Reality Does Not Care About Your Feelings

 

Passing laws against the words climate change will not stop climate change. Passing laws against climate science, climate reports and sea level rise will not stop climate change. Asking other countries to repeal rules for e environmental protections will also not stop climate change. All the money, profits and wishful thinking does not change what is happening to our atmosphere. Climate Change is not something you believe in, it's rather something you understand. You may (or may not) believe in God but you understand gravity. Powerful elites and the politicians they buy want to deny reality. (Still, you have to wonder why some are building doomsday bunkers.) The longer we put off addressing climate change, the worse it will be. The consequences of climate change are already happening.

How many superstorms, tornadoes, fires and droughts will it take for people to accept the reality of human caused climate change? I can give you a hint, for some it is directly related to their wallet. The status quo is a way to maximize profits. The greedy are perfectly willing to wreck the environment for future generations to get maximum short-term profits. Exxon was one of the first organizations to understand climate change and its implications. Dependent on large donor politicians cannot see beyond the next election cycle and are also willing to sacrifice the future. This is another reason money in politics is so dangerous. Money must be a hell of a drug for some! Then there is the “it doesn't affect me” crowd.  

So what if there are record floods several states away or in another country? There are no fires where I am! Droughts always come and go. Summers are supposed to be hot! For this crew, who are being told everything is fine and nothing should change, it is easy to downplay or ignore climate disasters going on all around us. They tend to consume more propaganda than actual news. They let the money crowd listed above tell them what to think. Yet, there's even a worse bunch, the Greenwashers.

The Greenwashers are companies and organizations that pretend to care about climate change for the sake of profit. It is more important to look good than do things that address the issue. Car companies, restaurant chains, energy companies and even fashion companies have all jumped on the greenwashing bandwagon. Sure, getting rid of a few plastic straws, having a few electric car options and making tiny investments in green energy tech for self-promotion will fix everything! Their idea of sustainability only goes as far as this quarter's bottom line. Rather than commit to real change, they blame individuals. Hey, it's up to you to recycle, drive less and plant more trees while they effectively do nothing.

Yes, we all have a part to play. Our individual efforts are only a drop in the ocean when compared to what large corporations can and should do. It will never be too late to take climate change seriously. But the longer we wait, the more costly it will be. Here in the US, some states are trying to do their part. While others are going backwards. Getting anything done collectively at the national level seems like a lost cause for the next four years. Currently, there is no way to calculate the suffering, damage and loss of life the loss of these four years will impose.

Good News! 8.1.2025

 

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Unpeople in Wars

While we remain focused on fresh new horrors coming out of the Trump Administration daily, the rest of the world is going on. Let's take a moment to consider the un-people of conflicts around the world raging as you read this. Those who suffer the most in war always tend to be the poorest who don't even have the wherewithal to become refugees. Relocating takes time and resources many simply do not have. Western media focuses on the war in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza. I have trouble calling a conflict a war when one side cannot defend itself at all and is on the receiving side of genocide. Let's also take a closer look at two conflicts that garner far less media attention, the Civil War in Sudan and the Civil War in Miramar. Also, let's not forget all the un-people in Ukraine and Gaza. 

There are those (even on the left) who want to defend what Russia is doing. Somehow, this is all NATO’s fault. Let's not forget Russia has the largest nuclear weapons stockpile in the world. No one is going to invade Russia, not NATO, China or the USA. These same defenders of Russia politely ignore her well documented war crimes such as blowing up apartment buildings and hospitals. I'm sure Ukraine is not perfect either.  Wars brings out the worst in everybody. However, from where I sit, Ukraine at least tries to adhere to modern rules of war. They don't purposely bomb civilians or kidnap children. If we are not careful, we can give in to hate. I think of it this way, I love the Russian people but hate their current government. Their casualties in the war have crossed the 1 million mark. A country in terminal demographic collapse already can ill afford this. It's hard to find a number for total Ukrainian casualties but they too are in a similar demographic situation and can ill afford such wasteful loss. Let's keep in mind such figures are only a small part of the story. Behind each death is a set family and friends whose lives will never be the same. (Collecting the dead) Like all wars this one too will end one day leaving behind countless maimed and traumatized people. With the war still ongoing, it's impossible to know the outcome. So too is the outcome of Israel's genocide in Gaza.

On October 7th 2023 Hamas and other militant groups launched a horrific terrorist attack into Israel. They knew Israel would respond with a heavy hand and hoped  other Arab states and groups would join in the fight against Israel. Unfortunately, for Hamas, this did not happen. In my opinion, Hamas was quite happy to sacrifice countless Palestinians to get what they wanted. Israel, under Netanyahu, has flipped the script if you will and turned this into an ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. While looking on in horror,  the USA and the rest of the world has basically just sat on their hands. Well, that's not completely true, the USA has provided much of the weaponry used. We are enablers of genocide. The election of Donald J. is not going to change this. If anything, it will only make it worse. Let's keep in mind there are numerous other conflicts going on as we speak. Two other major wars that don't get a lot of press here are the Civil Wars in Sudan and Miramar.

 

Sudan is no stranger to conflict. Civil Wars have raged there off and on going back to the mid 1950s. Different religious and ethnic groups vie for power in a seemingly never-ending struggle that goes on to this day. Countries far from Sudan only exacerbate an already terrible situation by fighting proxy wars inside Sudan with each other. Russia  uses the conflict to extract Sudanese gold to help fund their war in Ukraine. Russia is far from alone. Numerous other nations in the region are also participating in fueling the conflict and complicating efforts for peace. Iran, U.A.E., Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and a host of other nations have no problem with pouring fuel on the fire of an already horrific war. All of these states are pursuing their own national interests regardless of the suffering they are complicit in creating. Many of the participants have committed multiple war crimes and created a nightmarish refugee situation. The conflict going on now started in 2023 and if you would like a deeper dive you can read here. Sadly, as of this writing in late July 2025, there seems to be no end in sight. The major powers that could help are all distracted right now. The U.S., under Trump (who at the moment is being consumed by the Epstein mess) is dealing with too many internal divisions to be concerned about conflicts far from her borders. The European powers are mostly focused on the conflict in Ukraine, fearing they may be next. China's role in Sudan is unclear but they are certainly interested in expanding power and influence into Africa. Myanmar has also been embroiled and off and on conflict going all the way back to the early 1960s.

The most recent conflict in Miramar started in 2021 with a military coup. Mass protests of this coup led to people taking up arms against the military. In time the various groups started to cooperate more and more. The Junta (the leadership of the military)  started losing more and more territory. Thailand and China, fearing a refugee tidal wave, started to supply The Junta with arms and support. Now the conflict is settled into a grim stalemate. This is also a very large war that gets little western media attention. Just a little digging reveals a number of ongoing war crimes- torture, sexual assaults, ethnic cleansing And the targeting of schools and hospitals to name a few.  Like in Sudan, intervention from outside powers only complicates the prospects for peace. So far just since 2021 many thousands have been killed and several million displaced. The Junta  keeps promising elections only to renege again and again postponing the date. This is another underreported war with no end in sight.

What are some conclusions and what can we do? When outside powers get involved, conflict resolution becomes much more difficult because it is no longer only about the interests of those involved directly in the fighting. Outside powers typically are willing to sacrifice others for their own interests. The U.S. helping Israel only insures  continued terrorism and wars or at least another generation or two. What Israel is doing is unsustainable. Being at constant war with your neighbors is not the path to prosperity for anyone. Instead of fueling other conflicts, powerful Nations should focus on assisting in negotiations and humanitarian relief. Fueling conflicts only encourages the growth of instability that sooner or later affects us all. I think an important first step is building awareness. I hope that's the main point of this post. Once enough people are aware of what's going on in the world around them, we can push for change. 

Good News 7.25.2025!

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New Book- The Arroyo

 

The Arroyo

Many years ago these characters started talking to me, asking me to tell their story. I found Pick half frozen in a post-apocalyptic, winter hellscape. Shortly afterward, Blue Raven showed up, rescued Pick and introduced herself.  The story they shared was not one of surviving your typical Wednesday afternoon apocalypse but rather those who were born and grew up afterwards. They met others along the way who indeed knew the world as it was before. Much to my surprise, the story they shared with me was one of hope and redemption in the darkest of times. They answer the question: what does it look like when humanity wins over fears,  prejudices and distrust? If you ever wondered what the world may look like a few decades after this one has ended, Pick and I invite you to check it out!

The Sky Doesn't Look Right

 

Go ahead, look up, does the sky look right to you? where I am, in North Carolina, the sky has changed somehow. It could be just dust from forest fires or dust from the Sahara. Whatever the reason, it no longer looks the same old Carolina blue. It seems to have an almost metallic edge to it. Thunderstorms are as much a part of summer as lightning bugs, July 4th and humid days. Yet, this year, they too feel different. More lightning, more thunder and it sure seems like a lot more rain. Maybe these are nothing more than strange vibes I'm collecting while I grow older. It could also be Mother Nature's way of trying to tell us something. Wildfires in California, flooding in Texas and derechos moving across the plains are by no means anything new. Somehow, this year's events feel different. Rather than facing this new challenge, our government is deciding to stick its head in the sand.

I'm sure climate change will just go away if we outlaw some words. We can also cut out reports that point to climate change and delete the agencies who study it. Problem solved! Maybe we can make a new word for such inconveniences, yeah, we can call it WOKE science! Hey, we cannot have forest fires if we just cut them all down. Besides, the woods can be creepy anyway. Do flood victims really need more than thoughts and prayers? They should learn how to rebuild with their bootstraps or something. Remember, your sacrifice is something the billionaires will certainly appreciate on the way to and from the bank. Yes, the Democrats’ response to climate change was pretty anemic. They would at least acknowledge it but then due next to nothing about it, clinging to the status quo like a priceless religious artifact. The fascists who run our government now,  knowingly or not, have decided to accelerate the process of climate change. They cling to dirty old forms of energy, fringy, outdated economic theories and a lust for a past that never really was. They are pushing us into uncharted territory rapidly and out of control.

The refugee situation around the world is desperate enough as it is. What's going to happen when millions upon millions of climate refugees are added to the mix? I have little faith those who cannot see beyond their own short-term bottom line will have anything close to a viable solution. Storms and fires will get worse and worse and more and more of planet Earth will become unlivable due to heat. By the time the “it's not my problem until it affects me” crowd gets the message, it will be way too late. It's too late already to stop climate change but hopefully we can mitigate the worst of it.

This is not a call for unconditional surrender. I'm still hopeful the Green Revolution in energy will still happen and we can dial back our demand for useless consumer goods. What the current regime doesn't understand is Green Energy is more efficient and cheaper than the dirty old fossil fuel energy it is replacing. They can slow down the transition but will not be able to stop it. In slowing it down, they will only cause more needless suffering and deaths. The big question is how bad are we going to let it get? There is a point of no return where we will not be able to undo the damage. We can ill afford any more mistakes. This is the ultimate challenge of our lifetime.

Good News 7.17.2025

 

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Kick the Can!

If you think one bombing Mission from the good old USA did Iran's nuclear ambitions and efforts, I have a bridge for sale I'd like to talk to you about. It's best to always view initial assessments with healthy skepticism. rather than obliterating anything, at best we have slowed their efforts a year or so possibly even less. The Iranians and the Israelis will continue to be at each other's throats for the foreseeable future. I don't trust anything I hear from the government of either Nation. Both the Iranian people and the Israeli people deserve better. Hey, and for the record I don't trust anything my own government says either. Our getting involved will be just another footnote in this long and ongoing conflict. I feel we resolved nothing.

For the moment, both parties have hit the pause button. This may last a few weeks, a few months or maybe even a year but rest assured hostilities will be resumed at some point. Iran has been weakened militarily and their proxy groups have also taken a lot of severe hits. Still, the Mad Mullahs are in charge and they will not quit. On the other side, Netanyahu needs the wars to continue to be a distraction from his own shortcomings.  Simply put, neither side has any incentive to work toward real peace. On top of that, we have a clueless Administration  in Washington D.C.

Trump and his goons seem to have about a fourth grade level understanding of geopolitics. If anything, our strike has only encouraged the Iranians to move beyond ambiguity and seek out nuclear weapons as soon as possible. This could easily kick off a regional wide nuclear arms race. The more nuclear armed states there are, the likelihood of nuclear conflict increases. The outcome would be devastating and anything but predictable. Both Iran and Israel are on a dangerous path. I think a better direction will require leadership changes in both countries.

Good News 7.10.2025

 

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A Somber Fourth Part II

 

Right now, the bad guys are winning. They have the presidency, the Congress And the Supreme Court. They also have a fatal flaw, the delusion that they can dictate reality. Climate change does not give a fuck about your feelings. Sure, go ahead and outlaw words, cut funding for the study of the climate and by all means run from so-called green energy! I hope it makes you feel better! Nonetheless, hurricanes, tornadoes, storms  and wildfires are only going to get stronger and stronger. Better cut disaster relief too, too woke. The flooding disaster down in Texas over the last days is only a taste of what's coming our way. International relations is another area where your feelings and opinions don't matter.

We are gearing up for another game of Tariff chicken. It's the USA versus the world SmackDown made for a TV reality show! There's only one small problem. This is not how the world works. Great deals are complicated, messy and time-consuming. A trade deal is not something you do in 3 days. Depending on the countries at the table, a trade agreement can take months to years to complete. An on again off again threat of tariffs will not speed this process up magically. Economic relations are complicated enough and you know what, so are alliances. Being the big bully seldom works out well  in international relations. If you think the Iran situation is over, I'd like to talk to you about my bridge in Arizona that's for sale! At best, we've delayed their program a few months with the more likely outcome being that we've only accelerated it. The issue has to be resolved at the negotiating table. We are just not up for a military takeover and an occupation of Iran. It took us far longer than 12 days to get here and these problems will not be solved by a 12-day conflict (which by the way can we start at any time). This may be immaterial compared to how crazy things can get here at home.

Call me naive but I never thought I would see masked cops throwing people into unmarked vans and taking them away to who knows where. We can either have a due process for all or due process for none, we can't have both. With their recent massive funding increase, I only see this getting worse. Don't worry, it is only a matter of time before they come for you and me as well. Some think we can fix this mess when the next set of elections rolls around. But before that happens there is a more fundamental question we need to ask, will the totalitarians allow elections at all? We might be doomed anyway but this would indeed be the last nail in the coffin of American democracy. If we go down, so would much of the rest of the world. Let's don't let that happen!

I can think of nothing more patriotic than attending a protest this past July 4th. There will be many more to come along with boycotts and hopefully a nationwide general strike. In short, we are going to have to become ungovernable. If we want to be free we must be willing to take personal risks. We can ill afford  the old limousine liberals who talk a good game but run away at the first sign of real trouble. The struggle is going to be real and likely even bloody but the alternative is… Unthinkable. Let's see where we are next July 4th.

A Somber Fourth Part I

 

Well, that was a somber Fourth of July unlike any other. The so-called big beautiful bill passed which basically cut an already bare bones social safety net to ribbons Just so the wealthiest could have a massive tax cut. Were billionaires really out there clamoring for tax cuts? Perhaps there still are a few people living under rocks who still buy the long debunked theory of trickle-down economics. It's really not hard, demand is what creates jobs, not generous billionaires! That's bad enough but  there is another part to this bill, possibly even more sinister and terrifying. That would be the massive increase in funding for ICE, or Trump's Gestapo. Masked gunman are literally ripping people off the streets and throwing them into for-profit, so-called, detention centers (soon to be concentration camps) without due process. The notion of extraordinary rendition has been revived for others, including American citizens All without any form of due process. What the righties don't seem to understand is what's done the least of us can be done to any of us. It's only a matter of time. Say or do something the regime doesn't agree with and bam! you're on a plane to who knows where. The only thing you can be sure of is that it will be very dark. Totalitarians need scapegoats, isolation, fear and misery to thrive.

American Totalitarianism is different from what we found in the last century.  Sure, there's still the scapegoating, a rising secret police force, a desire to erase history  along with a heavy dose of faux patriotism. We've added a few very American twists.  Hitler and Mussolini were many things but neither can compare to the outright graft and corruption of one Donald J. Golden Visa cards, golden cell phones, murky crypto deals  and rapidly expanding for profit prisons just scratch the surface. Our current regime and their enablers allow mass protests  because they feel they can ignore them. Our Free Press  is mostly neutered by the mere threat of lawsuits. The same is true for many of our most esteemed learning institutions. In both cases, there are exceptions. One last uniquely American twist on totalitarianism is merchandising! Yes, you can buy hats and t-shirts blazed with the name of your favorite concentration camp! Hey, we cannot forget our trillion dollar military and its global reach. How bad will it get?  I think that's up to us, each of us. Last year, we failed to prevent a totalitarian takeover of our government. That ship has sailed already. Our courts failed, Our media failed. The last line of defense, the voters, also failed. If you sat this election out for whatever reason, a part of this mess is on you. Here is the take away- history doesn't stop. Yes, we are in a bad place but remember all storms pass. 

One day this regime will be gone. Then we will have to ask ourselves what do we want to replace it? Will we allow this nightmare to evolve into something even more scary and dangerous? Clearly, there are a number of Americans who are apparently fine with being ruled rather than represented. Then there's the group that believes as long as it is not happening to me, it is not a problem. There will always be some people who view some lives more important than others. The number of people who like rulers, the not my problem crowd and those who don't see all lives having equal value are a minority. If we fail to regain our vigilance, active civic engagement and concern for others, then it truly is game over. The Trump regime will only be the start of something much more dark and destructive. When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging. Trump will not be around for long and we cannot let this be the first totalitarian state with a viable successor.  

To be continued…

Good News USA 7.4.2025

 

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What to Do?

Liberty and Justice for ALL

 

Have we reached the conclusion of the Southern Strategy? Remember that? When the Republican Party gave up on just having better ideas and decided to sell their souls to the highest bidders. Ever since, they've only cared about two things- deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy. These ideas are unpopular but they had to get them done somehow.  Welcome to the age of the culture wars. Welcome to mass gerrymandering. And let's not forget to blame all of our problems on the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. Oh yeah, and to make this all possible we are going to need billions and billions of dollars. (And let's add a right wing media propaganda component.) The money poured in, enough to actually buy both political parties. Never forget the Democrats largely support the same systems and structures that keep the powerful powerful. Democrats are also on board with the Great American Empire. But to their credit, they hold back on the misogyny, bigotry and scapegoating. They are also more interested in at least the window dressing of democracy, whereas the Republicans have gone full authoritarian. We did not get here overnight and any possible solution or solutions will take time. With a climate crisis bearing down on us like an unstoppable freight train, “the fierce urgency of now” has never been more true. 

The outcome is anything but decided already. Although much of the media tends to ignore it, we are seeing protests on a massive scale. We are starting to see effective strategies against the Gestapo like ICE. We are seeing more and more young people, who have a stake in the future, step up. The old guard leadership of centrist Democrats are fading away. Fortunately for us, it will be very difficult to undo 250 years of democracy in just two to four years. But unless we are vigilant, the bitter seeds of authoritarianism being planted now may morph into something far more dangerous than Trump and his MAGA movement. It's entirely possible our authoritarian streak will find a much younger,  smarter and even more charismatic leader whose name we probably don't know yet. He or she will find fertile ground to nurture the seeds being planted today. If we are to have any chance of preventing this dark future, all of us are going to have to pitch in. What does that mean?

For me, it means this- writing. Speaking the truth as I see and understand it will not change the world but hopefully will create a ripple. Perhaps I can inspire you to add your own ripple and so on and so on. If enough of us act, we can create waves large enough to end any authoritarian movement. Here's the thing, don't rely on other people to do it for you. Reversing the effects of creeping authoritarianism will take all of us. We need to co-create a system that looks out for everyone, not just the wealthiest. We have to figure out how to build a better tomorrow than centerest, do nothing Democrats are offering. They basically want the status quo. I believe that's an expressway to authoritarianism. If you more or less agree, here are some places you can look to get involved:

 https://www.fiftyfifty.one/

https://www.nokings.org/

https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/

https://bsky.app/profile/sonsofliberty.bsky.social

https://www.splcenter.org/

        There are countless other things you can get into. You can also create your own. Remember, this struggle is going to take all of us. One last thing- be happy. Happiness is Kryptonite to authoritarianism.

            

Good News 6.26.2025

 

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... And We are at WAR

 

A few thoughts...

“I don't believe anything those Mutherfuckers say,” Uncle Bob said in the lead up to the Gulf War. Sadly, he is still right.  I don't believe Israel, I don't believe Iran and I certainly don't believe the United States. So when Trump says the strikes went great, I don't believe him and neither should you. The Iranians are many things, they are not stupid. Most likely they've moved sensitive stuff long before this strike took place. It might be a temporary setback but that's about it. So what are some possible outcomes?

It may depend on how much actual damage was done. A little damage could mean a basically symbolic retaliation. Then, we are basically back to square one. They will continue enriching uranium while others try to get them back to the negotiating table.  This is a Rosie best case scenario. I'm not sure they want to risk an all-out War and the US is certainly not up for that. A better possibility will be asymmetrical attacks all across the Middle East. It looks like we will be fighting the War On Terror 2.0. Remember, you cannot fight a tactic! This will be costly, messy and very expensive. The usual suspects will get rich and the poorest people in the region will pay the price. A large, full-scale war  will only accelerate our demise. Maybe, we too, will become a failed state. But we will not be just not just any failed state, one with lots of nukes! 

I think in the long run this doesn't do Israel any favors either. Sadly, they are almost universally despised in the region. I'm sure some of that hate is warranted. Weakening the United States also weakens them. There may soon come a day when we cannot rush to her aid every time she picks a fight. Being an international pariah is not a long-term solution for safety and stability. Leaders don't live forever and sooner or later change will come.

We must do more than just hope for a better tomorrow. We must do our part to make that a reality. If we can outgrow our own bullshit, we may one day live among the stars. The alternative? We can return to another dark age or perhaps end life altogether.  That would be such a shame.

Israel's Can of Worms

According to Benjamin Netanyahu Iran has been on the verge of a nuclear bomb for the last 20 years. He came to Trump, once again wanting the US to do his bidding. Initially, Trump took a hard pass. In the last year or so Israel has done much to weaken Iran's proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas. They have also weakened Iran's air defenses. The time to strike for Israel looks good on paper. Israel is also facing world-wide condemnation over their ongoing campaign in Gaza (Except the US government). This could be a great time for a splendid little war! It takes the heat off Netanyahu. Iran is weaker now. Trump could also use the distraction. His poll numbers are sinking into the toilet.

I think it's entirely possible this whole thing is just a ruse to keep Netanyahu in power longer. Anyone who's been in charge over 25 years, I have trouble seeing as a Democratic leader. There are allegations of corruption and who knows what else out there swirling around thus far unaddressed. Netanyahu can continue to repeat any criticism of Israel is an attack on all Jews. This is something the US government happily goes along with. It gives Trump more freedom to crush anyone who disagrees with him.  First Amendment rights apparently end when questioning Israel. It is important to keep in mind wars are highly, highly unpredictable. 

There's no denying Iran is in a weaker state now. Anyone who thinks air power alone (including from the US) can end Iran's nuclear program is delusional. Sure, it could be slowed down but not ended. Air power alone has never won a war.  Iran's nuclear program is widely dispersed all over the country and well defended on the ground. Iran is much bigger than Iraq and much more militarized. A land  invasion would be a nightmare with no ending. By the time we decide to leave Iran will be another failed state with no central government. Both the US and Israel would also come out much weaker.  Israel has opened a can of worms she cannot close. What will Trump do?

 I sincerely hope he will keep us out of this mess  or at least not get us any more mired down than we already are. Unfortunately for my sentiment, he too could benefit from a splendid little war. Failing policies and dropping poll numbers are good calls for a distraction. That's not to mention Trump’s fourth grade level understanding of geopolitics. The old dude is clearly in way over his head. He has also gotten rid of anyone who does really understand how the world works. This is one case where I hope the taco analogy (Trump Always Chickens Out) holds true. If he does do the right thing, it will just be a good accident. Sadly, I feel he is the first president who truly does not give a shit about the US, much less anywhere else in the world. He cares only for his ego and bank account. 

This is already a huge volatile mess with a number of unpredictable outcomes.  The US involved will only make it worse. Lately it seems those who like to start wars have not read their history books. Wars never turn out  the way those who started them envision. There is no reason to believe this case will be any different. It's going to get messy and bumpy from here on.

 

Good News 6.20.2025

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'People have been fighting there for thousands of years,' No Shit!

 

 Here in America, we love our oversimplifications and tiny sound-bite answers. Recently, I saw on social media where someone  had commented  about Israel getting into yet another conflict. One genius took it upon himself to point out people have been fighting there for thousands of years. What an incredible insight and revelation! This is one of those statements that actually says and means nothing. Other than Antarctica, this statement is true everywhere. North America South America? Yes it's true native peoples were fighting each other long before the whites showed up. Empires rose and fell here too. Africa, yes the same story. Asia? You bet! India, another place with a long history of conflicts. Europe too, has a history of warfare stretching back to the beginnings of time. ‘They have been fighting there for thousands of years,’ I see as a statement from someone who doesn't want to think too deeply or too hard about history and geopolitics.

I guess we should throw up our hands and go watch a race or maybe some baseball? Nope, nothing to see here. That's always been going on, there's nothing we can do. Even in the land that elected Trump, we can do better. When Netanyahu invited  Trump to participate in this new endeavor, Trump took a pass. I don't want to give him too much credit, we are still helping defend Israel after Israel started a shooting war with Iran. Trump and company, like Biden before are turning a blonde eye while Israel commits genocide. My understanding was Trump wanted to renegotiate a nuclear deal. I guess that was too slow for Israel. She may well indeed push back the clock on Iran getting nukes. But that comes with a price tag.

Israel has also ensured a boiling hatred from the next generation thus ensuring conflict far into the future. Unfortunately, that also drags Europe and the US into the hairball of mid East conflicts. With massive anti-Trump rallies here at home, will Trump see this as a chance to distract everybody by getting us into a new Mideast War? That will only further erode our image and security around the world. Israel will know no peace for the foreseeable future. The cycle of suicide bomber whack-a-mole will continue. A major war in the Middle East will not do any favors for the global economy. And I'm sorry to break it to you Trumpers but we are still a part of the global economy. But hey, they've been fighting there for thousands of years!

While this may be a truism, it's not an excuse to turn off our brains and ignore the problem. Maybe we should ask better questions? How can a just peace be achieved, what would that look like? Rather than bombing Gaza into the Stone Age, what if Israel along with the rest of the world invested in it?  I'm sure we could come up with a better solution than open air prison or sight of an ongoing genocide. How can we bring Iran back into the family of Nations? Somebody say that's impossible with the current government there and they may be right. Does that mean we should not even try? Just like our government, the Israeli government and the Iranian government will not be here forever. What can we do to facilitate better change down the road?  

Maybe I can just sit here with my head up my ass and repeat the mantra of ‘they've been fighting there for thousands of years!’ I have to do better and so do you.