Daddy's Little Girl

    You're the end of the rainbow, my pot of gold

    You're Daddy's Little Girl to have and to hold

    A precious gem is what you are

    You're Mommy's bright and shining star.....

So goes the song originally sung by The Mills Brothers but sung by me to my little girl many times.  When Lisa was a little girl, I would be playing the piano and she would come into the room and tell me to play "Daddy's Little Girl" for her....and I always did!

Today is a special Birthday for my little girl...Lisa turns 50 today!  Am I really old enough to have a 50 year old daughter?  It seems only yesterday that she was born.  The morning of July 12, 1974 started very early when Connie got up at around 5 AM to go the bathroom...not an unusual event for her as she was entering her ninth month of pregnancy,  She came out of the bathroom and said..."I am still leaking!"  I told her to go back to bed because it can't be that your water broke...the baby is not due for another 3 weeks!

Of course, I was wrong.  Lisa, foreshadowing her whole life, was in a big hurry to come into the world. Although right before the birth the Doctor told me to call the Moyel, that he was certain it was a boy, Lisa arrived feet first and was the funniest looking boy I had ever seen!  All 5 pounds of girl and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen!  Being the first grandchild for both sides only added to the excitement that the baby was a girl!

I have often said that I grew up with Lisa.  As a matter of fact, Connie and I were only 23 year old when she was born.  So, yep, we both grew up with her!  She went just about everywhere with us, but loved to stay with Grandma and Poppi whenever she could.  My Dad would show up at our little 2 bedroom apartment on many Friday afternoons and "steal" her for the weekend.  What fun for her (and us too!).

Fiercely independent, smart, and active defined her early childhood and beyond.  She endured our moving around to Boston when she was 9 and to Florida when she was 13 but thrived nonetheless.  Her adventures continued though throughout her first 50 years...High School in Israel, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Semester at Sea, University of Colorado, back to Ann Arbor, Aspen, Zimbabwe, back to Aspen, Boulder, University of Denver and now a Mom herself to her's and Scott's mini-me in Denver!  Mara is definitely her Mother's daughter.  When she rolls her eyes at my bad jokes, I could swear it is Lisa all over again.  I have to admit that I have lived vicariously through Lisa's many adventures.

To say I am proud of my daughter would be an obvious understatement.  Happy 50th Birthday, Lisa Michele Cohen.  Keep being you for at least another 50!  I Love Daddy's Little Girl!

And The Journey continues......

Oh! The Mountains We Climb

Twenty-two years ago, my daughter, Lisa, encouraged me to climb Mt. Princeton, a 14,000+ foot mountain in Colorado.  Actually I think it was more like talked me into climbing rather than encouraging me to take this adventure with her.  She was graduating from graduate school and sent me a note a few months before our trip to Denver:

   "I am looking forward to our ascent of Mt. Princeton and for introducing you to a piece of my world that is sacred and very close to my heart."

How could a Dad resist after that?  So, I embarked on the journey with her.  Long story short....She took me on a 12 hour round trip hike and although I climbed to over 14,000 feet, I did not summit because of Lisa's impatience with the slow movements of her old man!

Lisa has climbed the 54 14er's in Colorado and I attempted 2 others.  There was the hike on Quandary where my trustworthy(?) guide took us on the wrong path and after a considerable amount of time, we found the bold sign that read: Trespassers Will Be Shot on Sight!  By the time we descended and found the right trail, it was already getting late, my back was hurting and we scuttled the attempt.  

And then there was the misadventures while trying to hike up Humboldt.  Lisa and I arrived the night before the hike...the plan was to camp at the trailhead and get an early start the next morning.  As we got ready to set up camp, the sky opened up and the rain caused this old man to declare that a hotel would be a better idea.  Going back into the small town, we found a motel reminiscent of The Bates Motel and Lisa, Kota (the dog) and I bedded down for the night.  The next morning brought clearer weather and we headed up the trail.  A few hours in, the fog got so thick we couldn't see the mountain peak above us and soon had a hard time seeing our feet.  As it began to hail, it became apparent that we were going to scuttle this one too and began our descent.  I looked over at poor Kota and there was at least an inch of ice on his back but we thawed out as we got to lower altitudes.

That was the end of my 14er adventures.  But certainly not Lisa's.  She continued her quest of all 54 and it only took her 10 years to summit and document all of them.  Her dog, Kota, accompanied her on over 40 of them and she hiked many of them with various friends.  My only other ascent of a 14,000 foot peak was in a car and we got to the peak so quickly I developed altitude sickness and had to descend just as fast!

Sometimes we fail to reach the summit, but the climb itself is the real adventure....in life as well as in hiking.  

But now, Lisa has a new hiking partner and they did their first 14er this past weekend.  My granddaughter Mara, age 10, hiked up Mt. Sherman and reached the summit at 14,043 feet.  With determination she slogged through snow near the peak and even got to glissade (on her rear end) several hundred feet on the descent.  This Tuesday, she is already going for her 2nd summit of a 14,000 ft mountain by attempting one of my failures, Mt Quandary!  There is no doubt in my mind she will be successful!  Way to go, Mara...knowing how hard these hikes can be, I am so proud of you!

When Lisa first talked me into  climbing Mt. Princeton, she sent me the following Mount Analogue from Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindful Meditation In Everyday Life:

"There are outer mountains and inner mountains. Their very presence beckons to us, calls us to ascend. Perhaps the full teaching of a mountain is that you carry the whole mountain inside yourself, the outer one as well as the inner. And sometimes you search and search for the mountain without finding it until the time comes when you are sufficiently motivated and prepared to find a way through, first to the base, then to the summit. The mountain climb is a powerful metaphor for the life quest, the spiritual journey. The path of growth, transformation, and understanding. The arduous difficulties we encounter along the way embody the very challenges we need in order to stretch ourselves and thereby expand our boundaries. In the end, it is life itself which is the mountain, the teacher, serving us up perfect opportunities to do the inner work of growing in strength and wisdom. And we have a lot of learning and growing to do once we choose to make the journey. The risks are considerable, the sacrifices awesome, the outcome always uncertain. Ultimately, it is the climb itself which is the adventure, not just standing at the top.

First we learn what it's like at the base. Only later do we encounter the slopes, and finally, perhaps, the top. But you can't stay at the top of a mountain. The journey up is not complete without the descent, the stepping back and seeing the whole again from afar. Having been at the summit, however, you have gained a new perspective, and it may change your way of seeing forever.

As best we can, we show others what we have seen up to now. It's at best a progress report, a map of our experiences, by no means the absolute truth. And so the adventure unfolds. We are all on the mountain together. And we need each other's help.

- Jon Kabat-Zinn

AND THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...........

Everyone Is Innocent!

 "Everyone in here is innocent." says Morgan Freeman's character Red, a convicted murderer, in The Shawshank Redemption.  Interestingly, this is not just fiction.  A research study from the University of Southhampton shows that convicted prisoners view themselves as having more pro-social characteristics -kindness, morality, self control and generosity - than non-prisoners.

What these prisoners are doing is ignoring reality, because they are strongly influenced by the self-enhancement motive, according to the study.

Which brings us to tRump and his 34 felony convictions.  According to the former President, everything was rigged.  Everything is somebody else's fault.  the Judge is crooked, the jury is crooked, the prosecutor is crooked, Biden is crooked, everybody is against him!! "I couldn't be more innocent." Poor Donald...all the bullies are conspiring against him.  

Let's see...his legal problems are not limited to this case.  He has already lost large civil trials for sexual assault, defamation of character, racial profiling by his business (a case brought by the Nixon administration), 68 cases concerning the 2020 election and hundreds of other cases either settled out of court or still pending.  And, that doesn't even include the Georgia Election Case, the Arizona false electors case, the Federal Election case, the Classified Documents case or the Civil Fraud case that he has appealed.

So, what do the Republican officials say about all of this?  You already know the answer....tRump is innocent but, but, but Hunter Biden and Hillary's emails....  From such trustworthy (sic) people as Marco Rubio, Ron Desantis and many, many others, comes a litany of lies, justifications and other absurd statements.  And business leaders that are poised to overlook all of this for one reason only...their tax rate.

If Donald Trump wins the Presidency again, this country is in big trouble.  The "Great Experiment" of Democracy, the Rule of Law and individual rights are over.  I have to give it to the Conservatives...they have done a masterful job of building their cause from the ground up...first at the local level, then the State level, the Federal level and finally as high as the Supreme Court...the most corrupt court in the history of The United States.  If you want to talk about rigged and corruption, one has to look no further that Justices Alito and Thomas.

I have to disagree with the prisoners cited in the Southhampton study...you nor tRump possess the important social characteristics- kindness, generosity, self-control and certainly not any trait of morality.  tRump is influenced ONLY by the self-enhancement motive and could care less about you, me or anyone else other than himself...AND IT COMPLETELY BAFFLES ME THAT HIS SUPPORTERS SLURP UP HIS NONSENSE.

And The Journey continues........

Oath and Honor/The Little Liar

 Having just finished reading "Oath and Honor: Memoir and a Warning" by Liz Cheney and "The Little Liar: A Novel" by Mitch Album, I couldn't help but feel how fortuitous it was that I read them back to back.

In case you haven't read either, they are both about deceit and the ramifications of constantly telling lies. 

Cheney's tome is a first hand account of the insurrection of January 6, 2021 from inside the halls of Congress, from origins to aftermath.  In Oath and Honor, she tells the story of this perilous time in our history, those who helped Trump spread the stolen election LIE and the considerable risks we still face.  If I had not personally witnessed the lies, the insurrection and the congressional investigation, I might have viewed this book as a work of fiction...because, surely this couldn't happen in the United States of America.  But it did..because a lie told enough times gets weak-minded people to believe it!

Mitch Albom's well written book is a "work of fiction, but many truths went into its construction." (the Author's words)  In fact, the narrator of the story is the Angel of Truth.  This Holocaust story set in Greece centers on 11 year old Nico, who has never told a lie.  His truthfulness is used against him when, for the promise of safety for his family, he is coerced to tell those being loaded into the cattle cars for their journey to Auschwitz, that he overheard the Germans and the trip was merely a relocation to better homes, jobs and prosperity.  Because of his reputation for ALWAYS telling the truth, many chose to believe him.

This is where the similarities in Nico's and Trump's journeys differ.  

When Nico realizes the consequences of his betrayal, he can never tell the truth again...but not just for personal gain.  He will spend the rest of his life telling lies, changing names, changing locations and identities, desperate for a way to forgiveness - for himself and from those he loved.

Trump, however, continues to tell lies.  In addition to the well-documented 30,000+ lies he told as President, he continues to lie about everything to do with everything.  A pathological liar is unable to control his lying due to an underlying mental disorder.  They are very manipulative and generally lie to get their way.  Their lies are generally complicated, dramatic and detailed.  Unlike a compulsive liar, who generally knows right from wrong, a pathological liar lives with a false sense of reality.  Ms. Cheney proves in her book that Trump is very definitely a pathological liar with no conscience, no remorse and no recognition of right from wrong.

Album's historical account of the far reaches of the Holocaust was well researched, well written and horrific in its details,  While I have studied the plight of the Jews in Germany, Poland and Austria, Album reminds us of the far reaching tentacles of hatred and the places, like Greece, that we might otherwise not relate to this horrible period of time in Europe and around the world.  In today's rise of anti-semitism and general intolerance in the world, this is a must read!

Cheney's book is also nearly as chilling.  How anyone can read this entire book, understand the planning, conniving, and lying that was and continues to be led by Trump and his minions and still vote for this garbage is beyond comprehension.  I don't care whether you have conservative political viewpoints or hate the current administration, this book helps to point out the dangers to our way of life, our Democracy and this Country's mere existence if Trump and his henchmen are put back in power.  I don't agree with many conservative policies that are the foundation of the "old" Republican Party, but I have to respect (no, Admire!) those, like Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney that are trying to save us from ourselves.  This, too, is a must read!

In The Little Liar, the Angel of Truth says: 

"Humans are broken. Susceptible to sin. They were created with minds to explore, but they often choose to explore their own power. They lie.  And those lies let them think they are God.  Truth is the only thing that stops them. And yet. You cannot drown out noise with silence. Truth needs a voice."

WE are that voice.

And The Journey continues........

Tay-Trav

My taste in music is very eclectic.  As I have written in the past, I enjoy Jazz, Pop, Classical, Broadway, Country and just about anything other than Rap and Hip-Hop.  Music is the soundtrack of my life!

Up to this point, I haven't paid much attention to Taylor Swift and her music other than knowing that my granddaughter is a Swifty and that Taylor is uber-popular.  Now, though, that the MAGA crowd has started to vilify her for her stand on equal rights, Women's reproductive rights, Gay rights and her relationship with Travis Kelce, I decided to take a deeper dive in to exactly who is Taylor Swift, her music, her accomplishments and exactly what she has done to piss-off a lot of mysoginistic, close-minded bigots and assorted other creeps that don't want to see her face on an NFL broadcast.

First of all, Taylor is an accomplished musician.  She began writing songs at age 14 and made her first album at age 16.  She is credited with writing over 119 songs solo and another 100 or so in collaboration with other songwriters.  With over 200 million records sold, she is one of the world's best selling artist.  Taylor has won every major music award - most multiple times- even when a total idiot jumped on-stage to try to take one away from her! She is the highest-grossing female touring act, the most streamed woman and the first BILLIONAIRE with music as the main source of income.  She has inspired millions and millions of young people all over the world.

Taylor is known for her philanthropic efforts.  Besides supporting the arts, she has been active in Feeding America, the World Health Organization, Stand Up To Cancer, children's literacy and many other charitable endeavors.  Every city on her tour benefits from her charitable endeavors.  She truly embraces the Pay-It-Forward philosophy.

So, it begs the question:  Why are certain people so upset over her romance with Travis Kelce, her exposure on NFL broadcasts, her political leanings and just about anything that she says, does or doesn't say or do?  Is it jealousy, mysoginy, or are they scared that she might have influence with a very large group of people...specifically those of voting age?  Probably all of the above!

I haven't seen these same people get upset when the cameras pan to other celebrities in the crowd at a football game. I didn't see any of them get upset when another athlete, David Beckham, started a love affair with Posh Spice - now, Victoria Beckham.  Where is the uproar over other celebrities being on the sidelines during games or dominating the courtside seats at a basketball game or being shown from their luxury boxes?  Is a grand total of 25 seconds on camera really stop the flow of your watching a game?

Give me a break.  This is all about the fact that Taylor has encouraged young people to register to vote...to let their voices be heard..to stand up for what they believe in.  The MAGA crowd has demanded that she stay out of politics.  But it is okay for their "stars" of the music and entertainment industry that support the conservative movement to voice their opinions.  As usual, the hypocricy is overwhelming.  

And if you are offended that Travis does commercials for Bud Light, Pfizer, Nike, State Farm, Experion and DirecTV and others, than don't get the vaccination, don't drink Bud Light, quit wearing Nike, get your insurance from someone other than State Farm, don't check your credit through Experion and don't use DirecTV.  That's what freedom of choice is about.  But, stop the damn rumors of something sinister going on because two famous people are having a romance.  There are bigger problems in this country and the world in general and to focus on Taylor and Travis is ridiculous! 

I am already a fan of Travis Kelce because of his enormous talent on the field...and I enjoy the podcast he does with his brother.  Now, I am becoming a Swifty, because of the person she is!

To those that are offended by Taylor Swift and her relationship with Travis Kelce, I say...Get a life!

And The Journey continues......

Thoughts on the Attack on Israel

On October 6th we woke to news of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas. At first, I was horrified by the news and the images of the barbaric attacks on civilians including children, the elderly and others that were simply leading their everyday lives. Then, I became very sad that there are people that have so little regard for Human Life that they felt justified in committing such atrocities. Finally, the sadness turned to anger.

Anger that Israel is the only country in the world that has to defend itself defending itself. Anger that most of the World blames Israel for causing this terrible act. Anger that the hatred for The Jewish people is so great, the the phrase “Never Again” is hollow, because Never Again has turned in to “Here We go Again.”

Recently, our Rabbi, Dan Levin, wrote a piece answering a teenager’s question: “If Hamas is so bad, then why don’t the Palestinians overthrow them.” In citing a recent survey of Palestinians he pointed out a very disturbing fact: When asked if they support attacking Israel, 70% claimed support with 35% indicating strong support.

Rabbi Dan further posits: “Hamas has never hidden their agenda. Their charter and their rhetoric all call for the destruction not simply of Israel, but of the Jewish people. They reject and refuse any negotiated resolution or political settlement for peace. They call for unceasing war and violence to create an Islamic state run by Sharia Law. And they have never wavered in word or deed. Neither has Hizbullah, their allies to the north, or Iran, their benefactors in the east.”

Every Jewish person in our Country is no more than 1 connection away from knowing someone directly affected by this attack on Israel and its citizens. In my case, I have Great Nephews in Jerusalem and multiple friends with family in various places in Israel. An attack on Israel is an attack on ALL Jews throughout the world. Jewish people make up .2% of the world population, but seem to be blamed for 50% of the world’s problems.

The rise of anti-semitism across the globe is staggering and frightening. It seems that those that are supporting the Palestinians are ignoring the fact that Hamas attacked Israel…not the other way around. I understand there is the bigger question of a Palestinian State or a two state solution, but the fact remains that this war was started by Hamas and is going to be expanded by Hezbollah and is fueled by Iran. Further, it make logical sense that Russia is involved as a means to divert attention and resources from its unprovoked war on Ukraine. This is not a war Israel asked for, but has every right and responsibility to defend itself.

My anger is also rooted in the amount of misinformation and disinformation being propagandized in the press and on social media. Facts matter! There are those that blame Biden’s release of $6 billion dollars of Iranian’s own money to be the cause of the attacks. The fact is that NONE of that money has been accessed and it has, in fact, been refrozen and cannot be accessed. There is evidence that these attacks have been planned for 2 years…not as a result of the decision to release Iran’s own funds for the release of hostages being held in Iran.

The recent bombing of the hospital in Gaza is another media kerfuffle. Initially, it was loudly blamed on Israel. When overwhelming evidence shows it was Hamas’ own misfired missiles and that it didn’t actually hit the hospital but landed in a parking lot, the silence of the media was deafening. And, it’s not just Israel stopping the people of Gaza from leaving. Egypt also is not allowing their border to be opened, but criticism of their lack of humanity goes unreported. In fact, there is not a single Arab country that will accept refugees from Gaza or The West Bank although most in Gaza and The West Bank originally descended from those same Arab Countries.

There are those that blame the attacks on Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Fact is that Israel has not occupied Gaza since 2005. Yes, conditions are terrible in Gaza. But, that is their own fault for supporting a terrorist organization as their ruling government. Hamas has no regard for Palestinian’s lives and in fact, use their own people as human shields against attacks, Their stockpiles of weapons are in civilian enclaves, hospitals and the myriad of tunnels running throughout Gaza.

There is hatred on both sides. The Palestinians hate The Jews and most Jewish people have contempt and hatred of The Palestinian people. As long as that hate exists, there is no solution.

Rabbi Dan ended his answer to that teenager with: “ In this hour of fear and dread, we cannot allow ourselves to fall prey to hatred, to lose our capacity to see the other, to feel their pain, to hear their cries.

We must let go of our hatreds. We must cast off the blinders that keep us from seeing the humanity of the other. We must choose a different mindset and a different path. Only then will suffering end. Only then will we know peace.”

And the Journey continues…

Things I Don't Understand

Although I have been accused of thinking that I am smarter than everybody else, actually the opposite is true.  There are a lot of people smarter than me, but I would like to think that I have a modicum of smarts.  However, there are a number of things I do NOT understand.

For instance, Why do certain people feel it is necessary to legislate other people's body, lifestyle, sexual preference, marital status or even what books they are allowed to read.  Yes, I am talking about you, Mr. DeSantis and your other self-righteous, right wing followers.  What gives you the right to decide what a woman does with her own body, including contraception and abortion?  Why should you force your religious beliefs on someone that does not share your beliefs?  Just because I believe that women should have a choice on what and when to do to their own being doesn't necessarily make me in favor of abortion, it just makes me in favor of you NOT being able to legislate choice.  How come you think you and the government should have a say in those decisions?  I don't understand!

Why do certain people think they should have a say in what others read or what is available for them or their children to read?  Yes, I am talking about you, Mr. DeSantis and The Mothers of Liberty (sic).  If you do not want to let your children read certain books because of your close-mindedness, then that is your prerogative.  Why should others be prevented from reading or for letting their children read whatever they and their parents deem appropriate?  What make you the arbiter of what is appropriate to be put in our school's libraries?  To me, it seems that you are following the Third Reich's playbook.  I don't understand!

Why do certain people think they are above the law and that the rules don't apply to them?   Yes, Mr. Trump, I am talking about you and your brain-washed followers that can't read an indictment and understand the depth of the crimes you are being accused of and the depth of evidence that has been presented so far.  Others have been prosecuted and sentenced for revealing far less government secrets than you have.  And that does not even include the charges that have been filed concerning January 6th and the fake electors schemes.  How come you can't read simple reports like the Mueller Report or other Congressional reports and conclude that Trump is the most corrupt President to ever hold office.  How come you can't connect the dots between Trump's daughter and son-in-law and The Saudi Arabian regime?  Are the billions Kushner was awarded by the Saudi's not enough to convince you?  I don't understand!

Why are you so afraid of The LGBTQ community?  Why do you spend 90% of your time on the campaign trail blasting Trans and non-binary people when they make up less than .5% of the population? Yes, I am AGAIN talking about you Mr. DeSantis.  Why is this non-issue an important issue to you?  And why should it matter to you if there are people who want to celebrate Pride month?  Exactly how does that affect your everyday life?  Why are you against Gay Marriage?  Is love not love?  How any individual conducts their own sexual preferences with a willing partner should not be of any concern to you.  So, why do you think the government should be involved?  And why are you so offended by a drag show that you want to outlaw them rather than just ignore them?  I grew up watching famous comedians dressing up as women for their shows (Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason etc) and it didn't harm me...so why do you think it will be such a detriment to kids today?  Why do you think YOU can tell other parents what their kids should watch?  I don't understand!

Why can't you recognize that every Republican administration over the last 80 years has been much worse for the economic health of this country than Democratic administrations?  Yes, I am talking to all of the Republican Reagan worshipers that believe the economy is always better under Republican leadership.  The economy has grown significantly faster under Democratic Presidents than Republicans.  By almost every measure, GDP, employment, stock market indexes, productivity, incomes etc, this holds true.  Why do you hold onto the theory that the economy is better under Republicans when Democrats have been more willing to heed economic and historical lessons about what policies actually strengthen the economy, while Republicans have often clung to theories that they want to believe - like the supposedly magical powers of tax cuts, trickle down economics and deregulation?  Don't believe me?  Why are you not smart enough to actually research this and look at history?  I don't understand!

Why are we accepting the growth of anti-semitism, Nazi demonstrations, Ku Klux Klan and the White supremacists in today's society?  Yes, I understand freedom of speech.  However, where is the outcry or at least some indignation from our so-called leaders and political candidates?  When are we going to have someone in a position of power actually speak out against our Country's slide back into 1930's Germany?  Why are the politicians and candidates for office so eerily silent about this subject?  I don't understand!

How many school kids and others have to die from gun-wielding 2nd Amendment worshippers before we take action against the proliferation of guns and gun violence in our Country?  Why can't we learn from all of the other countries that have passed sensible gun laws and greatly reduced these crimes?  How long are we going to put up with terrorist drills in our schools and the need to lock and chain school doors to protect our children?  When do we quit taking the NRA's money and enact legislation that the MAJORITY of American citizens want?  It is absolute lunacy and I don't understand!

Finally, why can't you tell the difference between facts and bullshit?  Yes, I am talking about all of the Trump syncophynts and other conspiracy theorists. Is it because you have such a weak sense of self that you have to leach onto that liar of all liars.  It has been proven over and over again that most things Trump says is a lie, but you continue to slurp up the juice.  Are you so unable to think for yourself that you don't recognize the lie or do you just not care?  Here's the actual results....over 30,000 fact checked lies, two impeachments, embarrassing our Country by kissing Putin's ass, running up the deficit by over 7 trillion dollars, accomplishing exactly zero of his campaign promises, lying to his supporters about the election being stolen, having fake electors submit fraudulent documents, calling a Georgia official asking him to find 11,780 votes, inciting an insurrection on the Capitol, attempting to overthrow our democracy, refusing (for the first time in our history) the peaceful transfer of power, stealing classified documents, and refusing to return them under subpoena, and being indicted on 91 felony charges in 4 jurisdictions...not including the many civil complaints filed against him personally and his shady business practices.  I don't understand how anyone can support this lying, treasonous, indicted, criminal loser without realizing they are in a dangerous cult.  I just don't understand!!

There is so much more that I don't understand, including those that refuse to follow science and would rather follow TikTok or Twitter propaganda bullshit. 

I don’t unde………wait a minute!  Maybe I do understand….If books are banned, then the next generation won’t be exposed to ideas that are opposed to what you want them to believe….if you deny history, then we are doomed to repeat it, and maybe that’s what you want…If you push a single religion’s beliefs on everybody, it makes it easier for the white supremacist,  anti-semitic, racist faction to be emboldened…If we bring up a generation of non-thinkers, then it will make it easier to install an authoritative regime….if enough lies are told, then the decimation of a democratic country will be complete….

I think I am beginning to understand!

And The Journey continues......