- Ken Hurley
The Wōkies are on the hunt. Armed with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, cleverly worded T-shirts, rallies, and an occasional letter to the editor. All strategically used to maximize the number of kills in an effort to enact meaningful social change. Or, rather, at least look like concerned caring citizens on social media for all friends to see and give a thumbs up emoji. Time for Ben and Jerry to sip a Bud Light. Or not.
Thanks to the Wōkies, Aunt Jemima is no longer on the pancake box. Uncle Ben is off the Converted Rice box. “Rastus” is off the Cream of Wheat box. Mrs. Butterworth got her body reshaped. NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag. Many statues honoring Confederate soldiers have been removed from public parks which nearly caused "pigeon riots" in 2021. In Boston's Park Square, even a statue of Abraham Lincoln with a formerly enslaved man has been removed and put into storage. And, according to the Gray Lady, hundreds of influential men lost their jobs where nearly half their replacements are women.
Being "woke" refers to an increased awareness of social, cultural, and political issues that are often overlooked or dismissed by the general public. It is seen as an effort to bring marginalized voices to the forefront of conversations and promote social justice.
The “woke” concept began as a way for black people to reassure one another relative for the need to stay vigilant regarding socio-political awareness as a means of survival. However, wokeness has been co-opted by others for political gains, monetary gains, and self-aggrandizement. In the beginning, the phrase used was “stay woke.” Which emphasized the need to dismantle oppressive societal structures by using a colloquial word, woke. Like awake, only wōkier.
An advantage to being "woke" is the effort to promote a more inclusive and equitable society. Woke individuals advocate on behalf of those who are most vulnerable and oppressed by bringing attention to issues such as systemic racism, gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, pancake syrup, and more. This kind of advocacy and activism can result in societal changes, as seen through movements such as Black Lives Matter and Me Too.
The concept of being "woke" can sometimes be taken too far, resulting in a tendency towards "cancel culture." Cancel culture refers to the practice of boycotting or ostracizing individuals or organizations who are deemed by the Wōkies to be problematic or controversial. While boycotts and ostracization can be an effective way to hold those in power accountable, it can also create an environment of intolerance, where people are afraid to speak up for fear of unwittingly joining the "cancel culture."
Being too woke can lead to the stifling of different perspectives and ideas. Taking pride in demonstrating the aspects of wokeness critical of others can also lead to a polarizing loss of friendships. A surplus of wokeness can hinder honest debate and progress. Is it possible that one day the Wōkies will cancel themselves?
The hysteria of fanaticism reigns an unpleasant solution to the woeful aspects of wokeness and its foes as it relates to societal improvements.
Conservatives now, incorrectly, use woke as a catch all term for anything they don't like. Governor Ron DeSantis is known as anti-woke and has successfully placed himself at the center of debates surrounding the concept of being woke. In 2022, his Florida legislature passed the Individual Freedom Act, commonly known as the Stop W.O.K.E. Act (Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees). This law regulates the content of instruction and training in schools and workplaces. Just because DeSantis is not woke doesn't mean he's a dope. In March 2021, DeSantis signed an executive order which banned teaching critical race theory in public schools. He claims CRT is "divisive" and "teaches kids to hate our country and to hate each other." Last time I checked, DeSantis is not an educated educator. He's educated. Yale and Harvard, yes. But he is not an educator. He knows not of what he speaks regarding public school education. Of course, the Stop WOKE Act is being challenged in court as an unconstitutional government content-based censorship law, which severely restricts learning and talking about issues related to race and gender.
While DeSantis argues that he is protecting American values and promoting a unified society, he is not doing either. Critics argue that his ban on CRT is a way of silencing important conversations about race and systemic inequality. By ignoring the complex and pervasive issues that face minority communities, DeSantis perpetuates a culture of ignorance and complacency. Amazingly, ignorance and complacency are two significant pillars of his political aspirations that appeal to his troupe of partisan supporters.
Being "woke" can be a powerful tool for promoting social justice and fighting against inequality. However, it is important to strike a balance between advocacy and tolerance to avoid the pitfalls of cancel culture while still holding those in power accountable. It is more important than ever to continue to promote inclusivity and awareness in all aspects of our lives especially with leaders like Ron DeSantis rallying against the concept of being woke.
So how do we strike a balance?
Striking a balance between advocacy and tolerance requires a commitment to empathy, open-mindedness, and a willingness to engage in respectful civil discourse. While it is important to advocate for social justice and challenge systems of oppression, we must also make an effort to be tolerant and understanding of different perspectives, even when they may be at odds with our own. However, it is likely impossible to expect anyone to engage in respectful, empathetic, civil discourse, when the oppressor is intent on killing you. Woke or asleep, violence breeds violence.
We know the allegorical perpetual pendulum swings one way today and the other way tomorrow. It seems for all sides on most issues, the perpetual pendulum never has just the right sway.
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Category: Uncategorized
¡Cierra la boca! Silêncio, por favor.
Ken Hurley
I had the right to remain silent... but I didn't have the ability. – Ron White
The word "Queue" is just "Q" followed by silent letters. Often the purpose of a silent letter is to change the sound of another letter. For example, the 'e' in hate is as silent as the quiet of the Rose Reading Room inside the New York Public Library, which is a favorite phrontistery of mine, where you'll find Run Silent, Run Deep; Silent Spring; Q; and all the silent letters too.
The problem with silence is that it is rare, elusive, coveted by this writer, yet deeply misunderstood.
The maddening effect of noise pollution creates a profound desire for silence. Included in a litany of clamors, contraptions, and places are: leaf blowers, lawn mowers, train horns, traffic, construction sites, airplanes, and loud restaurants whose music blares with enough shattering reverberation to cause the deaf to cover their ears to regain their equilibrium.
If only the leaf blowing people and the lawn mowing people would coordinate an hour each weekend to thrust their unpleasant clattering noise machines upon us, I would be grateful. But no. Because, you know, Freedom! Like William Wallace in Braveheart, whose final cry rings loudly through the public square before he is beheaded: "Freedom!" Except the only battle the eruptive grass cutters fight is the length of each blade.
Silence is to be cherished. I have been championing the undervalued and underappreciated commodity of "peace and quiet" for decades. The constant exposure to excessive noise levels has detrimental effects on human health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Yet too many people remain oblivious.
There are physical, psychological, and social consequences of noise pollution, none of which is good, each of which highlights the urgent need for effective measures to combat the pervasive high decibel problem, which can drive people to the loony farm where even the hay needs a good mowing.
Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can result in hearing loss, tinnitus, and other auditory disorders. For instance, individuals living near airports, train tracks, busy highways, or even loudmouth neighbors, often suffer from chronic sleep disturbances, which can lead to fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and increased risk of accidents. Moreover, noise pollution has been linked to cardiovascular problems such as hypertension, heart disease, and increased stress levels. The constant bombardment of noise triggers the release of stress hormones, which may lead to elevated blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attacks.
The psychological impact of noise pollution is equally distressing. Continuous exposure to noise disrupts concentration, impairs memory, and hampers learning abilities. For example, students studying in noisy environments experience reduced academic performance and increased stress levels. Additionally, noise pollution has been associated with heightened irritability, anxiety, and depression. The inability to find respite from constant noise can lead to a sense of helplessness and frustration, negatively impacting mental well-being.
Noise pollution not only affects individuals, but also has far-reaching social consequences. Excessive noise disrupts communication, leading to strained relationships and decreased social interaction. For instance, in densely populated urban areas, noise pollution can hinder conversations, making it difficult for individuals to connect and form meaningful relationships. Moreover, excessive noise levels in public spaces, such as parks or restaurants, can deter people from engaging in leisure activities, leading to a decline in community cohesion.
There are even sonic and ultrasonic weapons that use sound to injure or incapacitate people. But then — snipers, hypertension, and big cats are among the silent killers.
There are stentorian “activists,” both liberal and conservative, who try to outshout each other (figuratively and literally) but have yet to learn when it's time to "cierra la boca," as my high school Spanish teacher delighted in saying to me each time I protested my assigned Spanish classroom name, Jorge. These megaphone mouths on opposite ends of the political spectrum have been taught to speak up, speak out, speak often. Yet they have not learned discretion. They prattle on as if they emote persuasive significance. Despite strongly held differing beliefs, they each deserve credit for registering more of the opposition to vote than one might imagine. They try to listen to each other but can't abide inept, grating, tumultuous communication. They decide, if that's a liberal, how do I vote against her? If that's a conservative, how do I vote against him?
This reminds me of a story about a tiger and a donkey. The donkey told the tiger, "The sky is green." The tiger said, "No, donkey, the sky is blue." They argued until the tiger suggested they ask the King Lion to settle their dispute. The King Lion said, "Yes, donkey, the sky is green." And the donkey smiled and trotted off happily. The tiger asked the King Lion, "Why? Why did you tell the donkey the sky is green? We both know the sky is blue!" The King Lion said that is correct. But you will be punished with thirty days of silence for bringing me such a trivial matter. Maybe with some introspection you'll learn the value of not arguing with donkeys over such nonsense.
People are uncomfortable with silence, as evidenced by the number of people walking around with earbuds dangling from their lobes listening to anything but the natural ambient sounds nearby. Silence means they would be left alone with their own thoughts. Looks like too many people disfavor contemplation of their own free thoughts.
Silence can be defined as the absence of sound or noise, but it extends beyond the mere absence of auditory stimulation. It is a state of stillness, a pause in the chaos of life. Silence can be both external and internal, encompassing the absence of external noise as well as the quieting of our own thoughts and emotions. It is a powerful tool that allows us reflection, introspection, and solace in the midst of a thundering world.
When we experience silence, we are able to focus and become more present in the moment. It is a form of mindfulness that allows us to become more aware of our thoughts and feelings.
There are times when silence is extremely beneficial. For example, during meditation, silence is essential to achieving an internal state of peace and calm. In these moments of quiet contemplation, we are able to reflect on our lives, reinvigorate our psyche, and gain new perspectives on life's issues. Without silence, the distractions of our noisy world make it difficult to achieve these benefits.
Silence can also be beneficial in our personal relationships. In difficult situations, it can be helpful to stay quiet and listen, rather than constantly talking and reacting. Jumble "silent" and get "listen." This can lead to better communication and understanding, as well as the resolution of conflicts. When two people are able to sit in silence together, it can be a powerful bonding experience that strengthens their connection. A good friendship is when silence is comfortable.
In some cases, silence is also beneficial in the workplace. A quiet work environment can help people focus on their tasks and be more productive. This is particularly true for jobs that require a lot of concentration, such as writing, coding, or research. When there is minimal noise or distractions, people can get into a flow state and perform at their best. Ever watch someone with music blasting through earbuds try to accomplish any task? Takes them much longer. They aren't even aware they can't focus. They have not learned the value of silence relative to the need of determined focus.
In some situations, people may use silence as a way to avoid difficult conversations or confrontations. This kind of silence can be damaging to relationships and prevent people from resolving conflicts or problems. Being ignored or ghosted are detrimental forms of silence. They can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, and ultimately damage the trust between individuals.
Silence can also be a hindrance in situations where communication is key. For example, in emergency situations, silence can be deadly. If someone is in distress and unable to speak, it is important for others to recognize the silence as a sign of trouble and provide assistance. Sometimes we need to shout fire in a crowded theater, but only when there is an actual fire.
Too much silence can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations. "It's quiet here. Yeah, it's too quiet." A line from a John Wayne western. When people are hesitant to speak up or share their ideas, it can stifle creativity and prevent innovation.
In some cases, silence can also be a form of oppression or control. When people are silenced through censorship or intimidation, their rights and freedoms are violated. This is particularly true in authoritarian regimes or oppressive societies, where individuals are not allowed to speak out against the government or powerful elites. When silence is used as a tool of oppression, it is essential for people to resist and demand their right to speak and be heard.
Throughout history, there have been many examples of the power of silence. Mahatma Gandhi famously used silence as a form of protest during hunger strikes while refusing to speak in his effort to bring attention to injustices.
Similarly, The Silent Protest Parade of 1917 in New York City thrust the issues of segregation and lynching into the national spotlight when 10,000 African Americans silently marched down Fifth Avenue.
Moreover, silence fosters creativity and innovation. When we silence the external noise and internal chatter, our minds become more receptive to new ideas and perspectives. Many great artists, writers, and thinkers have found inspiration in moments of silence, allowing their creativity to flourish.
In literature and film, silence has been used as a powerful tool to convey emotion and meaning. In the movie The Shawshank Redemption (1994), the character Brooks is released from prison after serving thirty years and finds himself struggling to cope with the outside world. He becomes overwhelmed and desperate. He ultimately takes his own life. In his final moments, he leaves a note that simply reads, "Brooks was here." The silent message conveys the deep sense of hopelessness and despair that Brooks felt, and is more powerful than any spoken words could have been.
In the novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, the deaf-mute character, John Singer, (perfect last name for a deaf mute) is unable to communicate his innermost thoughts and feelings with those around him. His silence is a reflection of the isolation that he feels and the difficulties he faces in relating to the world.
Then there's the film, A Quiet Place (2018), where the mean post-apocalyptic extraterrestrials have super-sensitive hearing, when if they hear you, they will hunt you. So, pipe down.
Silence is a complex and multifaceted concept that can be both beneficial and a hindrance. It is a powerful force that can bring about peace and tranquility when used effectively, but can also be a tool of oppression and control when used improperly. In personal relationships and the workplace, it is important to recognize when silence is beneficial and when it is harmful. Only through understanding the power of silence can we begin to use it to our advantage and achieve greater understanding and connection with those around us.
The relentless exposure to noise pollution has sparked a deep yearning for silence among individuals seeking solace and tranquility. The desire for silence is evident in the growing popularity of silent retreats, meditation practices, and noise-cancelling technologies. These serve as coping mechanisms for individuals seeking respite from the cacophony of a noise-filled life. The quest for silence is not merely a personal preference, but a fundamental human need for restoration, reflection, and mental well-being.
Included among the quietest natural places in America are the Great Sand Dune National Park in Colorado, Yellowstone in Wyoming, and Glacier National Park in Montana. I have been to all three. Walked atop glaciers. The pleasant ambient noises of nature are simultaneously relaxing and reinvigorating. Unless bush crickets are mating. One of nature's loudest trills. I hope we never see a time when no birds sing and spring is silent.
One day I hope to sit inside an anechoic chamber to experience negative decibels. However, this is where tinnitus will likely be more ear-splitting than the squawky salvos hurled by liberals and conservatives from atop their social media soapboxes.
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The Revolutionaries
- Ken Hurley
Eating rice pudding as I plot my next move, I chat with the gold-toothed, nose-ringed, sleeve-tatted, revolutionaries: Paco, Arthur, Boo-Boo, and Ace.
They are particularly agitated today after learning the barista at the local Bean Counter is fresh out of lactose-free cream. No Latte Macchiato for the bad boys who hope to kick up the pep in their step as they wonder again how best to right the world and squabble whether or not they really need a manifesto.
Carla Howe, from the nationally known law firm, Sooem and Howe, is sitting next to me. Carla is my quibbling, disputant, pettifogger friend, who still takes pride raising annoying and trite objections to nearly everything.
She offered to argue with management on behalf of the revolutionaries about the injustice wrought by the lack of lactose-free cream. The revolutionaries each declined her offer opting instead for a Cinnabon and Diet Coke.
Without provocation and the non-est non sequitur ever, Carla, with the desperation of a mother who misplaced her five year old in Target, explains to me the differences between lewd and lascivious.
Between bites of the sugary warm, heart-stopping, diabetes-inducing Cinnabon, Paco belts out Chaka Khan’s, “I’m Every Woman” to the wonderment of the café patrons who joyfully sing along in disharmonious dissonance.
Boo-Boo, the hedonistic heretic of the group, decides now is better than never and raises the matter of life beyond Earth. "Suppose there is life beyond our planet but we can't recognize it because it isn't carbon-based?" as the café chorus sings.
Arthur, ever the pontificating philosopher, says with a quiet deep rumble through his long white gnome beard, "There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: 1) Not starting on the road and 2) Believing there is a road to ‘truth’."
Boo-boo continues, "Suppose there is life elsewhere but the genetic construction has no resemblance to our DNA structure?"
Paco jumps on the counter to conduct the caffeinated patrons with a straw baton as they yell, "I'm every woman / It's all in me / Anything you want done baby / I do it naturally."
Arthur, with a sugary glazed stare and the tantric liberation of a weary Tibetan Monk whispers, "Not all truths are created equal. Grin-making are religious truths. 'My religion is better than your religion', say the religious. And, 'I’ll penalize you, shame you, ostracize you, or kill you to prove it. Won’t you and your family join us at our next service'?"
A perplexed Boo-boo wonders aloud, "Suppose there is extraterrestrial life but it doesn't have any DNA or other nucleic acids?"
Arthur with a smirk and giggle says, "Laughable too are secular 'truths'. America continues to sustain a culture that exalts warriors and denigrates peacemakers for the benefit of power."
Carla slowly gyrates provocatively in her chair as she gently sips her Stevia sweetened Iced Mocha through the steel straw she carries everywhere, "Mmmm … tasty … Mmmmm," she coos between sips as she gives her best effort to display either lewdness or lasciviousness. I can not discern the difference. I smile. She winks. Then her right fake eyelash falls into her drink.
Ace has a sleepy, droopy-eyed look when he mumbles, "Not sure if I am more sick or more tired of people telling me they’re sick and tired." Ace slumps where he sits. Mid-day nap.
Arthur offers wisdom fit for a roundtable, "Beware of those who claim they're 'woke'. They're not!" As he slams his fist onto the table causing enough physical reverberation to loosen his gold teeth.
Boo-boo continues to wonder, "Suppose instead of looking for life as we know it, we need to look for life as we don't know it?"
My time at the Bean Counter passes quickly.
Paco has put down his staw baton. The Café Chorus has ended their final stanza. And I realize the revolutionaries talk but no one really listens.
The revolutionaries have succumbed to a Cinnabomb sugar induced coma and are now asleep on each other's shoulders.
Just before Arthur nods off he stammers in a hushed confused voice, "Always remember and never forget, just because I prefer nouns doesn’t mean I’m pronoun."
Carla hasn't stopped yapping about her past indiscrete lewd and lascivious debauchery in an effort to get me to agree there is a distinction between lewd and lascivious.
As Carla's bazoo yammers, I sprinkle cinnamon on my rice pudding, look straight in her bald eye, as fond free thoughts roam through my mind of the time I won second place in a beauty contest.
You say you want a revolution? Paco, Arthur, Boo-Boo, and Ace may not have the same gravitas as Trotsky, Gandhi, Guevara, or Washington, but these four lovable stumblebums have found a way to harmlessly pass time yet believe they are the ones who tilt the balance toward their favor just a bit.
Meet me at the Bean Counter. I'll introduce you to the revolutionaries. As soon as they wake from their nap.
You say you want a revolution? Forward comments to Ken Hurley at Kenhurley88@gmail.com
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Crimes Against Humanity
Ken Hurley
Manavata is in her mid-20s, svelte, curious, astute, a vegan, and loves nature. Tall, a bit boney too. Her garb preferences are dupattā shawls and elephantine dresses that cloak her like they were designed by Coleman, sold at REI, and could cover a small bivouac. Her large, round, deep, dark eyes search for meaningful contact with an intense gaze that says, "I feel you." Her empathic expressiveness oozes from every pore like cheese sauce on a Coney Island hot dog.
Manavata has a hyperactive mirror neuron system that needs constant stimulation. She beams her bright encouraging energy into everyone she meets, then crashes with exhaustion. She often appears to be happy, but most people she meets cause her distress and in the quiet moments of her solitude, tears. Her emotional seismometer swings with an amplitude that rivals Foucault's pendulum.
Her favorite expression is, "That is a crime against humanity!" Said with the confidence of a home plate umpire with new specs.
Crimes against humanity are one of the gravest offenses against human dignity and rights. These crimes typically include the barbaric acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass murder, torture, and enslavement. They are committed by individuals, groups, or governments against civilian populations with the intent to cause sweeping suffering and destruction. "Crimes against humanity" have likely been with us for as long as humanity. However, the phrase was not used until the Nuremberg trials, which were held after the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. The International Military Tribunal charged the Nazi leadership with committing a series of atrocities, including genocide against Jews, homosexuals, Romani people, and other minority groups. The tribunal established that these acts were not only illegal, but also represented a fundamental affront to human dignity and rights. The concept was that crimes against humanity constituted offenses against all of humanity, not just against individual victims.
However, the concept of crimes against humanity is not limited to the atrocities committed during World War II. History is rife with examples of mass violence and aggression against civilian populations. An estimated 1.5 Armenians were slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire. The Communist Party of Kampuchea in Cambodia, known as the Khmer Rouge regime, brought us the killing fields, where over one million people were buried after mass killings by state sponsored genocide. The Rwandan genocide saw members of the Hutu ethnic group kill an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and other Hutus who were deemed not correct. Sadly, there are too many more examples of humans committing atrocities against other humans that are considered crimes against humanity.
Manavata has a strong moral outrage that she can not stifle. She thinks weapons manufacturers and arms dealers should be charged with crimes against humanity for making and distributing a variety of death tools that kill millions of humans.
She thinks the meat industry should also be charged with crimes against humanity for being a leading cause of destruction of the planet via cattle flatulence and cow burps which creates more potent greenhouse gasses than Manatava can stomach. But what about all the humans being born who create the need for the meat industry? Humans! They are the number one existential threat to our sustainable survival. Humans are a crime against humanity! But what to do about it? Contraception? Abortion? Stop fucking? Her head spins like a Lipinski scratch twirl.
She also wonders why religions are not considered crimes against humanity. She can not think of a religion that supports itself without proclaiming at its core credo fantastical yet persuasive lies in an effort to solicit the needy, gullible, and their money. She sees religious leaders offering fabricated artificial ingredients while praying for prey to feast upon so they may enrich themselves as they falsely proclaim "The Truth". That is a crime against humanity!
However, Manavata does love the notion of heaven where the mysteries of the cosmos hold their secrets. The birth of stars, the formation of galaxies, and the endless expanse of the universe. Heaven would be the ultimate observatory where she could explore the wonders of creation and its transcendent beauty where her senses are heightened and her mind is elevated. Her poetic nature imagines heaven as an inspirational place of creativity and enlightenment. Where the colors are more vivid, the fragrances more intoxicating, the harmonious sounds are more melodic and blend together in symphonic delight. A place where all the people put love first.
But she wonders why the heaven proffered in The Bible isn’t considered a crime against humanity? Biblical heaven is where God keeps a house and where the believers of religious propaganda go after their last breath. It is a place promised to the "faithful" where there is no more pain or sorrow, and where the "righteous" will be reunited with their family forevermore.
She thinks this is an excellent example of a religious core credo lie. When you tell someone there's a better place but you have to die to have a chance of getting in is a lie that only serves the liars. After you've taken the Stairway to Heaven, you find yourself Knockin' on Heaven's Door only to be judged, and more often than not, be ushered back on the Highway to Hell. What kind of place needs gates to keep you in? Once you're in, there's no way out. She wonders if perhaps we are already in heaven, but our careless taradiddling twaddle has made an unfortunate shambles of it.
Manavata is glad she isn't an actual adjudicator of crimes against humanity. Just thinking about them is emotionally exhausting. Time to crash.
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MISTAKEN
- Ken Hurley
Eris Shackleman was picked up, cuffed, and thrown in the pokey on the first night of the Mistaken Identity Roundup (MIR).
According to Criminal Attorneys for the Defense (CAD), mistaken identity arrests occur more frequently than shots of tequila on Taco Tuesday. However, this was the first time a MIR was organized by the Chief of Authority to gain favor with the political Wonks of Woedom (WOW). The MIR gave the Chief the opportunity to look magnanimous as she offered her televised apology on behalf of Woedom City to the falsely accused upon their release.
Eris was arrested on the night of MIR and charged with writing a Fantastic Fantasy novel without a valid poetic license. His license was revoked after he once tried to rhyme "orange" with "door flange."
Eris had a string of bad luck which only got longer after he was mistakenly added to the In-Memoriam segment at the Actor Awards Show three times in three years. He once had his identity stolen, but after a week the thief begged Eris to take it back.
Then there was the time Eris declared himself a "sovereign citizen" in an attempt to avoid prosecution after he was picked up at a bar fight over which came first, the Zeroth or the First Law of Thermodynamics. During the heat of the scuffle Eris ranted indecipherable anti-government slogans about gold, credit, and hidden malevolent government forces while he declared the three foot personal air space around him as sovereign and may not be breached. He shouted, "Any punch that lands on me is a violation of International and Biblical laws!" The drunken rascals pummeled Eris until he resembled a mashed sweet potato. The next day Eris was mistaken by the judge for an average Joe and released without questioning.
A Mistaken Belief Task Force was formed by Woedom City to scour the internet and other places where mindful and mindless thoughts are exchanged. The task of the Task Force was to evaluate questionable representations of topical and irrelevant understandings about the world and Woedom. Examples include: Did The Simpsons predict the Silicon Valley Bank failure? No. Is it true that 16 banks failed during the Trump Administration? Yes. Is a Piggy Bank named after a pig? No. Is it true that Albert Einstein said, "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them." Yes. These and hundreds other dubious statements were researched, verified, and findings published each week by the Mistaken Belief Task Force.
The Mistaken Belief Task Force advised Eris against holding the mistaken belief that the words opossum and possum are interchangeable.
The assertion that all infinities are not created equal remains a controversial issue for the Mistaken Belief Task Force who often seek the advice of subject matter experts whose struggles to reach a consensus on difficult subjects cause a loud belly grumble chorus of borborygmus. (Nod to the lexophiles.)
As an individual, to be falsely accused of anything is at least troubling. However, it can be deadly if one is wrongfully accused of a capital crime. Innocent defendants are still mistakenly convicted and sentenced to death with unfortunate regularity.
The appeals process is one remedy for a travesty of justice. However, the Appellate Courts mostly focus on legal errors and not on factual determinations. It is unlikely the appeals process will catch all the mistaken verdicts. To sit on death row knowing you are innocent while awaiting the green mile walk is difficult for this writer to fully imagine how the mind would cope.
As of March 2023, the Innocence Database maintained by the Death Penalty Information Center shows 191 exonerations of prisoners on death row in the United States since 1973.
DNA analysis is vital to exonerating innocent people and affecting criminal justice reform. Years of data on DNA-related and other exonerations expose the persistent and systemic problems within our legal justice system. The fight to correct the systemic issues through strategic litigation, policy reform, and education continue.
The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld to assist incarcerated people who could be proven innocent through DNA testing.
Make no mistake about it, false accusations, misinformation, disinformation, and wrongful convictions are among the worst examples of human behavior. We can and should do better.
While Eris Shackleman is fictional, this partial list of exonerations is not: Malcolm Alexander served 38 years, George Allen served 30 years, Cornelius Dupree served 31 years, Anthony Wright served 25 years, Joyce Ann Brown served 9 years, Rosa Jimenez served 17 years. John Huffington was convicted of murder in 1981, sentenced to death, and exonerated on January 13, 2023.
Courts do not generally entertain claims of innocence after the defendant is dead. So it is difficult to know how many innocent people on death row were executed. Those who work on behalf of the wrongfully accused tend to use their time to help those still alive.
I know a six year old girl who loves to say "Namaste" after yoga, but she adorably mispronounces it as, "No mistake."
LEARN MORE HERE:
Explore the Numbers: Innocence Project’s Impact
and HERE: https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/womensproject/exonerations/
and HERE: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/19/10-facts-about-the-death-penalty-in-the-u-s/
and HERE: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/
Please forward corrections, comments, or questions to kenhurley88@gmail.com
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GOD’S RANT #959 – Tiny Caskets
God's Rant #959 - Tiny Caskets
by God
I do like human children. Their size, energy, inquisitive minds, ability to learn, and general helpless squeakiness, make the cute little germ factories a favorite among the multiverse. Babies, toddlers, and assorted other young ones who live in galaxies far far away do not have the same adorable feeble friendliness that begs for so much attentive loving care. Have you spent any time with a young one from planet Silentium-BQ? Oy vey. They don't speak, poop, or make a sound for the first 100 years. Some of my poker buddies think that's a delight.
Life and death is something I know a little bit about. I've been meandering through the Great Space for a long time. If you have paid attention, in the blip of the moment you've been here, then you know, I know about life and death. Although, it's clear to the rest of us who enjoy dancing the String Theory Tango and who have traveled extensively through the Great Space, human attention span is shorter than the dying breaths of a small Nova. So you may be clueless. But let's assume you are an exception whose attention span at least equals the time it takes to boil a stiff egg. Then you know, I know about life, death, and the sad state of societal inequities humans have created for themselves, which too often hasten the death of those who least expect their sudden end.
I also know there are plenty of smug science skeptics and smug dogmatic autocrats, who try to affect civil social change for the better. It is as if humans try to out-smug each other. If the do-gooders only knew how difficult it is to create lasting changes when your mug is full of smug.
I was there one quiet evening, where I sat on the salty pebbled shoreline of the Yām HaMāvet, when Life asked Death, "Why does everyone love me and hate you?” Clearly, a leading question. Not everyone loves life. But most humans are at least willing to pretend their life is worthwhile. They've mastered fake smiles and gratuitous apologies, and are taught they are uniquely special. So, Death looked deep into the conflicted brown, blue, green, and red eyes of Life and replied, "Because you, Life, are a beautiful lie, and I am the ugly truth."
I should mention there are a few exceptional humans who are devoid of smuggy sanctimonious discourse; who know how to authentically and effectively communicate - who also understand that Death makes a fair point.
Throughout the life and death process, most humans claim they want to be united. They claim they want to be together. One world. One big happy family. United we stand! United States! United Arab Emirates. United Kingdom. European Union. Americans United. United Way. United Nations! Ever since that Big Bang, humans have been unconsciously wanting to reunite with their DNA, now scattered throughout the Great Space.
The reality is, humans will forever struggle with efforts to be united, and still stumble into Malthusian's Trap and other self-imposed obstacles. Aside from how to manage a severe grudge, or what humans dismiss as "mental illness", their ability to unite is extraordinarily clannish, with one notable exception. Humans know how to unite murderers. In America, many humans still hold a strong belief that the Second Amendment relies first on the uninfringed right of the people to bear arms necessary to kill, maim, and hurt other humans.
I don't usually get involved in the minutia of human affairs, so kindly indulge my short, moral declamatory rant. This is less than a "three minute egg" read. My poker buddies are waiting for my next play. I hold a pair of aces and eights. Think I'll raise.
The Americans know there can be no militia without armed people. The sequence of events that need to occur for a human government to create a militia is as follows: First, codify in writing, the right to create a militia. [For the uninformed Earthly population, please see Article 1, Section 8, Clauses 15 and 16 of the United States Constitution]; Second, ratify the Second Amendment, "A well-regulated militia . . ." yada yada yada . . .; Third, get equipped people who will join the militia; Fourth, manage the militia.
At the signing of the United States Constitution, the equipped people who were necessary for an effective militia were humans from villages, cities, and the countryside who typically brought their own weapons to the militia.
The Second Amendment is quite capable of uniting murderers, killers, indiscriminate death purveyors, and a majority of politicians who enjoy what they claim the Second Amendment provides -- easy, unimpeded access to weapons of their choice.
And, voilà! The weapons manufacturers and others who lack the courage to display genuine integrity and who apparently need guns for profits and a sense of safety, thank the Lord that their rights are "God given."
Well, I call bullshit.
Human political posturing and woeful wrangling must be put aside to end the tragic tiny casket syndrome in America. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. understood this well when he eulogized the children lying in their tiny caskets after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963. He said,
These children -- unoffending, innocent, and beautiful -- were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. And yet they died nobly. They are the martyred heroines of a holy crusade for freedom and human dignity. And so this afternoon in a real sense they have something to say to each of us in their death. They have something to say to every minister of the gospel who has remained silent behind the safe security of stained-glass windows. They have something to say to every politician who has fed his constituents with the stale bread of hatred and the spoiled meat of racism. They have something to say to a federal government that has compromised with the undemocratic practices of southern Dixiecrats and the blatant hypocrisy of right-wing northern Republicans. They have something to say to every Negro who has passively accepted the evil system of segregation and who has stood on the sidelines in a mighty struggle for justice. They say to each of us, black and white alike, that we must substitute courage for caution. They say to us that we must be concerned not merely about who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers. Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American dream.
From their tiny caskets, children beg adults to listen, see, and act. From their tiny caskets, children know the only answer to end the epidemic of tiny caskets is through mindful human understanding and willful binding agreements. You may have been taught and still believe that "thoughts and prayers" help. That phrase serves to numb motivation and helps keep the human lawmakers unaccountable.
Meanwhile, those who mindlessly spew "thoughts and prayers" feel as if they have consoled the loved ones of those in tiny caskets. They have not. So, the mass killings of human young ones continue at an incredibly alarming rate. Killing each other for inexplicable reasons has become so pathetically prevalent that a six year old child shot his first grade teacher after he learned to mimic the unhinged adults who kill.
The most violent year in American schools was 2022. 2023 is on pace to surpass that shameful record. The unprecedented rise in child and teen firearm deaths reflects the overall increase in gun deaths in America according to your own Pew Research.
The profiteering purveyors of firearms used to kill children and others now say, "We need more guns!" "Let's arm teachers!" That is as insane as solving the drunk driver problem by adding more drunk drivers to the road.
"Hey hey ho ho, the NRA has got to go" were chants shouted by young ones who marched in the streets of Nashville after a mass shooting on March 27, 2023, including the slaughter of children, at a private American parochial school where people go to worship me. Did you know? Guns are banned at the NRA Leadership Forum.
The late Chief Justice, Warren Burger, said of the Second Amendment, "one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud, on the American public by special interest groups that I have ever seen in my lifetime.”
I am only one small insignificant god who is outraged that humans can not do better. I am disappointed in the culture that perpetuates the need for so many tiny caskets. I can assure you that planet Earth will not be accepted into the Greater Interverse Amici Amoris Mutuum Beneficium Society until you have eliminated the desire to kill each other. My dearly departed Granmama God was fond of saying, "All it takes is one bad leader to ruin it for the rest of us."
We all know, humans have some positive redeeming traits, but are widely known to be quitters, liars, and deal breakers. Ask the Native Americans. Look at how many laws there are with regard to religion despite the First Amendment declaring, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." Look at what American humans declared in the Declaration of Independence, "... certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." American humans do not really mean Life is an unalienable right. The cosmos knows, and you should too, there is no life, no liberty, and no way to pursue happiness, from inside a tiny casket. Complacency kills.
There are many reasons I don't beam by planet Earth more often. But one reason at the top of the list is the narcissism of petty disagreements that make for the most repetitive, dryasdust, and deadly kind of societal group think. Do-gooders can not even agree on what is good. Humans yearn to be offended. Earth -- One small planet of indig-nations. And, your Global and Local Leaders who use fear and force as a means to their end, do not care enough to take action on things that matter. When it comes to caring -- enough is not enough. Want an investment tip from God? Tiny caskets.
Please email any comments, questions, or concerns to this human: kenhurley88@gmail.com
THE HUMANS, Part 1
THE HUMANS, Part 1
Ken Hurley
If you can read you are probably a human. F u cn rd ths, yr stll prbly hmn.
Polysemous as a definition for
'human' can be, for our purpose let's agree when we refer to a human or humans we refer to specimens of the biological species Homo sapiens, who straightened their spine and walked away from the established hominin lineage about 150,000 years ago. We're still walking.
Human life-form essentials include: Complex tool making, symbol use, language, coordinated socialized hunting and gathering, ability to jitterbug to rap, a distinct manner of smiling fulminations, and an occasional vegetarian haggis.
Some humans offer another morphological feature of humans in that humans tend to possess a high level of reasoned rationale. Other humans, after considering that last sentence, giggle.
We had no choice whether or not we would be human. It's not as if we could exercise free will at a buffet where we could select to become an elephant, anteater, Dodo bird, platypus, or a Neanderthal. Given the other possibilities, being human is remarkably good fortune. (Perhaps I'm biased?)
Because we are human it is likely you, as was I, had our introduction to God at an early age. It is also likely the nature of being human prompted an inquiry into what you were told by your elders. We tend to trust our elders. Yet, it is distinctly probable the validity of the stories told about God were questioned as you grew older.
Demographic trends suggest it is increasingly apparent that the imaginative stories about an omniscient supernatural God have since been dismissed as inadequate by a growing significant percentage of the population. Especially by those who grew to embrace an irreligious view.
The act of being human is known collectively as humanity. From humanity comes humaneness. To be humane is to be kind and benevolent. Humans each have the potential to display genuine, heartfelt, loving kindness or behave like a monsterous, insane, raving maniac. We each have the potential to exercise intelligent judgment or feckless folly. Likely both more than once in a lifetime. Whether or not our good or bad behavior is a motivational choice, a causal determination neatly written in our genetic code, or something else, remains a matter for endless discussions.
Add 'ist' to human and we have humanist. A humanist prefers an approach to life based on reason and our shared humanity. Humanists recognize that moral values are founded upon human nature and human experience not the divine or supernatural.
A humanist embraces the goodness of human beings, emphasizes our collective human needs, and seeks rational methods to solve human problems. To this extent, whether we admit it or not, we are all humanists.
The phenomenon known to us as a human and the associated psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioral traits of humans, has commonality shared by all healthy humans known as human nature.
Given the variety of cultures around the world, and the disparate ideologies to which humans ascribe, is it possible that all healthy humans share traits found within human nature? Yes.
One obvious example of a shared trait within human nature is our survival instinct. From birth, our survival instinct is strong. After we are born we typically cry, scream, and flail uncontrollably in an effort to have our needs met. The wails and flails of a newborn are the language and actions of survival. A baby has no chance of survival without the attentive care of an elder.
Every day, several times a day, as the tiny bantling grows into a tiny toddler, the little bundle of joy poops and pees freely at will. Anywhere. Anytime. Hence, potty humor was born.
A toddlin' young poop machine makes a respectable illustrative analogy for describing human nature. Simply put, human nature is to poop in one's pants. Fortunately, human desire, our ability to learn, recognize self-realization, and improve our human condition is also human nature.
There comes a moment when the young poop factory, at the urging of their elders, realizes pooping in their pants (diaper, on the floor) is messy, unpleasant, and not in the child's best interests. We all know bad things happen when we lose our shit. So, acting on behalf of their own self-interest children practice how not to poop in their pants. Then one glorious day amongst applause and cheers, their practice is rewarded by success.
So it is with human nature. Metaphorically, (sometimes literally) we still wail and flail through our trials and errors as we develop from the toddlin' poop factory into the old-age poop factory. Somewhere along that path we gain enough self-interest, self-respect, and self-control, to be useful to ourselves and others. But, we need practice. A human's self-interest is served even when the best altruistic tendencies are displayed.
Let's remember, poop was around long before the esteemed philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle waxed wise about ethics, human nature, free will, determinism, and the quest for eudaimonia, otherwise known as happiness.
Little is known about Plato's friendly game of Pettia held weekly in the andrōn of his house where he invited his philosopher buddies and neighbors to play.
One of his neighbors, Shecky Karpouzis, did not say much as he listened intently to the gabfest the esteemed learned philosophers enjoyed. From time to time Shecky would overcome his muted shyness and demonstrate his quiet free will by politely offering his critique of the philosophers sapient musings by murmuring, "We're all full of shit. That's why we poop daily."
Just like civil rights come from civil wrongs; pooping in one's pants (as yucky as it may be) seems an apt and reasonable analogy toward describing human nature from the beginning through the end.
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Misplaced Opinions
– Ken Hurley
I confess. I am a closeted Epistemologist who is considering coming out of the closet but I have misplaced my opinions and fear the judgment of other Epistemologists when they learn I’ve lost my opinions.
I usually keep my opinions right next to the small samples of knowledge I have accumulated over a lifetime of trying to remember things and forget other things. But nope, not there. I’ve looked everywhere for my opinions. I’ve looked where I keep my sense of humor but I can’t find my sense of humor either. I recall my sense of humor was kept in a cold truck marked Good Humor. I can’t even find the truck.
Losing my opinions and my sense of humor in the same day has caused a brain daze in which my amygdala and hippocampus tussle with each other sending my limbic system into a frenzy making me want to fight and flight.
How can I offer astute philosophical views regarding the nature of nature or eloquently answer, “What is knowledge?” if I can’t find my opinions? How can I explain the distinction between Ho and Hum if I don’t have an opinion? Without opinions how am I to know whether my life is properly examined or unexamined? How can I even care about the differences between empiricism and rationalism without my inordinately prodigious opinions?
I asked a friend if I could borrow one of her opinions but I got side-eyed and face-slapped as she yelled, “Get your own opinions, Bub.”
I asked another friend if he had seen my opinions. He vaguely recalled that once upon a time I was loaded with spitfire, well-crafted, persuasive, opinions. But that was a long time ago. He asked if I have also lost mind since that’s where most opinions are kept.
Occasionally my mind wanders. Where it goes I don’t know. Once my mind left for a long weekend. When it returned I shuddered and felt a warm rush enter my body and heard my meandering wayward mind think, “Well, that was a hoot!”
I tried watching Tucker Carlson to see if I could find my opinions on the TV but his skewed views sent my usually strong gastrointestinal system looking for Pepto, straight no chaser. My nervous system started to jitter and flitter when I realized Tucker is a hypocritical propagandaist who seems to be aligned with the Russian State Media yet has direct social influence over the cultural interactions of his loyal followers. Ugh!
I looked for my opinions on my local newspaper Opinion Page but the Opinion Page is no longer in the paper.
I scoured the streets asking strangers if they knew where my opinions went. No one had an opinion as to where my opinions might be. They all seemed to back away slowly then turned and bolted like “Lightening Bolt” Usain in the 100 meter dash.
I once had a marble collection complete with aggies, red devils, and tiger eyes. My most prized marble was a vintage German handmade onionskin. But I’ve lost my marbles too!
Oh, wait! I think I feel an opinion swelling within. This could be big. Oh no. Just yesterday’s burritos.
Looks like I may have to stay closeted until I have a couple of thoughts I might cobble together to develop a new opinion or two.
I met a sad scraggly old man in the closet who was filled with self-inflicted misery. He truly believes he embraces all the problems of this “absurd world” as he calls it. He told me he wants to become a “critical thinker.” He admits he’s good at being critical but struggles with actual thinking. He said, “It hurts to think.”
I said, “It takes a while to learn which thoughts to dismiss and which thoughts to retain. Some people think too much and stumble over their self-consciousness.”
He giggled.
Pundits agree the most quotable of the Three Stooges is Curly of “nyunk nyunk nyunk” fame. My favorite Curly quote is, “I’m trying to think but nothing happens!” That’s the point, to form a reasoned and respected conclusion worthy of a gold-standard opinion one must first know how to think with enough patience and clarity to sift through the bewildering oozey, gray matter, of biased human confusion.
I do have one free thought I’ll share from real life. Seems a likely place to get a thought. From time to time we recognize smiling fortune as the joy it is. Especially, if we are the first to quietly awake within thoughtful moments as we watch the Sun peak over the Earth’s horizon revealing the striking splendor of the sky pallette, the shifting colorful cloud canvas that evokes feelings of delightful admiration — that’s when you know you’ve got yourself a good life! A different life. Life changes with each sunrise which helps expand the limits of perception. The pensive dawn encourages energy. Energy encourages playfulness. Playfulness is one of the most responsibe things we can do in life. Responsibility is a necessity. It’s irresponsible to be serious all the time. The world doesn’t care much about our amphigoric mumbo jumbo when we are always serious. Yet, the world is there for us when we are playful. When life pokes you do you become an angry animal? How do you react when things do not go in your favor?
Being playful isn’t a new opinion relative to living a joyful life. It is just fact.
Ah well, if you find any of my opinions scattered about please forward them to me care of the broom closet under the spiral staircase down the hall. I’m sitting on an upside down mop bucket mumbling my new tune named, “Borrowed Imagination.”
Got opinions? Send them to Ken Hurley at kenhurley88@gmail.com
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Dr. Smooth
Dr. Smooth
by Ken Hurley
There are days I lament my career choice of not following my dreams to become a mad scientist. The unbounded joys of working in a secret underground cave laboratory with a beautiful assistant who would call me Dr. Smooth fill my cup. And I have a big cup.
My meals would arrive by Doordash and be left outside the lab because I’d be working late making myself invisible, which might go past 10:00pm. Do you know where your children are? Ha! Good luck trying to find them once my invisibility potion hits the market.
Imagine, if rather than just one invisible man, the entire population were invisible. Careful where you sit! Oooh! My kind of fun.
My invisibility potion would be strong. Whatever you first touch with your hands would become invisible for as long as some part of your body touches it. I have conquered the way to suppress the light scattering needed to cloak the human form with glorious invisibility! Mad? You decide. It’s a scientific breakthrough by breaking the unbreakable speed of light. Einstein would smile!
The benefits of worldwide invisibility are clearly seen. Racism would cease. Murder would end. No more wars. Government actions would really become transparent. No more suffering through another season of Jaguars Football! The “Invisible Man” in the sky would now truly be made in our image.
Invisibility! Healthy and stealthy.
Ah, but there’s a rub. Just as there’s a large anti-vax crowd who are led by the mindless musings of people so dumb when they hear “Drinks on the house” they get a ladder, there will be those who won’t like my invisibility potion for reasons so inexplicable it stretches credulity further than a Spandex Speedo over Orlando Bloom in full form.
It is inevitable there will be a political divide and significant rancor amongst the “Unseen” and the “Seen.” But the shouting and online memes will soon end. The agonizing frustration caused by the futility of trying to find The Unseen will land The Seen in the looney bin singing Looney Tunes. We’re going to need a bigger bin.
Eventually, The Seen will gain enough insight to see the benefits of being Unseen and embrace my invisibility potion with all the fanatical enthusiasm one sees when the Brazilians score a goal.
Yes, my friends, I could have been a mad scientist who found the elusive and invisible path to world peace. But, knowing there are skeptics amongst us, I guess you’d have to see it to believe it.
Overdue
Overdue
by Ken Hurley
Marjorie thought her punishment was unjust. She didn’t understand her offense. She sat on a straight hardback chair. Her elbows rested on the knarly old oak table in front of her. Her hands covered her red puffy eyes. She struggled to catch her breath between uncontrollable quiet sobs. Her surroundings were unfamiliar. Where was she? She knew she would soon be made to do unspeakable things she had never imagined would happen to her. She was scared. She felt alone. Helpless. Silence was enforced. She couldn’t scream. She couldn’t talk. She couldn’t whisper. She peeked around the room between jags of silent tears. It was large and dimly lit except for a small green-shaded brass lamp which sat on the table. How had she come to this? Why was this happening to her?
She reviewed the events of her life to reconstruct what might have led to her predicament. She discarded the notion she was in this terrible place because she voted for Trump. This is America. We don’t convict and punish people because of how we cast our vote. She then wondered if perhaps she was here because she voted for Trump, twice? Could that be the reason she was to suffer? Voted twice for him? She sobbed and sobbed and began to pray. But God wasn’t listening.
She was approached by a cherub of an elderly lady with a bun of gray hair atop her round head. Her eyeglasses rested on her bosom, held by a delicate gold chain around her neck that happened to lie across a small colorful dragonfly tattoo. Her fragrance seemed familiar. Lavender moth balls? Her lips pursed a half smile. Her mud-brown eyes offered a long dark gaze that beckoned — “you’re in my hands now.”
She spoke softly, directly, with immense authority and a gravelly, vocal fry, whose glottal wobbled more than a Bahamian hammock. Her finger tips were yellow. A life long Lucky Striker.
“My name is Eeee-lizbeth. Do you know why you’re here?”
Marjorie sat straight up. Frightened. Her hands trembled. She choked, coughed, and whimpered, “No, ma’am.”
“You have all the symptoms of one who needs to experience what happens in this room. You are here for remediation.”
“Where am I?” Whispered Marjorie.
“Where are you? You really don’t know? This is worse than I thought. We’re going to have to take things real slowly with you.”
“Please. Please,” begged Marjorie.
“Look around you! What do you see?” shouted Elizabeth, breaking the hush hush.
Marjorie looked left and right and swiveled in her chair to look behind her. She looked up at the high, ornate ceiling. She looked back at Elizabeth. “I don’t know?”
Elizabeth pivoted on her heels and began to pace as she muttered softly to herself, “How shall we begin? This is going to be painful.” Marjorie heard her mumbles and fear swelled throughout her body.
Elizabeth stopped and turned to face Marjorie as she commanded, “Stand!” Marjorie struggled. Weak from emotional exhaustion, paralyzed by her images of the horrors about to unfold, she slowly stood.
“Face left. Now, face right and tell me again you do not know what is before you.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I do not know,” she cried.
Elizabeth was enraged but kept her cool and then bellowed, “Books! You are surrounded by shelves and shelves of beautiful books! You are in the Great Library of America, the only known remedy for the intellectually lazy and willfully ignorant. You will be under my supervision until we decide you have sufficient knowledge and proficient application of the resources available free to you so that you can return to society as a fully functional and literate individual who can discern the difference between a swindle and a fair future. It won’t be easy. You’ll have to learn to enjoy reading. You’ll have to read authentic opposing viewpoints. You’ll have to learn to think. You’ll have to learn how to think critically. You’ll have to learn how to act responsibly toward yourself and others. You’ll have to demonstrate you’ll never vote for a individual or party that has repeatedly stood in the way of human progress. After that, you’ll be left alone. But you’ll be better prepared to pursue happiness.”
Their eyes locked. There was a long silence. Then Elizabeth spoke softly, “Meanwhile, let’s begin by reading the United States Constitution. Together. Have a seat.”