Tag: life

Weird?

Is it weird or is it just me?

Weird. Maybe it’s the word. Maybe it’s the truth. Maybe it’s just “weird.” 

The political world in its ever unquenchable thirst for a meme, a talking point, a gaffe, or just a good time, has latched on to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s description of the Trump/Vance ticket as “weird.” Of course the implication means those who worship them are weird as well. For the most part, I can’t disagree with that. 

I guess that means that we’ve moved past “deplorable.” Because, you know, “weird” can be lovable and it’s hard to deplore something that’s lovable. But hey, weird can also be bad. But we’ve long since moved beyond the bounds of being “bad” as a disqualifier in the world of politics. “Bad” seems to be what far too many want as long as they can use their version of “bad” to punish what they think is “bad.” 

Labels cut both ways, depending on who’s wielding the label maker. 

I’m not suggesting that we stop calling the MAGAts “weird.” It is indeed a fun attack that more than seems to fit and goodness knows if it works then keep using it.

If for some reason you’re weird enough to have avoided all of this and you’re looking for a laundry list of the MAGAt ticket’s  “weirdness” check out David Todd McCarty’s article The Maga Movement Has a Weirdness Problem. Fun article. Not weird at all. Also check out Anna O’Malley’s article from 2012 on The True Meaning of Weird. 

As glad that as I am that label seems to be sticking I am also just a bit sad that it has. I’m just “weird” in the way i see both sides of a coin and also its edge. I used to pride myself on being a bit “weird.” After all, I’m a theatre geek so I’ve always been looked at as weird by most of my non-theatre friends and my family (we can’t blame the mailman because my dad was the postmaster.). In fact, I’ve spent a good deal of my life celebrating weirdness. So, it’s weird that I see this label sticking in what passes as political discourse. But then that entire game has always been weird. 

That said and worth repeating, if it keeps the MAGAt ticket from winning the election I’m all for it. Just keep in mind that the election will just be another battle in this weird war that won’t end with on election night. These folks might be “weird” but they are also pure evil. 

I’d rather tattoo that on their foreheads. 

You can find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. 

The World Changes. Again

The world just changed. I’ve said that a few times in my life when major events occur. Joe Biden stepping down as a presidential candidate is one of those events. History can hit hard whether expected or not. It can be both a blessing and a curse that when we feel the earth shift under our feet we have no idea of what will be once it stops shaking and we assess the changes.

0709 Kamala Harris REUTERS TT 01.

I’m relieved for Joe Biden and relieved that the energy his endorsement of Kamala Harris has generated. Even more so by  the follow on cascade of other endorsements. I feel like there’s a shot at winning the actual fight it’s been all along: toppling the convicted felon, child rapist Donald Trump and his cult this fall.

If, as expected, Harris is the nominee one of the many beneifts of her candidcacy is that it should further draw out into the open the bad blood in our country that festers in racism and misogny. I like to clearly see where the bad guys are.

There’s no guarantees. It’s going to be an alley fight. And even after the votes are counted I don’t think it’s going to be over for awhile. So there’s still anxiety.  But it’s a different kind of anxiety. We may not know where this is all headed, but in a few days there should be clarity for the fight ahead.

Time to get busy.

You can find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above. 

Sunday Morning Reading

Some Sunday Morning Reading to share amidst prepping to move.

I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to rub elbows with folks from all corners of life. Those who live the high life, those who live the low, and many in between. One thing those on the high side have in common is that however they achieved their status above it all is their predilection towards self-delusion increases commensurate with the size of their bank accounts. The first few links in this edition of Sunday Morning Reading feature three interesting pieces about life on that side of the tracks. 

The Blindness of Elites by Thomas Chatteron Williams takes on Walter Kirn and the empty politics of defiance revealing how much of a luxury it is to make life up as you go along. It also reveals how wacky it is when elites go after others for being elite.

This piece by Elizabeth Mika is from 2016 but it could have been written at any point since, so it’s worth a revisit. The Pivoting: On Narcissistic Collusion of How Evil “just happens” reminds us that we can’t escape black holes, especially those of our own making. 

Dan Adler takes on The Life and Times of Fergie Chambers. It’s a strange journey into the life of a rich, radical communist with time on his hands that only money can buy.

David French takes on The Magic Constiutionalism of Donald Trump. There’s nothing magic or constitutionaal about it. 

James Jordon has a terrific piece about racism called My Grandfather’s Response to a Racial Slur Shaped My World. 

David Todd McCarty says America is in crisis because voters are completely uninformed. I concur. That’s a state that doesn’t get votes in the Electoral College, but it’s one too many prefer to live in. Check out For They Know Not What They Do.

Changing course, last week Natasha MH wrote about dancing. This week she’s ridiing carousels in Riding the Taylor Swift Carousel. 

And closing things out this week is Anne Spollen with An Unedited Day In An Ordinary Life. Pro Tip: Every day is unedited. Often we’d be better off trying not to make it make too much sense.

If you’re interested in just what the heck Sunday Morning Reading is all about you can read more about the origins of Sunday Morning Reading here.  You can also find more of my writings on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome.