A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’A Lot of Existential ‘Whys’
Americans killing Americans? Mass murder in our streets? Children gunned down in schools? Unbridled hate spewing forth on every line of communication 24/7?
Why do we have a twice-impeached, indicted, misogynistic, compulsive liar who was once our president running for office again? Why have we allowed, indeed encouraged him and his sycophants to transform the Republican party into a misguided leadership of fools hellbent on destroying every virtue Americans and this troubled democracy once stood 2015 for? Have Americans become so comfortable, so complacent that they cannot recognize evil when it stares them in the face? And continues to kill our children?
Among those crying in the Maga wilderness is Joel Bellman whose column, “Rude Interruptions” is required reading for everyone who cares about preserving American democracy... but especially for those who don’t. (Page 10)
How many people do you know who say, “I’m not political.” Well, its damned hard to understand politics, but how can we, in good conscience, vote unless we know those whom we elected to live up to their oath of office? Learn to discern—right from wrong, truth from lies—and elect those who will wield power to the nation’s benefit. This is not the time to passively accept the enemies within terrorizing our country.
As Howard Zinn* said and wrote in his book, “You can’t be neutral on a moving train.”
Locally, we did elect some pretty awesome people to represent us. The Canyon Chronicle’s Sr. Reporter Annemarie Donkin caught up with County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and State Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin to see what they’ve achieved in their first 100 days in office. (Pages 4-5)
Not all is doom and gloom though. To allay my political ranting, we also offer art to soothe the rattled mind and make you smile. Topanga Elementary Charter School’s TECS News Team fills us in with a photo montage of their Variety Show last month on Theatricum’s main stage. How priceless is that! (Page 6)
It’s also a privilege to promote ceramicist Mervat Elias of Magdalena Clay and her ceramic rendition of “The Last Supper,” (i.e., “The Passover Seder”). Photos cannot capture the passion of this display and we hope that Elias will find a studio to create her art and exhibit it for all to see “The Last Supper” and her other hand-built, hand-painted “Earth Art” in person. For now, see it here. (Pages 8-9)
Chronicle columnist Paula LaBrot asks, “To AI or Not to AI?” Where do we stand in relation to Artificial Intelligence? As I said, it’s not all doom and gloom but it is scary. “Don’t fear it, learn to use it,” La Brot advises.
Finally, we have another articlein the cannabis series by Chris Conway, “Hemp for Health,” about the rise in the popularity of CBD.
*Howard Zinn American historian, playwright, philosopher, socialist intellectual, World War II veteran, professor of history and political science and author of “You can’t be neutral on a moving train.”
Ceramic artist Mervat Elias is also a sculptor. Here she is sculpting a “monumental” artwork in stone entitled “The Miscarriage” as part of the 2015 International Sculpture Symposium in Yarka, Israel.
