Yesterday I participated in a 9/11 program to honor and remember all those who were involved that day in New York, DC, and Pennsylvania. I played flute with the community band and we performed some patriotic marches and uplifting music for the day. The event also honored all the military forces, and had a special acknowledgement to a 100 year old Army veteran of World War 2. It was very touching at times. And it offered me a chance to see the commitment that veterans have, to make sure we all remember all those who have sacrificed for our nation, in many ways – including EMS and local police and fire departments.

The event was put on by the Knights of Columbus, and since I am not Roman Catholic I did not know much about them. Thanks to Google I came home afterwards to learn that they are a group of RC men who do charity work, and support causes in many ways. Yesterday’s 9/11 event was held in a large Roman Catholic church’s gymnasium.

We are right now living in a time when church and state and the needed separation of the two in this country is really being tested. The conservative Evangelicals have been pushing successfully to change laws, and to influence politicians. The obvious change is about losing the federal right to legal abortion . Because of this atmosphere I have become a bit more aware of how religion and government mix and yesterday’s event was a prime example of it.

I am a Christian. But I sat and listened to the speeches, and even the RC Father’s prayers, and wondered how this nationalism viewpoint is so strongly in our religions and Vice versa. I heard over and over again “God bless America” and I was fascinated as I watched a formal American flag folding ceremony. Until yesterday I never knew that each fold (13 of them) mean something in particular, and a few of them had to do with God. With each fold was read a meaning. I’m not sure who came up with them.

I sat there and wondered who in the audience might be a follower of an Eastern religion, or even an atheist. Who might have served their country out of duty but felt still like an outsider – or at least has had to learn to overlook the Christian religion parts. One flag fold was for the “Hebrew’s”. Again, interesting to me that the Jews were singled out in that one moment…. like, oh yes, them too.

I remember back when Trump was running for president and the evangelical movement was getting pretty vocal, and getting more media attention. And, I especially remember at the January 6th insurrection there were Christian flags, even one with a representation of Jesus, being carried – along side American and confederate flags.

I know every American president has ended speeches with “God bless America” and I heard it often yesterday at the event. But don’t we pray that God will bless all of us? The Brits, the Aussies, etc. and even the Saudis, and the Russians? Does not God say to love your neighbor without any asterisks of *except those beyond our boundaries, or *those in third world countries, or *even those living in places of authoritarian control? I don’t think God likes us Americans better than other people of the world. God does not care about borders. But, God does care about how we see each other, and what we do for each other.

I heard the word ‘patriot’ over and over again at yesterday’s event. And, yes, I believe in being patriotic about our homeland, and in supporting those who work for our safety. Absolutely. I believe we have endless goodness in our country. But let’s be real, the word ‘patriot’ in today’s world is a dividing word. It’s been hijacked by the conservatives and used to show they are ‘better’ than others. Or, that others are not as true to the country as others. Am I wrong about this? Am I less a patriot because I have not been in the military, or heaven help me, I am a Democrat?

I have never been in the military, or a police officer, so I have never gone through the basic training required – but the mix of religion and government pride is alarming. It was just reported that a membership list of the extremist group “The Oath Keepers” included many in the military and in law enforcement. This is worrisome to me.

Some of you reading this may think I am being too concerned, or too nit-picky. Again, I say – I am a Christian. I live in a country founded by people who left a country that was forced a religion and had lots of unfair requirements (including) giving money to that religion. Yes, the founders came to America to worship their Christianity but they wrote into the Constitution the right to freedom of any and all religions here. Yet, the evangelicals today want to push only their ways. They want to make all Americans into them.

I wonder what God thinks of this. Of course I certainly can’t comprehend his greatness, and his immense forgiveness given to us for all the stupid, mean, dangerous, unkind, and selfish things we do. He sees the big picture. But I know he wants love, and I believe he is bigger than one religion on earth. God gave us the Bible, the Torah, and other Holy books to show the way.

The United States is the best chance of democracy working on earth due to our forefathers. They gave us the US Constitution. The forefathers were Christian so ‘who’ they were helped prepare them to write down the foundations for the country. But, nowhere in the constitution does it say one religion is the country’s religion. The United States has always been the melting pot – a land for people of all types, from all places, that believe many different things. We have to seriously remember that right now.

Because look around, people are fighting over intolerance. Some religious people are pushing – even into violence. The inability to separate church from state is scary.

My personal faith tells me that peace and love are more important than anything else. And acceptance. And helping others. I believe in that God.

Some days I am fine with taking the higher ground. Some days I can laugh things off and go about my business.

But not all days.

I have been watching the coverage on the death of Queen Elizabeth and I have been impressed by how for decades and decades she kept her personal thoughts to herself. She had great restraint, at least in public. I watched the series “The Crown” (which I recommend) and if most of it was true, the Queen certainly had human moments and felt emotions of all kinds. But, she kept a ‘game face’ on when doing anything for her country and the other commonwealths. She promised as a young woman, when the throne became hers, to give her life – all her days – to her ‘role’ as queen, and to do it for everyone else. Quite a promise in her 20’s. One she kept until her death yesterday at 96.

For that reason I think Queen Elizabeth has been admired greatly. Some will say she missed opportunities to be an activist when she saw wrongs done. But, we don’t know what she privately said to leaders from around the world. Was she an influencer?

Here in the United States the idea of a lineage of monarchs is against what we believe. We have had a few families, like the Kennedys and the Bushes, who have gone into public service – but by choice. Not forced to serve because they were born into the family. We elect our ‘first families’ and I think that is something to think about – because when we put our vote towards a president we are also choosing the spouse, the children and other family members. Some Americans don’t put a lot of thought into it. But, I do. A happy home makes for a happy person. I want a leader who doesn’t have extra pressure on them because things aren’t good personally. The job of president is so difficult that I think it’s very valuable to have a supportive family, and people who will love you know matter what.

We can look back at our presidents in recent history and easily see who had a good family relationship and who did not.

Yesterday

Hello September. Hello football season. 🏈

Today is the first Game Day of the 2022 college football season. Let’s go Gamecocks! Today hope springs eternal. This could be a great season! maybe… just maybe. 🤞

It’s also Labor Day weekend. It’s a rare holiday weekend that hubby and I are not with our daughters and their families. But with our pug Miss Daisy still adjusting to her new life being blind we decided to stay home, and let her stay in an environment she knows. She’s doing better but we still need to carry her around a lot. She is very cautious and I don’t blame her. 🐾

Labor Day was designated back in 1894 to give workers a day off, but to also recognize all the good that workers do, and to promote the proper treatment of workers. Today we think of it as another bar-b-que day before cooler weather arrives. But, it is good to remember how America has been built by those who came here, became part of the Industrial Revolution, and even now continue to move our country forward in all kinds of professions, on factory lines, in the service industry, and more. 👏

I am a member of a women’s group called “Red Wine and Blue” and yes, I like it because wine is in the name, but it’s not about vintners, or grapes, or wine regions. It is a group of women who have created a grassroots project to take back America from extremists. “Red Wine and Blue” was started by a few ladies from Ohio, a hotspot state when it comes to politics, and it has expanded all across the country. Suburban moms, seniors, young women just starting out, really any and all women who don’t want to have a loud minority take away freedoms. They uplift each other, give out wonderful and truthful information, and work together to make a difference. If you might be interested in joining, you can google “Red Wine and Blue” or go to their Facebook page. 🍷 🇺🇸

Music makes my world go ’round. I am thankful that 2 of the handbell groups I am a part of, and the community band I play flute in, have started back up rehearsing each week. If you are a local the PI Concert Band will be participating in a 9/11 program at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Garden City, at 2:00pm. It’s free. Fire fighters, the military, and the police will be honored and remembered. You will hear lots of patriotic music. 🎶

We are getting into the middle of hurricane season now. When you live in the southeast, along the coast, you pay attention to what is forming off the coast of Africa, and you care about ‘spaghetti models.’ We invested in a built-in generator for the house and will stay put if one comes our way and is a category 1, maybe 2. After that we aren’t crazy! We will head inland. I really hope it’s a quiet season for us, and for everyone who lives in dangerous areas. 🌀

I signed up for another national walk challenge. I did one a few years back and it was good motivation for me to get out there and move. Autumn is the perfect time to get lots of steps in. This challenge is called “I Beg Your Parton” and okay, really it’s supposed to be for running. But I will do my own thing and walk instead. I can’t lie that part of the reason I signed up is to get the really cool, pink “I Beg Your Parton” t-shirt. Yes, Parton – as in DOLLY Parton! 🤠

Another way I am moving is my dancing! I so love my weekly (sometimes twice a week) line dancing sessions at the rec center. Last week our instructor did a special Michael Jackson class, with of course, all MJ music. Some of us dressed to look like Michael. This coming week we have a guest teacher who I think will show up some new moves! 💃

The kids are back in school in many places, and some head back right after this holiday weekend. I miss when my girls headed off, and that feeling of a new, exciting year. I hope schools everywhere can have a safe, gun-free, happy learning year! I honor teachers who face more challenges than ever before. Education and educators should be more highly regarded in our country – so let’s support them anyway we can! 🏫 📚

All for now. See ya next time! ❤️ 😊

Good Thursday morning readers! Thanks for stopping by.

I am home tending to my blind doggie while much of my family is vacationing. So I have time to write, to read, to ponder life’s simple and complex issues! Ha

This musing is a book report of sorts. I just finished reading “Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelists Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation” by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. I love to read. I read fiction and biographies and even books like this that take a look at something religious and historical.

This book. Oh my. There were times I had to put the book down because I could feel my blood pressure going up. There were times I wanted to literally cry. There were times I got very mad. There were ‘aha’ moments because I remembered something from back in the news. And there were times of real grief.

Du Mez researched the American White Evangelical movement back to it’s beginnings and I was glad she did, because I found that part interesting. I never knew all that went on in it’s early days of forming. I was just a kid. When I was a kid in the 60s and 70s I had heard about certain people and events but never thought much about the deeper religious meaning – and certainly not the political connections. Yes, I was just a child. So reading now about what was going on in the US with the Christian conservatives back then was eye opening and enlightening. Plus, I was raised in the Lutheran faith so I was not hearing about mega Southern Baptists churches and their leaders , and groups like The Morale Majority, and others. I didn’t know much about Goldwater, Falwell, Graham, Dobson, and Driscoll. Like I said in the “Marla’s Musings” before this one, I did not grow up with religion and politics so closely weaved, and part of family dinner conversations.

Growing up, and in church, I was never told to think of Jesus as a ‘tough warrior’ for a cause. He was never compared to John Wayne, a white, strong protector, willing to get in there and fight for a cause. I had no clue that there were church denominations teaching this, and encouraging their faithful to respect a ‘masculine form of leadership’ in religion and in politics. I didn’t know that church leaders told parishioners in sermons that women had a feminine, serving place in society and in religion – and there they needed to stay. Because men decided – and they needed to be served. It was ‘in the Bible.’

I will admit at times the author made me blurry eyed with all the examples of this type of thinking, because there was so much of it found around our country then. I suppose she meant to show that it was not just a few white males leading this way of thinking and living – it was a whole, huge movement – and there were church leaders in mega churches, and Christian TV and radio hosts, Christian book authors, and even some songwriters all promoting white male religion. They promoted superiority, and used fear and God’s wrath if we go astray. Homeschooling came about mostly to encourage this kind of Christian conservative teaching.

I was definitely NOT in that world.

So, I think this is why I have been so shocked while reading “Jesus and John Wayne.”

The hold (the power that they loved) by white male evangelicals collided with my world when Donald Trump ran for president.

Ms. Du Mez writes of how Trump, even with ALL his sinful ways, was looked at as a savior, actually sent by God. He was powerful, unapologetic, big on America, and a white male. He portrayed a no-forgiving John Wayne character, riding in (not on a horse but down an escalator) able to say anything, push his agenda, needing nobody, and acting like the alpha male. Some Evangelical leaders didn’t like his crassness and womanizing but they wrote it off as the testosterone of a strong white male. Oh, just something you have to expect. (And we all sin, right?)

These white male leaders then promoted Trump at church worship services, through media outlets, giving campaign money to him, and more.

For so long, truly since Trump became a candidate, I just could never understand how anyone could see and listen to the man and not be appalled. I think I still do. But, now I know that many, many members of Evangelical and conservative faiths were told that to believe in God is to bow down to the ways of the white men – because they will ‘make America great again.’

A power documentary to watch is “The Family” – which is a look at the secretive ways that the conservatives tried (and still are) to enlist young white men to push them into politics.

I will admit that since Trump was elected, and then with the weird two years of CoVid living, my faith has been tested. I find myself so frightened by the misuse of the Christian religion, and the ways it is being put into our government. I worry about the future. I don’t want to be a part of it if it’s run by old white guys who tell me what to believe. I struggle – because I still truly believe in God as the creator, and as my personal Lord and savior. I am an honest, free Christian woman.

I wonder about this book. Should I recommend it? Those who need to read it won’t consider it. Those who want to learn about the Evangelical movement that they are a part of won’t want to know, right? It’s the way it is these days. They believe the rhetoric they have been told over and over that everything is fake, and stories are made-up.

All I can say is, I think everyone NEEDS to read it. Does it have a happy ending? Not on these pages. Hopefully – somehow. Religion (all religions, but this book is about Evangelicals) and government should ALWAYS be separate. It is in the founding of our country. It is America.

I hope my friend doesn’t mind me relating our short conversation which we had at our dance class today. We are Facebook friends so she sees my posts and she told me in a nice way that I was passionate about my political beliefs. I agreed with her. She said “you know I am a Fox viewer” and I told her I knew but asked if she might be able to watch a few other news outlets occasionally. Her answer: “I can’t watch CNN.” So I suggested Headlines News or the “Today Show” in the morning. She, like me, is very concerned about the direction of our country and said to me that we need to find some middle ground. I agreed with her. She also said her brother and sister in law feel very worried and think are country is doomed.

My friend is a lovely woman, soft spoken, and kind – and we had a nice back-and-forth, with no malice towards each other. Yes! It can be done!

But after class I thought about one other thing she said, “You know, I come from a conservative family. We have always been conservative.” And, that got me thinking. Growing up I do not remember my parents talking politics in the home and I don’t know what party they claimed when voting. My mother’s parents were conservative. That I knew. But my parents didn’t make an issue about one party over the other. I do remember watching the party conventions on the TV in our living room – and I think we watched both of them. And, I knew my Dad got Newsweek Magazine in the mail each week and read it cover to cover. After I grew up and had adult conversations with my Dad I felt he leaned towards being a Democrat but I don’t think I ever asked him. My mother? Did she vote the same as my Dad? I’m guessing she did but I do not know. I never asked and they never told me.

My conversation with my friend today made me think about how some families have a tradition with a certain political party. Some don’t.

I do know that when I became an adult and started to pay attention to which senator or congressperson was of a certain party, I liked the Democrats more. I liked what they said. I felt they had more compassion, and concerns about social needs – not just money. I heard the word “equality” more from them. In general I aligned with the platforms or issues of the Democratic Party. I think the first couple of times I voted I said I was Independent but then learned that to take part in the primary system I needed to choose, Republican or Democrat. I picked Democrat.

Looking back in American History the two parties have changed greatly over the years. I’m no political historian but I love to read the posts by Dr. Heather Richardson, because she is. She can comfort at times knowing that our country has gone through some pretty rough times as it became a nation and grew. Other third parties have come and gone during the years, some only lasting a few years. But the way our country was set up, the two parties are to challenge each other, debate, compromise, and come to an agreement to move forward with a new law or solution.

We are a long way from that foundation of our country and that is what America is all about – it’s the idea, and the work that has to be put in, to become MORE perfect, but never attaining it. Greed, power, money, defensiveness, lies, and crazy media outlets – they have all challenged us here in modern times.

I really hope my friend changes the channel, and maybe even considers that she doesn’t have to be what her parents and grandparents were. It’s a new and different time. I realize that there is comfort in falling back on what you have always been, and shutting the door to other options. Unfortunately too many defend it, maybe because it’s easy. Stay the same. Tune out the noise. Change takes learning, and stepping out where you haven’t been before. Thinking it through, and not reciting things by rote.

My friend is very much like me: A senior citizen, a parent and grandparent. A white woman living in a lovely area in our country, with much given to her. We see a lot of things alike – and, oh, we both love to dance! We want the same end results: fairness, peace, our families to be safe, and to care for those in need. That is already a great starting spot. We need to elect leaders who want the same thing. We need to learn who they are. We need to change channels and get a broader view and to do a little thinking. Maybe then my friend can tell her brother and sister-in-law that our country is not doomed. Because, they are only hearing from one side.

Yesterday we learned that our sweet pug Miss Daisy had lost her sight totally. The morning before she woke up unable to see, whimpering, and afraid to move. Earlier in the year we had a cataract removed from her right eye because her left eye had already had a retina detachment. She’d only had one usable eye for awhile and my husband was willing and wanted her to have the surgery – followed by a regiment of lots of eye drops for healing the eye. So we did it. All was good until she woke up two mornings ago.

I took her to the eye specialist who did the surgery yesterday morning and we sadly learned that her right eye just had the retina completely detach also. She is diabetic, and is old, and the possibility of reattaching the retina would not work.

Miss Daisy was a rescue. She had been left to fend on her own after a divorce in Kentucky. With help from friends she found her way to us. So, we know we have given her a better life than what she had where she came from, and years have gone by – and she is part of our family.

It’s so hard to watch her now, as she doesn’t understand what has happened to her. She continues to whimper when left alone. She doesn’t move. She seems so sad and lost. If she lies next to me, touching me, she settles down. I am trying to talk to her often so she hears my voice. I have googled what to do for a blind dog and we are trying to make our house safe and adaptable. In time she will use her nose, and ears, and touch – and will know where she is. But it’s going to take time. She is not there yet. She needs to be retrained. It will take patience and time.

Friends have told me how their blind dogs have adapted. That gives me hope. The vet told us that pugs do better than other breeds. Daisy is older and not that active anyway. So we have that going for her.

But right now is tough. Since she is diabetic she gets shots of insulin after each meal. Now she is also on two sets of drops, 3 times a day, and a pill twice a day. She’s needs to be carried outside to do her business (and yes, she has had accidents because she doesn’t know where she is.) To get to our lawn there are steps to do down. Steps she cannot see.

The love of a dog is special. She has no ill will. She doesn’t get mad. She doesn’t understand. She is sweet. My heart breaks for her, and having to watch her in this new struggle is really hard. We all are adjusting. Again: She IS family.

Doggone it.

Here’s a first! An American ex-president had a surprise search warrant served at his mansion home yesterday to look for missing executive office papers and other information he took from the White House. There was enough believable evidence from witnesses to suggest that President Trump took with him papers that did not belong to him personally, and were supposed to be kept as ‘matter of record’ in his service to the American people. The question we need to ask is: WHO is responsible for this?

This event yesterday comes after years of stories of his threats, of doing business unethically, of being unaware of government procedure, then once learning about procedure ignoring them, and of treating democracy like a game that he could twist and turn. It comes after acting like a baby when he lost the re-election bid, and not even attending the Biden inauguration. It comes after falsely challenging state election boards, the voting machine company, and more.

The two impeachment hearings and the January 6h hearing have had hundreds of witnesses testimony – most of them Republicans, who were recorded under oath, and told of the unusual (sometimes literally crazy) methods of Donald J. Trump, a one term president.

From day one when Trump rode the escalator down to the lobby and announced he was running for president (and blamed Mexicans for our troubles) I have been offended, disappointed, maddened, and downright baffled by the man. Sometimes he has come across as conniving, sometimes stupid, sometimes calculating, always harsh, mean, and egotistical. He really seemed impossibly unaware of ways to be kind unless there was something in it for him. But – he had supporters. Yes, enough to win the election. He fooled enough people during the campaign vs. Hillary Clinton to become our president. Still to this day I don’t understand why his antics at campaign events and the presidential debates did not turn people off. I found him the opposite of presidential, and I knew he was a womanizer and a con-man. I saw the actions of an extreme egotistic, showing no respect for others. Why was that not important to others?? I will never understand.

As his term went on Donald Trump never showed a better side. He tried to get people to lie for him. He went as far as threatening to hold designated money for Ukraine until they found dirt on Hunter Biden. Trump’s inner top administrators came and went after finding him too difficult to work with, and he was not willing to listen to advice or budge on his own personal desires. Everything from crowd size to executive decisions was ALWAYS all about him.

So, the warrant to go in to Mar-a-lago and seize papers, although a first of it’s kind for an ex-president, does not surprise me. And, I am also not surprised that I am already seeing the spin on the event. As expected, Trump is calling himself a victim of the ‘far left’ – although he is no victim when it comes to taking what does not belong to him. He has spent his whole life blaming someone else – for business failures and bankruptcies, marriage breakups, for leaks in government , and more. The “King of the Tweet” even got himself thrown off Twitter but did not take responsibility for that.

Justice works slowly in America. But that’s okay. I am patient for finding out the facts, and for getting to the truth. We learn more every day. I feel we are at a place in history right now that if we don’t allow all the evidence to come in, including what was found at Mar-a-lago, then we can not turn around this system of allowing abuse, and letting people get away with crimes against America. Even when it’s done by a president of the United States.

If you are reading this, and you still support Donald J. Trump, I am truly at a loss of words. That’s why some social situations have been so challenging. I will wish the man well in the rest of his life, but I never want to see him in public office again. I actually believe the judicial branch may finally bring him to trial. If found guilty, he will most likely have his sentence commuted. I wish the most though that the man would just go away. I never want to see another MAGA anything. I blame him for bringing out loonies, and for causing pain – and even death in our country. He has been nothing but dividing, and has been so very hurtful to so many, many people.

The search at Mar-a- lago is one more event that Donald Trump has caused. Not the Democrats, not the RINOS, not the Judicial Branch of our government.

So, the question to ask: WHO is responsible?? Donald J. Trump is responsible.

I was thinking in the shower just now (oh no!) about how we as a people have a hard time keeping intensity on an issue going. And, I suppose partly it is due to the fact that with each new day comes a new news story. So much is always going on. It can keep your head spinning.

Just months ago we were glued to the horrible events happening in Ukraine. We saw videos of thousands of Ukrainians leaving their homes and we saw all the destruction done by Putin and his military – and it hurt to watch. But we all knew the campaign to save Ukraine was well worth it. It still is. The war is still going on. But it is no longer front page news or ‘top of the newshour’ headlines.

The horrors of the recent mass shootings were there for awhile. But, as with all the other mass shootings in America they have lost top billing too. Until the next big one.

The overturn of Roe vs. Wade is still simmering for sure. Too many people, mostly women, will not let the lack of accessibility to women’s reproduction healthcare become a quiet issue, a forgotten issue. No way. It’s’ too important. Protests continue around the country but they are not making news reports.

Intensity of news is usually hard and fast – and then gone. Most news and psuedo-news networks have lots of hours to fill and they can talk a subject to death. They stretch the time and the facts. They are ‘all over it’ and then it is gone.

On to the next thing. The next news item that will get people riled up. It becomes a cycle, and is about getting good ratings and keeping the ad money coming in. It’s business. It’s a game.

There has often been talk about having news reporting become separate from opinion TV. About no ads run and no concern for making money. Just reporting facts. NPR and PBS are the closest thing to it now but even they have to keep people interested and tuned in. They need money and have telethons each year. They appeal to a certain audience just like the other networks have their demographics to aim for for ratings.

There is no way we can have a government run news outlet. That would be blatant propaganda. We know of dictators in other countries who use media for that very purpose.

So, what to do? The reason I was thinking about this in the shower is that I saw on social media some pretty uninformed comments yesterday. A couple of times I easily found a reputable source and copied and pasted an article to help inform the persons making the comments. I believe that with a little work and with open eyes we can find out truth on the “World Wide Web” (now that’s a term you don’t hear very often anymore! ha) I also believe we can juggle more than one news item and we need to search out for the news sometimes. One lovely commenter told me to ‘get off my high horse’ for submitting information.

Now a days on the WWW (aka the internet) we can pull up videos of the January 6th hearings. We can watch under oath testimony and make up our own minds. We can go beyond what the one or two opinion networks tell us. The same people who commented yesterday said some things that I recognized as untrue rhetoric statements – it was similar to playing the children’s game of telephone. Just repeating the same thing and passing it on. After a few people continue to pass it on it may not be right, and it certainly doesn’t mean that it is true.

Most of you know that I was a ‘mass communications’ major in college and went on to have my first job in a radio news department. I then worked in other departments in radio stations, and at one small California TV station. I have always been a news junkie of sorts. I have always felt it is important to be aware of what is going on. Because, how can we get better, BE better, without knowing? (Yes, yes: ignorance is bliss – and I don’t deny that.) But we live in community and we live where everything is thrown at us with great intensity. Therefore we must separate fact from fiction. It’s getting really, really hard to do. There are many out there who don’t want us to know facts and purposely make news up. Why? To win. To cheat. To gain power. To be on top. They are experts at it too. They use too many adjectives (reporting should not include them.) Too much of the rolling of the eyes and other body language (reporting should not include that.) Ask yourself: who do you watch who does that??

Intensity is about ratings – and swaying people – and serving an agenda. It is not about telling the news. The best in the business do NOT use intensity. They do not get themselves riled up – to get YOU riled up. If they do they are not being truthful.

I have a pet peeve gripe and I hear it a lot on many news networks: The anchor saying “thank you so-and-so – that was great reporting!” Hello??! It’s their job and they should not be doing it for their own applause on camera. News people are avenues to tell what is happening. Again, if someone is telling a story to make themselves look good, then be aware.

I think the past ten years has shown me that it’s easy for people to be pulled along. To be gullible. It’s become a way of life for people in the media business – the ones that stretch news and opinionate. They get kicks from being the ‘expert,’ the one with the followers, the one who can say anything and people think it’s true. It makes me sad – but truly also really scares me. Those commenters yesterday had been pulled along, believing things not true, and ready to fight about it.

None of this was covered in my Mass Communications classes in the late 70’s at Towson State University. I wonder if it is now. It must be fascinating to sit in on lectures these days about what is going on in the news world now, and what the future might hold.

Three days ago I wrote a Marla’s Musings and it was pretty depressing. What can I say? I guess when things are weighing heavy on my mind I find putting it down on paper (electronically) helpful.

But life is a balance. The joys still pop up often, sometimes unexpectedly. And really, they can be the best kind!!

Other times I find it helpful to pause, and to look around at nature. I get great comfort from my garden. I love to watch flowers bud and open up. I love to see growth. I never give up on plants. Sometimes they can look pretty sad and I am sure others would pull them out and replace them. I can’t. In fact now that I have a greenhouse and a hidden area, I take my plants that need time to ‘get better’ there in hopes they find new life. Is that a metaphor? Don’t we all need to find a place to just be, and to have time to rejuvenate?

I think of plants and trees as living things. We humans are very dependent on the miracle of trees turning out clean oxygen for us. So, it saddens me when I see huge hundred year trees cut down. I live in a rural area where the paper mill in town is the biggest business, employing hundreds. For it to continue to run the mill owns/rents land in the county and cuts down acres of trees, loads them on to logging trucks which is then used to make pulp for paper. We had a forest across the road and it was cut down last year. Okay, we get more sunlight in and the early mornings have a visible sunrise now. That is nice. But I miss the trees.

Life is a balance.

Earth has amazing balance systems, Sometimes we humans screw them up. We put polluted smoke into the air, crud into rivers, cut down bird and animal habitats, and more.

So, I guess this post will now turn a little political. Sorry. But, the environment is one of the many reasons I am a Democrat. I believe there really is global warming happening. I believe we can slow down the destruction that we do to nature and work to keep it’s balance. Therefore I believe in the work of the EPA, and I support using tax money to keep America beautiful – and full of healthy nature parks, and green spaces, and unspoiled rivers and lakes. It’s worth it to me.

I live on a river. I sit on my screened porch just about every single day and look out on it. I watch birds fly over it, looking for fish for lunch – or at least some yummy gnats and mosquitos. A family of swallows have nested in the top of our boat lift roof. As summer moves along, I occasionally see fish jumping too. We have a marsh area and little fiddler crabs running around when the tide is low. Rarely I can see an alligator swim near, and also rarely a snake slithers. Thankfully rarely!! ha But – I am fortunate to have this view each day.

It keeps me balanced.

PS: If you need some balance in your life my screened porch has rocking chairs waiting for you. Come sit a spell as they say in the south! Come have a cool drink and enjoy the view.

Hi. It feels like forever since I have written a Marla’s Musings.

I suppose it has been weeks, maybe a month or two. And, although I have started a few before this one it feels like there is too much to say, or that I am a broken record, or I wish I had different subjects to write about…

But, no. It’s the same issues – and really they are worse. It’s pretty disheartening. Since I last wrote there have been a least two more (maybe three) large mass shootings. Since I last wrote Roe vs. Wade was overturned and life has become much harder for women in America. Since I last wrote the Jan. 6th committee has held more hearings with damning testimony that should make all Americans upset.

But, here’s the thing: nothing has changed. I mean when it comes to people – thinking, and people believing, and people coming together.

Yes, it’s pretty disheartening.

We just celebrated America’s Independence Day and for the first time I did not feel like we deserved to celebrate our country. I felt like it was fake holiday, and we were putting a glossy picture up, to hide the mess. And, with almost choreographed evidence a domestic terrorist committed a mass shooting at a 4th of July parade in middle America. Another young, white male, obviously mentally disturbed decided to buy up high powers weapons and go on a rampage, killing the parents of a 2 year old, and others who should be alive to enjoy retirement and grandchildren. Dozens others hurt. Hundreds there traumatized. Millions of Americans now nervous to go anywhere in public to places where people gather.

People like me, people who want to see more, stronger, sensible gun laws cry when these events happen. People like me hurt, and get mad, and call Congress, and post their outrage. But others stay quiet. It’s obvious. I see you. It’s disheartening.

Shouldn’t we all be outraged by what is happening?

But, I know the machines that stir the political pots have turned us into their robots. We let them feed our brains with endless hours of pseudo news. and opinions, and sometimes downright lies. We don’t question anything anymore. We don’t even consider other possibilities.

The latest example is the story going around right now that Tim Allen has been replaced to voice Disney’s Buzz Lightyear with Chris Pratt. It could very well be true. A reporter asked Tom Hanks (the voice of Woody) about it and Tom simply said he didn’t know why Tim was replaced. Today there are posts and rumors going around that Tim Allen was fired because of his political leanings. I don’t think anyone from the movie company said that that was why, or gave the public any reason. Yes, Tim Allen has on his own been an outspoken voice for the conservatives. That is his right to speak his mind about politics and other subjects. But, people have also been mean to Tom Hanks about it. My husband read me some comments that he saw today, and they were directed at Tom, using nasty language, calling him out, saying he was in on Tim being replaced.

Really???

Please, where is proof of any of this? People – stop jumping to conclusions. Please stop thinking the worst of others, and blaming some that may not even be involved. It is over-the-top what we get fed these days and too many of us believe these made up, slanted, often untrue stories.

I don’t know Tom Hanks but I think he might feel like a pawn in this. In a few days this all will calm down, and Tom will be fine. The machine will be on to fabricating something else to get people stirred up.

The machine knows how to create chaos, to the point that nothing is believed.

It is really disheartening.

But, I will not stop hoping for some sanity. I still believe that some people have integrity, and are honest – especially when giving testimony under oath. I have to believe it. If not, it’s an extremely sad and serious downward spiral. Already I wonder how we can return to civility with each other. If we can’t honor other humans, and believe them, what are we??? Who are we???

I guess I know now why I have not written a Marla’s Musings for awhile before today. My head and heart hurt – for the innocent gunned down on a regular basis, for women with no choice unless finding a secret path to another state or backroom, for half of this country that won’t speak up for honesty and belief in each other.

It is so very disheartening.