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“What the hell is going on out here?” Show a little respect [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-10

I go to the gym and work with a trainer. The sessions are at the same time. Over the years others who are usually there become acquittances. Acknowledged people, more than acquaintances, communication through wordless head nods, smiles, and waves. Two women are there when I am. They wear hajibs and do everything together. My trainer got pulled into their complaint about another woman at the gym. They were insulted and said something about a slammed door. They saw my trainer as representing the gym. I got pulled in, because I guess, they feel they know me. I listened and stated everyone deserved respect. They went over to the owner, and we continued the exercises. (The person they complained about did appear to be a Karen-type, but I didn’t hear her story.).What’s up with people? Not much of an ask for all of us to recognize differences and allow everyone their own space. Why in America do we see people in conflict around the world as our conflict. We should be aligned in seeking solutions. It seems grievance, prejudice, and rudeness are being demonstrated as normal behavior. Behaviors encouraged and made more violent by those who profit from America’s division.

Nothing in today’s Congress deserves praise.

David Maraniss wrote a book about Lombardi titled “When Pride Still Mattered.” Our memory of Coach Lombardi still carries a mystique. A man who could turn a losing situation into a winning dynasty. A man who could create a team where the team’s play exceeded the talent of the individual players. A man who didn’t put up with nonsense but stood up for the rights of his players. America today is like an unruly classroom. Possibly a substitute has lost control, or the teacher was called away and the class was expected to behave. Of course, you can imagine how that would unfold if the absence went on for more than a couple of minutes. An authoritative teacher or America’s Coach Lombardi needs to step in and ask, “What the hell is going on America?”

I have been dismayed by the conflict among Americans over Gaza and Hamas, Israelis and Jewish people. It should not require a sophisticated understanding of human behavior and world politics to recognize a government’s decisions are not supported by every citizen. A terrorist group does not include all people in the region. Having differing views on Israel and their response to barbarity is not antisemitic. Labeling the Hamas attack as devilish barbarism is not Islamophobic. America’s demonstrations and conflicts over the past several weeks are public displays of our prejudices, our inner demons. We are not being pragmatic; activism is not producing solutions.

Over the last thirty years Israel has gone further in support of right-wing policies. Israel makes Palestinian life impossible. The latest explosion of violence has been building, Israel, the government, enacts a policy of intentional neglect and passive aggression in legal constructs. Israel keeps suppressing those on the West Bank and has shown little support for a functioning authority in Gaza. Islamic nations and other terrorist factions offer little to build a better life for Palestinians. They do offer a way for Palestinians to channel hate and vengeance. Our nation watches two opposing forces furthering a cycle of vengeance and retribution. Neither side offers a positive future for people; both sides are committing war crimes. Propaganda and information management releases try to paint the other side as the evil side. A dead three-year-old in this senseless brutal war is still dead and innocent. Each side in the conflict should be continually asked how will peace be achieved? What will restore prosperity to the land?

The Republican Party is not hiding; they cheer authoritarian strong men.

Here in America, we should not be for Israel or Palestine. We should be for peace and conflict resolution. We support Israel more than the Palestinians; we always have. We should focus on solution. We should not criticize our citizens who support the rights of the Palestinians. We should recognize the legitimate fears of Jewish people. Antisemitism exists in America and the world. These old hates, our deep held superstitions are alive in America. Also, we are a xenophobic and racist people. The flames of antimuslim behavior are being fed by those who use human failings as steppingstones to power. Our politicians encourage grievance and hate to be expressed. Long-buried animus is a tool the conjurer can use to grasp power.

Too many Americans seem to be willing tools for Putin and Russian aggression.

Our Congress has played at pretentious outrage so long, it is no longer capable of accomplishing anything. The venal nature of almost every elected official is fully displayed, nothing motivates the majority of Congress but fear and greed. Possibly they should stop using the honorific of the Honorable (fill in blank representative). Is our Congress filled with Putin allies? Apparently, it is. Do they support the power of corporate wealth over all else? Well yes. Their insitence on the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is empty and meaningless. Congress loudmouths appeal to our honored Constitution. Their appeals are another ploy, a mythical cudgel to wield, as authoritarianism replaces it. Empirical science is not valid, if it restricts their power. Early snow in Illinois, means no climate change here. Women, well women, not full citizens, have no rights other than those given by pompous windbags. Hypocrisy is as common as leaves in a forrest, to call it out is now a platitude. Please Coach Lombardi may your ghost address a joint session of Congress with one line, “What the hell is going on America?”

Written by Steve Davis — ShireSteve on substack shiresteve.substack.com shiresteve.blog

Now back to helplessly watching the insanity of our current world. Climate should the first priority of every policy.

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