George Washington's Farewell Fit For Our Times

 In this post I begin  a serial blogging of an excerpt of George Washington's Farewell Address.  Almost lost now to history in our current entertainment-saturated environment, this address bears reading and re-reading.  

No stale statement, this speech rings with truth and fairly shimmers with its truthful vibe.

 

George Washington's Farewell Address -- Opening

 

     The unity of Government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. 

      It is justly so;   for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad;   of your safety;  of your prosperity;  of the very Liberty which you so highly prize.  

-- to be continued 

New Tonight: Liz Cheney Stands Up for America

Rep. Liz Cheney of Utah

In a stern and impassioned rebuke to Trumpers, Rep. Liz Cheny of Utah delivered a ringing defense of democracy and liberty on the floor of the House earlier this evening.  Ms. Cheney referenced soldiers chasing away voters in Kenya, and the Putin government in Russia allegedly assassinating a local mayor.  

She went on in a clear, strong voice to declare those who support claims of a fraudulent election last fall as being "at war" with our democracy.  

This powerful speech puts Ms. Cheney with the figures in John Kennedy's Profiles in Courage, for her own courage against bullies, lairs, and -- shall we say it? -- traitors.  

 

Speech can be viewed here:   https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/05/11/liz-cheney-house-floor-remarks-republican-vote-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/ 

Manchester United Fans Have New Power

Quickly --

You may have heard or read about the brouhaha over the recently announced plans by European football (in America, soccer)  team owners to form a new "Super League."  This attempt was roundly denounced by fans and some of the other owners.

Now comes a very public demonstration by fans in Manchester making clear that the currently profit-seated mode is simply no longer feasible in Britain.  This startling development, which occurred just this past Sunday, roused Britons to a new level of hope that the siphoning off by owners --a couple of which are Americans -- of the hard-earned cash of English workers, will one day stop.  And perhaps this day will be relatively soon. 

This American friend of the British workers says:  The sooner the better. 

 

 

 

 

 

A Corporation Is Not a Person

 Quick Link --

An important -- though small -- group of people worked to get the word out about the story of how Corporations were gradually given most of the rights of persons, in legal practice. This was the Program on Corporations, Law, and Democracy (POCLAD).  The door to this nefarious and devious scheme was opened in the nineteenth century by a clerk's erroneous emendation to a Supreme Court ruling.  The web site below has archived documents on this fascinating and important study. 

https://poclad.org/

April Days

 A few weeks ago, I promised more entries here about the role of the press and the media in the America of now.  So here is an example:  In this week's Sunday edition, The Washington Post declared in a bold headline that President Biden is "above water" in polling results, but at an average below that of recent Presidents other than Trump at this point in their terms.

With all due respect, this is -- professionally speaking -- idiocy.  Why is it idiocy?  It is so on several grounds.  First I am not aware of what "above water" means when applied to Presidential polling.  I am familiar with the term relating to mortgages, but in this context it is awkward and imprecise, to say the least.

Further, the headline attempts to leave Mr. Trump completely out of the picture, a decidedly dubious stance.  Moreover with a sharply divided country, which is part of the Trump legacy,  President Biden standing above 50% in approval is a major accomplishment, something no other candidate in the race could likely have achieved.

Finally, is not a certain noted Washington newspaper trying to appear "even-handed" in its reporting, by being "tough" on President Biden, just as they were with Trump?  This does have its hilarious aspect.  

So we come to the matter of truth.  Do headlines such as this serve the public interest, with their combination of hubris and dishonesty?  After all, context does matter.  A majority of the public agrees President Biden is doing somewhere between a good and a terrific job -- under these circumstances.  

Let America be grateful.  Watchful, yes, and critical as needed, sure.  But let us be freed from this soupy, muddy attention-mongering of some headline crafters. 

The Aliens Are Us

Quick Post --

 

Over at Technopoly Alert, word has it the May issue of Astronomy magazine tells of what would look like an invading flotilla of sails with no real ship attached appearing above a planet of the nearest star to us after the sun.  

 Read more here:

https://technopolyalert.blogspot.com/

The Practice of Eastern Meditation Not Always Harmless: Harper's

                                                        Picture for illustration purposes only

 

Please read the article at the link below.  It has the power to save lives.

 

With an innocuously titled article, "Lost in Thought," Harper's magazine has printed a stunning picture of the dangers of eastern meditation, even for persons without underlying "conditions."  The work of the author here is surprising, and oh, so useful.  I love this article even though the topic is utterly serious.

The practice of meditation was developed as a tool for monks in Buddhist monasteries many centuries ago.  It was not intended for novices, but only for those who already had a background in Buddhist teachings.

In the late nineteenth century, however, practitioners -- adherents and teachers of Buddhism -- began to advocate for and offer the techniques to beginners.  Now, retreats are being offered to those with little real knowledge of the teachings of the faith.  

Sadly, there have been some horrible results, including the fate of one attendee described so clearly here.

The article is very well and professionally written, and with feeling.  Highly recommended.

 

From the April issue of Harper's:

The Dangers of Eastern Meditation 

 

Photo Credit: Doc Savage

The Pitiful Small-Mindedness of the Press

 The press and media of America continue their adventure in amorality and callousness.    Wherever they can eek out some complaint about Joe Biden -- no matter how petty -- they are willing to do so.  Not all practitioners of the trade of the bon voyeur fall prey to this evil spirit, but many do.  

Worst is the unspoken desire to preserve the identity of the Old G.O.P. -- an identity which has mostly been lost now to the vapors of time -- as a new breed of sycophancy has emerged to dominate the old party of Lincoln.  Thus we have in today's Washington Post an article about the subject of immigration as being suddenly a new topic to be taken up by Republicans as they seek to re-take the Senate.  The re-acquiring of the Senate gavel is a task in and of itself a difficult one as the landscape might just as well favor Democrats after we get fully through President Biden's new New Deal.  (What better term than this one can we come up with?)  

Meantime, "Onward and Downward" seems to be the cry of the press and media, as they trudge along, plying their trade weighed down by the wares of a long ago cynicism and arrogance.  

 

American Recovery Act Won't Stop Capitalism's Death Spiral: Salon

Salon  magazine says the country's newly-minted recovery act will not stop capitalism's descent into a permanent abyss.  This fairly astonishing headline has appeared on < Salon.com >.  Never to my knowledge has such a phrase been used by any major media outlet predicting the ultimate demise of the profit system.

And yet, here we have it --the truth.  According to Salon, our long-lasting and perpetual ruin-er of the economy -- the profit system, a.k.a capitalism --  is doomed.  I agree.  But to see this in its fullness requires a fuller study, not currently available on this blog.

But what a hopeful trend!  My only great regret is that the process will not likely be short, and certainly not painless.

But the feeling seems to be getting stronger that America can and must do better than an economy based primarily on the needs of those who already have so much -- with everyone else getting even less.   

 

Nevertheless, the Profit System is in a Death Spiral

 

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Note to Reader:  One reason for the recent break here at The Musical Patriot has been the dearth of articles of suitable depth and pertinence to inform the discussion here.    Articles with quite pathetic criticisms of the brand-new Biden administration ("He's boring!") have failed to rise to the level of seriousness, to say the least.  The advantage of this is that blogs like this can fill the void and contribute in a healthy and helpful way.  If this blag can do that,even to a limited extent, I shall be gratified. 

A Late-Winter Vacation

 The Musical Patriot on Break

The Musical Patriot has been on a late-season break and will resume posting very soon. 

Web Site Presents Articles on Media and Culture

 Quick Link --

Long-time readers here may remember quite a few links and references to Truthout, a useful web site featuring thought-provoking and enlightening stories on news topics of the day.

The organization is still at work in a timely way.  The link below will take you to their web page on media and culture with several highly recommended articles. 

 

Culture and Media: the Truth 

 

America needs truth now more than ever.  

Speechless?

 For those who have studied both American history and philosophy, including the philosophy of governance, what has happened in Texas need be no cause of speechlessness. 

What we have in Texas is not only blind faith in the profit system, but in a state government which not only espoused and embraced the profit system but ordered itself as the chief defender of it.  (Private for-profit electric and oil and gas companies above all else.)

Now, untold millions are forced to suffer -- because of the state they happen to live in.  It has been said  -- correctly -- that neighboring Arkansas handled the situation notably better (though while being no champion of economic equality).  

Our hearts go out to Texans for a tragedy which didn't have to be.  

N.B.  As for the last statement, this is not just my my own view, but that of many commentators over the last several days, as well.  Details can be given.  I hope to say more about all this soon. 

House Impeachment Managers Wrap Up Arguments

House impeachment managers yesterday wrapped up their arguments in the opening phase of the trial of Donald John Trump in the United States Senate.  Their case linked the words of Trump to the events which led up to the horrific storming of the U. S. Capitol on January 6.  They made clear in searing detail, with video, that the events of January 6 did not happen spontaneously or by accident. 

We have before us, then, a clear case of incitement.  We have seen how a worried Trump launched an effort to sow doubt in the minds of supporters regarding the validity of the November election months before it even took place.  We have seen how the invasion of the Michigan state Capitol served as a prelude to conspirators who were already known to each other, and indeed showed up at the U. S. Capitol months later.  

Thus we have no one-off loss of control, but a plan for insurrection -- conceived, nurtured, and executed in the White House by the President of the United States.  The matter could hardly be clearer.

And yet, certain business interests, fronted by the Republican Party, have emitted a fog of obfuscation, deflection, and denial.  This obfuscation will continue today, as Trump enablers seek to turn attention away from the facts of January 6, and Trump's role in it, and toward side issues.  

I believe the American people will not be deceived.  Certain things can be felt, especially when they have actually been seen.  There is no real way to hide or deflect.  The President did what he did.  It is now there on the record with a new, more powerful light shone upon it.  Let us not avert our gaze.  Let is join together -- in horror, yes -- but more importantly in a shared clarity.  And then let us act with ennobled dispatch to make sure such a thing as January 6, 2021, never happens again.  

 Photo of Rep. Jamie Raskin, lead House impeachment manager

The Trump Impeachments: Volume II

 S omeday perhaps there will be a two-volume book by this title.   

For now, we have only the transcript of today's opening Impeachment session in the United States Senate.  With it's moving and powerful beginning video and riveting statements from the House managers, we are off and running with what must be the nation's most important Impeachment in history.

Those best equipped to offer commentary (as well as those less equipped) will do their jobs.   As for this writer, I want to focus on the larger context and the nation's future.  To this end I hope to offer pertinent and maybe even poignant posts here which may help at certain points to illuminate and inspire.  

For while this is a frightening time what with armed hooligans assaulting the Capitol, it is also -- or can be -- a time of hope.  But for us to have a hope-filled future, a certain kind of thoughtful planning must be done.  If I am able to offer only a few suggestions of merit here I will feel gratified.  

 

Second Impeachment Trial of Donald John Trump -- All This Week

Information will be posted here from time to time.