlow, who wrote songs for Bob Weir, died in 2018. I will be forever grateful for both of them.

R.I.P. Ginger Baker. He was the drummer for Cream, Blind Faith, Ginger Baker's Air Force and other bands. It's hard to pick a favorite song, but Sweet Wine by Cream was an awakening for me when I first heard it in 1967. I still have the album. Here he is is with a soft touch. With this tune he has been credited with originating the rock drum solo. He delved into African rhythms during the time of his band Ginger Baker's Air Force, most notably with this song.