Author: Bruce Halen

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

We know it is likely coming, but when and where will it happen? The arrest of a Wisconsin jurist today is a wakeup call that that it is not a matter of whether this Administration cracks down on freedom with violence against the American people, it’s a matter of when.

I am preparing myself, at least in part, by watching resistance stories from World War ll. One in particular that gets to what an American resistance against a tyrannical government might conceptually look like is the Netflix film Number 24. Number 24 is the story of a young Norwegian resistance fighter. It is realistic and clear in it’s messaging about tyranny and what it can look like if it is not countered through democratic processes.

If that sounds a little melancholy and overly dramatic , so be it. It is what it is.

If we gird our loins and take the second punch from Donald and the Magettes as well as we took the first punch, then we here in the United States have a fighting chance of fighting off the MAGA penal colony and restoring America by becoming American again.

The Tiananmen Square protests/massacre occurred in 1995. I don’t know that an event like this will actually happen here in the U.S.A. The fact that it happened in China is one thing. Chinese people have been repressed for several decades. They were expressing a sentiment that they weren’t about to get. Democracy and the freedom that comes with it.

Here in the United States, the possibility of American soldiers killing Americans seems like a long shot even to me who tends to flirt with the Dark Side despite being an eternal optimist at heart. I pray that our American boys and girls under the direction of American men and women would not follow an immoral command from a deranged leader.

As protests get larger and more frequent, I worry that the narcissistic President Donald will become progressively more unhinged and do the unthinkable. I hope not, but if it does happen I hope that I am there. In the heart of the resistence.

Ok, that’s enough with the bravado.

In the meantime, I make small donations, attend marches and protests, work on immigrant rights and climate change issues through my church, write this little blog, keep my body as healthy as a 69 year old body can be and sing…a lot. These are things that I can do and find joy in doing. It’s what I can do. And it’s what I will continue to do

Give yourself a break from the news and take a few deep breaths several times during the day. It really helps. So does listening to Paul Simon’s 1975 rendition of his song, American Tune.

"Power rests in People not in the People in Power."

Raphael Warnock
U.S. Senator

Love Wins.

I couldn’t resist adding Bridge Over Troubled Water. So here is the story behind the song and the song itself.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

The word has a markedly religious undertone. I am not as familiar with the words usage in other religious traditions, but I am somewhat familiar with the word and how it is used in the Christian religious tradition.

The religion’s prophet, a man known as Jesus was tortured to death for speaking out against the establishment religious so called holy men of his day. As the story goes, he proposed a way of living where each individual person had a direct pipeline to God. No need for an intermediary. Just you and God. No need to pay your way into the unknown but desired afterlife.

As you can imagine, the high priests of the Jewish temple did not take kindly to this young upstart who was starting to undermine their credibility and opulent lifestyles . People were listening to him and they liked what he had to say. The things he said were lived and later taught by his followers, or apostles. They were written down much later, in fact centuries later into a series of letters and stories attributed to the Apostles Mathew, Mark, Luke and John and assembled in what we know as the New Testament section of Christian Bible.

It is called the New Testament for a reason. It was written to replace the Old Testament and separate Judaism from the new religion of Christianity.

Of course it wasn’t that simple. The message of Jesus got manipulated, twisted, melted and bent into something that more represented the very things that inspired Jesus to leave his birth faith and teach a new way of doing things.

Poor guy. He wasn’t destined to live a long life and he didn’t. He was beaten and nailed to a cross and hung out to die, which he did, at the age of 32. End of story right?

Wrong. As the story goes, his lifeless body was taken off the cross and put in a cave that was made seemingly inaccessible by a large boulder that couldn’t possibly be moved. But, miraculously, it was and when his followers came back the next day, the body was gone.

It’s hard to know what happened to Jesus, but according to Christian teachings, Jesus was risen from the dead so that his followers would be granted everlasting life. There was no need to pay your way into the good lodgings of the afterlife. Your way was already payed. All you had to do was believe in the teachings of Jesus.

I wish that it was that easy, but even the most basic, believable, human ideals can be mangled by human-kind. I used to be a Christian. I still embrace the belief that there is a force greater than the forces of the physical world and I doubt that that will ever leave me.

The story of the resurrected Christ is symbolism of the strongest human kind. The idea that even when your body uses the last of it’s material energy, your spirit lives on forever. Not for a thousand years, a million years, 4.5 Billion years or 120 Light years, but for all time.

Which gets me finally to the point that I have been formulating as I write. Death is temporary. And that is important as we as Americans, Humans and Earthlings try to resurrect freedom, justice, hope and human kindness from the brink of death on the steps of the Temple erected out of tribute to the seekers of wealth and power.

It’s the same today as it was in the time of Jesus. Except that today, the religion named after Jesus no longer resembles the institution of Humanity that he envisioned those thousands of years ago.

As we emerge from the Christian high holy day of Easter, the story of the resurrected Christ, whether you believe his story or not, it is not a huge stretch to see us as the collective modern day Jesus being resurrected from the dead and sending the message to the rich and powerful that they are no more powerful than we are.

In fact, we are collectively more powerful than they will ever be. May Donald Trump be happy; May Donald Trump be healthy and strong; May Donald Trump be at ease; May Donald Trump be at peace.

Even as I sometimes curse his name. I believe that.

Enjoy nature’s version of resurrection. It’s called Spring!

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Yes, it’s called DOGE, but they have the acronym wrong. Instead of standing for The Department of Government Efficiency, which it clearly is not, I have a more accurate acronym:: The Department of Greedy Elon. That would seem to be a more accurate title for what the Tesla Twit is up to in his current gig.

It also seems to an overall description of what our current “leadership” views it’s mission for the next three years and 10 months, not that I’m counting.

We can be thankful to Vladimir Putin, the Heritage Foundation, Big Oil and the Tech Bros for calling Democracy to our attention here in the U.S. of A. We as a nation tend to take things for granted, have a short attention span and live in blissful ignorance of what is happening to others. Others being other Americans and others being those living anywhere else in the world.

I sometimes wish this “blissful ignorance” for myself. But, I’m quick to return to my calling. When someone is a victim of injustice , I am a victim of injustice. I cannot sit back and accept the injustice. I simply cannot. it’s in my epigenetics. I’m stuck with it and I’m glad I am.

My parents exposed me to a Christian religious education at a young age and those early teachings have pretty much doomed me to a life of compassion and service to others. Don’t get me wrong, I have no regrets the life that I have been called to live. I live it joyfully and enthusiastically.

But, it does challenge me greatly in the area of separating the action from the actor. In these made for tv divisive times, we are pumped with information, misinformation and purposeful disinformation by forces that benefit from the cycle of demonization. He, she, they are there and we are here. They are wrong and we are right.

Of course this is all bullshit. It works for the force that largely stays behind it’s own cloak of invisibility and allows their dirty work to be done by political figures, religious organizations and politicized news outlets.

But, let me get back to the thesis for today’s opinions.

Elon Musk and his smoke and mirrors operations at D.O.G.E. His special interest in his position at D.O.G.E. (what exactly is his position?) appears to be at least two-fold. One fold is to protect his own business interests from government intervention and the second fold is to extend the already ridiculous level of tax breaks received by his Billionaire class by simply eliminating the services that those taxes pay for. If you can’t do it legally through legislative processes, then go to the next best approach. Take a butcher’s meat hacker and start hacking.

Musk’s money and influence are doing great, but not irreparable harm to the U.S.A. Anything they are doing can be undone. While we common folks down here write our blogs, boycott, hold our picket signs, write our letters, make or text calls to our elected officials and attend town halls and other meetings, our judicial system is bearing the brunt of the heavy lifting in the resistance struggle against the budding Whie Nationalist Oligarchy.

It does my heart good and bolsters my spirit to see the little things that we are all doing to resist those that have wealth and power and wish to expand it.

When anyone is suffering anywhere, I am suffering. But it is good suffering. As the late civil rights leader John Lewis said, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

There’s lots of good trouble yet to get into. Let’s get into it.

The Billionaire tax whackers portray government as one big monolithic bureaucratic mess. This simply is not true. Michael Lewis tells the other side of the story in his new book “Who is Government? The Untold Story of Public Servants.”

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Our White Christian Nationalist (so far) “soft” Coup is in it’s final preparations for a full on takeover of the United States government. The German people didn’t know what was coming on August 31, 1939, but the next day would be the invasion of Poland and the start of World War 2. The American people don’t have that excuse as far as what is coming next.

We know where this is headed.

The question is now that we know what is coming, are we going to sit back and watch or are we going to call a spade a spade and fight to take our country back right now. This is it. This is the time to act. This won’t wait until tomorrow, next month or next year. This is the time. The time is now.

If you are going to join a group, stand on a picket line, write a blog, make financial donations I suggest that you do it now…with bells on. No more sitting back.

On the bright side, I have two names for you. Brian Tyler Cohen and Texas State Rep. James Talarico. Tyler Cohen is an author, podcaster and YouTuber with a focus on politics. Thanks to my friend Kelvin for telling me about Cohen.

Talarico is on a crusade to expose the hypocrisy of the Republican Party for not practicing what they preach. He wants Progressives to insert the real Christian message of how to treat you fellow man into its message being that they are the ones trying to implement Christ’s teachings into the world.

His interview today with Tyler Cohen on how the MAGA religious right has hijacked the party and replaced Jesus as their savior with Trump as their savior is worth listening to. See the underlined link above.

Be well, be hopeful and I wish you happiness, health and peace.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

In a first attempt to answer my own question, it will take action from us. The regime that we “elected” is not acting in our best interests. It is, in fact, acting in the best interest of the Chief Dictator, Vladimir Putin. In my eyes, this is traitorous behavior. We are in a cold war with Russia, so treason is on the table for those members of the U.S. government that are aiding and abetting an enemy of the United States of America.

What kind of action you might ask? I’ll admit that even though my commitment to stoicism is strong , there are days, like today, that I flat out failed in my efforts to filter the news that I am seeing and hearing and reading through the filter of the Control question. Today, I was a miserable failure.

I forgive myself for being a miserable failure as a Stoic today (which is now yesterday). It’s ok. This is hard work and it will take many more days, weeks, months and years of hard work to restore rational thought and common sense humanity to a confused nation. I guess I’ll be re-reading and re-practicing what Brigid Delaney is teaching me in her book “Reasons Not to Worry: How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times.”

One thing I’ve learned along the way on how to deal with moronic insanity that I have no control over is to seek out communities my communities. My church offers me a Small Group Ministry community, a choir community and an Immigrant assistance committee community. I have two other choir communities, a golfing community, a fantasy Baseball community, a community of friends… Who am I missing?

I’m having a series of random, wondering thoughts today, which I suppose is predictable in a news environment that is running pretty randomly since January 20.

I’m wondering about all the Republicans in Congress who have the authority and power to curb the power of a deranged autocrat but refuse, for reasons unknown to me, refuse to use it. They hold more power than even the Supreme Court. I eagerly await the first Republican legislator with a backbone to stand up to the emperor and tell him that he has no clothes on, so speak.

I’m wondering if corporate America is just playing metaphorical ball with the guy with all the power and will revert back to some semblance of whatever humanity they are capable of exhibiting once his term is up. Or is saving all that tax money and a corporate friendly government that doesn’t give a shit about us just too tempting to turn down.

I’m wondering what Vladimir Putin has to do with this mess. I don’t doubt for a minute that there is enough autocratic talent in the Heritage Foundation Right stage a Coup on the U.S., but the evidence is building that he has his hand in it somehow. If we could somehow lose Putin the world would be a much better place.

I’m wonder when it will be the right time for a March on Washington.

A very wise Buddhist friend taught me to say these words to myself when I'm starting to get very angry at someone's actions or words:

"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be happy.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be healthy and strong.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at ease.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at peace.

This too is hard to do. I find that I’m practicing it a lot these days, But, when I do it, somehow I feel better. It reminds me not to place the blame on the person for their actions. The action is coming through them but it is not of them. Credit to Dr. Ysaye Barnwell for that thought.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Thank God for friends. And for my not so religious friends, you don’t have to thank God.

In the past couple of days, I have reconnected with two friends from earlier days. One is my best childhood friend from Visalia, CA and the other my colleague and dear friend from my early days as a middle school Science teacher in Terra Bella, CA

One is now in Montana near Kalispell and the other is just up the road from me in Millbrae, CA. One was a close friend through high school that I reconnected with at Fresno State a few years later and then lost contact with for way too many years as we forged our lives.

The other is a friend/mentor who taught me how to teach science, how to become a vegetarian and how to drive a tractor (at the expense of an unfortunate pomegranate tree). He was also a spiritual mentor and guide that helped me transition into a contributing member of society.

I have not been good at maintaining long term relationships, although I credit my wife for teaching me about them in our marriage and through the lifelong friendships that she has kept up over several decades.

I also credit social media for providing the means for finding and communicating with people over long distances.

These two individuals are people that I am honored and proud to call my friends. Here’s to friendship.

________________________________

FYI, here are links to the full text of The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and a guide summarizing key impacts of Project 20225. I have read the entire guide. I have nicked the full Project 2025 document.

_________________________________

Sifting through all of the smoke and mirrors that is the Trump Administration is a daunting and, at times, downer of a task.

But, we’re about 1/48th of the way through it and, IF the Supreme Court somehow remembers the core of it’s role in the American Constitution, we can get through this attack on Democracy and come out the other side with a damaged, but strengthened democratic structure for the future of this country. There are traitors on that court. We must pressure them from where we are and let them know that this will not stand. They are nothing without us.

And that is a big IF. As I publish this, we’re awaiting their ruling on a lower court order on whether the Trump Administration can be required to resume USAID programs like PEPFAR.

_______________________________

Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s Oval Office behavior towards Ukrainian President Zelensky and his negotiating team are a disgrace to this country. They do not represent me in any way. I want my country back and we will get it back.

_______________________________

Friends Win. Love Wins.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

And boy am I ready to go!

Let’s start with Israeli Defense Forces sending in tanks and clearing more land in the West Bank. It sounds a little like Netanyahu, Trump and the GAPP (Greed and Power People) are using the Israeli military to clear land for their next big coastal resort project.

Then there’s Trump trying to extort Rare Earth Minerals from Ukraine claiming that they would be a repayment of the debt for monetary support of Ukraine in a war to drive the invading Russians out of the country. Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelensky says that a $500 Billion Trump offer is “off the table” in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron corrected President Trump (I have a real hard time writing that) at a joint news conference on the Third Anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When Trump suggested that the European Union was not contributing its fair share to Ukraine, Macron reminded Trump that the EU has provided 60% of foreign aid to the Ukrainian government

Musk authority diminishing? Is Elon’s influence and bluster wearing off already? It seems that some agencies of the U.S, government are not listening to him. Yet another example of what happens when unrelenting over confidence collides with courage. Maybe “Just say no” actually does work!

We hosted a church pledge party this weekend and had a chance to reflect on the words of our guest minister at church. He gave an impassioned sermon on our individual and collective responsibilities during a time when our beliefs are not represented by those in charge of our governing bodies.

He emphasized that through our involvement with organizations like our church community, we are part of the resistance to the beliefs and ideas of the rich and powerful forces holding sway over our country.

I found the message inspiring, courageous and, most importantly, true.

A Haiku

You

Yo My Broze

Decide Elections

With Your Youthful Ignorant

Thrown Away

Vote

_________________________________

Be well and resist.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

 Ballot

_X__ President

___ King

I vote for President. A president as called for in the United States Constitution, a document that has guided governmental affairs in America for 236 years and counting. It has withstood all manner of challenges and attempts to temper it’s effectiveness.

That includes the current blatant and heinous Coup attempt by the Authoritarians on the political Right. If you look at things superficially, it looks like Democracy is screwed. If you look under the hood (so to speak), we can get out of this mess.

It will take you and me. Think about it. There are 813 Billionaires in the United States. The total population of the United States as of July 2024 was north of 340 million people. I think we have them out numbered. They may have us out leveraged in terms of power and influence, but if we decide that we don’t like the way they are doing things, democracy or not, we should be able to get our way one way or the other.

The “one way” that I hope for is through the election process. Courageous people in positions of influence and power are working like crazy to hold the line until we get another chance to speak up electorally in 2026. Our job in the meantime is to support them in what they do by taking action at our local levels to keep humanity and democratic thought alive and kicking while we kick the Trump behemoth monster in the shins to make it uncomfortable and make our feelings heard…or at least felt a little bit.

Do not, Do not, DO NOT obey in advance out of fear. Most of us at this level are out of the crosshairs of these Fascists and their White Supremacist, Seven Mountain Mandate, Christian extremist deliverers of hate and intimidation. Most of us can go about resisting these tools of hatred because we just aren’t big enough for them to worry about.

These Fascists know that they are in the minority even though they try to appear bigger than they are. They compensate for their lack of numbers by puffery in the media and through fear and intimidation. They are basically acting in a very cowardly manner for a group that prides itself on how much fear and hate it can spread and how big and tough they are.

They function under the guise of a progressive political movement. They meet part of the definition of a progressive political movement. But they fail to meet the second part of the definition of the word progressive. That is they are not working for reforms to benefit the average citizen, us working men and women. They are falsely claiming to be progressives in order to convince working people like you and me that they are looking out for our interests.

In the tradition of authoritarians, they have thrown up smoke, mirrors and tons of disinformation to convince Americans that they stand for something that they are not. They represent the 800+ Billionaires, not the 340,000,000+ of us who are not Billionaires.

Progressives are interested in establishing a more transparent and accountable government which would work to improve U.S. society. The Progressive movement in the U.S.A. came about in the early 20th Century in response to the widespread societal disruption caused by the Industrial Revolution. The Progressive movement is about making life better for people, not worse.

If we are to have more Presidents’ Days, we need to hold the line on Democracy now.

Gird your loins and let’s keep going! They will continue spewing their campaign of “shock and awe” to try and demoralize us and cause maximum chaos. Stay strong. We’ll get through this.

A very wise Buddhist friend taught me to say these words to myself when I'm starting to get very angry at someone's actions or words:

"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be happy.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be healthy and strong.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at ease.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at peace.

I have no control over what they do, but I do have control of my own personal character, how I respond to what other people do and how I treat other people.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

I was driving home in the midst of a California atmospheric river drenching. As I was making a left turn on my way home from a morning workout, an SUV blew through a Yield sign to my right and cut in front of me with not a lot of space to spare.

There are times when that would have sent me into a profanity laden tirade. But, on this day, something was different. The car (and it’s driver) turned off very shortly thereafter and I was on with my day.

It could have been a lot different. It could have escalated into a life changing fit of ugliness. But, instead, as Brigid Delaney suggested in “Reasons Not to Worry,” nip anger in the bud before it makes an everyday event into a rage induced tragedy.

Delaney suggests going through the control test. Ask yourself in real time and in the moment “have I been harmed? ” Stoic Marcus Aurelius on controlling your reaction: “Get rid of this, make a decision to quit thinking of things as insulting, and your anger immediately disappears.”

I thought that I’d like to practice this thinking to affect how I respond to politicians saying things that I resolutely disagree with. So far, today has been a light day on listening to pre-recorded or third party political speech.

There actually was one opportunity to test my new found Stoic tool in a real life setting involving political speech. It involved one of this administration’s high appointees to the Justice Department in a case that involved a quid pro quo arrangement with New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Stoic practice “cultivates resilience.” Learn to adapt your body and brain to uncomfortable and unpleasant situations. Prepare yourself in advance of situations that might make you feel angry. Prepare for them. Exercise, breath, focus on the fabulous. These situations will often make themselves known to you whether you like it or not.

Anger warps rationality. It inserts emotion into situations where emotion gets in the way of clear thinking. Marcus Aurelius said, “The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.” Seneca said, “The greatest cure for anger is to wait, so that the initial passion it engenders may die down, and the fog that shrouds the mind may subside, or be less thick.

If you physically feel yourself getting angry, acknowledge it and consciously slow down and deepen your breaths. Getting oxygen to the brain helps you to slow things down and maybe prevent you from doing, saying or thinking something that you may later regret.

A very wise Buddhist friend taught me to say these words to myself when I'm starting to get very angry at someone's actions or words:

"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be happy.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be healthy and strong.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at ease.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at peace.

I find this practice very difficult. Even if my mind balks at silently repeating these words to myself, I pause to remember that words and actions pass through us. They are not us. Remove the words and actions and we are pretty much all the same. Separate the act from the actor or, if you like, separate the sin from the sinner.

When I am most upset and angry and if I don’t catch myself before I respond to my anger, I find that the practice of reciting these words and inserting the name of the person that I am feeling anger towards allows me to forgive myself and move on.

May the Sun shine down on you and through you.

P.S. I’m still pissed off.

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Amidst all the DEI demonizing nonsense coming from the White House, remember that this is Black History Month in the United States. It is a time to celebrate what that DEI acronym stands for. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.”

That diversity, equality and inclusivity is represented in the idealistic poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus. The poem is inscribed on a plaque inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. It is the greeting and welcome of newcomers to their new home, one that most immigrants wouldn’t be able to read even if they found the pedestal on which the words are inscribed.

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus
1849-1887

Nor would immigrants always receive the real intentioned actions called for in its words.

Native Americans driven from their ancestral lands and cheated by treaty after unkept treaty by the U.S. government. Chinese American immigrants brought in to build the transcontinental railroad only to be told that they weren’t welcome to stay by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Latin Americans brought here to do the back-breaking, low paying work of harvesting food from our farms only to be denied the rights of citizenship, descent housing, healthcare and education.

African Americans forcibly brought here against their will as slaves and after time after time over the last 400 years treated, to put it kindly, disrespectfully.

Our beloved country has not served it’s immigrants well. Over time, if immigrants had pale European-like skin tones, they would be assimilated into mainstream American culture as they learned how to speak the Engish language, receive a decent education and find their way into the so called Middle Class of the American economic and social pecking order.

If your skin was not pale European in color, the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) ruling class made sure that your American experience did not reflect the ideolized life that Lazarus memorialized in her words.

My country. our country has shat on it’s immigrants. And that includes our Native Americans who aren’t even immigrants yet have been treated as those who have come here without the privilege of whiteness.

I am not spitting on my country. I love my country. I will always love my country even when it is sick and ailing. The promise of our country is immortalized and clearly stated in the Constitution, not in the words of The Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025.”

Our country is great because of The Constitution and our collective and unified (yes unified) aspirations to actualize the words in it. Anything other than these aspirations are not American by virtue of the fact that they are not based on the laws that epitomize what our founders had in mind for the United States of America when they wrote the Constitution at the end of the 18th Century,

Black History Month is an opportunity to be reminded that we as Americans have not yet attained the greatness that is in us. Americans will not be fooled into believing that we have had greatness and lost it. We can’t possibly be made great again because we have not been great before, in some areas we have been really good, in others, like our treatment of immigrants, woefully bad.

I challenge you to remember the contributions of African Americans each day this month. And in so doing letting Washington know that we know what greatness is. It is not them.

Help celebrate Black History Month.

A very wise Buddhist friend taught me to say these words to myself when I'm starting to get very angry at someone's actions or words:

"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be happy.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be healthy and strong.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at ease.
"May (insert the name of the person(s) here) be at peace.

I find this exercise difficult. I also find that in saying these words to myself that I am calmed and reminded to separate the person from the action coming through them. God help me practice these words with the far right members of the Supreme Court!