Oh how I long for the day when the top government official in the United States will once again have good taste, emotional maturity, balanced mental health, strong moral character and respect for others. Even though they didn’t have the moral and ethical integrity of a Carter or Obama, Reagan, and both George Bush presidents far surpassed the baseline of the current top dog in the White House, and I respected them for that.
They didn’t insult enemies and allies alike, calling them “stupid, loosers, nasty, crazy, dumb, scum, or any of the horrible words Trump uses at will.
They didn’t try to shred the Constitution.
They didn’t incite insurrection.
They didn’t try to change election results.
They didn’t destroy large parts of the White House and grounds…
Oh, gosh, the list could go on forever, and could depress all of us who care deeply about what this country used to be like. Not that it was perfect. No country, or it’s people, is perfect. But we were the best we could be, and for the most part had leaders who were good examples of people worth following and emulating.
Is Trump?
Beyond the lure of wealth and power, what does he have to offer?
Through the years, I’ve sat back and watched how people flock to successful folks. Recognized it early in my writing career when I belonged to a critique group that slowly changed when one member was successfully published. All of a sudden everyone wanted to be her best friend. Everyone wanted to have parties to celebrate each new book. Everyone wanted to be the special person who was chosen to sit next to her at our monthly gatherings.
We were good friends before the success, and still are, and I recall joking back then that it looked like others just wanted to be close enough to touch her to see if the success would rub off.
That was most likely not true. It was just my personal resentment that all the extra attention gave us less time together, but when I saw the same dynamic at play in cocktail parties when I was deeply involved in the burgeoning film industry in Dallas, a grain of truth was evident.
At those gatherings, people were drawn to the most influential people at the time, like metal fragments being pulled to a magnet, and coveted conversations were protected from intrusion by any other person who might want a moment.
As frustrating as that was at times to me and my partner, I couldn’t help but notice that pattern of behavior that was repeated many times when we were hobnobbing with people like Bill Wittliff, Chuck Norris, and Trammell Crow, who shared talent and money to make films, as well as visiting talent such as Horton Foote and Robert Duvall.
It appears that the same dynamic is at play in politics today and it saddens me as much as it did way back when.
People are blinded by wealth and power, forgetting that when all that is gone a person is just a person, just like the rest of us.
Well, maybe not like all of the rest of us. I wonder if the worst of the oligarchs of the world will still be as despicable when they are reduced to the social and economic level where many of us reside.
If you have thoughts about this, I’d enjoy a discussion in the comments. As always, I welcome all sides as long as we are respectful of each other.
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Now, as usual to lighten the mood, here’s a fun story from our friend, Slim Randles. This is an oldie, but one that always makes me chuckle at the end. Hope it does for you, too.
We weren’t at all sure why Doc did it. Well, yeah, maybe human curiosity was the answer. Doc seemed to hate unanswered questions. It was about Sarah McKinley down at the Read Me Now bookstore. And yes, it was about the sign.
Inside, you see, on the end of one of the stacks, Sarahhad hung this sign, proclaiming the area to be for books for sale on “Love and Other Fiction.” Most of us just giggled a little and let it go. But that wasn’t true with Doc or Dud or Steve. All three of them wanted to know. No, they had to know. There’s a difference. So they had a meeting and elected Doc as spokesman because … well, he had these initials after his name. you know.
So in went Doc one fine day in summer and bought a couple of books just for fun reading and smiled at Saraha lot. They discussed the weather and whether or not the season looked promising for peaches.
Then Doc said, “I know you aren’t married now, Sarah, but how about before you moved here?
“What?” she asked.
“Well, it’s about that sign you have. You know, wondered whether or not it was once tied to …well, a broken heart.”
“Isn’t that a pretty personal question, Doc?”
“Well … yes. I guess so, but your friends care about you.”
“So tell me, Doc. How often do you and Mrs. Doc … you know….?
“That’s a pretty personal question to ask, isn’t it?”
“Well, … yes, I guess so, but your friends care about you… you know?”
We still don’t know about that sign.
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. Brought to you by Ol’ Max Evans, The First Thousand Years, by Slim Randles. www.unmpress.com.
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Before you run off, check out the summer sale at Smashwords where several of my books are deeply discounted, including the story collection The Wisdom of Ages Three stories; four men whose lives take unexpected turns. Meet Samson who wonders what is down that country road that draws people so. Should he get in that old truck and go see? Mel and Rube have been having dinner at the Leavenworth Grill every Wednesday for years. One day the menu changes and so does life for Mel. Tom would give anything for his life to change. Can he beat back the effects of a crippling stroke by sheer force of determination? Growing old is not for the faint of heart.
“… three short stories that will move your to tears, give you goose bumps and make you pause with reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and will certainly read them again and recommend the book to my friends. The style of Maryann’s writing truly place you in the story and create a meaningful connection to the characters and the message. The book is so appropriately named….The Wisdom of Ages.” Amazon review.
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That’s all from me for today, folks. I’ll see you after the weekend. Whatever your plans are, I hope they involve lots of fun with family and friends and relaxation. The best part of weekends. Take care. Be happy. Be kind.