Civil War?

 Prior to the actual election one side of the political divide spoke of the possibility of civil war in our nation depending upon the outcome.  This was not a one-time, shoot off at the mouth occurrence.  This threat has been floating around for several years hinting at the divisiveness across the country.  Thankfully that scenario did not play out as the perpetrators of this threat won out in the election.  Civil war was averted, though those on the losing side still aren’t sure how to respond to their defeat . . . they are still attempting to figure out what went wrong.  I am certain that they will not rise up in violence . . . they just want to know what went wrong.

There has been a lot written and said about this election and its outcome.  There are lots of theories and opinions about the outcome but name an election where this is not the standard case.  As Americans we have to place the blame on someone or some group.  That just feeds into the real problem and doesn’t even come close to solving the crisis at hand.  That is what it is . . . a crisis.

 

This crisis is destroying us as a nation . . . as a community.  Ironically this demise was predicted.  Nearly 200 years ago a young Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville, visited America and traveled throughout for a year interviewing its citizens.  He wanted to figure out what made this nation so unique and special.  The book he wrote was Democracy in America.  Basically, he discovered that individualism was the foundation upon which the nation was born and made and makes America great.  He also believed that this characteristic would also be the demise of America . . . its downfall.  Americans see themselves as “a special creation, set apart from other humans” according to Tocqueville.  This would be the death of America.

 

Fast-forward to 1985 . . . a sociological study is published by a team of sociologists led by Robert N. Bellah titled Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life.  Underlying this study is whether or not Tocqueville’s prophecy was accurate.  What they discovered as they conducted their own interviews across the country was that Tocqueville was right.  That which made America great at the start was now destroying it.  Individualism was squashing the nation . . . the community.

 

This brings us to today.

 

Harvard ethics professor Christopher Robichaud nails it on the head in an article he wrote about the election.  He states that the problem with the election results does not lie upon any single individual, group, or process.  That’s just the good ol’ American way of placing the blame to make ourselves feel better.  Someone once said that the favorite pastime in American is denial.  Robichaud bluntly puts the crisis squarely upon everyone.  It is the culture, and we are all a part of our nation’s culture.  It is a culture that focuses upon the individual over the community . . . at all costs.  “American, culturally, has completely abandoned a politics of decency and respect and has instead a politics of resentment, revenge, false nostalgia, and bullying,” writes Robichaud.  Individualism rules the day.  My way or the highway.  It is our culture just as Tocqueville predicted nearly 200 years ago.  It is the American culture.

 

Sadly, if we are going to survive as a nation . . . as a community . . . there needs to be a war.  Not a civil war, but “civility war”.  Civility is the way that people treat one another . . .acknowledgement, respect, politeness, courtesy.  The Golden Rule—treat one another as you would want to be treated.  If we are going to be a great nation, then we need to embrace civility.  Without it . . . well, look around . . . we get what we have right now.  A real crisis.  More profanely yet accurately stated, a shit show.  It must stop if we are going to survive as a nation and community.

 

As much as I want to rant and rave about having lost in my electoral preferences, I realize that it is not going to change a thing.  In the end it just compounds the crisis.  Enough is enough.  It is quite apparent that as a nation we don’t all agree.  We want what we think is best for ourselves.  Because of this we have embraced an “us and them” mentality in which our opposition is less than human, demonic, evil and worthy of debasement . . . even the threat of death.  We witnessed this from all sides in this election.  No one is innocent.  We embraced it as a nation.  We have to quit pretending to be “nice” to secure our way.  This is individualism at its most stinky level.  Two hundred years in the making and it must stop.

 

We need to demand from our leaders and ourselves—civility—the Golden Rule.  We must declare war on incivility and meanness.  It won’t be easy because we have had over 200 years of slowly allowing this practice of debasement to control our lives.  It won’t change or happen overnight . . . it will take generations resolved on changing to make it happen.  But we must begin.  Begin right now, where we are . . . in our relationship within families, communities, states, and nation.  Even in the world.  We must embrace the Golden Rule and learn to treat others as we would want to be treated—with love and respect.  We must embrace the good for all over the good for the individualism.  We must be community and hang on tight to that common unity.  We must roll up our sleeves and start the work of claiming our nation back.  It is going to take time, but we can begin where we are . . . eventually the scale will be tipped toward this better way.

 

The time has come to demand that enough is enough.  It is the only way any of us—all of us—winning or losing side—are going to survive.  I truly believe it.  You might think I’m full of malarkey . . . that I am way off base . . . a dreamer.  But you know what, I am not the only one.  I know that there are others who believe as I do.  As John Lennon so aptly wrote:

 

You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join u

And the world will live as one

(Imagine, John Lennon, 1971)

 

That is my prayer.

Cheese, Please

Whining is what it is . . . whining.

Every so often a person needs to complain.  I know that I do.  Let off a little steam.  Release some pressure.  Complain.  The wife calls it “whining.”  But it works for me.  Author Franny Billingsley says, “I adore complaining—it calms the nerves.”  Franny sounds like my kind of person.

 

Probably the most common retort that people encounter with their complaining or whining is: “Do you want some cheese with that whine?”

 

Your darn tootin’ I do!  Cheese, please!

 

It might be that I have been super crazy busy at my university job working six days a week and several evenings for the past month and not having a break that has made me whiny lately.  It might be that I am getting older and crankier to the point I am embracing my inner Henry Fonda from On Golden Pond.  Twenty/twenty hindsight is much more nostalgic when life was much better than today . . . could be that sort of thinking.  Maybe it is because I see the finish line as I am nearing full retirement.  Maybe I’m tired . . . hungry.  Who knows?  All I know is that I need to vent . . . and, yes, I will take some cheese with it.

 

One of my complaints—which seems to be everyone’s complaint—it about this constant circus of politics.  Especially during a presidential election year.  I’m sure everyone is aware that it is a presidential election year . . . it is historic.  On one side there is a septuagenarian . . . on the other side is an octogenarian.  Old!  They are both old.  One has been the president or at least a clown in office depending on who you ask.  Historians have not been kind to him and nor should they be.  He is running again for the third time after losing his re-election bid to the sitting president—the octogenarian.  Their age is showing.  They have had their moments of elder-ism—forgetful, incoherency, brain farts, gaps in memory, plain old “old”.  Things that I am experiencing as I enter the “golden years”.

 

Those are our choices.  With 332 million people in our country and this is the best that the political parties can come up with.  It’s sad.  It’s embarrassing.  There are not a lot of choices.  Thankfully the septuagenarian has demonstrated over and over again what a terrible human being he is.  His terribleness is quite public and recorded for all to read and see.  It is a joke that such an individual is even being considered to lead our nation.  It is an insult to all of us as citizens of our nation . . . insult to our intelligence and morals.

 

At the same time the octogenarian is an accomplished politician.  Pretty much a “lifer” when it comes to politics.  That should be a warning sign and a clear strike against him as his past is right there for public consumption.  He’s got the experience since he’s done it for so long . . . good or bad . . . but, hey!  Surely there is some younger and fresher blood out there!  Also, his age is showing, as are all our ages.  It probably won’t get any better as time goes on.  He is a nice grandfatherly figure . . . but, really—is this the best that we can do?

 

Politics of any sort . . . suck.  Nasty business.  And this is what we have right now.  Not much of a choice.  It will come down to choosing the lesser of what many consider the “two evils”.  I’ll take grandfatherly over the one constantly being hauled before grand juries.

 

That is my political rant . . . and rant it was.  Probably didn’t make much sense, but I feel better.

 

Gas prices.  The oil companies succeeded in luring us asleep as they slowly lowered prices over the past few months.  Almost convinced us that they were “good”.  Now they are slapping us awake with the bleak reality of soaring prices at the pumps.  Some say that it is because the price of oil is up on the global scene.  Others have said that the warmer winter has seen an increase in the seasonal demand . . . that more people are driving.  Still others say it’s because the refineries are shifting from the winter blend to the summer blend . . . summer blend costs more to make, thus someone must eat the price of it all.  And there is the fact that OPEC is playing economic bully politics and holding back the supply.

 

Excuses, excuses, excuses!

 

All I know is that I’m nearing the point that I need to take out a second mortgage to be able to make my commute back and forth to work.  The savings that took months to achieve have been completely wiped out in a matter of weeks.  Do I buy into the causes suggested for this gas pump robbery?  Nope.  It is simple greed and power at play.  The companies and corporations keep getting richer while the masses feel the pinch.  That is the way of economics.  Economics is the real religion across the globe.

 

Which brings me to inflation.  The price of everything keeps going up.  A price increase in one area necessitates a price increase in another.  Tit for tat. Inflation is a human-made concept . . . a state of mind . . . a fantasy.  It makes no sense.  Technology and industrialization have made the products we buy supposedly cheaper and better.  Made it possible to save money for the expense of production, thus saving money for the consumer.  Yet, that loaf of bread bought in 1960 for 23 cents now costs $2.01 on the average in 2024.  None of us can barely afford to make a “wish sandwich”.

 

I don’t understand inflation.  All I know is that it is making life miserable and difficult.  I feel for those who have seen their lives squished and impossible by the rising cost of inflation.  I’ll blame the companies and corporations—the rich as they seem to be getting richer as inflation climbs.  Someone is profiting and it ain’t us people from the middle down.  It’s crazy.

 

Same goes for real estate.  As I near retirement the idea of moving to be closer to the grandchildren is a thought the wife and I have bounced around.  But who can afford it?  Since the pandemic real estate has become an unaffordable circus.  When the wife and I bought our house fifteen years ago, we probably paid more for it than it was worth.  At the time we could afford it.  Since then, it has tripled in value.  That’s wonderful.  Turned out to be a great investment.  The problem?  We can’t afford to purchase anything comparable . . . and trust me, it is not a mansion on Easy Street.  It is a fairly common and plain ranch house . . . very much middle class.  Housing is crazy expensive . . . unaffordable . . . and frustrating.  It would be close to financial ruin for us to move.  Inflation or greed?  I feel for those who are just starting out.  It is hard.

 

Wah!  Wah!  Wah!  I need more cheese!

 

The list could go on and on.  I’ve a few bones to pick when it comes to war.  The Ukraine . . . a world war with Russia that the world is letting little ol’ Ukraine fights for us.  It is a war that the world’s nations are happy to let them fight so we don’t have to.  War by proxy.  That is the American way, too.  History shows that as a nation there has only been approximately ten years that we have not either been at war or in a military conflict.  History will also show that we have funded lots of wars and military conflicts across the globe.  Israel’s war against Hamas—or is it the Palestinians—doesn’t seem to be much different.  We have dumped a whole bunch of moola into funding those wars that are supposedly not ours.

 

There has been a lot of destructive waste created by those two wars.  The mass destruction in material and human lives is disgraceful.  It will take generations and decades to recover and rebuild . . . if they can ever really recover from such devastation.  It is “black” mark against and on all of humanity.  Whole generations have been wiped out.  War—any war—is not good.  It goes against God’s desire and demand for love . . . to be God’s loving creation . . . God’s family.

 

Got to throw in there global warming or climate change—whatever you want to call it.  It is not a myth.  It is real.  The average temperature is rising every year and doing so quickly.  This has been one of the mildest and driest winters in Montana.  Even the old timers are getting anxious.  This is not normal.  Snow pack is at 87% when it is typically over 100% at this time of year.  Spring has sprung and it shouldn’t.  With the snow pack and moisture, we have gotten it is going to be a long summer of smoke and fires.

 

Since moving to Montana fifteen years ago, the state has moved into a growing drought.  Across the state the climate ranges from “abnormally dry” to “extreme drought”.  This winter isn’t going to improve it.  Hopefully we will get some late season blizzards and snowstorms.  Global warming and climate change are real.  It is not some fantasy of the liberals.  It is real . . . and it is scary the impact it is having.

 

At the same time, it has extended tourism in Montana.  With warmer weather the tourists have come . . . in droves.  The annual plague.  But I probably shouldn’t complain.  Tourism is big business in Montana.  Tourism provides 43,900 jobs.  Brings in 12.5 million visitors in a state that just has a little over a million inhabitants.  Those tourists spend 5.82 billion dollars while enjoying Big Sky Country.  It produces 315 million dollars in taxes for state and local governments.  Tourism is a big deal in Montana . . . but, boy, what a hassle.  Tourists . . . they are everywhere!  It has practically gotten to biblical proportions . . . like a locust plague.  Yet, they are a necessary crisis no matter how frustrating it is for us locals.

 

Whew . . . this is wearing me out.  The list could go on and on.  There’s plenty to whine about . . . to complain about.  I could rant about being privileged . . . immigration . . . other people whining . . . Republicans . . . Democrats . . . and, always, taxes.  There are gender issues.  Issues about personal freedom and the individual’s right to control their own bodies.  Shoot, I’m probably only scratching the surface, but the cheese is running out.  Whining without cheese is not the same.  It is just ungrateful belly aching.  I have had my say, and I feel better.  Much better. 

 

I have been told that I have that right.  Someone told me that it is “freedom of speech”.  Mokokoma Mokhonoana says, “Most people mostly use freedom of speech as freedom to bitch.”  Well, I have expressed my right.  At the same time, others have the freedom to not listen.  I imagine that will happen.  Yet, I feel better now that I’ve gotten it all off my chest . . . at least for a couple of months . . . after all, it is an election year.

 

In all honesty, my life is not so bad.  I have a wonderful wife who tolerates me . . . dogs that love me . . . a house over my head, food to eat, and a family that continues to amaze and grow . . . grandchildren that are a joy . . . and, I can still get out of bed on my own every morning despite all the complaining from my body.  Life is good.  Whether I believe it or not, I am blessed.  We all are.  If the truth be known, I would rather count my blessings.

 

Besides . . . there is no more cheese . . . and I feel good.

 

God With Us

• 

November 14, 2011--eight years, seven months, twenty-five days after the U.S. invasion of Iraq the last American casualty of the war died.  Army Specialist David Emanuel Hickman from Greensboro, North Carolina was killed by improvised explosive device while doing a routine "presence patrol" in Baghdad.  He was the 4,474th U.S. military casualty of the war--he was 23 years old.  Will his be a name any of us remember within the scope of our nation's history, or will his name be forgotten forever?

Some say that his death was an unnecessary death in a war that never should have been fought.  Others say that his was an honorable death in which he did his duty for our nation.  All agree that his death and the death of many others who fought in this war exacted a great price from our nation.  And, it did.  Too often we forget that there are more casualties than just those who served in our military in the war.  There are the deaths of those who war was waged, and then there are all the other deaths associated with the war.  War is hell and takes a major toll upon all those involved.  Consider these figures:

• 4,474 U.S. military deaths
• 1,487 contractor deaths
• 448 academics deaths
• 348 journalist deaths
• 319 Coalition military deaths
• 7,076 total deaths 

Those figures represent the estimated deaths of those who invaded the nation of Iraq.  Yet, winners write the history books and often fail to share all the facts of war--facts like the casualties of the other side.  These figures, too, must be included in the history:

• 23,984 Iraqi insurgent deaths
• 104,000 to 114,000 Iraqi civilian deaths
• 127,984 to 137,984 total deaths

Combined these deaths are a staggering (estimated) 135,060 to 145,060 deaths on all sides of the war.  This does not include the hundreds of thousands who were wounded and handicapped for life.  There was nothing cheap about this war.

But in the end, David Emanuel Hickman will be the last footnote in the war that all of us need to remember.  He becomes the exclamation mark.  Logan Trainum, one of Hickman's closest friends, stated: "Thank God if David is the last one to die, because that means nobody else will have to go through this.  But it's crazy that he died.  No matter your position on this war--if you're for it or against it--I think everybody thinks we shouldn't have been over there anymore."  It is finished.

In his 1971 congressional testimony on the then Viet Nam War, Senator John F. Kerry, a Vietnam veteran (Silver star, Bronze star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts), raised the question in hopes to end that war: "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

I am sure that will be a question that is wrestled for generations to come because I do not think that wars will ever end--there will always be wars.  Yet, with David Emanuel Hickman I have had a fascination with this last man of the war.  He was a good citizen, a health and exercise buff, good-humored, married, and wanted to be the best soldier he could possibly be.  He wanted to serve his country with honor and he did.  He was a good person doing the job he had agreed to do.  Whether we agreed with the war or not, we all have to admit that his was a sad death--mere weeks before he was to go home.

But my fascination with this man was in the fact that he was the last casualty--the last death--in war . . . and with his given name.  David, in Hebrew means "beloved"--is the greatest casualty of any war?  Losing the "beloved"?  Nearly an estimated 150,000 "beloved" gave their lives in this war--countless others will never be the same because of this war or any war.  And then there was his middle name--Emanuel.  Emanuel, a Hebrew word meaning "God is with us."  Even in the horrors of war, God is with us.

It has been this season of Advent that those of us who call ourselves the followers of Jesus are reminded how convoluted the journey of faith can be.  Reminded how far we can stray from the love and the grace of God.  Reminded how dark our world can become when we step out of the light and into the darkness.  And, yet, the Advent journey--a familiar journey--points us down the path to the greatest reminder of all . . . we are not alone . . . God is with us.  Amazingly, God is with us no matter how poorly we choose to live our lives.  God desires us and calls for us.

No matter how the war in Iraq gets played out in history--ours or theirs--we are reminded through the person of David Emanuel Hickman that we are the "beloved" and that "God is with us".  May we never forget the last fallen warrior and may we make war no more.  May we beat our swords into plowshares and know peace.