Have We become a Game of Thrones?

There is a classic scene in Season One of HBO’s epic series, Game of Thrones. Queen Cersei Baratheon of the House of Lannister connives to have her young, impertinent son become King of the Iron Throne, a position of high power over the Seven Kingdoms on the continent of Westeros. When her son lies about a confrontation with a daughter of the House of Stark, the Queen assures him there is nothing wrong with that.

In the pursuit of power, she tells him lying is necessary. “Someday you will sit on the throne,” she says, “and the truth will be what you make it.”

The series is based on the novel by George R.R. Martin, which was written long before Donald Trump became president. And yet, it mirrors a ruthlessness of those seeking power in our own day, including President Trump.

In fact, the scene I have quoted above, describes perfectly the mindset and political game plan of Mr. Trump. From the beginning of his presidency, we have seen that for him and his operatives, truth is whatever he makes it.

Facts mean nothing in the Trump administration. Facts are worthless. Truth is worthless. Reality is worthless. Only what serves Donald Trump and his ambitions is what carries any worth to him, to his cringing, obedient Vice president, his administration, staff, and the Republican members of Congress.

I keep hearing from Trump supporters that they can overlook his crude sexual comments about women, his open bigotry, his using the presidency to make money through his businesses, and his consistent lies and bullying because he stands up to Democrats and because he rejects the entire system of government.

These supporters hate the Democrats and “liberals” so much they are willing to ignore President Trump’s dismantling of our government, shredding the Constitution, breaking the law, paying no attention to Congress—an equal branch of government, treating the presidency as his own business enterprise, alienating our historic allies, and calling on foreign dictators and Communist countries to work for his political campaign, just so these supporters of his can have the pleasure of mocking Democrats.

I can understand feeling left out, ignored, not having one’s interests taken seriously, as Trump supporters say they have experienced under Democrats in the past. But to simply give up all the values of our Republic, to cheapen and dishonor the historic codes of laws, ethics, and morals America has prized since its founding just so you can get back at Democrats is a shallow and shameful act of revenge. And a costly one.

If all you possess in your heart and spirit is rage and resentment, your life will spiral into chronic bitterness. And in your daily existence, you will only see things to be angry about and you will miss all the beautiful sights and experiences that give life meaning. This illness, if you will, is what Emerson called, “knives in the brain.”

Hopefully, Americans are realizing what we have in this corrupt administration. People are finally beginning to see that a nation without any sustainable foundations, without competent, wise, moral leadership, will ultimately, as the renowned Roman Empire did, fall into disgrace and ruin.

Whatever changes our values finally change our behavior. As a nation, our values have drastically changed under this administration, and consequently, so has our behavior. The nation is churning in anger. Citizens have lost their sense of humanity.

This is no longer about politics or even political parties. This is about the heart and soul of America. We are not in a game of thrones. Our future does not depend on some violent, greedy strategy of savage political dominance.

We are a nation of laws and standards, of ethics and morals, of compassion and generosity. That is who we are at our best. It is way past time we behaved that way. It begins with supporting leaders who reflect that.

Otherwise, we’re left only with knives and swords, with brutality and collapse. I for one, reject that kind of future for myself and my family, for you and yours, and for all of us.

We are Made for Human Connection

There are words from Brandi Carlile’s song, “The Story,” that I might sing, and perhaps you, too. “All of these lines across my face Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been And how I got to where I am But these stories don't mean anything When you've got no one to tell them to” You don’t have to be single or alone to feel the depth of those words. Someone in a longtime marriage or relationship might feel them, too. The voyage through life takes each one of us through an assortment of experiences. Some of them ennoble us. Some crush us. Some lift us beyond ourselves and carry us into the lives of those who need us. And some carry us to those we need. Some experiences are burdens. Others ease and encourage us. Some leave us baffled and unsure. Some build confidence within us and are so affirming that we grow in substance, in courage, in tenderness, and sympathy. As we age, the lines in our faces can represent the hurts we have not yet resolved. Or t

If I had five minutes to evacuate--what would I take with me?

If I was told there was a bomb in my building and I had five minutes to evacuate my apartment I’d grab a grocery bag and quickly toss these items into it: 1. A photo of my grandparents, Mom and Pop and me, when I was 15 years old. I learned what love is made of from them. I learned what it is to be kissed on and hugged in arms so tender they felt like God’s arms. I discovered self worth from those two angels in human flesh. Of all the people in my life, they were the ones who made me feel I counted. Honestly, whatever capacity I have to love others came from them. 2. A sentimental, dog-eared, stars in the margin copy of Pat Conroy’s, “The Prince of Tides.” It is a book I have read three times and often return to for its wisdom. It is a harsh, profoundly tragic novel, the story of a family so broken and tortured by such flawed and wounded people that it is sometimes difficult to turn the next page. And yet it is the story of such Herculean courage and endurance that you want

Do we need a new country?

Have you seen the elaborate, stylish, opulent television commercial for Cartier? The original commercial seemed to go on forever, a full three minutes. They have shortened it now, but it still drips with ostentatiousness. It is conspicuously pretentious in spite of the beautiful music and the sleek panther and the stunning scenery and the elegant model dressed in a striking red gown. The commercial takes the viewer through an amazing montage of dreamy landscapes and famous cities and spectacular stunts while moving past a giant expensive watch and finally to a glittering diamond bracelet modeled by the woman in red. Each time I see it I keep wondering who the target audience is. It seems to be such an over the top expression of unbridled greed and materialism gone ape. In a time when much of the world is starving and millions are still out of work here at home it seems bizarre that Cartier would spend what has to be millions on a television commercial celebrating 165 years in

The Unclad Soul

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