When I heard about the mass shooting last night in Lewiston, Maine, I thought to myself that unfortunately I could just go back to one of my earlier “Marla’s Musings” posts I have written. I could post one from the past again because the pain is the same and there have been no changes in our country to get mass shooting weapons out of the hands of those who should not have them.

Nothing.

But I decided to write a new post – for a couple of reasons. First, I feel we can’t just think, oh another mass shooting. Been there, done that. I also felt it was important to the people so personally effected by this to let them know THIS IS NOT RiGHT. IT IS NOT NORMAL. THiS CAN NOT CONTINUE.

Yet it does.

This time the mass shooting happened in a large town in Maine. In Lewiston, Maine. Maine is a state not highly populated, and a state known mostly for it’s beauty. It’s usually a quiet place. My son-in-law comes from Maine and all his family still live there. Good people. Loving. Hearty.

Not to give the shooter any glory – at all, but we must know this is important: He’s a white male, an expert in guns, with a military past. Other mass shooters have been the same. There is something going on with these individuals. In fact, this shooter had already been in therapy for delusional thoughts. Yet, he was still able to have a mass shooting weapon. Were his weapons seized when he was under mental health care? Then given back? Did he steal the weapon? Or buy a ghost gun? We don’t know these answers yet but these are important questions. Did his family and friends pick up on him again struggling? Did someone else abet the shooter and help him get a weapon? Is there responsibility for a mass shooting beyond the individual who did it?

Last night’s shooting started in a bowling alley on “Youth Night” and then continued at a local bar. The tally of dead I have heard so far is 22, with many, many more injured. Names of the dead have not been released yet but I worry that many will be teenagers who were enjoying some fun together at the bowling alley.

I am a mother and a grandmother. This time it was not one of my daughters, or grandchildren – but for the grace of God at this point. Because, here in the United States, we continue to allow this to happen. We have legislators more concerned about winning votes, and getting NRA lobby money, and talking about “Freedoms” above anything else.

Freedom.

Freedom means going out to a bowling alley, to a bar, to a temple, a movie theatre, a school, a church, a shopping center, a music concert, a grocery store – and not get killed in a mass shooting.

Freedom is NOT the right to have a gun. I’m sorry – it is not. There are been gun manufacturers and lobbyists who have put fear into people for years, thinking a gun will save you. It will not. Nobody had time last night to shoot back at the guy who walked into the bowling alley and then the bar. Guns are NOT personal safety. In fact thy are a false power belief. Way more guns are used in mass shootings, in spousal abuse, in accidents with children, and in suicides, then in personal safety.

Statistics don’t lie. We can look all around the world at countries that limit gun ownership and have stronger laws. They have less shootings. The United States in known around the world as being the ‘gun happy’ country because we recklessly allow just about anyone to get their hands on one, legally and illegally.

ENOUGH

So – I say ENOUGH again. I write another post again. I promise to continue to voice what I can about how we need to change. We need sensible gun laws and we need much better mental health care, and restrictions. The two: guns and mental health issues should never be allowed. If that means taking away guns and not always getting it right, I am okay with that.

ENOUGH.

I continue to promise to only vote for candidates who are determined to do something about guns in America. We all CAN do something if we have the right leaders and members of Congress. We can do something as citizens. If you own a gun, secure it. If you have one but wish you didn’t, turn it into the police. If you notice anything unusual with someone who owns a gun, report it.

ENOUGH.

If you attend church you hear these words: “It passes all understanding.”

It is said because sometimes a Christian has to put their faith before their knowledge. Sometimes a Christian has to go out on a limb and put their life in the hands of a Lord who is not human – to believe in the one that created, and loves endlessly, and is not limited by time or space. Our human minds just can’t comprehend all that God is and does. But still we believe.

In religion we are not looked down on for having faith above knowledge. In fact, I think true followers of God, believers in His Word found in the Bible, have to ‘let go and let God.’ I have used that expression often in my life. I have enough faith to know I don’t know everything, yet as a child of God I am forgiven and loved anyway.

Lately I have been thinking about how I use the phrase ‘it passes understanding’ with some earthly events, or beliefs, or actions of others.

I watch the videos of the hatred I see on the news that leads to violence, to inhumane treatment, and to killing beautiful innocent children. I can not understand how someone can get to a mental state of lashing out so severely. How can someone use knives and guns against people they do not even know who never did anything wrong to them?

It passes all understanding.

I Think about world dictators who seem to be missing the element of compassion, like a tin man with no heart, who want to be powerful above all else, and who think people are collateral damage to their mission. What brought them to this place? Why are they bullies without a conscience?

It passes all understanding.

I think about a whole group of Americans who have been sucked in to a cult-like belief , denying facts, pushing forward false theories, and who have become defiant in not opening their minds to see other possibilities. I will never get how friends and neighbors who live like me, yet support a man who has shown himself over and over again as an ultra narcissistic liar, someone who has been indicted over and over for illegal behavior, who speaks rudely to and about women, veterans, the disabled, etc. and has no boundaries for civility.

It passes all understanding.

We are who we allow ourselves to be. We make choices that define our lives. Some people seem to be fine with that. I hear this: “I am who I am” so take me as I am. There is no desire for learning more, for bettering themselves, for offering respect to the stranger, and certainly for giving out help when it looks you in the face. “Not my problem” and “this is mine, not yours” – “Come at me and I will take you down.”

It passes all understanding.

I suppose if I were a social worker or a psychiatrist I would understand better, perhaps I would know how the pains of the past, or the lack of education, or the feelings of being unimportant, and more – resulted in a lack of emotion that brought some to be able to kill, to hurt without remorse, to act better than others, to fall into cults, and on and on.

Sometimes I think it is a test for me.

When something happens or a person does something I truly can not understand…. Do I accept that it passes all understanding? Do I forgive and love anyway? Do I put my faith in God and let it go?

Hello and happy Thursday! I hope you are doing well as we head towards the end of October and to Halloween.

We also have the twins’ 6th birthday celebration coming up at the end of the month, and it’s hard to believe these little guys are almost 6 years old. I spent a good bit of time with them earlier this month because they were ‘tracked out’ of school and their mom and dad had to continue to go to work. I enjoyed all we did together and I enjoyed all the talking they did, and constantly asking me how to spell words. After only a few months in kindergarten they are learning word sounds, vowels and consonants, etc. I loved seeing their enthusiasm for it. I loved how they wanted to figure out words – and it reminded me how our language has so many ‘exceptions’ to the rule. Yikes! It’s a tough language to learn.

Each day that I was with the boys though it was nice to have mom & dad come home and take over – while Mimi poured a glass of wine and relaxed. Ha

October is a wonderful weather month. We are now experiencing cooler mornings and lovely afternoons, where it is still warm (not hot) and without the humidity. We don’t get frost on the pumpkins here and I am okay with that.

Tonight we are going to a Willie Nelson concert down in North Charleston. Hubby and I both love his music and we figured we better see him live now because he is 93 years old and he may not be around much longer, or he may not be able to entertain on stage. It’s an outdoor concert at a distillery. Low key. Sitting on a blanket, and enjoying the music under the stars. Willie has so many classic country songs I look forward to hearing. I love concert experiences.

Of course October has also brought some pretty bad news – including the horrific violence on innocent Israelis. At this evening’s concert I will be thinking of the young people who were at a music festival there, heinously killed in the big attack on their country. It is hard to understand such hatred to do ‘eye to eye’ murder, pulling people from cars, and taking lives brutally. It is beyond any understanding.

The history of that area, along with the opposing religious beliefs, and the feelings of ‘entitlement’ and the lack of freedom, and so much more, goes into what is happening. BUT, the Hamas terrorist group has to be accountable for what is going on now.

Here at home, today Sydney Powell has agreed to a plea deal for her actions in Georgia when she participated in a scheme to try and change the presidential election results. I hope this will be the first card to fall and that more and more will come out now in court. There is no doubt in my mind that Trump was very involved in it. Hopefully those who took his orders, and who tried to cover up for him, will speak now.

As all this goes on, the Georgia indictments, and the NY cases, and more – the Republicans are still beholdened to Trump. It is another thing beyond understanding for me. But, I do understand that those so entangled with him are holding up the Democratic workings of our country by not electing a Speaker of the House. It’s been weeks now where our Congress has been at a stalemate, unable to enact laws, to vote for defense needs and non-political positions we need. We Americans are paying the salaries of Congress while the Republicans squabble and do nothing.

October is football time. The South Carolina Gamecocks are once again unable to come together as a powerhouse team and beat the tough teams of the SEC. Poor coach Shane Beamer. He was so frustrated after last Saturday’s game that he kicked something and broke a bone in his foot! When things go wrong they just get worse.

October is the quiet before the holiday trifecta: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Enjoy the calm days of now.

I’ll end this with a tease: Hubby and I are dressing up in costumes for the grandboys’ Halloween birthday party. Want to take a guess on who we plan to go as?? Pictures will be on Facebook at the end of the month.

I got a new IPad and it took me a few days to get everything downloaded, including my “Marla’s Musing’s” site. This is a test to see if it is working.

Fingers crossed.

This morning I attended a church service in my community as I was part of a handbells group. I like the opportunities I get through playing handbells, because it includes experiencing various worship styles and clergy.

There were times though while sitting and listening this morning I wanted to raise my hand and ask a few questions (but I didn’t – ha!)… like: How do we know and always understand exactly what the Bible is telling us? How with our small human brains can we be sure we get it right? Isn’t the Bible written in a way to create discussion, to think about what the people of those times were dealing with and how it relates today? And why oh why did Paul say to Timothy to have nothing to do with ‘those’ people who sin? I mean, we all sin, just in different ways, and how can we stay away from the people who act like the list above? Does that seem like a good Christian to stay away?

This morning the pastor, a man I have heard preach before, spoke on Timothy 3, 1- 9. It reads:

‘But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous,, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying it’s power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jane’s and Jambres opposed Moses ,so also these people oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. ‘

Wow!!! Right?

The apostle Paul wrote the epistle to Timothy, as Timothy was getting ready to head out on a missionary trip.

This morning the pastor spoke about how true it is that today we still meet people like what is listed in the above verses. Somethings – and people – never change over time. We as Christians certainly know of people that fit the categories listed. We need the Holy Spirit to try our best to be led the way God wants us to go. The pastor pointed often in his sermon that Christians live in this world but not ‘of’ it and that Christians live by the Bible. He stressed that the Bible is ‘the truth’ and the Bible is the place to find the answers. Yes. Yes.

While listening this morning, I thought that maybe Paul was telling Timothy not to waste his time – and to go and disciple to people who will listen. They were traveling to spread the Word, and they were reaching out to those who could then continue on spreading it. I personally don’t think it’s ever right for Christians to shun someone, or to judge their sins.

The pastor also used a reference that I had not heard about: He mentioned some children in a school saying they were cats and wanting a litter box placed in the school’s bathrooms. What?!?! DO you know this story? The pastor said we as Christians must use our wisdom, and make the right decisions. As I listened I thought this example was used to not accept all children, especially those who have different thoughts. A comment to these times.

At about this point I sat there and thought, hmmm…. okay. It’s a tricky part of the Bible to discuss, and maybe I am not understanding what is being said – but if I was unchurched, or checking out a church, this was a red flag. I thought about how church traditions are fine, and I like a liturgy, and I like the respect shown in churches, and I love the music (and today there were two handbell pieces and a lovely choir anthem), but today was a reason some find that the church is hypocritical.

This pastor is a servant of God, and a good family man, and a wonderful speaker – but I worry about the ordained who cannot admit that we don’t always know what God is saying through the Bible. And that, over EVERYTHING God is love – and that Christians are in a constant state of learning… and that we don’t always get it right.

During these turbulent times we need to be

“walking humbly with God” ….

Offering love to all.

Did I get your attention with this musing title? What? Marla is going to talk about Fentanyl?

Well, I have to tell you that I am absolutely not an expert on the drug Fentanyl, and I don’t even know how it is ingested into a body. In pill form? Through a needle? A powder put in other drugs? Is it sold on the street by the same dealers that sell cocaine and other illegal drugs? Is it priced by the drug lords? And – once it gets into the US how is it so easily distributed around the country, state to state? I don’t know.

The reason I am writing about Fentanyl today though is it has become a political issue and the drug tied closely to the southern border controversy. What I have learned about this drug is that it is produced in China and then it is brought to Mexico and snuck into the US by illegal immigrants. At least that is what conservatives and Republicans want me to think. I’m not denying that it comes in that way. But, I also know that it probably comes in many other ways too. We have 4 borders, and we have planes and boats and cars entering our country all the time.

It is incredibly sad that people want to use Fentanyl. For some reason too many are looking for an escape, or a quick high, or they may just want to stop thinking for awhile. Other drugs have been used for the same purposes for years. Fentanyl is the choice now. And, from what I hear it seems extremely dangerous and deadly. Yet, people have the desire.

Fentanyl would not be a problem in America if it was not wanted so badly.

And, that’s the part of the whole epidemic that doesn’t get much discussion. Are we failing all these people because they are feeling empty, or depressed, or helpless – so they turn to drugs? They are in such a bad way that they take the chance with their lives – and they use their money, and make illegal drug deals, and sometimes die. Fentanyl overdoses happen all the time in the poor areas of America.

Trying to stop the flood of Fentanyl into our country without addressing the core reasons for Americans to desire it will not make the problem go away. Just as with illegal gun use, drug use happens because people are hurting. They are not happy with their lives. They feel unimportant, perhaps unloved. They can’t make enough money to live on and to take care of their kids. They don’t have hope for their future, and therefore they turn to a way to block out the pain.

The Republicans want to close the border. They blame the immigrants coming here for bringing the Fentanyl, and yet, they do nothing to work on the core problems. They don’t want to admit that the poor, and the uneducated, and those in low paying jobs, etc. don’t have the opportunity to improve, and to gain self esteem. Republicans don’t want to use tax dollars for social concerns to better us all. Even their own constituents! Those who elected them!

In general, it seems these days that we want to live without caring for ‘the other guy.’ We don’t want to spend OUR money on THEM. We don’t want to pay for equal education for all, and support early medical treatment, and preventive care, and more job opportunities, and we don’t want to give our hard earned money to those ‘no good druggies’ who have no worth.

Until we look at the big picture differently, and then do something about the core problems, we will continue to have devastating drug deaths. Fentanyl will be the easy escape.

Until we consider that all Americans have a right to mental and physical medical care, until we make sure all Americans can educate themselves for a job or a trade, until we do whatever we can to make ALL Americans feel worthy, then drug lords will find ways to get Fentanyl into the country – and people will continue to die.

It used to be that the children were ‘hands off.’ All the opposing politicians and the media honored that. The Children did not sign up for a public life, and it was considered a low blow to go after them. Especially young ones. It’s one more thing about the political world where the standards have been dropped. Everything is fair game now. People will go after family members, looking for a scoop, and looking for a way to put a black mark on the politician’s life.

You know where this is going. Hunter Biden. But – wait, he is no kid.

Step back for a minute.

I remember Billy Carter. He loved his beer and he was a Georgia redneck. The media had a lot of fun with him. I remember Amy Carter living in the White House during her awkward pre-teen years. I felt for her. Wearing glasses and braces. Chelsea Clinton was about the same age and she went through some teenage angst, was an only child with two powerful parents. Later, I remember the Bush girls wanting to be a bit defiant too, wanting to be normal teenagers. Jenna once gave the finger out the presidential limousine window.

The Obama girls seemed to have stayed out of trouble for 8 years. That’s a large feat. Maybe they really didn’t, but the press and Congressional members did not bring up any issues about them. Growing up in the spotlight, in the White House, has got to be hard. It was understood. Give them some slack. They are just kids.

Then came the Trumps – a bunch of them! Some were already adults. But Barron was not. He stayed out of the way, thanks to his mother, and again, the press and Congress members left him alone. Almost all of the older Trump children were definitely involved in the runnings in the White House, given titles and jobs to do within the administration. They had been in their dad’s former business dealings and grew up workin with him before he got into politics. They were involved. Therefore they were easy targets. The late night hosts certainly had fun with them. At the same time, the Trump offspring all were involved in social media. They poked the beast – supporting their father’s lies, and acting as a shield at times.. The walls were taken down at that point on the separation of politics and family. Ivanka sat in on many meetings and often represented her father when he could not be at functions. As she did this she carried on her own business dealings, including her own clothing line. Ivanka’s husband Jared Kushner and his family were also closely involved, mixing politics with their personal business. I have no doubt there were times that the lines between them got gray, and it was probably questionable whether or not their actions were legal, or at least ethical. I also believe the Trump children, young and old, were never taught to be concerned about that. They did not have a role model.

Now we have the Hunter Biden saga. I believe that Hunter has had a sad life, caught up in drugs, bad behavior, and unable to get his life together as an adult. He lost his mother and sister at a young age when they were killed in a car accident. Life as he knew it immediately changed. Hunter and his brother Beau were raised by Joe and others in the family. They went through trauma, and Hunter did not handle it well. Beau was the stronger one, who went into the military, was a hero in his Dad’s eyes – and then sadly died from cancer. Family dysfunction is nothing unusual. Sibling rivalry and more. They are like so many of us.

I do think Hunter Biden used his last name and his dad’s political power to get ahead at times. I also believe he lied on his gun application and that he paid his taxes late. He was a messed up guy. He fathered a child out of f wedlock. He escaped life, his demons, at times through drug use.

But, I don’t think President Biden has done anything more than any parent would do for their only living child. A parent is always a parent. He was worried about Hunter through the years. He wanted to help him. So, Joe took his phone calls when he called,, and tried to help him get straightened out, and probably told him he was proud of him when he could.

So – When it comes to what people say about President Biden being conniving, and secretly helping his son, I think they are making way too much out of it. It’s become a political hot potato, and it’s all tied up in the meanness we see now between the two political parties. It’s about being vindictive. It’s about hurting a family. It’s about sending messages to voters, putting doubt in their minds, saying things that may not be true. The situation is in the judicial department’s hands now. Hunter Biden might likely be found guilty of tax evasion and for lying on a gun permit form. I believe he did wrong. And he will have to pay and/or serve time, depending upon the judge’s decision. But, seriously – the Republican side has hammered it all to death – it is ALL they talk about, over and over, for years now, and they use Hunter’s problems as a sign of a bad president and father. That is their intention.

Who does this help?

What are we Americans learning from all this?

Is it that Republicans really don’t care about family? That they don’t care about helping a person with drug and mental problems? That they will use a person’s downfalls to their own glory? Will they do anything to belittle the president, to try and show the world he has a bad adult son??

I’m just not sure what the big picture is – except I don’t know why any person considering a run for president would drag their family through this. Politics is ugly. It has been for a long time. But families used to be exempt from it. It’s a line that has been crossed.

A poll I saw yesterday on CNN asked Republicans who they will vote for for president in the next election. This poll was taken over the past couple of days. I’m not sure how: if it was via phone calls, or ‘man on the street’ questions, or what. But the results are surprising/not surprising. You probably guessed it: approximately 2/3s of those Republicans asked said they will vote for Trump in the upcoming election.

I remember back to the night of Election Day in November 2015 and how horrible I felt, how incredibly sad and discouraged I felt about my fellow man. I was beyond able to understand how anyone could vote for such a mean-spirited man, one known for being a pig to women, to bankrupting companies, and tearing down anyone he came in contact with, doing it without remorse. I was in tears, realizing those who walk around me were so callous and ignored the pain he caused to so many people. Years and years of hurting people who worked for him. I figured maybe those who voted for him back in ’15 were not as tuned in to the whole political world as I was, so they didn’t see how Trump belittled people – and did it so boldly, in front of the cameras, at rallies and during debates. He had no regret about it. In fact he smirked and enjoyed the attention it brought. And as time went on, and Trump was sworn in (before huge crowds – ha), and then became our president, NOTHING I saw or heard from him changed my mind about his lack of ability to lead our country. I watched as he mis-used the powerful office, and how he bullied everyone from world leaders to his own administration. I figured surely NOW people who voted for him will see how inept he was as president. How he promised things that could not, and did not, happen. (Mexico will pay for the wall.) How he was not up for the job. No political experience. How he mishandled the CoVid pandemic, ticked off all our Allies around the world, did nothing to better the immigration issue. He was all pompous talk and no action. Phew – I thought. People now know.

Yes. Thankfully enough voters DID know and Trump lost the next presidential election. Yes, he lost. But here’s where he even got more crazy. He pouted and would not attend the inauguration. Remember? And, he lied about voting machines that didn’t work right, and about election counters and those hard working citizens who worked the polls at the local departments of elections. He cried it was a ‘witch hunt’ against him. He acted like a child, instead of a grown man unable to accept the results. Months of claims of voter fraud turned out to be nothing. Case after case that his attorneys tried to find were false. There was no voter fraud.

He tweeted out meanness…day and night, so much so that he was banned due to all the lies he put up on social media.

Then January 6th happened. I’m sorry, but I don’t know how ANYONE can accept that Trump was not in on this before it, and on that date, the insurrection of our US Capitol. Much has been said, written, and shown, about what happened on that day. I will never forget how a mob who had been egged on by our very own president forced themselves into the Capitol with the intent to stop the finalizing of the election, and they were willing to harm people. They had specific people to get: Trump turned the rioters against VP Pence, Speaker of the House Pelosi, and more. People died. People were seriously hurt and the seat of our democracy was damaged by hooligans acting tough and looking like idiots. What happened in our nation’s capital was inconceivable because we ARE America, and we all believe in democracy and free & true elections. Yet it happened. The day after even the Republican leaders spoke on the house floor against what happened – because they were truly physically scared. But then they ‘changed’ their tune.

Since that day – let’s see, hmmm, Trump has been impeached twice, and he has been indicted for all kinds of illegal actions, 90 some of them. He also already lost a case about sexually abusing a woman. He has had to pay for that, along with paying bail for his 4 arrests. So far. He has trials coming up in the next months and years. He plans to juggle it all while campaigning to be president again. In fact he is twisting rhetoric and using his indictments in his rallies. Poor Trump. Boo hoo.

YET – YET – YET ! ! ! People (more than half of Republicans according to the poll) are still supporting him and say they will vote for him again. The poll out today also said that these same people had little or no concern about his lack of presidential behavior or of all the legal issues hanging over him right now. Like an ostrich putting it’s head into the ground they don’t care. THEY DO NOT CARE.

So I ask….

Who are you that you can still support Trump??? Are you so brainwashed by conservative radio & TV over time that you don’t think any more? I used to want to give you the benefit of not knowing. Not anymore. How do you live with yourself?? How can you accept him as a role model to children? How can you justify him? What does it take to change your mind? How bad does Trump have to be before you decide that he is not right? I really want to know. Seriously, what is going on in your mind?? Yes, you wanted someone ‘different’. You think he is funny. Brash. Willing to say what is on his mind no matter what. Is this how you live your life? Does he reflect YOU? Oh my.

I even get that you want our government to give you total freedom, and to require you to pay less taxes, and you want to stop others from coming in to our country. Build that wall! Foreigners are bad people. Americans are better than anyone else. At least, ‘certain’ Americans are better, right? I don’t understand it, but I get that you want it. I hear you say it. But certainly there are candidates out there willing to go there and say the same thing… and it’s not Trump.

The saddest part is: I don’t think the great division in our country will ever find common ground as long as Trump is the bestowed head of the Republican Party. When he was first elected I thought we could somehow get through, and he had those 4 years and then bye bye. He’d just go away. He’d embarrass himself enough to slither away… I hoped, but I forgot that he is a narcissist and to him nothing is his fault. He is like a cancer on our country, and he has infected his MAGA followers to the soul. He has found vulnerable people and lied to them over and over. I truly believe this has happened. Because I know some of these people. They are regular Joes and Janes. Some are friends. Some are neighbors.

So, the political poll results released yesterday re-affirms what has happened. The desire for a real president that is intelligent, that gets wise advice from those around him, that can handle business with diplomacy, that can be our representative around the world – that is gone. It doesn’t matter to people anymore. The days of honoring the president is over. Our kids are not learning it anymore. What will history books say about Trump? Will they call him a blip in democracy? Will the insurrection be part of the book? Will Trump go down in history as the worst president to this point? I certainly think so. I wonder what my grandkids will be reading about him when they grow up

So, again, I ask: Don’t you want better? Don’t you want America to have a caring, thoughtful president?

Polls can be wrong. And, in reality they are a snapshot in time. I don’t know how the research is done. Or how many people are asked to participate in the poll. No pollster has ever asked me how I intend to vote. And, many, mostly young people, do not answer phone calls anymore. Polls can be skewed. My hope is that people will change and somehow wake up, and maybe the next poll will be more encouraging. I hope it. I don’t have confidence in it though.

What’s a mug shot? Did you hear Trump say that after he was arrested at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia on Thursday?

It was so perfect as to how he denies knowing anything when it’s to his favor. I mean, what adult does not know what a mug shot is?? Trump knows. In fact, he quickly took the mug shot and then put it on merchandise (t-shirts and such) for his MAGA loyalists to buy. He knows they will continue to give him money. He has them in the palm of his hand. Remember Trump saying he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and get away with it? Yep.

The t-shirts with the mug shot on it also says “never surrender” even though he just did. He had to surrender himself to the officials of the Justice Dept. In Fulton County, Georgia. Oh, and he had to surrender up in New York last month too when he was arrested there. He surrendered so he did not have to be hunted down and handcuffed.

I’m glad Trump finally had a mug shot taken because all along I have wanted him to be treated like anyone else who has been indicted by our country’s District Attorneys. Up til Thursday he hadn’t had a picture taken because supposedly everyone knows what he looks like so it seemed unnecessary. But, whenever any person surrenders (or is brought in in handcuffs) the normal process is to fingerprint them, and to take a mug shot. It then goes into the file system. It’s meant to be visual part of an arrest. It is meant to be humbling.

Ha! Humbling! Trump instead used the mug shot to continue his grifting ways.

The man continues to use his followers without any remorse. I wish they would realize it.

I wonder what next he will do. Because he will – he will continue to act like a victim. He will blame everyone else but himself. He will continue to lie if it makes him look better. He will do whatever he needs to do, hoping getting other people’s money might save him from the US and Georgia Dept. Of Justice. It doesn’t work that way.

He is the first American president with a mug shot..

I guess he knows what a mug shot is now.

We are halfway through August already! Slow down summer!! Yes, I know it’s hot, hot, hot and I too want some cooler temperatures, but I am not ready to think about Fall, and then Christmas! What?!?! I heard some big chain stores are already putting out Christmas trees for sale. Seriously, why are we always in such a rush?

The world moves so fast. We need to make the effort to hit pause, and to enjoy the moment.

Speaking of the world: Global warming is real. This has been the hottest summer on record and it’s not just by accident. The warmer temps are melting more of the ice at the poles, which then raises the ocean levels, and causes other climate disturbances and problems. Warmer ocean water will create more hurricanes. One is about to hit Mexico and Southern California. Warmer temps dry out grasses and trees that make it easier to start wildfires. The tragedy in Maui happened due to this very problem. Dry foliage and hurricane winds. This should NOT be a political discussion. It’s real.

So many times we see horrible events on TV and think it won’t happen here. We live ‘small minded’ and can’t see the big picture. Or, we try to shut the door and keep the bad from coming here and effecting us. Wake up. It’s a global community. We need to care about what happens far away because if we don’t it will come here. Another perfect example of this recently: the Co-Vid epidemic. We are all on this earth together, and we are all ‘in it’ together. Once we are aware of it, and accepting of it, then we see ALL people as ‘us’ and we change our mindset.

Christians know that God created us, and that we humans are meant to tend the world, to be the care-givers to the land and the animals. I think where we are now in history with all the transportation and communication advances, it is very evident that we MUST care for and tend ALL – around the world. Once again, it’s not political.

It’s not financial either. It’s bigger than that. Oh yes, money is important – I know that.. It’s how we ‘trade’ and it’s how we get things (note: things) and here’s a reminder, we can’t take it with us. So, our mindset has to change in how we use the money that we have. Again, we need a change from a small (me) viewpoint to a bigger picture. We need to daily think less of self, and more of self-less. We need to see it, say it, and live it.

You want your children and grandkids and future generations to live well? To be caring people? To continue this wonderful journey? It’s not a political decision.

But, yet, everything seems to be political now, doesn’t it? It sure is made to seem that way. On purpose. It is important to know that. There are ‘powers to be’ using politics to divide us, to deny facts, to keep us ‘small minded.’ People use their time and ego to keep others confused and to believe conspiracy theories.

I believe that is why we hear so much rhetoric about building walls, and about racial stereotypes, and using chosen words of fear to arm yourself, to be afraid of people not like us, and to think the bad outweighs the good. It IS political!!

Sometimes I just want to say ‘pause’ and think. Don’t get caught up in it all. I am a Christian and I rely on my faith, and I rely on the words and teaching of Jesus, to help me find the direction I should go. I continue to think ‘what would Jesus do” even in these modern day issues. I am a child of God, a human made by God, living in this world That belief helps me make decisions – every day. Without it I can’t help but think I would struggle even more with selfish desires.

Sometimes I start writing my musings, like today, not always sure where I am going – and really, I’m not meaning to be so serious and heavy all the time. But, over time I have realized that this is my place to put down my thoughts, because it’s hard to talk to people and to let them listen. I’m just as bad at listening. I realize it. The written word is not ‘in one ear and out the other.’ So I find some satisfaction in writing, and expressing myself here. I do not fear what I write. And, in writing, I work thoughts in my mind out. Am I crazy?!?! Ha I will leave that up to you.

Today’s meme is about getting back to seeing the world without political angles. I need to remind myself to do that all the time. Somethings in life are not meant to be – even though people try to make it so. Care for our earth should not be political. Care for all of earth’s people should not be political. Reaching out and using all we can to help others should not be political.

What other things in our world that should not be political?

Basic freedom of our bodies.

Religion.

Doing anything and everything possible for ALL children.

Personal sexual identity.

Stop. PAUSE. Think. Why do some people want to politicize these? Where is any goodness in trying to control people by laws about these things? There is none.

In life some issues should NOT be political.