Hello on a Sunday (after an alternative-reality Friday FREAK TV show),
(For those who don’t care about political events or just want happy songwriting news, this ain’t the week for that…)
Lest anyone think songwriters aren’t affected by current events? Think again. Yeah, I could sit here and write happy entries about songs and songwriting. But we’re living in extremely strange times right now, and I don’t just mean the U.S. Is it just me or does the world seem a bit off?
We appear to be normalizing and condoning conduct that even twenty years ago would have led to resignations and firings. How did we get here? Why?
I’ve been reading and listening and watching (podcasts, articles, news’ish — or what passes for TV news now), and it’s clear we have re-entered the age of the “Ruler.” It’s an ancient concept. Some dude (and it’s usually a DUDE) convinces everyone he’s in charge. And then sets about to take over all the assets, money, power and control he can. He’ll kill for it. Life of underlings doesn’t matter all that much. He seeks acolytes and obedience. This is as old as Ancient Egypt and before.
Call them dictators, kings, monarchs, prime ministers, plutocrats, presidents, whatever word you want, they are still the same types. They will sacrifice all the people at the bottom of their pyramid (as they see it) to gain more control, more adherence, more territory, more, more, more. They win. Everyone else loses.
They also do whatever is necessary to gain that control. Intimidation is an everyday occurrence. So is lying. Lying serves the purpose of swaying and convincing those who are low-information types of the legitimacy of the actions the leader is taking. Only it never is what they SAY they’re doing. They’re doing something else. And we (the lowly) get sacrificed for the outcome.
To any of my friends (and family) who voted for our current president, you were duped. I think you know that now that it’s too late. The changes you wanted? Reduction in inflation? No, the opposite will happen (tariffs anyone?). The war in Gaza over? Maybe, but at what cost and is it really over? Government spending down? Oy! Not by much yet and is it worth it? (Good luck going to a national park this year.)
But the things that get me the most riled up, lately, are the notions of expansionism and our dwindling allies. It took just three months to go from aligned with Ukraine to aligned with Russia? WTH? And Republican representatives are all right with this? Since when? The Republicans of old would NEVER, EVER, EVER have gone along with this. And yet, here we are with a bunch of republicans out there trying to sell the public on the idea. (It hasn’t been going very well for them.)
Provided we’re still a democratic republic in two years, I would think the following will happen:
- Historic turnout countrywide at the mid-term elections.
- Massive turnover from republican control to democratic control — if (and only if) the Democrats start effectively arguing for their case NOW.
Meanwhile, it’s up to the courts and our enforcement of the judgements that come down from them to keep the country sane.
On Going to Europe
I’ve have gone to Europe many, many times now. I’ve probably been to France the most. There have been times when I’ve gone and felt extremely apologetic for our president(s) — whoever is at the helm at the time. They have seen our country become increasingly unpredictable and unreliable. They are NOT wrong.
I still want to go back to France. And someday I will. But not now. Trying to explain what’s happening to a bunch of French, German, Swiss, English people? I wouldn’t know what to say. “I did not vote for this.” “This is no reflection on what I think or stand for.” Those would be starters. Maybe they NEED to hear that from millions of us?
Heck, even Canada and Mexico could stand to hear those words.
But I would simply say this: The government, and it’s people are not the same now. We have moved to a different and upsetting model. Realize over 70 million of its citizens are horrified and would not support current actions. Do I know this for a fact? Only if I decide to trust recent polling and the last election results — which I do.
So, no… I’m not going to Europe right now. I figure I might give it a year and see how awful things get. But if anyone from Europe is wondering if people like me are OK with recent events, my reaction is: “no, no, no, no, no, no, no…”.
I love Europe. I want to go back one day. Here’s to hoping you’ll let a lot of us visit in the future once the present is the past and things have stabilized.
☹️
PS: I’m with Zelensky. He did NOT start that war. WTH? 🤦♀️ I love that he spoke truth to falsehoods. And he’s said thank you hundreds of times. I’ve heard him say it. I don’t need the news to tell me. I’ve heard it with ears and a brain. To anyone buying the idea he’s a dictator, never said thank you, or started the war? Please get a BRAIN, too.