Dear America,
"One of the things [Uncle Alex] found objectionable about human beings was that they so rarely noticed it when they were happy. He himself did his best to acknowledge it when times were sweet. We could be drinking lemonade in the shade of an apple tree in the summertime, and Uncle Alex would interrupt the conversation to say, 'If this isn't nice, what is?' So I hope that you will do the same for the rest of your lives. When things are going sweetly and peacefully, please pause a moment, and then say out out loud, 'If this isn't nice, what is?' Kurt Vonnegut, writer, z#289 from my little book of "Nothing is worth more than this day." Kathryn and Ross Petras
about that State of the Union ....whether it happens on Tuesday, or not, we all pretty much have an idea of what the state of the union is. And it may be widely different, depending upon the politics of the person and direction of the conversation.
Yesterday was Book Club with my ladies.
confession -- I just now ordered it...
But the conversation was such that this girl was able to grasp a smidgen of the grand scheme of things, and came away, not only wanting to read the book -- but also having an even wider view than I already had of just how often history repeats itself.
Often, in today's political climate, we hear people say things like, 'we've never been this polarized before' or "we are more divided than we've ever been..." -- and it's like poppycock, our country been here before , and then some, now please pass me the lemonade.
Nothing against our eight grade history teachers, but one of the things greatly lost on perspective about this war of 1812, is that this war is taught more like a blip on the radar, with other moments hijacking its significance; even it's name comes from only when the war started. When, in fact, this WAR of 1812 was a hard fought battle, after hard fought battle, after hard fought battle, against the well-established and organized British Navy (yes, again) and it carried on for years.
This miracle of New Orleans we speak of, was in the year 1815 -- and it would seem that if it weren't for the masterful tactics and command of General Andrew Jackson, our young country may not have survived, let alone been able to expand to the west of the Mississippi. And he did it while organizing the not so merry band of misfits -- an unlikely union -- of the only resources and people available.
And bear in mind, that it was the British -- unaware of the Treaty of Ghent (recognized as Belgium, today) signed at the end of 1814 -- who launched the attack in New Orleans, on January 8, 1815...
And as Brian says, "What the British didn't count on was the power of General Andrew Jackson. A formidable military leader with a grudge against the British and a heart for the common man, he rallied the divided inhabitants of New Orleans, bringing together Frenchmen, Native Americans, freed slaves, pirates, and Kentucky woodsmen."
Not bad for the outsider -- as Jackson was not part of the military elite, having the powers that be in D.C. describing him as "a stubborn and crude westerner." But, "his troops loved him. He was fearless in battle, but not reckless" as Brian continues, while giving a brief characterization in a short video on his website.
Now -- just to be clear -- the issues that led to the War of 1812 was one of great D.C. divide as well; and be that as it may, by the end of the war, the Federalist Party met up with its bitter end, as well.
This thing we call divide within the union is nothing new.
Just look at how some divisions -- as in, the forces that conspired to create the perfect storm that led to the Civil War in 1861 -- met up with history, at the corner of courage and cultural shift.
America has met division, has weathered conflict within and without the world, and has seen plenty of polarizing days -- in political measure -- way more than once or twice -- like, way.
It's how we do things around here, right?
The thing is.....what's changed in a very big way.... the thing that has impacted this division, of all the things we carry, in ways unseen before, IS best described as a cultural breakdown.
Buttressed by the antics and widespread narratives -- some entirely manufactured -- through the left-leaning mainstream, from traditional media to social media, everything gets tilted through the eyes of a liberal lens; and, like, long gone are the days we had to wait for the morning paper --- cue the non-stop streams of buzz, whether true or false.
While at the same time -- a growing fraction of people, who uncharacteristically think of themselves as Americans, are being romanced, totally manipulated, brainwashed, into believing a new green deal, a new wave of socialism rising, is the answer to their every need.
Socialism is rising in America, and, like, who ever would have thought. [that is just plum scary stuff]
Just Like, I'm increasing the use of the word 'like' just to channel my inner AOC...it's easy to be influenced, like, you know?
It's all just surreal really.
The things that are suddenly becoming acceptable on American soil...
Take for instance, New York. Please.
This new bill -- allowing late term abortion all the way up the due date? And celebrating it?
New York went from legalizing abortion up to 24 weeks...to full term...like, what?
Terminating a baby who has nearly reached full term? Is this the only answer, or am I crazy? IF the mother's life is in danger, what happened to delivery by c-section and offering the baby for adoption...that is, if the mother no longer wants the baby? I just don't get this at all.
Some Americans are celebrating this legislation, while other Americans are in mourning.
Shocked, actually.
From Tony Perkins, posted at The Patriot Post:
"In a state where the womb was already the most dangerous place for a child, this law begins a new era. Open season on our own. From now on, nothing stands in the way of a woman taking her baby’s life — days, hours, or even a minute before she’s born. A fully grown, healthy human baby that thousands of struggling couples would give anything to have.
That’s the savagery New York leaders call 'progress.' That’s the 'achievement' Cuomo turned into a pink beacon, shining 'a bright light forward for the rest of the nation to follow'.”
Newsflash: not all of us agree on this one.
But perhaps here's a silver lining -- millennials are becoming the generation more aligned with a return to the sanctity of life....huh? Even though a majority [75%] consider themselves to be "pro-choice" -- the same survey also revealed that 65% believe are "pro-life." hallelujah
And this is rich -- read this from Ben Shapiro.
And don't even ask me to give you the crib notes for it. Read Ben.
And in a move to be a little more provocative than usual, just before I make my exit, let me just add that Americans seem to LOVE and HATE different things.
Please allow me to direct you to Nate Jackson, also at The Patriot Post, giving us wit and incite on commentary made by freshman congresswoman, Ilhan Omar...just cuz, you won't hear about it in the mainstream. GO.
Who was marching peacefully for March for Life?
Who was doing the taunting and screaming of racist chants?
And who spread flat out lies about both?
Oh this divide...it's called the constant, state of the union; like, our system of checks and balances, our life and times as a republic, is entirely dependent on continuing this kind of divide.
It is real.
And it probably isn't going away anytime soon, if history dictates anything. Some days are better than others; some days we get to sip a little lemonade under the shade of an apple tree and think good things...and some days, not so much.
all the more reason to follow this advice: "When things are going sweetly and peacefully, please pause a moment, and then say out out loud, 'If this isn't nice, what is?"
that about sums it up, I need to go make lemonade.
the end.
Make it a Good Day, G
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