A daring & refreshing approach.

I think Barack Obama is daring. And confident. And an idealist. Daring in the sense that he would make Hillary Clinton secretary of state. A great move. He'll fill his cabinet with people who will challenge his thinking. Rather than 'yes' people. Obama will listen to all sides. And he'll keep an open mind. He can be swayed. By a persuasive argument. Yes, he has his opinions. Principles. But he knows that most issues aren't simply black and white. Or with simple right and wrong answers. There are trade-offs. Give and take. Some of Obama's opponents took him to task during the election campaign for associating with the likes of the outspoken and controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright and perceived political radical Bill Ayers. Well, I suspect that Obama's associates and friends have wide-ranging experiences and activities and attitudes and opinions. Because Obama is a good listener. He tries to understand all kinds of people. And all kinds of issues. Imagine that. A rather daring and refreshing approach...especially for a politician. --Jim Broede

...because we're the good guys.

I'm old enough to remember World War II. That seems rather remarkable. To me, at least. Because that seems so long, long ago. Oh, I was only a kid. Not even 10 yet when the war ended. But I was certainly aware that we were at war. And I heard stories about what war was like. Soldiers killed each other. That this was the natural course of human events. As youngsters, we even played war games. Shooting each other with our play pistols and rifles. We'd go to the movies, too, and see news reels of the fighting. Planes being shot down. And at the end of the war, we'd see the death and devastation at the concentration camps. Rather horrid. The world was divided into the good guys and the bad guys. And we Americans were the good guys. Through and through. I wasn't yet aware that we white Americans also were racists. That dark-skinned people were subjugated. Treated in many ways like the Jews were treated in Nazi Germany. Denied basic civil and human rights. Yes, I wasn't yet educated. Not yet informed. I still had a lot to learn. Still do, for that matter. Now I'm told that it's all right for America to start wars. Preemptive wars, they're called. And that it's all right for America to torture prisoners and lock them up in dungeons and just throw away the keys. Without giving 'em legal counsel. We said it was a war crime when the Japanese and the Germans did it during World War II. But we have a president who now says it's all right for us to perpetrate such acts...because we're the good guys. --Jim Broede

If the Bears lose, I'll go to bed.

During the football season, I follow only one team. The Chicago Bears. Yes, I'm a Bears fan. Not nearly as avid as I am with the Chicago Cubs. Baseball is my sport. I could live without football. But I grew up pulling for the two Chicago teams. And so I'm hooked. Much more so on the Cubs. It makes me feel good when the two Chicago teams win. I'm truly addicted to the Cubs. But it's a more casual addiction to the Bears. I couldn't even name all of the Bears' players. I know everybody on the Cubs' roster. The Bears weren't supposed to have a very good team this year. But turns out they are in a mediocre division with Minnesota, Green Bay and Detroit. And after 11 games, the Bears are tied for first place with Minnesota. With 6-5 records. And Sunday night the Bears and Minnesota Vikings play each other here in Minnesota. For sole possession of first, with 4 games left. I'm not gonna watch the televised game. Because I get too wrapped up in it, and annoyed if the Bears are losing. And I have better things to do. Such as house-cleaning chores and going for a walk. But I'll check the game's outcome shortly after it's over. And if the Bears win, I'll tune in Chicago and Twin Cities radio stations to hear post-game talk. The joy of Bears fans. And the laments of Vikings fans. But if the Bears lose, I'll go to bed. --Jim Broede

My pet lady bug.

I have a new pet in the house. On my desk. A lady bug. For several days the orange-colored tiny dot of a bug has been crawling back and forth in front of the computer screen. I've left it alone. Just observing. I'm wondering whether I should name the bug. And whether I should leave it be, or if I should put it in a potted plant. Can't put it outdoors at this time of year. It wouldn't survive, I assume. I suppose I'll google and do research on lady bugs later today. I don't think I've ever had a pet lady bug before. --Jim Broede

I'll keep pursuing happiness.

A survey taker asked me if I'd prefer dying at home or in a hospital. I guess it really doesn't matter. Home or away. I don't give dying too much thought. Because I'm focused on living. I suspect, though, that if I were dreadfully ill, I'd want to die alone. And not be a bother to anyone. Or if I am a bother, that I'm a bother only to those who are 'professionals' at helping one die. For instance, if I had Alzheimer's, I'd want to be put away, and not be visited by my loved ones. I'd want my loved ones to get on with the rest of their lives. The best they can. In a reasonably happy manner. And knowing that I've had a good life. So good that I'm willing to pay the price of dying alone. Meanwhile, I'll be interested to see if there's an afterlife. If not, I won't know it. And if there is, I'll keep pursuing happiness. --Jim Broede

...the pursuit of the impossible.

I find that even when I fail, I get a certain amount of pleasure. Because I know I've tried. My life has been full of failures. But I try to learn from 'em. Maybe only to fail again and again and again. But maybe I fool myself into thinking that I am getting closer to success. This pursuit of the notion of love, for instance. I think I come closer to the Holy Grail. Closer to god. But perfection may never be attainable. And one has to settle for unending pursuit. That's why I'd want to live forever. Because I enjoy the pursuit of the impossible. --Jim Broede

Yes, things do get better.

A woman on the Alzheimer's message boards asked tonight if things ever get better. I haven't answered her yet. But, of course, things get better. Just give 'em time. We all have ups and downs in our lives. And I guess every time I've had a down, it got better. Good gosh, for 73 years. Nothing has remained down forever. Heck, I've seen loved ones die. And I grieved about it. But still, life goes on. Happiness returns. And at the moment I'm about as happy as I've ever been. Will I ever be down and sad again? Yes, if I live long enough. That's the nature of life. But the secret of happiness is to appreciate the moment. Don't start fretting about what may happen tomorrow. Live today fully. And learn to make the best of bad situations. Anyway, things are better because I'm in love. I gladly accept my fate. The fate of being in love. On my walk tonight, I imagined that I was dancing and singing. I guess that is just about as good as doing it. And I'm also writing a love letter. Yes, things do get better and better and better. --Jim Broede

...a failure to communicate.

I'd like to be a peacemaker. To bring feuding sides together. By getting them to talk to each other. To determine what they have in common. Like Republicans and Democrats. Or capitalists and socialists. The Jews and the Palestinians. On and on the list could go. So many feuds are the result of misunderstandings. Or because people just don't sit down and talk and socialize and get to know each other. I often find that I like people who disagree with me. They might even disparage me. But I often think they are being funny. Because they want to only talk. And not to listen. Some people would rather go to war than to reach peace. I think war is unnecessary. It results from a failure to communicate. --Jim Broede

It's about time.

Yes, George Bush will go down as our first truly socialist president. His administration is the one that turned capitalisim into socialism. And maybe history will some day show that's what made Bush a 'good' president. Wouldn't that be ironic? The guy who prided himself in being a laissiz-faire free-enterprise capitalist steered us down the path to socialism. By nationalizing the banking and insurance industries. His way of rescuing Wall Street and many of his political cronies from the blunders of greedy capitalism. Oh, Bush isn't all that concerned about the middle class. Never has been. There, he'd just as soon let nature take its course and let everyone struggle. Bush was in office to serve the rich, not to benefit the poor and the under classes. No, Bush's goal always has been to keep distributing more and more of the wealth to the rich. Rob the poor to pad the pockets of the rich. Just the opposite of Robin Hood. But look at it this way. Bush has opened the door to socialism. If it's good enough for the rich, it should be good enough for the poor. I'm thinking that Barack Obama and the Democrats will pick up where Bush leaves off -- and give us a brand of socialism that benefits the poor. It's about time. --Jim Broede

It's gonna come true.

My second favorite kind of exercise is physical. I like to walk. Up to 10 miles a day. And jogging, too. Used to be able to run a 7-minute mile. When I was 65. Now I'm 73. And I've slowed down. I don't want to feel like I'm in a hurry. I'd rather take life a bit slower. A more easy-going pace. Except when it comes to my favorite exercise. Yes, exercising my imagination. If curiosity killed, I'd have been dead long ago. I like to dream. And make dreams come true. Usually, a good start is by exercising the imagination. And then to believe what one can imagine. Such as a better world. I've seen America deteriorate in the past 8 years. Under the worst president we've ever had. As I travel the world, I have to confess to the people I meet that I'm ashamed. That we Americans have elected George Bush not only once, but twice. But a year or two ago I imagined things getting better. When I heard about this guy Barack Obama. He caught my attention. And I began to imagine that maybe he could become president some day. And look at what's about to happen. The very thing I imagined. It's gonna come true. --Jim Broede

...and a love of winter.

I like the Russians. Always have. Even when they were communists. I think the Russians are decent people. I wish we had better relations with the Russians. George Bush, it seems to me, has treated the Russians rather arrogantly. Dismissively. As if they're inferiors. Isn't that ironic? Bush thinking he's better than the Russians. I have more faith in Putin and Medvedev than I have in Bush. I'd even trade Bush for a Cossack. Anyway, I hope Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton cultivate warm relations with the Russians. The Russians have a rich spiritual history. Some day, I want to visit there. Maybe St. Petersburg. And also onto Siberia. Which might remind me of Minnesota. I like people who relish winter. The bitter cold. The snow. Toughens one up. Yes, maybe George Bush would be a better human being if he spent a few years in Siberia. The Russians could teach him a thing or two. Like respect for the Russians and a love of winter. --Jim Broede

A can-do kind of guy.

Another thing I like about Barack Obama. He's a can-do kind of guy. An optimist. If there's a problem, it can be solved. His attitude is let's all get involved. The whole nation. Let's come together. And make it happen. Let's believe. We can make the economy vibrant again. We can narrow the gap between the rich and poor. We can get universal health care. We can create jobs. We can fix our deteriorating infrastructure. And we don't have to wage wars continuosly, forever. We can be a virtuous nation. And set an example for the rest of the world by providing all our citizens with the basic necessities. Yes, we can serve the common good. --Jim Broede

...just another day for me.

Thanksgiving and most every holiday is just another day for me. By that I mean, every day is special. I'm thankful every day. I find something to make me happy. Happy moments. And one happy moment is often contagious. It leads to a second happy moment, and a third and a fourth. Ad infinitum. A nice chain reaction. Oh, I don't mean that I'm 'up' all the time. Nobody is. But there isn't a day when I don't salvage at least a few good moments. And that usually makes my day. I especially like to go to bed happy. I do that by writing a love letter. --Jim Broede

...a lot to learn.

When it comes to care-giving, I'm always in the mood to experiment. Try. Try. Try. And if that doesn't work, I try something else. Until it works. Call it on-the-job-training. I've often written about what I've tried, and what worked for me. Every patient is different. And every care-givers' circumstances are different. So, it's hard to say what may work for you. Unless you experiment. I just wish that I knew at the beginning of my days as a care-giver to dear Jeanne what I knew at the end. Yes, it was 13 years of learning. And I still have a lot to learn. --Jim Broede

...he royally screwed his country.

Hillary Clinton. Secretary of State. I can get used to that. A good choice. Sounds to me like Barack Obama is surrounding himself with strong personalities in his Cabinet. People who won't be afraid to challenge him. To offer alternative views. In other words, issues will be debated. In lively fashion. Oh, that sounds so much different than what we've had under George Bush. Where everybody was supposed to march in lock-step. And follow the party line. Yes, robots. Obama has an open mind. He'll listen to contrary views. And even change his mind. And admit to mistakes. Contrast that to Bush. He'd stay on the wrong course forever. Stubborn. Stupid. Maybe the dumbest president we've ever had. Maybe Bush wasn't real. Just a decoy. A puppet. And evil Dick Cheney ran the show. Lord knows. But I suspect the new justice department will launch an investigation. To determine the abuses under the Bush administration, including numerous violations of the Constitution. Ironic, isn't it? They tried to impeach Bill Clinton for a sex scandal. But George Bush will likely get off even though he royally screwed his country. --Jim Broede

...and not any too soon.

My gawd, it's still 60-some days before George Bush leaves office. That's not soon enough. Bush is a drag. On America. He has no business filling out his term. It'd be nice if he moved back to Texas today, and allowed Barack Obama to take over the White House. Columnist Gail Collins in the New York Times suggested that Bush resign. And Dick Cheney, too. That would make speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi the president. And she could defer to Obama. This nation and the economy is in dire straits. And it appears that Bush could care less. He's just marking time. Maybe he's out of energy. Or he just doesn't know what to do. At least, Obama would bring freshness to the office...and not any too soon. --Jim Broede

Yes, one can go home again.

I think it's possible for Alzheimer patients in nursing homes to go home again. For visits. Especially on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's sad that so many care-givers seem reluctant to bring their loved ones home. Some of 'em tell me they think it'd be too troublesome. Taking 'em back and forth.

But I say, give it a try. For just a few hours. I brought my Jeanne home many, many times during her 38 months in a nursing home. And it worked. I often wheeled Jeanne home in a wheelchair. A six-mile round-trip. Brought her home in the car, too. Usually, for a stay of several hours. Rarely in the wintertime. But often in the summertime. So she could sit out on the lakeshore. We live on Forest Lake.

Initially, I asked the nurses at the nursing home whether it was a good idea to bring Jeanne home. They said, try it. See if it works. And it did. I also had a wheelchair ramp built at home so I could get Jeanne in and out of the house easily. Admittedly, going home again may not work for all. If it doesn't work, don't do it any more. But care-givers may be surprised. It can be a very pleasant and stimulating experience. For the patient. For the care-giver. --Jim Broede

A more liberal approach.

I think Barack Obama is a liberal. Or a progressive. That's the preferred tag now. Because conservatives have defined 'liberal' in negative ways. And unfortunately, there are many people who believe black is white. If that's what they are told. Yes, they're stupid. They don't think for themselves. Anyway, Obama will shun being labeled. Can't blame him. Obama is Obama. And he does things I like. And he seems like a decent human being. Open-minded. Willing to listen to and consider all points of view. And to change his mind. In other words, he's acting and living like what I call a liberal. That makes me comfortable. A liberal, really, is flexible. Willing to compromise. In an effort to bring rival sides together. By finding common bonds. By generating goodwill. On the other hand, I see conservatives as entrenched in their ways. Unwilling to budge. Standing fast. Idealogues. And really, that's what got America into this mess. The economy, health care, the widening gap between the rich and poor. Yes, all sorts of unsolved problems. To solve 'em, we need more give and take. A more liberal approach. Which means working together. For the common good. --Jim Broede

Love letters.

I like to write love letters. That's my specialty. To write love letters to one other. To someone special. Every day. Every night. Some writers write poems and short stories and novels and essays and technical papers and treatises. For many years, I wrote articles for newspapers. Feature stories. News stories. Opinion columns. Now I write love letters. A true love letter is meant for only one other. If it's shared with others, it really isn't 100 percent true. I also like to write about love. The concept. Because I want to better understand love. What it really means to love. I could write a book about love. But that's different. Not a bona fide love letter. In my broodings, I often write about love. That has the makings of an open love letter. But a real love letter isn't open. It's shared with only one other. I think that to write a love letter, one really has to be in love. Otherwise, it's fake. A true love letter isn't meant for publication. So, we may never read the best love letters of all time. Only two beings ever saw them. One, the lover. The other, the loved one. Oh, there are exceptions, of course. Letters later found. And published. But publication was not the original intent. --Jim Broede

I create my own pictures.

If you wanna be happy, watch less television. That's what a University of Chicago study shows. Happy people generally watch relatively little TV. And unhappy people tend to be glued to their TV. Maybe it's that TV makes people unhappy. I'm happy. And yes, I find myself watching less and less television. Most of it is over the weekend, on C-Span, when many authors are on to discuss their books. I watch some news programs, too, mostly with liberal slants. If I have difficulty falling asleep, I put on TV. I'm so bored that I go out like a light. I prefer to read and listen to the radio and to music. That allows me to create my own pictures...in my mind. --Jim Broede

...in rather dramatic ways.

I am assuming that a good leader will be unpopular to some degree. Because not everyone will ever agree on which way is the right way. In other words, it's impossible to satisfy everyone. Also, there are more and more people to try to satisfy. Thought I heard the other day that the world population has doubled since 1966. Could that be true? Makes me wonder if we are becoming over-populated. I know that China has tried to put a cap on the size of families. Seems like a sensible thing to do. I know that takes away some individual freedoms. But hey, it's a different world. Could be we reach a point where there's too many of us around. In which case, we've got to work harder for the common good. Otherwise, we'll be stepping on each other. Running out of space and natural resources. As it is, we have thousands of people starving to death every day. While some of us are over-eating and getting fatter and fatter. Taking up more space. And maybe the global economy has gone into the tank because we haven't yet learned how to share the wealth -- to distribute it for the sake of the common good. From the beginning of time, we've had sort of a everyone-for-himself mentality. Oh, we formed families and tribes and nations to protect our common interests, I suppose. But we haven't applied such a principle on a global basis. So, little wonder that we live in an era of great conflict. Like I said, we need leaders now that address the issue of living on Earth at a time when the population doubles in 42 years. Yes, we need to change our thinking in rather dramatic ways. --Jim Broede

...optimistic about the future.

Maybe I'm expecting too much of Barack Obama. After all, he's human. Prone to mistakes. Imperfections. I doubt that there ever has been a perfect human being. Like the rest of us, he'll blunder along the way. But I think he's decent. More decent than most of us. Maybe that's the primary reason I voted for him. When I see candidates for public office, I'm starting to evaluate them on degree of decency. The most decent one generally gets my vote. It's quite possible that Obama is the most decent man I ever voted for. That's why I'm optimistic about the future. --Jim Broede

...when I grow up.

I've discovered what I really want to be when I grow up. A decent human being. I think there can be no higher calling. If I had a choice between the roles of god and human being, I'd take human being. A decent one. I could achieve peace of mind and heart and spirit that way. And a oneness with god. I'd have everything. Anyway, that's where I am headed. The longer I live, the more human I feel. I was created human. Now my life quest must be to become decent. I'm not exactly sure how to do that. But I think it has something to do with love. Yes, the pursuit of love. Or to put it another way, the pursuit of happiness. I'm beginning to think that love and happiness and decency are all one and the same. To achieve pure and unconditional love must be the ultimate act of decency. And that brings happiness. Yes, bliss. And a closeness to god. Nirvana. Valhalla. Paradise. --Jim Broede

Like I'm doing now.

When I got up this morning, I didn't feel right mentally. By that, I mean I didn't feel confident. Didn't quite feel that all was right with the world. That maybe I wasn't in a groove. Yes, kind of a strange feeling. At least, for me. Maybe it was that I thought my days were getting too much alike. Like today being the same as yesterday and the day before yesterday. Like maybe I lived this day before. Could be, I suppose. I pretty much go through the same routines. Have the same breakfast. Make the bed. Go to my computer. To check my email. And to write. I wondered if I should change my routine. Do something different for a change. Maybe not make the bed. Maybe go out for breakfast. Maybe tackle a project that I've been putting off. I started thinking, too, that maybe I have life too easy. That I don't have a whole lot of responsibility. I'm retired. So I don't have to go to work. And so I wondered if I should get a job. Go back to work. Even if it's only part-time. Maybe I was feeling guilty. For having it too easy. Of course, at other times, that doesn't bother me. Because I've taken the attitude that at age 73 I have the right to goof off. To relax. To move about in slow motion. To be a bit lazy. After all, I've paid my dues. Now I find ways to indulge myself. Take my time. Read a book. Or the newspaper. Go for a leisurely walk. Write a love letter. Or just reflect on my life. Like I'm doing now. --Jim Broede

Ah!!! Forever.

The older I get, the more I feel like I'm running out of time. When I was young, I thought that would be a terrible feeling. Even a scary feeling. But it isn't. Actually, it spurs me on. Makes me savor life. More than ever. The feeling is that I might as well take full advantage of whatever time is left. When I was young, I felt like I had lots of time. I could put things off until tomorrow. Well, I still put things off. But it's mostly the unimportant things. I pursue what I think is meaningful. Like a loving relationship, for instance. There's nothing more important in life than love. To love. And to be loved. And also to be able to express myself. In an honest and forthright and loving way. That's why I write every day. I record my thoughts. I remind myself that I am alive and conscious. I put my mind and body and emotions to work. In thoughtful and pleasurable and loving ways. Ah!!! Makes a guy want to live forever. --Jim Broede

She could be our freaky president.

Maybe it pays to be a freak. Out of the ordinary. Unusual. Sarah Palin, for instance, is reported to have been given an advance of $7 million. For writing a book. A publisher apparently thinks she'll make a sizeable profit. By writing about herself. Her life story. This moose hunter from Alaska. Going from small town mayor to governor of Alaska to the Republican nominee for vice president. But the major attraction is she's a political freak. And without a very good command of the English language. But that should be no problem in writing a book. She'll have a ghost writer, no doubt. And who knows, all this may eventually propel her to the White House. She's only 43. So she has time on her side. Lots of people think Palin is empty-headed. But they also think the same of George Bush. And look at where that got him. Strange things happen in the United States of America. Doesn't take that much to become a celebrity. Rich. And popular. It helps to have a freak side. For example, take Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears and Michael Jackson. So don't rule it out. Palin could become our freaky president some day. --Jim Broede

Books & music & amber lights.

I've gravitated over the years to book-lined walls in my home. Books all over. In every room of the house. In the living room, the bedrooms, my study, the kitchen, the bathroom, the laundry room. Even the garage walls are lined with books. Books, books, everywhere. Too many to even read. I even have to climb ladders to reach all the books. Yes, I'm surrounded by a lifetime collection of books. Maybe I've overdone it. But that's my nature. I like to overdo things. A few years ago, I started collecting birdhouses, too. So, now I have hundreds of birdhouses and bird-feeders. In the trees, under the eaves of the house and garage, and hanging from the ceilings in the house. And I have multiple radios in every room of the house. All tuned in to the local classical FM station. Sometimes, I turn them on all at the same time. So I can enjoy wonderful stereophonic sound. I also have a well-lit house. Many, many lamps. Many of them with amber bulbs. Yes, on many evenings the house is flooded by amber light. My home is my cocoon. My little haven. My Paradise. Books and music and amber lights. --Jim Broede

A long way to go.

I was reading an article in the New York Times. About a doctor and his patients. The doctor said that when he makes rounds in the hospital, some of the white patients ask if he's an orderly. Says that happens because he's African-American. Goes to show, I guess, how we automatically peg people by the color of their skin. Maybe it's an indication that we still have a long way to go...despite the fact that we elected Barack Obama. --Jim Broede

Good news for the deer.

I have a favorite clerk/cashier at the grocery store. Darla. When she's on duty, I always go to her line. Doesn't matter if it's the longest line in the store. Or if I only have an item or two to check out. I like Darla. I kid her a lot. And she takes it good-naturedly. I don't remember how all this got started. Anyway, Darla was gone for 10 days. She went hunting. Deer. Yes, she knows how to handle a gun. When she returned today, I said I'm happy to not have been a deer wandering in the woods. That it's a good thing that I'm only a skunk. I left on a happy note. Because Darla said she didn't shoot a deer. Just enjoyed herself in the woods. Good news for the deer. --Jim Broede

I may be buried alive.

I'm cataloging the books in my house. The project may take a year. But I'm doing a few every day. Listing the books by title and author and subject. That will make it much easier to find books. I have so many books. Maybe 5,000 in the house alone. And probably another 2,000 in the garage. Of course, I haven't read all those books. But books make me feel comfortable. I have very high ceilings in the living room. And book shelves reach all the way up. I need a ladder to reach many of my books. If nothing else, books are a nice way to decorate a house. And a garage, too. If the books ever topple down, I may be buried alive. --Jim Broede

He won't be another George Bush.

I'm amused by Republicans who point out that, hey, they lost the presidential election, but still garnered 48 percent of the votes. Which means, I guess, that John McCain finished only 6 million votes or so behind Barack Obama. In other words, there's still a heck of a lot of Americans who'd rather have McCain in the White House. The implication, of course, is that Republicans shouldn't be disenfranchised. I agree. And so does Obama, I gather. After all, he said he wants to be president for all Americans, even those who didn't vote for him. I like that attitude. It's an indication that Obama wants to bring a divided America together. Something we didn't have under the George Bush administration. Fact of the matter is that Bush didn't even have a majority of the popular vote when he was elected the first time. Al Gore did. Bush told us he was going to be a uniter, not a divider. Now we know that Bush was lying. He became one of the most partisan presidents we ever had. He seldom worked with the other side. He called himself the decider. And went his merry way. If Obama were vindictive -- well, he'd give Bush and his Republican cronies a taste of their own medicine. But I'm convinced that Obama is a decent human being. He'll do the right thing. He won't be another George Bush. --Jim Broede

...because I love.

I like to dream. Of a perfect world. And when I do, it really becomes perfect. In my mind. Maybe that's the closest I come to communing with god. I imagine it's the way god feels. Perfect. His Creation. When looked at as a whole. Adds up to perfection. Albeit, beyond human comprehension. But still, for a moment at least, I feel as if I am immersed in a perfect world. Because I am conscious. Aware. And in love. Yes, maybe that is the essence of perfection. To be touched by love. Without love, the world would be imperfect. And without god. But I know god is here...because I love. --Jim Broede

...from bad springs good.

I listened to the first post-election interview of Barack Obama tonight, and came away with a nice feeling. That this guy may be the most intelligent president we've ever had. I mean, he's articulate. A good command of the English language. An intellectual. With ideas. Lots of ideas. And a political sense, too. Fair-minded. A very decent human being. He fortified my earlier impressions. And he makes me smile. To think that we Americans have elected such a talented man to succeed maybe the worst president we've ever had. Incredible. Such a turn-around. We Americans deserve Obama. I'd like to think we didn't deserve George Bush. Yet, he won two terms. And maybe there's something good to say about Bush. After all, his policies created such horrendous conditions in the USA that as a counter-balance it brought us Obama. Supports my premise that often from bad springs good. --Jim Broede

For the common good.

I think there are nice things about government. Especially when dealing with the capitalist, free enterprise system. Yes, I like government regulation. So that free enterprise isn't too free. So that the capitalists don't exploit us, the consumers. I want government to be of the people. The protector of the common good. And yes, I know it's often difficult settling on just what's the common good. We have disagreements over that. Some capitalists will say it's being free to do what we want. But as we all know, sometimes lines have to be drawn in the sand. That's why we have laws and enforcement procedures. Regulations. Boundaries. Limits. I don't trust big business/corporations. At least not when it comes to serving and protecting the common good. That's why we need government intervention. Maybe a tug-o-war, of sorts, between government and private enterprise. Government shouldn't be in business to make profits. Rather to provide essential basic services at reasonably low costs. In an efficient manner. The problem with private enterprise is the profit motive. And profits aren't always good when it comes to serving the common good. I want some of those profits used for narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor. Rather than padding the pockets of the already rich. Yes, a bit of redistribution of the wealth. That's why we need government to step in. To bring about change. For the common good. --Jim Broede

...a swift kick in the ass.

My salvation is that I'm able to write. If there's nobody else handy at a given moment, I can always write to myself. Or to god. So, when I need to talk, to have human contact, I have it. In that sense, I'm never alone. Some of my most interesting discussions are with myself. And it's best when I put the conversation in writing. Often, it's just a monologue. I speak (write) and listen at the same time. I'm an appreciative audience. I even give myself applause. But I also can chide myself. Even tell myself that I'm lying. And when I do that, I'm really being honest. For calling myself a liar. I also tell myself jokes. Very funny jokes. And that makes me laugh. I really could become a good stand-up comic. Anyway, writing gives me confidence. Because I like what I write. Doesn't matter if other people don't like it. Because I'm a good critic. And I know what's good. I satisfy myself. Even pat myself on the back. But then again, I don't hesitate to occasionally give myself a swift kick in the ass. --Jim Broede

I wonder...

I see that we are down to our last living veteran of World War I. A guy who's 107-years-old. I wonder if we'll ever find a way to eliminate wars. --Jim Broede

When it happens, we're blessed.

Oh, how refreshing. The sense I have of Barack Obama. A sharp contrast to George Bush. Obama is intelligent. Very intelligent. And he likes to be surrounded by people with diverse views. Differing opinions. He likes to hear all sides of arguments. Yes, Obama has ideas. And he's learning all the time. He's curious. And probably much smarter than most of us. Yes, I have a feeling that Obama is the right man at the right time. Seldom do I get enamored with a politician. But occasionally, one of the best comes along. Washington. Lincoln. Roosevelt. They all helped to pull us through difficult times. When it happens, we're blessed. As a nation. --Jim Broede

Just to see what I'd become.

I've always liked the idea of ideas. Ideas fascinate me. My ideas. Others' ideas. And I like to agree and disagree. I can live with ideas. Even ideas I find difficult to accept. Ideas make me think. Even to the point of changing my mind. Yes, it's nice to evolve. To embrace one idea one day, and then alter it a bit or a whole lot the next day. Seems to me that's a natural thing. Because I'm always learning. For instance, I was brought up as a Christian. Toted off to Sunday school every Sunday. Confirmed in a church. Even graduated from a church-related college. And I still occasionally take courses at a seminary. But I'm not a Christian any more. Because I've moved on. To something better. A free-thinker. I find it too difficult to accept organized and orthodox religion. I think for myself. I gravitate to what makes sense. For me. I've really got nothing against Christians. Or Jews or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus or atheists. They all have a right to believe what they want to believe. Whatever makes sense. The same goes in the political realm. In college, I was rather conservative. I even talked kindly of Senator Joe McCarthy. That seems incredible. Now I would frown on a McCarthy. I'm a liberal. A socialist sympathizer. Very far left of center. All of this because I remain open to ideas. I listen. I study. I learn. And I examine my beliefs. Who knows what I'll be if I live another 10 or 20 years? Not me. But I'm curious. I'd love to live for another 1,000 years. Just to see what I'd become. --Jim Broede

A perfectly reputable fellow.

Turns out that Bill Ayers may not be as radical as purported. He denies ever bombing or killing anyone when he was a member of an underground movement opposed to the Vietnam War. He's now a college professor. A perfectly reputable fellow, it seems to me.

But Barack Obama was criticized during the presidential election campaign for having associated with Ayers. Such an association should come as no surprise, because Ayers is Obama's neighbor, and they served together on the board of directors of a charitable foundation.

In a news report today, Ayers lamented that his relationship with Obama became an issue.

"The more serious point," he said, "is that Obama was asked once more to defend something that ought to be at the very heart of democracy: the importance of talking to many people in this complicated and wildly diverse society, of listening with the possibility of learning something new, of speaking with the possibility of persuading or influencing others. ... In a robust and sophisticated democracy, political leaders, indeed, all of us, would seek out ways to talk with many people who hold dissenting, even radical, ideas." --Jim Broede

Thinking of a long, long journey.

I wonder how many earth-like planets are in the cosmos. My guess is at least a million or so. Countless numbers. That creation is teeming with life. That we have plenty of company. In recent years, 326 planets have been discovered outside our solar system. Not sure if any of 'em resemble Earth. But let's say 1 in 10,000 have environments similar to Earth. That leaves many possibilities for life. After all, astronomers estimate that there are billions of galaxies and billions of stars in a single galaxy. I'm overwhelmed by these numbers. We have the technology now to even capture pictures of planets orbiting stars outside of our solar system. These other solar systems are hundreds and thousaads of light years away. Meaning it'd take something like 1,000 years to reach another solar system traveling at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. Wow! That's a long distance and a long time for we earthlings. Can't do it in a lifetime. But I'm guessing that if there's an afterlife, we become spirits able to transcend time and distance as fast as one can snap two fingers. I'd like to book a ticket on that journey. --Jim Broede

It was too foggy to tell.

I walked in a thick fog tonight. And when I do that, I almost always think of Sherlock Holmes. And London. Gives me a sense of the romantic. And a good story. As a youngster, I read so much of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional creation. And my favorite films were those of Sherlock Holmes played by Basil Rathbone. And Dr. Watson played by Nigel Bruce. So much pleasure. For a while, as I walked, I thought I saw Holmes entering his residence on Baker Street. But I'm not sure. It was too foggy to tell. --Jim Broede

Blessings.

It's so nice to know that I have the ability to create. A world all my own, in a sense. A mood. Happiness. Joy. Yes, I create it from within. Imagine that. I have the freedom to do that. Maybe that's what god has given us. The ability to create. Just like god. Maybe god wants us to feel a little like his equal. To, in essence, create anything that we can imagine. We can even create Heaven. Paradise. By just digging deep into ourselves. By believing that all things are possible. Oh, it's easy for someone to tell me I'm crazy. That I can't do this. That it's preposterous. That I'm really trying to play god. But I'm not. I'm just exercising the freedom god gave me. To feel like god without actually being god. That is the blessing of life. The blessing of love. The blessing of creation. --Jim Broede

Maybe Hell is really Paradise.

I skimmed a book last night in bed. It's titled 'Eureka! 81 Key Ideas Explained.' Basically, it's a philosophical primer. Written by Michael Macrone. He also wrote 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare.' Here he does the same for heavyweights like Freud, Heraclitus and Wittgenstein. He tackles a panoply of -isms and -ologies. And tries to put it all into plain talk. I focused on the existential philosophies of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and Sartre. Fascinating. Makes me ponder. That we all really create our own little worlds. By making choices. That we are free in the sense that we are always making choices. We have no choice but to make a choice. Unless, of course, we decide to commit suicide. Then there's nothingness, presumably, and we no longer have to make a choice. Unless there's an afterlife. Then we'd be blessed or condemned to always have to make a choice. I think that when we are in love with life we always want the ability to make a choice. If we find it impossible to love -- well, then maybe we choose to die with the hope there's nothingness. Maybe Hell would be the discovery that we can't die. That we must always remain alive and make choices. Yes, maybe I wish for Hell. Maybe Hell is really Paradise. --Jim Broede

Not worthy of a war.

I've never quite understood why we've declared a war on terror. From what I can tell, the so-called terrorists are criminals. Not worthy of a war. They have committed heinous crimes. All over the world. Not just in the U.S. But our Bushie government has chosen to elevate these scoundrels. By declaring war on 'em. What we need is an international police effort to round them up. And put them on trial. Maybe in a World Court. Bringing them to justice. Instead, we've over-reacted. We've gone to "war." To what seems very much like a never-ending conflagration. We Americans are war-mongers. We declare a war on drugs. Or on poverty. On all sorts of things. When really we need practical solutions. And even when we go to war, we do it in half-assed fashion. We were urged by our president to go shopping after 9/11. And we're trying to get by with an all-volunteer army supplemented by paid, unscrupulous mercenaries. And we act like terrorists ourselves, by torturing prisoners and putting them away forever, without trials, in a dungeon called Guantanamo. --Jim Broede

...reasons to be proud Americans.

I think that many Americans were pushed to the brink of despair in the last 8 years under President George Bush. Despair that so many of us could have elected this man to two terms. Despair that we allowed our country to deteriorate. To go to needless war. To commit so many atrocities. To allow for a widening of the gap between the rich and poor. To watch as our nation's infrastructure steadily crumbled. To leave 46 million Americans without any health insurance. To let the economy collapse. But maybe this will all be for the good. A majority of us finally said last week that enough is enough. We elected a new president. One that gives us hope once again. That we can rally and fix things. So that once again we can have ample reasons to be proud Americans. --Jim Broede

Transcending greed.

American-style capitalism operates on the premise that greed is good. That everyone should have the right to get as rich as they want. Millionaires. Billionaires. Trillionaires. Yes, that's greed. I think that there should be a limit. That at some point, the rich should be required to share their wealth. Such as paying more taxes. For the sake of the common good. Call it socialism if you want. I call it the right thing. I think it's a virtue to not want to get monetarily rich. Oh, it's nice to live comfortably. But it doesn't have to be extravagantly. And it'd be nice if we had programs that more or less guaranteed virtually all citizens the basic necessities of life. So that nobody lives in poverty. And so that if one needs health care, one gets it, under a universal health care plan. Yes, things like that. I'm hoping that's where we are headed in the 21st century. A better, more equal sharing of the wealth. So there's less of a gap between the monetarily rich and the poor. And I want everybody to have an opportunity to obtain a good education. Because knowledge/learning is a unique richness that far transcends monetary greed. --Jim Broede

Motionless.

It's a lovely afternoon. Temperature in the 30s. The sun shining. Calm. Absolutely no breeze. The lake as smooth as glass. Maybe two hours till sunset. I just saw a yellow leaf flutter down from a tree. A single leaf. I'm looking out a window. It's quiet. Yes, a very nice moment. In time. I'm wrapped up in it all. Thinking. Appreciating. Aware. It's as if I'm in a painting. By a master. No movement. Except for that leaf. And now it's on the ground. Motionless. --Jim Broede

Moving gracefully.

It's gonna be nice that we'll have an intelligent president soon. I mean really intelligent. An intellectual. With ideas. And the ability to listen. And to learn. And to admit to mistakes. And to surround himself with very, very knowledgable people. Yes, he's a very articulate man. Skilled in oratory. Probably smarter than most of us. Yes, he's a politician, too. But exceptional. Fair-minded. With the ability to put partisanship aside. In order to get things done. Wow! Imagine that. Maybe I was about to lose the faith. But now I'm feeling good about America. Relatively good, that is. We still have a long way to go. We need to clear some obstacles. Hurdles. But I sense that most of us are willing to accept change. And move gracefully into the 21st Century. --Jim Broede

The basic necessities.

Programs that benefit ordinary folks. Like universal health care. That's what I'm looking for out of the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress. Yes, programs that provide the basic necessities of life. Even in bad economic times. Yes, I want people who aren't rich to have what it takes to survive. To make ends meet. I want our nation's wealth to be spread around. To serve the common good. Let's start defining the basic necessities. Probably, that should include a decent education. For everyone. Guaranteed. I heard a startling statistic today. That we spend three times more incarcerating a prisoner than we spend on educating a student. Shameful, isn't it? We put more people in prison than most nations. Maybe if we spent more on education we'd see a drop in the prison population. Also, we'd have more money to spend on the basic necessities if we found an alternative to costly, idiotic wars. --Jim Broede

I'd have stood by Rev. Wright.

If I lived in Chicago, I'd attend Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church. Especially if he was speaking. From what I've heard of the guy, I like him. He's a good preacher. Believes in black liberation theology. For 20 years, he was Barack Obama's pastor. Baptized Obama's children. They were friends, I guess. But during the presidential campaign, Rev. Wright gained notoriety. Because of snippets from some of his sermons. Political conservatives construed Rev. Wright as unpatriotic. As un-American, I guess. But from my perspective, he came across as a true patriot. For criticizing the American government for its hypocracy. For not working for the common good. For all sorts of immorality. And Rev. Wright's sermons were aimed at making things better for everyone. To get us to think. Turns out that Obama decided to leave Rev. Wright's church. Because of all the controversy the minister stirred. Can't blame Obama, I suppose. Because to stay in that church would have been politically harmful. Maybe it would even have cost Obama the election. That's why I wouldn't make a good politician. I'd have stood by Rev. Wright. --Jim Broede

People like to see splendors.

Vatican Splendors. That's the name of an exhibit I saw today in St. Paul. Artifacts. From 2,000 years of Christian art and history. Maybe too much splendor. I get an uneasy feeling when I see so much splendor. Sometimes I think organized religion has far too much splendor. Too much extravagance. Yes, it makes me uncomfortable. And when I step outdoors, outside of a cathedral or a basilica, I feel so much more at ease. The contrast of man-made versus god-made. Nature. Nature. So beautiful. And I see the people I love as god-made. They are my conduits to god. My love connections. And god is love. An edifice or an exhibit of religious artifacts -- well, that's not quite the same. Oh, it's nice. But I'll tell you what I liked most. The displays of the apparel worn by the Swiss guards. The guys that guard the Pope. Yes, it was gawdy. Lots of pomp. Kind of funny, too. To dress in such costumes. Albeit, they call 'em uniforms. And some of it armor. Metal. And the history of the Swiss guards. So interesting. As I wandered through the exhibit, I saw so much suffering. How Christians suffered. And sometimes I wonder if they relished the suffering. Seems a little sick to me. Art work. Showing Peter being crucified upside down. Jesus on the cross. Oh, so much sacrifice. So much suffering. In the name of god. After I left the museum, I went by one of my book stores. And picked up a dictionary of the gods. Yes, a list of 2,500 gods. Imagine that. They've identified 2,500 gods. And so many, many religions tell us that they have the real god. The others are bogus. Anyway, maybe my god isn't even on the list. I didn't see 'Broede's god.' Well, I'm home tonight. In my little Paradise. It was snowing earlier this evening in Paradise. I've been out for a walk. Two miles. And then I decided to come in and write this. Kind of a way to worship god. I think of someone I love dearly, too. That makes me feel as if I've been touched by god. Blessed. And when I walk outdoors, I feel like I am in god's house. Yes, in Paradise. In love. Close to another special being. And to god. And to have all this, it's unnecessary to enter a man-made edifice. We treat god like royalty. We build castles to god. Like the castles that kings and queens live in. I don't know if god wants such splendor. Prefering simple love instead. Spiritual love. And that's something from within. An inwardness. Love. Love. Love. It can't be bought. Good lord. Look at what has happened to me. I wouldn't be talking or writing like this if I hadn't gone to the Vatican Splendors. By the way, it was a sellout. I had to wait 45 minutes to get in. And they let a batch of people in every 15 minutes. So it wouldn't be too crowded. People like to see splendors, I guess. --Jim Broede

I got my number one wish.

I'm thankful for the things that go right. And I try to make that my focus. For instance, I'm thrilled that Barack Obama is our president-elect. But I didn't get everything I wanted. For instance, in my rather conservative congressional district in Minnesota, the incumbent, Republican Michelle Bachmann won by a narrow margin. She's sort of a female version of George Bush. Not good. Can't have everything. But hey, I still got my number one wish. --Jim Broede

On forgiveness.

I think we white folks have reason to be joyful. And grateful. Because black people may ultimately forgive us for our sins. For the cruelty we've done to them over the ages. Yes, right here in America. We've been racists. White supremists. From the beginning. We denied real people their basic human and civil rights for a long, long time. We denied them respect. We whites have a shameful legacy. As a society. Some of us are still doing it. We are reluctant to give up our racist attitudes and ways. But we're getting there. Slowly. But surely. In large part, I think, because the oppressed among us have endured. To an amazing degree. And they have taught some of us something. About kindness. And love. And a willingness to forgive -- if we genuinely ask for forgiveness. --Jim Broede

For the common good.

I wish we had more than two bona fide political parties in the U.S. Every time we have a national election, I have to choose between a Republican and a Democrat. And often, that's not much of a choice. I'd rather stay home and not vote. Oh, sure, there are other parties. But they are insignificant. I'd vote for Ralph Nader for president. But he doesn't stand a chance. This time around, of course, I voted for Barack Obama. Happily. Other times I'll vote for the Democrat because the Republican is abhorrent. I wish we had maybe a half dozen very active and strong political parties. And it'd be all right if no one party actually got a majority of the votes. I'd like to see multiple parties form coalitions to get things done. With trade-offs. Compromises. A working together. For the common good. --Jim Broede

He's no George Bush.

I'm gonna have a good time watching presidential politics evolve over the next year or two. To see the change wrought by Barack Obama. I'm not sure exactly what to expect. Other than to feel it'll be a whole lot better than John McCain or a third term of George Bush. Bush told us from the start that he was going to be a uniter. That he'd work both sides of the aisle. Of course, Bush was a liar. He later told us he had political capitol. Despite being elected by a slim margin. And he decided to use that political capitol in a highly partisan way. Now, Obama and the Democrats could really stick it to the Republicans. And some Democrats won't hesitate doing that. But I think Obama won't be another Bush. Just the opposite. Obama is more highly principled. More honest. More fair. More intelligent. A very decent human being. Oh, he's a bit left of center in his politics. But he'll try to be accommodating. He listens. To all sides. And he'll even surround himself by some people who don't think like him. He's not afraid to have his ideas challenged. And he's capable of changing his mind. And, get this, he'll even admit to making mistakes. Of learning on the job. Oh, that's what I like about Obama. He's no George Bush. --Jim Broede

And that's where I am. Always.

I thought when I got older, I'd think more about death. About when I'm gonna die. And I'd wonder, "How long am I gonna live?' But I don't dwell on that. Instead, I'm enjoying life more than ever. I'm absorbed in the moment. In today. In the now. And it's rather unimportant how long I'm gonna live. Because I'm living. I'm alive. And conscious. And well aware that I'm alive and conscious. And really, that's all that counts. Well, maybe it's more than that. I'm also feeling good. And happy. And in love. And I don't make myself unhappy by speculating, "How long will this last?" Instead, I enjoy now. This moment. And why would I want to ruin this moment by thinking too far ahead, or for that matter, too far behind? What is gone is gone. And what is ahead is ahead. But now is now. And that's where I am. Always. --Jim Broede

Man oh man, what a relief!

I'm a believer in the notion that from bad springs good. Inevitably. I can, for instance, think of a long list of bad things that had to happen to my ancestors for me to ultimately be born. To be given life. So from my perspective, I benefited from their tragedies. To the point of being given life. Indeed, I am thankful. And maybe that's what makes me basically an optimist. In the long run, all ends well.

That's why I haven't gotten too discouraged by having to live through the 8 years of the George Bush presidency. It was bad, bad, bad for the American nation. And for the world. Horrific in some ways. A national disgrace. But without Bush, maybe we wouldn't have Barack Obama. He emerged as a decent alternative to Bush. If Bush had been only half as bad as he was, maybe a majority of Americans would have voted for someone else. Maybe even for another Republican who would have been almost as bad as Bush. Fortunately, most of us became fed up with Bush. Yes, he was that bad. So now we've decided we want somebody in the White House who won't be anything like Bush. We want a change. A big change. Man oh man, what a relief! --Jim Broede

...having a ball today.

I like this notion of living a day at a time. Because then one doesn't age. I'm just as old as today. No more. No less. And I don't give much thought to growing old. Because I don't think about tomorrow. I'm too busy living today. And today I feel good. Healthy. Wealthy. Wise. And in love. Can't ask for much more than that. Might as well savor it. And be happy. Only thing that could make me unhappy, I suppose, is to reflect on something bad in my past or to imagine something bad in my future. No sense in that. Since I'm having a ball today. --Jim Broede

Under the Obama administration.

Barack Obama is a decent human being. Very decent. Fair-minded. Willing to listen to people who disagree with him. Without taking offense. He likes to find areas of agreement. The things that bring people together. To talk. To listen. To each other. Sure, Obama may be to the left of center on many political issues. But he's willing to move. To the center. And even to the right of center. If that can resolve some issues. Obama believes in give and take. Yes, he'll stand up for principle. For what he believes in. But his bottom-line is fairness. Respect. Yes, he's polite. And understanding. Of people with different points of view. That's very refreshing. Because politics in America -- well, it's become downright nasty. Far too partisan. Impolite. We've had dividers at the helm. Rather than uniters. Obama tried to run a positive campaign. Addressing issues. Rather than personalities. But on occasion, he had to resort to the negative. To return a slap in the face. And I can't blame him for that. At some point, one must draw a line. Obama was attacked often for the people he associated with. A minister who practices black liberation theology. A college professor who back in the 1960s was considered a radical, even domestic terrorist of sorts. Another college professor deemed friendly to the Palestine Liberation Organization. Well, what's wrong with that? People of different stripes. You talk to 'em. To try to resolve issues rather than let matters fester. It's called diplomacy. One tries to come to terms. With one's opponents. It'd be nice, for instance, if Republicans and Democrats talked to each other. To resolve their differences. To benefit the nation. Yes, I suspect that's what Obama would do. It won't surprise me if he has several Republicans in his cabinet. Maybe for a change, we'll get something done in Washington. Under the Obama administration. --Jim Broede

...a stride in the right direction.

Ah, such a pleasant feeling. When something goes right. Barack Obama elected president of the USA. A wish come true. A decent politician. A dreamer. A believer in the common good. A black man elevated to the top office in the land. In my country. Makes me proud to be American. Finally, maybe we Americans are getting it right. We are putting aside the racial divide. Just think, under our first 16 presidents, Obama would have been considered a piece of property. Yes, those presidents could have owned Obama. He wouldn't have been considered human. He would have been denied basic human and civil rights. Even in the 1960s, he would have been subjugated. All because of the color of his skin. But look now. A guy named Barack Hussein Obama. About to become our president. Oh, we still have a long distance to go in the way we Americans treat each other. But by golly, we made a giant stride in the right direction yesterday. --Jim Broede

The right man at the right time.

I will rest comfortably tonight. With a smile. Obama has won. Makes for a pleasant moment. I have a feeling that it's an important turning point in the history of the USA. I have more reason to be proud. Of my country. I have a feeling that Obama is the right man at the right time. --Jim Broede

I have real faith in Obama.

Well, this time tomorrow night, I should have a pretty good idea of how the election is going. I have a pretty good feeling about it. Hard for me to imagine Obama losing. It's been a well-managed campaign. Obama kept his cool from beginning to end. A master politician. In control. I expect that he'll make a good president. That he'll find ways to make the system work. He'll end up winning favor even with the people who don't trust him. I think he's a good human being. Respectful. Polite. With a good feel for the mood of the country. And how to get things done. Very, very intelligent. I think he's a very rare politician. Maybe after 8 years of the worst president ever, we'll get the best. It's the first time I've had real faith in a president since John F. Kennedy. --Jim Broede

Soon, evidence to the contrary.

Here it is Nov. 3. I'm in Minnesota. And the afternoon temperature has soared to 70 degrees. And the sun is shining. Yes, we're 21 degrees above normal. Feels almost like summer. And I'm savoring the day. Actually, it wouldn't matter if we had an arctic cold front moving in. Or snow. Because I've learned to appreciate every day. Regardless of circumstances. Albeit, it's a little easier today. Maybe this is a benefit of global warming. But I know that soon, I'll have evidence to the contrary. --Jim Broede

...a contagious disease.

It's a basic problem with America. Many of our politicians can't be civil with each other. We have Republicans calling Democrats un-American. And naive. And terrorist-sympathizers. And then Democrats return the favor. They hurl insults back at the Republicans. It's an unholy war, of sorts. So, if we Americans can't get along with each other, how are we going to make peace with the rest of the world? Look at the presidential election campaign. In many respects, it's a national disgrace. Because of the lack of respect for each other. We have a proliferating number of attack ads. All over the place. By Republicans. By Democrats. Maybe two-thirds by Republicans. But that doesn't exonerate the Democrats. As a liberal partisan, I have done my share of castigating Republicans. Because in my subjective opinion, they deserve it. I think the eight years of the George Bush administration has been a disaster. And I'm afraid that if John McCain wins, we'll get more of the same. And I think his choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate -- well, that's about as bad a pick as he could have made. Maybe I'd go easier on McCain-Palin if they had conducted a respectful campaign. But they haven't come close. So here we are, lambasting each other. Playing dirty pool. Hateful stuff. I'm convinced that Barack Obama has been relatively polite, at least in comparison to McCain and Palin. He keeps linking McCain to Bush. Indeed, that can be taken as an insult. But there is a link. McCain might as well call himself McBush. Yes, I'm playing politics. I'm caught up in the conflagration. I'm just as bad as many of the politicians. But I know it. And I admit it. I don't like this side of me. But I can't help myself. American politics is a contagious disease. --Jim Broede

On turning the other cheek.

Well, I guess there's no getting around it. Politicians are slap-happy. They slap each other in the face with negative campaign ads. So many of 'em in the presidential election. Mostly from the Republicans. But the Democrats are guilty, too. I'd like to think that if I were a politician, I'd steer clear of a negative campaign. I'd tell folks what I'd do. And I wouldn't besmirch my opponents. I'd let them talk for themselves. And if they slapped me in the face, I'd turn the other cheek. For a while. Eventually, I'd slap back. Maybe that's unfortunate. Because then I've resorted to my opponents' sad and bad tactics. I like the turn-the-other cheek philosophy in theory. But it's very difficult to put into practice. --Jim Broede

Truth is an elusive thing.

When I'm feeling down about politics, I go to the cable network. To MSNBC. And listen to the news slants presented by Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddows. They're unabashed liberals. Partisans. Biased. Yes, in many ways just as biased as the conservative pundits on Fox News. I guess if I'm gonna listen to slanted news, I'd rather listen to the liberal slant. Oh, I'll listen to the conservative pitch, too. For amusement, if nothing else. But I listen to the liberal perspective just to feel good. Because I persuade myself that I'm listening to the real truth. As contrasted to lies from the conservatives. Some people tell me that the truth is somewhere inbetween. Well, I'm not so sure about that. I suspect that we all have our own truths. And I know mine. It may not be your truth. But that's all right. Because truth is an elusive thing. --Jim Broede

Out of necessity.

I'm thinking. And writing. And maybe that's what keeps me going. The two activities go hand in hand. I have to think. Often. Just ponder. And then I have to record it. In writing. To make my thoughts real. Otherwise, the thoughts are elusive. They disappear. Because they are replaced by other thoughts. I have so many thoughts. It's difficult keeping track of 'em all. Unless I write. I like to write. Gives me great satisfaction. Makes me feel alive. I like to think, too. But the thinking doesn't seem complete if I don't record it. In writing. It's as if I'm carrying on a conversation. With myself. Or with another aspect of myself. Maybe writing makes me two people. I'm addressing an inner self. But when I write to others, I am venturing out. And bringing them into my life. Sharing. They become more real when I write to them. Or when I talk to them. Or see them on the video screen. Or in the flesh. But the initial contact often is in writing. In the written word. That is how my relationships are nurtured. Made solid. Mostly with the written word. That is how I communicate. Even if I lived with someone, I suspect that I would write to them. Out of necessity. --Jim Broede

I think he's even stranger.

I talked to my neighbor tonight. About his political lawn signs. Must be 10 of 'em. All for Republicans. I told him I was gonna cancel his vote. That I wouldn't vote for a single Republican. The guy isn't rich. Probably makes far less than $250,000 a year. But he told me he won't vote for Obama because the Democrats will raise his taxes. I told him he'd probably get a tax cut under Obama. But he won't buy into that. He trusts what Republicans tell him more than what I do. And he also said that Obama is less experienced than McCain. Yes, I said, McCain has been in the Senate for 26 years. And in the last 8 years, he's voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. Guess that's what experience gets you. My neighbor would rather get a third term of Bush than a tax cut. Anyway, my neighbor thinks I'm a strange one. And I think he's even stranger. --Jim Broede

Redistributing the wealth

I like social security. It's helping me in my retirement. That, and a pension. Nice. Nice. Nice. Anyway, social security is a program long advocated by socialists. Some of the best programs we have in the USA were first espoused by the socialists. Because their mission seems to be to work for the common good. For the good of the masses. Especially lower income people and the middle class. Yes, in a way, socialists are re-distributors of the wealth. I think that's a good thing. I don't want the rich -- such as millionaires and billionaires -- to be taxed unmercifully. They should be able to keep vast amounts of their wealth. But hey, they can afford to pay higher taxes. That would help redistribute the wealth. --Jim Broede

Americans don't like their noses.

I like socialized medicine. Like they have in Canada and Great Britain and in virtually every industrialized nation. We even have it to some degree in the USA. It's called Medicare. And it benefits primarily people 65 and older. A very nice program. I'd like to see something equivalent extended to Americans of every age. Of course, some people tell me that socialized medicine doesn't work. That there are long lines of people waiting for medical care in Canada and Great Britain. Yes, there are waits for elective surgery. But everyone is covered. Not like in the U.S, where we have 46 million uninsured. And many that have private insurance aren't covered extensively enough. No system is perfect. But socialized medicine is far better than what most Americans have. And you don't see any clamor in Canada and Great Britain for repealing socialized medicine. The Canadians and Brits are too smart to cut off their noses to spite their faces. We Americans don't like our noses. --Jim Broede