These are difficult times! A pandemic is coursing around the world. We have an absolutely inept administration, which, instead of reassuring the public, fans the flames of near panic ever more. Then we have right-wing Republicans who think this is just an elaborate hoax, goaded along by so called “Evangelical Christians” of the Jerry Falwell Jr. ilk. Our unstable president cares more about his profits and the stock market and wants to stop “social distancing” and have all businesses reopen. No matter how many people could possibly die by doing thus. After all, the elderly, the lower classes and the not so fortunate are expendable in the Republican mind set.
If anything, during this last month, this pandemic has also brought to the fore just how badly dysfunctional the US political and economic system has become over the last couple of decades. Covid-19 or not, we can not go on like this. Perhaps there will be a bit of national soul searching in the near future. Maybe even a paradigm shift. Though I am not particularly hopeful!
To quote HL Mencken: “No one in this world, so far as I know-and I have searched the record for years, and employed agents to help me-has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.“
Having gone all doom and gloom on my readers I must admit, and do so most happily, that there are some rays of hope and humanity to be seen. Just last evening one of my neighbors forwarded a video link from YouTube. It shows the creativity and resourcefulness possible when people are openminded, even when “social distancing” and “sheltering in place” are required. Of course technology also helps in this case. Take a look on how members of the Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra deal with social isolation:
And here is a unique way of dealing with a bad situation. The Germans call this “Galgenhumor”:
Apparently this appeared over night on a still extant part of the Berlin Wall. Photo: Berliner Morgenpost
Gollum, of Lord of the Rings fame, intently staring at his newfound treasure (Mein Schatz) and speaking German. Who would have thought.
OK. Enough of that. It is spring here in Washington DC. Our famous cherry trees and magnolias are in full bloom. It is a very welcome dash of color and a reminder of renewal. So I leave you with a few photographs from the DC Tidal Basin area.
Stay safe everyone!
As always I encourage you to comment or leave a reply. Just start typing in the “enter your comment here…” box below.
Hanging in there…
These are difficult times! A pandemic is coursing around the world. We have an absolutely inept administration, which, instead of reassuring the public, fans the flames of near panic ever more. Then we have right-wing Republicans who think this is just an elaborate hoax, goaded along by so called “Evangelical Christians” of the Jerry Falwell Jr. ilk. Our unstable president cares more about his profits and the stock market and wants to stop “social distancing” and have all businesses reopen. No matter how many people could possibly die by doing thus. After all, the elderly, the lower classes and the not so fortunate are expendable in the Republican mind set.
If anything, during this last month, this pandemic has also brought to the fore just how badly dysfunctional the US political and economic system has become over the last couple of decades. Covid-19 or not, we can not go on like this. Perhaps there will be a bit of national soul searching in the near future. Maybe even a paradigm shift. Though I am not particularly hopeful!
To quote HL Mencken: “No one in this world, so far as I know-and I have searched the record for years, and employed agents to help me-has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.“
Having gone all doom and gloom on my readers I must admit, and do so most happily, that there are some rays of hope and humanity to be seen. Just last evening one of my neighbors forwarded a video link from YouTube. It shows the creativity and resourcefulness possible when people are openminded, even when “social distancing” and “sheltering in place” are required. Of course technology also helps in this case. Take a look on how members of the Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra deal with social isolation:
Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra
And here is a unique way of dealing with a bad situation. The Germans call this “Galgenhumor”:
Gollum, of Lord of the Rings fame, intently staring at his newfound treasure (Mein Schatz) and speaking German. Who would have thought.
OK. Enough of that. It is spring here in Washington DC. Our famous cherry trees and magnolias are in full bloom. It is a very welcome dash of color and a reminder of renewal. So I leave you with a few photographs from the DC Tidal Basin area.
Stay safe everyone!
As always I encourage you to comment or leave a reply. Just start typing in the “enter your comment here…” box below.
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