Author: Bruce Halen

"Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, She Walks Into Mine."

"Here's lookin' at you kid."

Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca"

I went home to Visalia, California this past weekend for a Reunion party with some of my classmates from the Mt. Whitney High School class of 1974. Of course, I will have something to say about it. And, I have been on hiatus from blogging for the past couple of months.

By the time you get to be 68 years old, you’ve had a few experiences and a significant amount of learnings. Births and deaths, marriages and divorces, illness and health, sadness and happiness, lousy golf games and less lousy golf games.

I had a revelation on Saturday night, September 28. 2024 at the Whitney Wild Oak Ranch in Exeter, California. Some of you, maybe most of you, figured this out long ago. Its not about the things that we’ve done, the places that we’ve gone or the events we have experienced. It’s not what we believe or don’t believe or how we vote

No, its none of those things.

It’s us.

I talked with George, Karen, Debbie and Debbie, Michelle, Cliff, Chuck, Warren, Tony, Gordon, Steve, Jim, Sue, Mary, Dave, Dwayne, Charlie, Art, Don, and others that will come to me as I revise this. I talked to people that I hung out with and knew really well and I talked to people that I barely ever knew. What really matters?

It’s the acquaintances and friendships that we’ve had, rekindled and maintained over the past 50 years (and counting). It’s keeping in touch with each other and strengthening the bonds that we were born into.

As kids, we really didn’t get to choose anything. Who we were born to, what schools we went to or what kind of an upbringing we had were decisions that were made by someone else and not in our control. Eventually, we grew into, let’s just say, adulthood, and we got to make decisions for ourselves about what the rest of our lives would look like.

I’ve never been good about keeping in touch with you all. I’ve at times been aloof, busy or just plain clueless about what ya’ll have been doing, living, experiencing, suffering through, celebrating through.

Well, I get it now. I no doubt missed out on some wonderful opportunities in life because I was too much into myself. I can’t get those opportunities back. But, I can learn from what I missed out on in the past. On September 28, 2024, I woke up to opportunities lost and relationships that could potentially prosper and grow with our reconnection on this evening.

In short, thanks to the people who have understood this simple truth for a long time that it is about the people in our lives. Special thanks to the Class of ’74 Reunion committee who made it possible for us to get together again and provide me with an opportunity to learn the most basic and fundamental lesson of all.

It’s the people, stupid! It’s the people.

Thanks to Michelle, Tony, Dwayne, Chuck, Charlie and forgive me if I have already forgotten the names of anyone else that served on the Reunion Committee. You folks on the committee, don’t hesitate to tell me who I missed. You guys are awesome. Thanks for the memories and thanks for giving me yet another chance to wake up and smell the roses.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mt.+Whitney+High+School+fight+song

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.

In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

I was unplugged on a backpacking trip during the first week of the Olympics. But, I made up for lost time over the last full week of the event.

It was a welcome blast of positivity and reality. In an imperfect world, our imperfections will always be on display. The American Republican Party, Right Wing, Fascist, Authoritarian , elitist billionaire movement going on right now has been working overtime to magnify those imperfections and convince people that they live in a hell hole instead of on a big, beautiful planet with big, beautiful people.

Seeing athletes compete at extraordinarily high levels and to hear the stories of how they got to this place was inspiring, refreshing and honest. I filled myself with these competitions and stories to build up a reserve of positivity to withstand the steady stream of America-bashing, fear-mongering and divisive rhetoric that we will no doubt continue to be exposed to through the coming elections.

It was the competitors that made me feel better, but it was also the outside-the-box creativity on display in every aspect of the televised Olympic coverage. The ceremonies, the events, the happiness and sadness, the successes and the failures were presented through a lens that saw the lives of these athletes for what it was. It was always imperfect and those imperfections were treated in such a way that the compassion, the love and the pure humanity showed brightly through the screen.

When all was said and done, the pomp and circumstance completed, the medals awarded and the athletes heading home, I am left with an intense sensation of hope that humanity will be ok. Those forces trying to create a world tht doesn’t exist for their own selfish desires and beliefs are the ones who should be afraid. Selfish and greedy powers will NOT get their way and regular, average good old humanity will rule the day.

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.

In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

I do. Maybe not the winged kind found in Christian iconography, but I do believe that whatever they are, they are real.

Their presence was felt on multiple occasions during a three day backpacking trip with a friend in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park recently.

The first angel made its appearance on a hike to Alta Peak out of Pear Lake. After a challenging bushwacking and boulder-hopping adventure, my friend and I found ourselves at the base of the Pass just below Alta Peak.

This last element of the climb was steep. But, it was not just steep, it was a thick layer of loose gravel or what is also called “scree.” My friend started up first. I started to follow but was having trouble getting a foothold into the loose rock material. As I scrambled to get a foothold, The two 1.5L SmartWater bottles that I was carrying fell out of my pack and went tumbling down towards a snow field below.

I really thought I was screwed at this point. My hydration source for the remainder of the trip was now gone a couple hundred feet down the slope. Also gone was my will to continue up to the Pass below the 11,000′ Alta Peak. I yelled up to my friend that was unable to continue.

He told me to wait where I was while he continued up to the Pass. At this point, I was pretty scared. Going up was no longer an option and going down the scree slope didn’t seem like an option. I was holding on to a small protruding rock anchored to bedrock and curled my leg under me to arrest a slide down the slope.

Actually, that rock was the first of my Angels. If it had not been in that precise spot, I may have joined my water bottles down near the ice field below. In fact, a second rock appeared within reach to help stabilize me while I waited. Enter Angel # 2.

It was an uneasy wait for my friend to come back down to help me get down to the base of the scree slope where I could find some solid granitic rock to stand on. I contemplated life, which at that time seemed to be on precarious ground. I thought about what if something happened to my friend before he got back to me. After a few minutes I yelled to see if I could get his attention. But, I was yelling downhill. He was uphill which made it unlikely that he would hear me.

I had a whistle around my neck, but I was afraid that removing my hand from one of the rocks would secure my fate so I didn’t try to blow it. Eventually, he yelled down to me and suggested that I try walking down the slope. This wasn’t going to happen as I had by now lost all confidence in my boots.

So, I ended up sliding down the slope on the seat of my pants (which miraculously were not torn along the way) and made it to where I felt confident that I could stand and walk once again. I guess that you could consider the people responsible for the durability of my pants as Angel #3.

I believe that angels can be both animate and inanimate objects. My animate angel was my friend who talked me down the slope while he went down to check on my water bottles. Miraculously, the two water bottles were still intact and came in very handy for the remainder of the long descent back to our campsite at Pear Lake.

So far, that’s four angels that helped me out on this hike.

There was one more. This one came in the form of my own mind engaging in self talk with me to negotiate my way along a narrow stretch of trail known as the Watchtower route named after a prominent slab of granite of the same name. This stretch of trail was particularly challenging for me as I have mild to moderate Vertigo.

I was reminded to breath, walk slowly and methodically, be aware of the rock face and how close my pack was to it, to not under any circumstances look down and to keep my eyes focused of my friend’s feet in front of me. The half mile stretch was harrowing for me, but with some help from my friends, I was able to make it to the Watchtower and once again resume taking in full breaths of that clean mountain air.

So, do angels exist? I’ve answered that question for me. No one in this world is self made. No one does anything solely by themselves. Anyone who says they can do things without help simply don’t know what they are talking about. A natural lesson in humility is called for now-and-then.

It might sound to you like I had a miserable time on this trip. Quite the opposite is the truth. In another post, I can tell you about the people that we met along the way along with the natural history lessons that my sagely friend imparted on me along the over 14 miles and close to 4,000 feet of climbing that we did together.

But, that story will wait for another posting. This one is to thank my angels for giving me a chance to share this experience. For me, the purpose of a life of travel and adventure is to share it with others. After all, what is the experience if it stays only inside of me?

I believe in angels. Oh, I almost forgot one more angel..,

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.

In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

Whether it be banning books, gutting voting rights, eviscerating the ability of government to govern , denying climate change, slashing taxes for the rich (not for us), promoting gun culture, encouraging White Supremacy culture, taking away the most personal freedoms of families, blurring the the constitutional separation of church and state, collaborating with international despots, tyrants and Fascists,

promoting and disseminating disinformation about the United States or packing the Supreme Court with extremist idealogues who are trying to tilt the law in the favor of the very wealthy, rollbacks of voting rights and Affirmative Action,

the comprehensive assault on Democracy has been well devised and effective.

But the end result is not the inevitable downfall of Democracy.

And here’s why I think that Democracy can still be saved.

_________________________________________

1. The timing of the Dobbs Case that rescinded the decision in Roe v. Wade (1973) to legalize abortion.

All the guns, cynical Supreme Court rulings or out-of-touch Republican politicians can put the pent up energy of American women back into the bottle that the Dobbs decision opened up.  Their glee at being able to accomplish this task at the earliest possible moment allowed women and to prepare and mobilize into a political force that has the potential to rumble over Republicans and Project 2025.

2. People under 30 (Gen Z) will cut through the crap and vote for their causes.

Gen Z is starting to come of age as adults.  They are a substantial voting block and they are concerned about abortion, climate change and gun violence.  There's is an important voting block.

3. The Black Vote.

Black voters still largely vote for Democrats.  The Republicans will have to suppress a lot of votes to keep them from being a factor.

4. Immigration is nuanced and most people know it.

I think that as long as the Dems get out the vote, the majority will support Dems on this issue despite all the apoplectic rhetoric from the convicted felon about our southern border being overrun by murderers and rapists.  Learning how to cut through the crap is vital.

5. Guns?

Will Gun rights win out over gun control?  I don't think so.

6. Climate Change

This issue crosses political boundaries, but not surprisingly these days, only one in four Republicans Republicans identify Climate Change as a major threat whereas nearly 80% of Democrats identify Climate Change as a threat to our well being.  I believe that this issue could tip the scales especially if we have a bad 2024 Summer of wildfires, hurricanes and floods.

7. Supreme Court Melt Down

Well, the sad sack six made it official that they have no interest in observing the Constitution of the United States.  Essentially granting full immunity to any future president for virtually any action that they take while in office. So much no American being above the law. This is a dark day in American democracy, probably the darkest.  But, out of the darkness there is light.  Americans WILL speak up and rule from the bottom up will restore sanity to our country.  Do anything and everything that you can to promote the vote and show this Right Wing cabal that they will not take over this country without a fight.  And I do mean a fight.

From Reuters:  Trump on the Supreme Court Ruling:  Trump hailed the ruling in a social media post, writing: "BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!"  The ultimate in Fascist generated reflection of reality.  Don't fall for it.  What a way to celebrate Independence Day!!  We're heading back to what our forefathers fought so hard to escape.  Conservatives want less government and Putin wants no U.S. government to stand in the way of his Fascist goal of world domination.  STAND UP TO THIS BAND OF AUTOCRATS!!  I think back to what my father would be telling me right now and I'm listening.  Dad, I'm listening.

It would be absurdly selfish of me, with all of my privilege and skills, to sit back and watch this country be destroyed by some very, very rich and very, very, very powerful people.

Let’s make no mistake about it, we have an ignorant, bigoted felon running for the highest elected office in the land. He is in that position because he can be so easily manipulated by forces both foreign and domestic. His only concern is himself and his powerful handlers. Now he has cover from the highest court in the land.

Do whatever you can using your own personal superpower to keep this man…these people away from the White House.

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.

In the spirit of how to debunk misinformation and disinformation, I encourage you to examine The Financial Services Forum, The American Accountability Foundation, The Epoch Times, Fox News, and One America Network(OAN), among others, using the media literacy skills taught by the News Literacy Project from #1 above under "How to Debunk."  Click on the News Literacy Project link to start your work.

Qualifier:  This post was written by Chat GPT from the prompt:  First they came for me..."  In reality, the poem starts "First they came for the Socialists," but the AI knew my intentions and wrote the gist of what I intended to write.  BH

In times of upheaval and uncertainty, we often turn to history to understand our present. There’s a chilling poem by Pastor Martin Niemöller, reflecting on the consequences of staying silent in the face of injustice: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist…”

These words resonate powerfully today, reminding us of the dangers of apathy and complacency in the face of oppression. The poem captures a universal truth about human rights and societal responsibility: that the erosion of one person’s rights threatens the freedoms of all.

The poem’s message is timeless because it speaks to a fundamental truth about the human condition: our interconnectedness. It reminds us that our fates are intertwined, and that when any group is targeted unjustly, we must speak up—not out of fear that we might be next, but out of a shared commitment to justice and humanity.

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

History has shown us countless examples of what can happen when good people remain silent. From authoritarian regimes to systemic discrimination, the consequences of indifference can be devastating. But it also shows us the power of collective action and solidarity in defending human rights.

In today’s world, where issues of justice, equality, and freedom are as pertinent as ever, “First they came for me” serves as a poignant reminder. It challenges us to reflect on our own roles in shaping society and asks us to consider what we are willing to stand up for.

Each of us has a voice, and each of us has a choice. We can choose to speak out against injustice, to support those whose rights are under threat, and to advocate for a more just and inclusive world. Or we can choose silence, hoping that the storm will pass us by.

But as history has shown us, silence is not neutral. It is a choice—one that can have profound consequences. It is a choice to look the other way, to ignore the suffering of others, and to abdicate our responsibility as members of a global community.

“First they came for me” challenges us to confront our fears and to recognize our shared humanity. It calls on us to stand together against oppression and to defend the rights of all people, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, let us remember the lessons of history. Let us heed the words of Pastor Niemöller and refuse to be silent in the face of injustice. Let us speak out, not because it is easy or comfortable, but because it is right.

Because, in the end, our silence will not protect us. It is our voices, united in solidarity and compassion, that have the power to change the world for the better.

So, let us be brave. Let us be bold. And let us never forget that when we speak up for others, we are also speaking up for ourselves.

Because, as Pastor Niemöller reminds us, “First they came for…”—and then, there was no one left to speak for me.