Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The advantage of growing old.

I’m trying to learn how to grow old. Gracefully. Ain’t easy. But I’m making progress. When I was 65, I was able to climb on a treadmill and run a 7-minute mile. Wouldn’t do that today. Wouldn’t even try. I have more sense. I just turned 74 in September. And I generally walk 6 to 10 miles a day. Including 14-minute miles. Some weeks I go 70 miles. Doubt that I’ll be as adept and agile if I reach my 80s. But hey, I’ll figure out something in an attempt to stay physically active. Sure, I wish I had a younger body. In prime condition. But I have to accept the fact of aging. I can’t do everything as well as I used to. But in some respects, I’m better at 74 than I was at 34 or 44. For instance, I have a better command of the English language. And more life experience. I suspect that makes me more expressive. More knowledgeable. Maybe even more human. By the time my dear wife Jeanne reached 74, she was trying to cope with Alzheimer’s. She died almost three years ago. So far, I’ve been lucky. And I hope to continue that way. I’m in love. I travel to Italy. And Scotland. I’m a retired writer, sort of. No longer writing for newspapers. But I still write. Daily. A blog. And love letters. Really, all sorts of things. Keeps my mind as active as my body. Oh, I suppose I do dread a little bit losing my health, my physical and mental being. But I don’t dwell on it. I live one day at a time. And try to make the most and best of it. Savoring life. I suppose that’s the advantage of growing old. Gives one more time to learn. And savor. –Jim Broede

Let's march off to Washington.

I hear lots of disenchantment with Washington. With the federal government. Especially from political conservatives. Opposed to big government. They want the private sector to run just about everything. Well, as a liberal, I tend to like government involvement. Because the private sector is out to make big profits. Off health care, for instance. Little wonder that polls generally show that two-thirds to three-fourths of Americans favor a public option. But we may not get it. Because the same federal government that conservatives rail against will stop it. Will deny what most Americans want. That ain't my kind of democracy. It's giving the minority what they want. And they'll get it. Because the majority of us just sit on our hands. When we should be taking to the streets. And marching off to Washington. To seize control. --Jim Broede

With the Cubs, I live and die.

I've lived in Minnesota since 1965. Yes, a long time. But still, I'm no ardent fan of Minnesota's professional sports teams, such as the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings. Odd as it may seem, often I am pulling for them to lose. That's because I was brought up as a Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. I remain loyal to them. The Twins are in a pennant race in the last week of the baseball season. If they had beat Detroit last night, they would have tied for first place. With 5 games to play. The fact that the Twins lost doesn't bother me. Now, if the Cubs were in that situation, I would have been distraught. Oh, it'd be nice if the Twins won and got into World Series. But with the Twins, I can take 'em or leave 'em. With the Cubs, however, I live and die. --Jim Broede

I'm an obliging fella.

I'm assuming that people treat me essentially the same way they want to be treated. In other words, if they treat me badly -- well, then they are pleading with me to treat them in similar manner. For instance, a woman writes to me and calls me odd names and makes up derogatory presuppositions. So I try to do her one better. I find even odder names and even more negative fibs. Call it a Broede interpretation of the Golden Rule. Treat others the way you'd want to be treated. Now, I don't want to be treated like this particular woman treats me. But seems to me she's asking to be treated rudely. And I'm an obliging fella. So I grant her wish. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I'm afraid Durocher was right.

Leo Durocher, who was a very feisty major league baseball manager, including a stint with my Chicago Cubs, summed up his philosophy this way: "Nice guys finish last." Durocher encouraged his players to play hard, and dirty, if necessary. To not be too nice to the opposition. That was the way to win. Well, in the world of politics, Barack Obama is a nice guy. And we'll see what happens. Maybe he'll finish at the bottom of the heap. Because he's up against some dirty and hateful politicians, namely Republicans. Yes, the kinds of guys and gals that would make Durocher happy -- that is, if they were ballplayers. They would even lie and cheat. Just for the sake of winning. You'd think that Obama and the heavily Democratic Congress could easily get their way. They have the power. But by golly, Obama has insisted so far in being a nice guy. Very accommodating. Even to Republicans who seek to undermine him at every turn. Seems to me that Obama is trying to prove Durocher wrong about nice guys. That's laudable. But I'm afraid Durocher was right. Especially when one plays in the political realm. --Jim Broede

Enraptured. By the moment.

Amazing. How nature changes. Two days of high winds. White caps on the lake. But tonight. The water. Smooth as glass. Full of orange and pink color. The reflected sunset. Trees. Silhouetted against the sky. Oh, so quiet. Not even a whisper. As if time has stopped. No motion. I sit. Transfixed. Enraptured. By the moment. --Jim Broede

Yes, funny, funny, funny.

Life is funny. And maybe that's the saving grace. One can always choose to laugh. Even over sad situations. Because much of life is absurd. No apparent rhyme or reason. Such as continuous warfare. And people shouting at each other. And that's what we choose to highlight. In the media. The freaks. And the controversy. Doesn't matter which TV channel I turn on. Much sooner than later, I'll see and hear something outlandish. Especially on the newscasts. It really isn't news. But meant to be entertaining. Yes, people want to be entertained. And told everything they need to know in 30 seconds. Otherwise, it's a waste of time. Because we have better things to do than become knowledgeable on complex issues. Yes, funny, funny, funny. --Jim Broede

Monday, September 28, 2009

That's what comedians do.

I think I could become a darn good comedian. Or an actor, of sorts. Because I wouldn't be afraid to get up on stage and make a spectacle of myself. Even without a prepared script. I'd just improvise. Wing it. Never thought I'd be able to do that. And maybe I'd flop. But still, I'd go up there with confidence. Something that I didn't use to have. I would have suffered from stage fright. Become tongue-tied. I am still capable of making a fool of myself. But in a different way. I'd babble. Try to pull it off. Yes, one way or another, I'd make people laugh. That's what comedians do. --Jim Broede

They swear it ain't a lie.

I suspect that the world is built, in large part, on a stack of lies. On deceptions. Because people will believe almost anything. Tell them an untruth long enough, and they'll be convinced it's the truth. Such as Barack Obama not being born in the U.S. It's a bold-faced lie. But hey, tens of thousands of would-be morons and idiots take it as the gospel truth. The lunatic fringe of the Republican Party mouth one preposterous falsehood after another. They keep spreading 'em all like manure on a farm field. And before long, even the liars believe their own lies. And they swear their bullshit is perfume and that it ain't a lie. --Jim Broede

I'd make the best of it.

Autumn is here. In Minnesota. For two days, the high winds have come out of the north. Sweeping in cooler air. From Canada. Oh, it's not wintry air by any means. But jacket weather. And the furnace has turned on. Even during the day. A hard freeze is predicted for northeast Minnesota tonight. We'll escape with the upper 30s and lower 40s in the Twin Cities area. I'll adjust. To whatever the weather gods bring. Doesn't matter if it's three feet of snow. Or 30 degrees below zero. I'm used to it all. Maybe it helps that I have the opportunity to escape. During the worst of it. Maybe to Sardinia for a little while this winter. And to Arizona in March. But even if I were stuck in Minnesota for the entire winter, I'd make the best of it. Because it's nice to be alive and healthy and in love. --Jim Broede

I'll stick with 'Jim' for now.

When people call me 'James,' I don't always respond. Often, I think they're talking to someone else. I'm so used to Jim. My whole life I've gone by that name. I'm even listed in the phone book under Jim. And all of my bylined stories were Jim. I don't particularly like the name James. But Jim -- well, it ain't bad. But I'd like a first name with more pizzaz. I could settle for James in another language. In Czech, for instance, it's Vaclav. And in Italian, it's Giacomo. Imagine me as Vaclav Broede. Or Giacomo Broede. Sounds rather distinctive. Less ordinary than James. Of course, I could get fancy by just using my initials. J. B. Broede. Or how about my middle name? I could be J. Bruce Broede. But I suspect it'd be too much hassle to start going by another name. Unless I want to hide out. So, I'll stick with 'Jim' for now. --Jim Broede

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Letters don't buy votes.

Polls show that most Americans favor a public option for health care. And that they'd even support a single-payer system. But we most likely won't get it. Because most Americans don't have political clout. They merely write to their congressmen. Corporations and lobbyists know better. Letters don't buy votes. Money does. --Jim Broede

So many, many ways.

Doctoring, it seems to me, is far too impersonal. Think about it. I've gone to the same doctor for maybe 30 years or more. For an occasional physical. Or a relatively minor malady. And I'd like to conclude that I really know my doctor. And that she really knows me. But I doubt it. In large part, because we hardly ever socialize. Just a few minutes here and there. Because we're on the go. Spread thin. We really don't take the time to talk. Deeply. Significantly. Oh, we're subjected to tests. All kinds. Lab tests. And always blood pressure readings. And listening to the heart with a peculiar looking device. Maybe we walk and run on a treadmill. Or climb into an MRI tube. Or submit to a colonoscopy. But I'd like it if my doctor occasionally let me take her to lunch. A long lunch. So we could converse in truly significant ways. So we could talk casually. And truly get to know each other. We'd both benefit. Medically and -- well, yes, so many, many ways. --Jim Broede

...the true essence of love.

I am blessed because I am in love with far more than a nice, warm body. Yes, think about the true essence of love. --Jim Broede

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I even censor myself.

Have some of you noticed? I have taken to commenting on my own comments. With tiny afterthoughts. Seems to me that aids the brooding process. I'm always looking for new ways to think. Sometimes, I just like to comment as if I'm my friend. Or as a humorist. But I never become anonymous or use a pseudonym. And I do screen all comments. Even my own. And I even censor myself. For unacceptable comments. --Jim Broede

Making friends the Broede way.

I'd like to see a beefed up Peace Corps. And a reduction in our Armed Forces. In the long run, I think it would benefit the U.S. Yes, promoting peace rather than war and conflict. It might be a risky venture. But let's try to sell the idea to our perceived enemies. Tell 'em we'll be nice guys and do nice things for the people of their country. No strings attached. We'll build schools. Roads. Recreation centers. Parks. All kinds of public works projects. Just to show that our hearts are in the right place. Maybe we could test this idea in North Korea. See if it works. A friendly gesture. If the North Koreans want to stay our enemy after this, so be it. But I rather think, they might thank us. Especially if we say we want nothing in return. That our reward is simply in the act of being nice. Of course, maybe they'll think we're nuts. Or that we have a hidden agenda. That we're spies. Hatching a diabolical plot. But maybe with the test of time, they'll conclude that we're really nice people. Just out to treat people the way we'd like to be treated. And that if we get slapped in the face, we'll try to turn the other cheek. Because we're opposed to violence. We want peace instead. And what we're doing is giving ourselves peace of mind. Yes, that we are trying to learn to love our enemies. And make them friends. --Jim Broede

Friday, September 25, 2009

I know how it feels.

Usually, it's other teams that inflict pain on my Chicago Cubs. By giving the Cubs heartbreaking losses. But last night, the tables turned. The Cubs were trailing 2-1 to the San Francisco Giants with two outs and two strikes on the hitter in the 9th inning and it looked like another certain loss for the Cubs. And that would put the Giants within striking distance of a play-off berth. Instead, the Cubs hit a two-run homer and won the game in dramatic fashion. A very disheartening loss for Frisco. So the Cubs, who are going nowhere, became spoilers and inflicted pain on Giants fans. Kind of sad, isn't it? I know how it feels. After all, I'm a life-long fan of the cursed perennial losing Cubs. --Jim Broede

Makes us all idiots, I suppose.

In my congressional district in Minnesota, we have at least two village idiots. I'm one of 'em. Because I'm an unabashed liberal. But I'm relatively harmless. Because I don't hold public office. Unfortunately, the other one is Michelle Bachmann, our congresswoman. She's from the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. Of course, I don't think that speaks well for my district, composed mostly of suburbanites in the Twin Cities area. But Bachmann and I have something in common. I see her as an idiot. And if she knew me, I'm sure she'd label me an idiot. A communist, too. And un-American. Yes, that's the state of politics where I live. We have a strange blend of liberals and conservatives. And I suppose what we need is something inbetween. A moderating force. To pull us together. But that ain't happening in much of America today. We're divided. Into extremes. We often refuse to work together. I guess that's to be expected when we allow village idiots to take control. Makes us all idiots, I suppose. --Jim Broede

Thinking about pain.

I'm up tonight. Thinking about pain. And how one measures it. I hurt my back. And went to the doctor. And he asked me to quantify my pain. On a scale of 1 to 10. From hardly any pain, to excruciating. I said, 4 or 5. And I wondered, is it really that bad? I told him it's better when I'm standing, or walking. Slowly. Sitting or lying down -- well, that ain't good. I thought I'd be up all night. I tried to sleep for a few hours. Now I'm up. Tried to walk it off. Now I'm up writing. Trying to get my mind off the pain. Writing about it. Helps, believe it or not. I'm trying to convince myself that it could be far worse. I fell off a ladder. It's happened before. I should know better. Anyway, I didn't break any bones. Not the pelvis. Or a hip. That would have been devastating. I didn't kill myself either. Like my brother did on his birthday last month. When he fell and konked his head. So, I'm relatively unscathed. Alive and able to heal. And to reflect on the importance of being careful. I'm certain it's pain I can live with. Because I know I'm gonna heal. I suppose the worst kind of pain is the kind that won't go away. When Jeanne died, I initially thought the pain would never go away. But it does. One grieves. One heals. And gets on with life. Because I think maybe it's a sin to live with excruciating pain forever. I suspect that if I had that, I'd want to die. It wouldn't be worth living. --Jim Broede

Thursday, September 24, 2009

A love letter...every night.

I'm an idealist when it comes to romance. But in the realm of politics, I'm a cynic. Every night, I write a love letter. Maybe two or three some nights. All to the same woman. I love to express love in meaningful ways. Idealistic ways. But you won't find me writing many letters to politicians. Usually, it's an utter waste of time. Take my congressman, for instance. Michelle Bachmann. She's on the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. I'm not gonna sway her. She's not gonna sway me. Actually, I won't sway many politicians. Especially those in Washington. Because for the most part they are beholden to the big corporate interests and the lobbyists. After all, these people finance their campaigns. Money talks. Money influences. I can write idealistic letters to politicians. But for the most part, it's a waste. That makes me a political cynic. But hey, at least I'm a romantic idealist. I'm gonna sit down and write a love letter tonight. Every night. --Jim Broede

Is that asking too much?

Maybe I'm too impulsive. In saying what's on my mind. But that's the nature of my broodings. My nature, really. I dare. I take chances. I think out loud. And let it go. Even if that makes me a fool. I do it all the time. Not only in my blog. But in my daily contact with friends. And acquintances. And strangers. Anyone, I suppose. That gives me a sense of freedom. Even honesty. Yes, I allow myself to be wrong. But I try to learn. From my many, many mistakes. Incredible, isn't it? I can't ever get through a full day without making mistakes. I've already experienced about 27,000 days, and counting. And still I have yet to live an error-free day. I guess I want to live forever so I have time to correct my wrongs. Is that asking too much? --Jim Broede

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Over which I have no control.

Think of it. How, as individuals, we have so little control over things that happen in the world. They'd happen whether you and I were around or not. History wouldn't change. John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King -- they all would have been assasinated. World War II would have occurred. I wouldn't have made a difference on any big events. Which is all right. My sphere of influence is very limited. As it is with most of us, I suppose. Other than on a handful of people around us. We just fit into an existing world. And accept what happens. Except how we deal with our immediate life. I make choices. Albeit, maybe I don't. Maybe I'm compelled by some force to do what I do. Anyway, a friend the other day tried to encourage me to write a letter to my congressman in support of a health care reform bill. And I said no. It'd be a waste of my time. Such a letter wouldn't have any effect whatever on whether or not the bill is passed. What will happen will happen with or without a letter from me. Sometimes, I just go along with the tide. Because I am a mere grain of sand on a huge beach. And I'm unable to affect the tide. When it sweeps over me, it sweeps. No way can I do anything about it. But I have the opportunity to cavort with the grains of sand immediately around me. I can even fall in love with another grain. And live a happy life. In my little niche. Despite being a mere speck in the vast cosmos. Over which I have no control. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

That's progress.

Barack Obama is a survivor, it seems to me. And he knows how to get ahead. And get his programs passed. Even in a predominantly white and racist society. Give him credit. He's a remarkable man. A black man. Which means he had a strike or two against him at some point in his life. Anyway, I trust the guy. He's one of my heroes, really. Because I sense he's very decent and honorable. Despite being a politician. Can't say that about many politicians. Especially on the far right. Where some of 'em hate and despise Obama. Which means Obama has to take a lot of crap. From rather despicable people. Some of 'em racists. But still, Obama manages to play it cool. He knows that racism isn't as bad as it used to be. After all, he got elected to the top office in the land. With the help of white votes. For that, America deserves plaudits. But still, there's a sizeable element that just can't find it in their hearts to accept Obama. Yes, just because he's black. They would have felt at home in this country before the Civil War and in the Jim Crow South right on up until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. But Obama isn't allowing himself to be fazed by their downright nasty vitriolic. I think he'll succeed. Even to the point of getting health care reform and other measures aimed at serving the common good. Yes, that galls those on the far right and racists. But hey, that's progress. --Jim Broede

I'm no secessionist.

Maybe I’m more pro-American than many of the conservatives on the far right. The ones proposing that their states secede from the U.S. Think of that. There’s such a movement in Texas. Even the Republican governor suggested it be considered. Now that sounds un-American to me. I guess these would-be secessionists don’t like the direction our country is headed. Of course, they could go live in another country. But they want their own. Imagine that. The sovereign nation of Texas. I suppose they’ll want their own language, too. English spoken with a drawl. Anyway, I’ve been critical of America on occasion. For instance, I’ve complained about our society’s long-time racists tendencies. Come to think of it, some of these secessionists sound like racists. Listen to ‘em. They decry the conduct of our good president Barack Obama. Maybe it’s because he’s black. And they don’t want to live in a nation that elects a black as its leader. Maybe they’d rather have a Texan, such as George Bush. But I’ll take Obama. His election made me feel more American. Pro-American, that is. I’m more supportive of our government, particularly of our duly-elected president, than I have been in a long, long time. I’m no secessionist. –Jim Broede

Monday, September 21, 2009

Give me public over private.

I'm more pro-government than lots of political conservatives, it seems to me. Because I tend to trust my government more than I trust the private sector. For instance, I'd put my faith in a government-run health care program, such as Medicare. More so than in one run by private insurance companies. Medicare is looking after my welfare. In that it operates on administrative costs of 3 or 4 percent. It ain't out to make a big profit. Rather just to provide a decent and necessary service at a reasonable cost. The private health insurance company, meanwhile, is out to make a big profit. And most likely would even deny me coverage if I had a pre-existing condition. Or it might just deny me willy-nilly. That happens now. Medicare doesn't pull stunts like that. Yes, I'd like to see a public option similar to Medicare available for everyone. If some people still want to buy under a private plan, so be it. That's fine. But let's give everyone a choice. Public or private. Of course, insurance companies want the government to stay out of the health care business so they can continue to rake in obscene profits and pay their chief executives multi-million dollar salaries. --Jim Broede

Another opportunity.

I enjoy getting organized. Because the project is never completed. Yes, I've discovered it's impossible to ever get totally organized. That would be a terrible life. Akin to being a robot. But I have a sense of accomplishment when I put forth efforts to achieve the impossible. Knowing it will never be achieved. I don't let that frustrate me. Because I like to take journeys that never end. Just keep moving. On and on. At the end of the day, I'm happy. Because I lasted another day. Had another opportunity to get organized. --Jim Broede

We have long-lived as racists.

Indeed, it’s shameful that America is a racist nation. Always has been. It was true when America was founded. And racism is still rampant today. And I suspect many whites don’t want to acknowledge it because it’s so shameful. They want to think of America as better than that. But we aren’t. A giant step in the right direction, however, would be to admit we’re racist. Then we can begin the task of eradicating it in big ways. Oh, we’ll always have a racist element. But it would be nice to make it a miniscule minority. I see nothing wrong with confessing to our wrongs. That would be a good start. We’ve been very mean and cruel to black people and native Americans. We’ve treated them in inhumane ways. It’s a wonder that they have so often turned the other cheek. And still, many of ‘em are in a forgiving mood. We owe them apologies, if not reparations. Let’s start by recognizing that we’ve done grievous harm to a whole race of people…because we have long-lived as a society with many practicing racists. –Jim Broede

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Maybe they should be besmirched.

Chicago Cubs baseball player Milton Bradley says he's been subjected to racist chiding from fans while he plays the outfield at Wrigley Field in Chicago. I don't doubt it. I've sat in the bleachers there, albeit not in recent years. And I'll have to admit, some Cubs fans are racists. Especially after they've had a few beers on a hot sunny day. Well, Bradley has publicly complained repeatedly about the rowdy conduct of Cubs fans. Today, that prompted general manager Jim Hendry to suspend Bradley for the rest of the season. For besmirching the reputation of Cubs fans. But I suspect that some of 'em should be besmirched. --Jim Broede

A wonderful and purposeful life.

My satisfaction comes from effecting change on a relatively miniscule scale. Because I know that as an individual, I can't do much for the overall cause. Such as combatting racism. I can deal with it when encountered. Directly. When I talk to a racist, for instance. Or when I head South, like I did in the 1960s, and joined the movement by becoming a member of the executive board of the NAACP chapter in the local city. But I recognize the movement would have carried on with or without me. When the time comes, the time comes. It takes a long, long time to achieve an ends. The movement still hasn't come to full fruition. Never will. We'll always have racists amongst us. It's on-going. Patience. Patience. Patience. Endurance. Endurance. Endurance. We keep plodding on to bring about necessary change. Little by little. It's an accumulation effect. My little blog is like a grain of sand on the beach. That's all. But it's nice to feel that I'm even so much as a grain in this vast universe. I don't have to be Big Time Charlie. I can settle for being Small Time Jim. The fact that I'm in love with another human being -- well, that gives me satisfaction. Pleasure. A sense of being. Of having lived. A wonderful and useful and purposeful life. --Jim Broede

Saturday, September 19, 2009

...the Chicago Zombies.

Oh, well. I'm throwing in the towel. Giving up on my Chicago Cubs. Such a disappointing season. They were supposed to run away with the National League Central division title this season. Instead, the rival St. Louis Cardinals are running away with it. And the Cubs' hitters are playing lousy, uninspired baseball. The pitchers aren't bad. Evidenced by this weekend's 3-2 and 2-1 losses to the Cardinals. With two or three exceptions, the hitters have taken the season off. First thing I'd do for next season is hire a team psychologist. To get the Cubs mentally prepared. They should more accurately have been called the Chicago Zombies this year. --Jim Broede

My cup runneth over.

I like the way my life is unfolding. The things going on around me. In my immediate environs. To me, that's more important than what's happening in the rest of the world. Because this is my exposure. My experience. My life. For the most part, I can't control others' lives. But as for my life, I have reasonable control. I'm able to make effective choices daily. To do this or that. To act this or that way. I'm free in that sense. And I can talk to myself. Set myself straight. I never lack for conversation. I could live on a desert island with nobody else within 100 miles, and I'd have my daily chats. But fortunately, I have a handful of others. Friends. So, my cup runneth over. --Jim Broede

Narcissistic...as a good thing.

Being narcissistic doesn't necessarily have to be a disorder. I like certain of the traits. They can be used in positive ways. I do believe I am better than some people at certain things. Just depends. I can stand on my hands, for instance. And some people can't. That makes me better at hand-standing. Fantasizing also helps me be a creative writer. I can create characters that dream of power, success and attractiveness. And I think exaggerating one's talents can be humorous. Downright funny. That would make me a better stand-up comedian. I like praise and admiration, as do most people. But I can live without it, too. And I certainly believe I'm special. Shouldn't everyone? Oh, I recognize other people's emotions and feelings. Especially when they're racists. Turns me off a little bit. I expect some people to go along with my ideas and plans. And some of 'em do. Because they are friends, and I'm persuasive. I do take advantage of other people. But not in a negative sense. Rather in a positive way. I try to learn from them. For instance, I have mentors and teachers. And I use them well. And yes, I do express some at least mild disdain for bad hombres. Such as racists. I'm not aware of being jealous of others. But I do wish at times that I had the talents of some very talented people. Especially baseball players. I would have loved to be a professional baseball player. And hey, I do know several women who are jealous of me because I have a loving relationship, and they don't. As for healthy relationships, I have a few. A handful. That's all I need. I prefer quality over quantity. All I need is one active intimate relationship. That can keep me going for a long, long time. I'm not easily hurt. Because I know how to take life in stride. And yes, I do appear tough-minded and relatively unemotional at times. But I can go in the other direction, too. And be kind, considerate and quite emotional, especially in loving ways. I guess all this makes me somewhat narcissistic. Which is a good thing. --Jim Broede

I'm trying to get it right.

Sometimes I feel superior. Because I feel alive and human. It's a darn good feeling. I'm able to say what's on my mind. Gives me a sense of being free. Unshackled. At least for the moment. I also have moments when I feel stupid and inferior. Maybe that's why I ultimately feel superior. Because I acknowledge that I can be wrong more often than right. But at least I know I'm trying to get it right. --Jim Broede

Friday, September 18, 2009

Read it & weep, fellow Americans.

My fellow Americans. I invite you to read this column by Bob Herbert in Saturday's New York Times. It puts racism in America in proper and accurate perspective. --Jim Broede
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/opinion/19herbert.html?_r=1&hp

An illusion...an absurd reality.

I tend to treat people pretty much the same way they treat me. And that's often wrong. Because I should turn the other cheek if I'm slapped. But that's hard to do. I'm more likely to slap back. That's the nature of the human beast. So little surprise that Republicans and Democrats are slapping each other. They seem to be slap happy. But now it's getting downright dirty. They are beginning to deliver knees to the groin. And swift kicks to the ass. And their rhetoric seems calculated to inflame their idiot partisans. Even to the point of lethal violence. Already, they are packing weapons when they come to town hall meetings. Even when the president is there. Some of 'em have called for open rebellion. The overthrow of the government. Or secession from the U.S. Because they feel socialists have seized control. They are living an illusion...an absurd reality. --Jim Broede

Makes me wonder.

I suppose what I'm doing is creating my own reality. When I sit down and write, for instance. I'm creating thought. Often, a chain of thought. I don't know what I'm going to be thinking next. I haven't thought it out ahead of time. I'm unable to get ahead of myself. I'm always in the now. Never in the future. Crazy. But that fascinates me. Just being able to think. That's my creation. Thought. Some degree of self-awareness. And of the world around me. And how I connect to it. The way I have connected to people. Positively fascinating. I wouldn't have been able to think like this when I was 5 or 10 or 15 years old. It's easier for me to think when I write, when I record my thoughts. Because then I can see the flow. If I just think this while I'm out walking, it doesn't get recorded. And much of it slips away. Possibly forever. Thoughts are so elusive. So many of 'em. It's hard to keep track of every thought. Impossible. But by writing, I can see what I was thinking a year ago. Sometimes, I read those thoughts. And they seem the thoughts of a stranger. Makes me wonder if I've changed that much. --Jim Broede

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Living our eternal life now.

I must have 1,000 books neatly lined up on shelves and the floor in the attic above the garage. Just part of my vast book collection. My own little book store. I can browse through the shelves and lines of books. And pick out a book at random. Like I did today. "Nietzsche as Philosopher.' And I opened to a chapter on eternal recurrence. And got totally absorbed in it tonight. This idea of eternal recurrence is fascinating. Yes, live life as if you are going to live it over and over and over again. We are living our eternal life now. --Jim Broede

Living in Wonderland. With Alice.

Maybe we live in a normal, relatively dull and routine world. And it only seems abnormal. Because the news media generally likes to report the unusual. The freakish. The controversial. I see so many normal things going on around me every day. So life seems normal. To me, at least. That is, until I pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV or radio. Then I'm bombarded with weird happenings. Some of it almost unbelievable. Maybe it's fabricated. Gawd, that would be nice. All of it someone's vivid and sick imagination. It would have been nice living 1,000 years ago. Because news didn't get around the world very fast. It was strictly local. And so the news from neighbors, by worth-of-mouth, seemed normal. Almost dull. Now we're inundated with news from around the world. Yes, 24 hours a day. Maybe at odd hours there's no news to report. So news has to be concocted. To fill up the air time. Inconsequential stuff. Made to seem consequential. So that we can feel we're living in wonderland. With Alice. --Jim Broede

So go to it.

The headline in my morning newspaper reads:

Baucus
Delivers his
health plan
–to groans

His bill pleases
few Democrats,
no Republicans

Now that doesn’t make sense. The first paragraph reads: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’ $856 billion plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system – a package that lacks the public option that President Barack Obama favors – was greeted Wednesday largely with skepticism and even disdain, sometimes from fellow Democrats.

So, I have a question. Why doesn’t the committee devise a proposal that at least has strong support of the majority party? The Democrats. Because then it most likely would pass. Even if it doesn’t get Republican votes. Pass something. Let the majority rule. It’s not necessary to please everyone. Because that’s virtually impossible.

I’d try to give the Republicans a little bit of what they want. But not everything. After all, they are the minority. Obama and the Democrats became the majority. Because they had widespread public support last November. Maybe because they promised an overhaul of the nation’s shoddy health care system. So go to it. –Jim Broede

I do it anyway.

One thing I like about life. The fact that I can choose between right and wrong. Of course, I can't always be sure what's right or wrong. But that doesn't stop me from making choices. If it turns out that I'm wrong -- well, I try to make it right. I'm just feeling my way. I've also discovered that often there's no clear-cut answer. What's right for me, for instance, may be wrong for the next guy or gal. Sometimes, I'm lectured on what I'm supposed to do. Or, hey, maybe I do the lecturing. But generally, I don't try to foist my way on others. I follow a live-and-let-live policy. But that doesn't keep me from voicing my opinions. Just for the heck of it. Because I believe in freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Often, I like to poke fun at other people. Especially the ones that take themselves seriously. They can be comical. Now, I'm not sure whether that's right or wrong. But I do it anyway. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Dumbing down America.

It's hard for me to believe the political discourse I'm hearing from the far right in America. The absurdity of it. The sheer stupidity. The Republican Party has been seized by village idiots. The dumbest of the dumb. I'd like to think they're just pulling our leg. That these fundamentalists are kidding. Joking. And they're cracking up behind the scenes because there are gullible people that actually take them seriously. They can say the most idiotic things imaginable. And yet there's an element that falls for it. I just read a poll taken in New Jersey that shows that about one-third of the Republicans there think that Barack Obama is the anti-Christ. Good gawd. Have we dumbed down America that much? --Jim Broede

...and loving every minute.

I feel like I'm changing my life. Because I'm changing my environs. Rather significantly, I think. Less and less clutter. More open space around me. White. And light. Elbow room. For years, I had been squeezing myself. Filling up space. A dear, dear friend got me to see this. Thank gawd. This has set me free. She also has me traveling a lot. To Italy. To Scotland. To museums. To concerts. I'm starting to recognize the vastness of the world. Going beyond horizons. Reaching new plateaus. New heights. Indeed, it's rather thrilling. Yes, I'm more alive than ever. Because I'm focused on the meaningful...and loving every minute. --Jim Broede

Time has passed them by.

One doesn't win a war in a single day. Or with a single battle. Usually, it takes a while. One wins gradually. With momentum that builds and builds and builds. Seems to me that Barack Obama and many of his fellow Democrats are at war with the Republicans. Some pretty bad people. They are the party of 'no.' The obstructionists. Many of 'em are still living back in the 19th century. They like to do things the old way. Opposed to change. For a long, long time, they opposed civil rights. They didn't even give women the right to vote until 1918. They are foot-draggers. Many, not all thank gawd, are racists. A few of 'em are pretty decent people. But as a whole, the Republican Party has been captured by a lunatic fringe of diehard conservatives. Fortunately, they are losing the war. But as losers, they are acting like trapped rats. They are baring their teeth. They are pulling out all stops. They are desperate. A sign that they know it's almost over. Because it's the 21st century. Time has passed them by. --Jim Broede

As ruthless as one ever gets.

I suspect that a successful politician must be ruthless. In order to get what he wants. Because politics is power. And one must exercise it. At least on some occasions. But maybe Barack Obama will prove me wrong. I think he's trying to get what he wants by being persuasive. Rather than downright ruthless. No doubt about it, his most staunch opponents are ruthless. Even in an evil and corrupt sense. They might resort to practically anything to derail Obama. So far, at least on the surface, Obama has tended to turn the other cheek. And just plod ahead in a relatively kindly, civil manner. That baffles me a little bit. Makes me wonder if Obama is sly. If beneath that exterior, he knows how to play ruthless and dirty politics. That he's calculating. That he has a grand design. To pull off exactly what he wants. Maybe to the surprise of his foes. After all, Obama got himself elected president. Against all odds. Left lots of people surprised. Including his foes. They're livid. Because they've been outmaneuvered. Quite likely by a more astute politician. They want to get even. By seeing to it that Obama doesn't have a successful presidency. They desperately want him to fail. Even if that means failure for America. Doesn't bother them. Because they're true blue politicians. As ruthless as one ever gets. --Jim Broede

Beyond a doubt.

I think that lovers, at their very best, are teachers. They are constantly teaching each other. Things. They open each other’s minds. And eyes, too. Everything looks new and wondrous when one is in love. I’ve been in love most of my life. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. Even when I haven’t been in love with someone, I’ve still been in love with something. Maybe nature. Or life, in general. But to have a lover – well, that’s the best of all. It’s taken me a while to understand the nature of love. Or to have some inkling of it. I’m still learning. Won’t ever know it all. That’s the nice thing about love. It must be something like god. One can never fully grasp it. Only know that it exists. Beyond a doubt. –Jim Broede

Duped, 24 hours a day.

I think politics is a game. A constantly changing game. Influenced in large part by the 24-hour news cycle. Which means that news outlets, primarily TV and cable news, want to be reporting and updating news all the time. And so news, of sorts, is being created constantly. Even over relatively trivial happenings. Big deals are made out of virtually nothing. The least bit of controversy is repeated time and time again. Impressions are created. Riveted. By all this repetition. If Joe Wilson shouts "You lie" while Barack Obama addresses Congress, it's highlighted. Made a big story. Because it's controversial. And it feeds the 24-hour news cycle. Our news sleuths grasp at almost anything. Because they have to fill the air time. Nothing has to be made to seem like something. And politicains know this. They stir the pot, so to speak. Often, by just making things up. By being bombastic. By staging an event. By creating a scene. A false reality. Anything that makes news. Ain't hard to do. Yes, politicians have mastered the game. And the news media are sucked in. And the rest of us are the worst for it. Because we are being duped. Yes, 24 hours a day. --Jim Broede

Making them sick with happiness.

I don't feel superior. But I do often feel confident. And confidence can be mistaken for arrogance. Some mornings I wake up. And just enjoy being alive. And conscious. And in love. That puts me in a good mood. Unfortunately, what I have isn't necessarily contagious. I may encounter a sourpuss. And he/she may remain sour. So we contrast. And we go our own ways. I remain cheerful. Someone else stays glum. But I'm trying to make my happiness a virus, of sorts. Allowing me to contaminate others. Making them sick with happiness. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The wonder of love.

Much of what I see going on in the world, I don't like. But still, I don't let it get to me. Because I have love in my life. Isn't that interesting? I just remind myself that I'm blessed. With love. That keeps me going. Keeps me revved up. Keeps me happy. Even joyful. Yes, I feel the love-effect. In so many ways. Love gives me the energy and desire to do things. Positive things. Constructive things. Really, to become immersed in life. Maybe that's the wonder of love. It makes the world seem like a pretty nice place. Despite the pitfalls. --Jim Broede

We need to clean up our act.

Seems that I share a point of view with former president Jimmy Carter. Or is it that Carter shares my opinion? Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosiy toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News.

"I live in the South," Carter added, "and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans. That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Yes, Jimmy Carter, you are right on. It's time we Americans faced up to it. We've had a racist society. Right from the beginning. And terrible vestiges of it still remain. Deeply rooted in our fabric. And it's time to get it right. By doing some soul searching and by acknowledging that we Americans need to clean up our act. --Jim Broede

Women are my favorite people.

I like women. I think women make best friends. Moreso than do men. Maybe I tend to trust women. Because I was raised primarily by a mother. Rather than a father. So, I suppose, I gained an early respect for woman. Some women have suggested that I'm too critical of women. That I even hate women. Perish the thought. It ain't true. But there have been occasional exceptions from the rule. No hate. But I've leveled criticism that has been misconstrued as dislike. Happened when I was a care-giver for my ill wife Jeanne. I started posting on the Alzheimer's message boards. Where I encountered special kinds of women. Care-givers. Very few men posted. It was 90 percent women. And I noticed that substantial numbers of these women felt sorry for themselves. They liked to hold pity parties. And I took issue with some of 'em. Thought they should learn to cope in other, more positive ways. Or at least try it. Some took umbrage. And that's how it started. The impression that I hate women. Just ain't so. Women are my favorite people. --Jim Broede

Exercising my new-found freedom.

I suppose I have as much right to spout off as anyone. Maybe that's why I started by publishing a neighborhood newspaper when I was in the 6th grade. The Riverlawn Gazette. In Watertown. In Wisconsin. Where I grew up. I printed the paper. Weekly. On a hektograph. And later on a mimeograph. Long before the computer age. I sold the paper for a single penny. But sometimes neighbors enriched me with tips. Like a quarter. That was big bucks for a 12-year-old kid in 1947. Anyway, I reported news of the neighborhood. And I wasn't hesitant to write opinion pieces. Even satirical ones. It came natural. I never stopped writing. Exercising my new-found freedom. --Jim Broede

Monday, September 14, 2009

More on the racism issue.

I'm not the only blogger wondering about the role of racism in recent criticism of Barack Obama. Here's some excerpts contained in an "opinionator" piece in the New York Times. One of the newspapers that I read daily. Anyway, the comments are on both sides of the controversial issue. --Jim Broede
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/is-it-because-hes-black/

Can't be more racist than that.

So many of my white brethren are racists. Some of 'em won't admit it. Maybe because it's so shameful. Nobody really wants to be called a racist. I've talked to many people who voted against Barack Obama. They'll give you a variety of reasons. But with some, the underlying reason is his blackness. They really secretly don't like it that a black man is so articulate, and relatively liberal. He makes persuasive arguments against their conservative ideology. Makes them feel uncomfortable. Maybe even a little bit inferior. Some of 'em even want Obama to fail. Just because he's Obama. Because he's black. No other reason. Can't be more racist than that. --Jim Broede

So many reasons to go to church.

I've been asked, why do I go into so many churches? Well, I suppose it's because I'm spiritual in nature. Not necessarily religious. But spiritual. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I'm a free-thinker. I worship life. Creation. And I'm a lover, too. And churches and synagogues and mosques and temples fascinate me. They are places of peace and tranquility. Often, great architecture, too. And sometimes, I stumble across a clergyman delivering a poetic sermon. Oh, and the music. It's wonderful. One of my favorite composers is J. S. Bach. And he composed primarily for the church. And if you've listened to the divine liturgy and requiem mass of the Russian Orthodox Church, it's awesome. Inspiring. Reaches my emotional depths. And summer before last, I attended a chamber orchestra concert in Venice. They played Vivaldi. In a church. Wow! A great, unforgettable experience. And I was there with my true love. That made it even more memorable. Oh, so many reasons to go to church. --Jim Broede

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Texas wouldn't be missed..

In Texas, there's talk of seceding from the union. Gov. Rick Perry has talked up the idea. And there's actually an organization trying to drum up support for Texas to become an independent nation. Of course, cooler heads will prevail, despite the fact that some Texans don't like certain policies of the federal government. But hey, it's all right with me if Texas wants out. The USA would be a better place without the Lone Star state. And I also wouldn't miss Louisiana and Alabama. Let's encourage them to go, too. --Jim Broede

The racist forgot the 'boy'.

Here's a nice column to read. By Maureen Dowd. In Sunday's New York Times. Boy, oh, boy, does it ever touch on the issue of underlying racism. Dowd captures what's going on. Click on it. And read. --Jim Broede
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/opinion/13dowd.html

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Maybe the dream will come true.

September and October often are my favorite months of the year. Usually, it's nice weather here in Minnesota. Nice days. In the 60s and 70s. Lots of sun. And cool nights. Nice for sleeping. Of course, it means winter isn't far away. By mid-November, summer is only a distant memory. And we're in for a seige of snow and cold. Even bitter cold. But I can take winter in stride. I may even get away for a few weeks. To sunny Italy, and to Germany. And before I know it, spring will be here. I'd love to live abroad for 6 months. And then back to Minnesota for late spring, summer and early fall. Ah, a nice dream. Maybe I'll make it come true. --Jim Broede

Friday, September 11, 2009

Correcting the errors of my ways.

I continue to de-clutter my life. Primarily, my environs. I get rid of stuff. Daily. I haven't missed a day of de-cluttering in a month. I'm amazed at how much I accumulated over the years. Far too much. It ain't healthy. It may even be a sickness. To collect, collect, collect. Things. I did it with books. And compact discs. And cassette tapes. And birdhouses. And clothes, too. More clothes than I could wear in a lifetime. And more books than I could read. And more music than I could listen to. I'm still asking myself the question, "Why did I do this?" But the important thing is I'm correcting the errors of my ways. --Jim Broede

Thursday, September 10, 2009

It's hard to hide racist feelings.

I think much of the opposition to Barack Obama is racist. If he were white instead of black, he'd more likely be accepted. Some people just can't stand the fact that he's black. So they look for any and every reason to oppose his presidency. Even to the point of convincing themselves that he's an illegitimate president. That if the truth be known, he wasn't even born in the U.S. Now, to believe that, it takes some doing. But a racist believes anything he/she wants to believe. Because they are filled with hate. For a racist, to see a black president is galling. Mortifying. I've known a fair number of racists in my days. We have more of 'em in America than one might think. Used to be one could openly be a racist. But it's not that easy any more. Because 'racism' is not the 'in' thing. So racists try to disguise themselves. And they tell bold face lies. Such as denying they're racists. But they hate so much. That it's hard to hide their racist feelings. --Jim Broede

...reason to be grateful.

I'm becoming more optimistic that we'll get health care reform. Maybe not everything I and other liberals would like. But at least it'll be a giant step in the right direction. My spirits have been lifted by Barack Obama's address last night to Congress. It was inspiring. And he touched on all the salient points. But especially that health care for every American, rich and poor alike, is a moral issue. Everyone is entitled to the best of health care. Whether they can afford it or not. The government must see to it that the common good is served. That won't happen if we leave health care entirely to the profit-minded private sector. Thank gawd for Obama and the Democrats. They'll have to push through a bill with virtually no Republican support. An indication that we have a government sharply divided along ideological lines. Fortunately, the Democrats are in the majority. And Obama has the leadership skills to make things happen. Looks like we Americans finally have reason to be grateful. --Jim Broede

Making the impossible possible.

Scientists have discovered in 30,000-year-old pollen in a cave the microscopic remnants of textile. An indication that people living then had string. From which they may have woven clothing. And it was colored textile, too. Such findings intrigue me. I'd love to be sent back in time that long, long ago. For just a few days. To get a feel for what it was like to be on Earth then. And then I'd like to be sent 30,000 years into the future. For a glimpse of what's to be. I'd like gawd to make the impossible possible. For me. If only for a day or two. Then I'd come back and write about my experience. --Jim Broede

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

It's hell.

I’m waiting for Barack Obama to become perturbed. Pissed. And I’m suspecting that I may have to wait forever. He’s too even keel. I’m beginning to wonder if he ever loses his temper. He allows his political foes to get away with proverbial murder. To call him names. To castigate him. With outright lies. And it’s almost as if Obama turns the other cheek. By golly, he must be a true Christian. And if he doesn’t fully love his enemies, he seems to tolerate ‘em. This is no way for a politician to act. Politicians are supposed to be spiteful people. Avengers. But Obama insists on being a nice guy. Polite. Courteous to everyone. Tolerant. Maybe that’s how he became president. Voters actually decided they wanted to elect a decent guy for a change. But I don’t know if a decent and honest Obama can survive Washington politics. After all, it’s a dirty, rotten game. Corrupt. How can one stay above the fray? Even gawd himself would be torn asunder in Washington. It’s hell. –Jim Broede

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

I want you to meet Nora.

You must click on this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ860P4iTaM

And it'll take you to a YouTube video of a piano playing cat named Nora. Watching Nora play the piano made my day. I'd like to introduce my cat Loverboy to Nora. I think they'd make an ideal couple. Albeit, Loverboy has a girlfriend now. Namely Chenuska. But I think he could handle two girlfriends. And learn to play the piano in the process. With Nora as his instructor. --Jim Broede

Pondering the silliness of war.

I’ve been acclimated to war. Forever, it seems. Ever since I was a youngster. Always seemed like war was a vital part of life. I was 6 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. My uncle went off to war. I read about war. Often, it was glamorized. And made to seem patriotic. But I’ve long thought of war as idiotic. Unnecessary. Undesirable. Immoral. I’d think that by now the human species would have found alternatives to war. Guess not. We must be slow learners. Because war really is gawd-awful. Yet it persists. I wonder if there ever was a day in the past few thousand years when there wasn’t an active war. Many of ‘em absolutely senseless wars. I wonder how many lives have been lost in wars. Billions and billions, I’m sure. Makes me wonder if we’re all barbarians. War-mongers. The fact that we tolerate wars. Actually encourage wars as legitimate solutions to political and social problems. I would think that in a civil society, we’d find ways to avert wars. Or maybe there’s no such thing as a civil society. We’re just plain uncivil. To each other. Anyway, I’ve never fought in a war. I’ve been in the Army. Played soldier. Yes, I’ve been lucky. Never in danger of getting my head blown off. That must be a hard way to die. Albeit, quick. You don’t have time to ponder what hit you. Fortunately, I’ve lived long enough to ponder the silliness of war. –Jim Broede

Yes, screw the private profiteers.

More and more, I'm thinking it's time to say to hell with political conservatives. Give 'em the shaft. Run roughshod over 'em. They'd do the same to political liberals. So, have no mercy. I used to think, be kind to your enemies. But sometimes, your enemies have absolutely no scruples. They don't give you a fairshake. Therefore, I'm coming to the conclusion, screw 'em. Now that we liberals are in a position of relative power. Yes, let's be highly partisan. And force through a public option for health care. Preferably, a single payer system. Because it's the right thing to do. For the common good. Let's get the private insurance companies out of the picture. After all, they're in it to make a profit. Something like 20 percent. While the government-operated Medicare program runs on administrative costs of only a little over 3 percent. Yes, health care for everyone should be designed to provide health care, not profits. The for-profit system is immoral. Wrong. Just as wrong as it was when our nation was initially founded on a slave economy. Took us a long time to get it right. Anyway, the profiteers in health care are firmly entrenched. They have the money to oppose reform. The pharmaceutical companies, alone, are spending millions of dollars daily to try to kill reform. And they're succeeding. But our liberals are trying to do something about it. Bit by bit. We need a breakthrough now. Democrats could force the issue. But to do that, they have to rally courage and fortitude. They have to fight dirty. They have to go to battle. With the intent of taking no prisoners. Yes, royally screw the conservatives and the private profiteers. --Jim Broede

Monday, September 7, 2009

Let's do as the Scandinavians.

I don't understand why Barack Obama wants to expand the war in Afghanistan. I'd rather see all of our troops pulled out. I'd like to see the day when America isn't waging a war. Just minding our own business. And rerouting our defense and war spending to health care and other domestic essentials. Countries such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark don't wage war. And they seem to do all right. Let's follow their example. --Jim Broede

The kooks are amongst us.

We live in an age of kooks. Crazy conservative kooks. Parents who don't want their children to listen to the president of the United States. For fear that their precious little baby dolls will be corrupted. And steered down paths to socialism. My gawd. How have we come to this sad state of affairs? We even have kooks who claim that Barack Obama wasn't born in the U.S. And therefore, he has no business being president. We have kooks that come to town hall meetings with concealed weapons. I guess because they feel threatened over the possibility that socialized medicine will be foisted on 'em. Well, they certainly need socialized psychiatry. They need to be put away in a socialized nut house. I swear, even folks disguised as newscasters or pundits or commentators take to the airways on the Fox Network and espouse this kind of crap. They claim to be sane patriotic Americans. And they say the rest of us don't see the light. Believe me, I see the light. Yes, the inmates have escaped the asylum. They are amongst us. --Jim Broede

Sunday, September 6, 2009

But not in America.

I heard an argument today. That we Americans are immoral. When it comes to health care. That other rich nations started with the premise that health care is a moral issue. That it's morally imperative that they provide health care to all of its citizens. Rich and poor alike. Yes, universal coverage. Every rich nation, except the U.S., made it a moral issue. We Americans, meanwhile, don't care that much about our neighbor. If we have adequate health care, that's good enough. To heck with our neighbor. To heck with the common good. Other nations asked, what's the morally right thing to do? And then they found ways to do it. But not in America. Because that sounds too much like socialized medicine. --Jim Broede

Saturday, September 5, 2009

We're always on the side of good.

My inclination is to extend the hand of friendship to so-called 'enemies' of the U.S. For instance, Kadafi in Libya and Chavez in Venezuela. Because I suspect they aren't nearly as bad as our leaders/public officials/politicians portray 'em. I base this on the fact that even fellow Americans (Republicans and Democrats) portray each other in hateful, gawd-awful terms. So, what would they do with foreigners? Yes, they'd be even more hateful and gawd-awful. Unfortunately, we Americans often don't have respect for each other. We're at each other's throats. We stretch the truth. We tell lies right and left. We go about living with closed minds. Many of us divide the world into good and evil. Of course, we're always on the side of good. --Jim Broede

Like good Christians.

If I'm a wild-eyed political conservative, I'm gonna tell myself that it's all right to have a closed mind. I know what I believe. And I don't wanna have anyone tell me anything different. Because I know I'm right. Afterall, I'm gawd-fearing. And gawd is on my side. I've been blessed by gawd. Gawd tells me what to do. And that's good enough for me. Gawd even tells me when to go to war. And when to call people I despise gawd-awful names. Gawd wants me to fight evil. Communists. Gays. Heathens. Liberals. I want a world in which we all think alike. Like good Christians. --Jim Broede

...a blessed life.

If I'm Barack Obama, I'm enjoying every day. Just knowing that I'm president of the United States. That's satisfaction in itself. Achieving this lofty status. And being a black man. Wow! I'm just gonna let things happen. And deal with issues the best I can. I'm not gonna say that I have to accomplish this or that. Instead, I'll just let things evolve. Naturally. And with my deft touch, too. Imagine getting this far in life, I'd tell myself. Oh, I'll work for health care reform. And I'll act presidential. But in the long run, I can effect only so much change. Because there are forces around me over which I have no or limited control. I sometimes wonder how I got this far. With my background and my upbringing and my circumstances, it's been an unlikely scenario. But hey, now that I'm here, I'll embrace it. And go with the flow. And let's just see where it takes us. I figure I've come this far with the help of a divine guiding hand. And I'll just trust that I'm leading a blessed life. --Jim Broede

Friday, September 4, 2009

When heads begin to roll.

I suspect Barack Obama finds himself bogged down in Washington politics. The system is firmly entrenched. Obama has to play the game. Otherwise, he'll get nothing done. And so, his ideal agenda gets considerably watered-down. Diluted. Almost to the point of being unrecognizable. I naively thought that Obama could significantly change the system. Instead, he's being engulfed by the system. Even independent-minded maverick Ralph Nader would be helpless if he was president. And that's sad. The system won't change. It will prevail and live on until Americans launch a revolution comparable to the bloody French Revolution in 1789. When heads of lobbyist-controlled politicians begin to roll. --Jim Broede

I made the right choice.

When I came to Minnesota in 1965, I had other job offers. In other parts of the country. I could easily have gone elsewhere. I was single. And so I had lots of freedom. Think of it. At times in our lives, we make pivotal decisions. We could go here or there. And if I had made a choice other than Minnesota, my life would have been quite different. Because I would have been plunked down in a situation with different circumstances and an entirely different cast of characters. Among other things, I would never have met Jeanne, the woman I loved and married for 38 years. Would I have linked up with someone else? Would my career have taken an entirely different turn? Chances are, I wouldn't be writing this blog. I might not even be alive. I'm thinking about writing an imaginative story. Speculating what would have happened if I had accepted another job offer instead. Anyway, I made the right choice. --Jim Broede

Thursday, September 3, 2009

A nation without a credible leader.

I'm trying to figure out what's on Barack Obama's mind. When it comes to health care reform. I thought he might take more of a leadership role. And present a plan of his own. Instead, he seems to be leaving the decision up to Congress. To allow Congress to draft a plan. But hey, that may result in no plan at all. Which is about par for the course. A do-nothing Congress. Health care needs fixing. But our elected officials can't agree on what should be done. And nobody is taking a leadership role. Not even Obama. Which I find very disappointing. Think of it. A nation without a credible leader. --Jim Broede

Amazing, isn't it?

Too often, we Americans think we have the best of everything. Even health care. And that ain't true. We could learn a lot from other countries. Nations with universal health care. Such as Germany. And Japan. Germany, for instance, has everyone covered. Without a public option. Instead, there are 220 private insurers. And one is free to go to any of 'em. But everyone is required to have insurance. And it works. At rates far more affordable than in the U.S. I've cited an example here before. When my Jeanne broke her wrist in Germany, it required insertion of 3 pins to hold the fracture together. The entire hospital and doctor's bill was less than $500. When Jeanne had the pins removed in the U.S., it cost thousands of dollars. Paid for by Medicare and private insurance, of course. Little wonder insurance premiums are so high. Meanwhile, in Japan, everyone is covered under a private system. But the costs are much lower, and more effective in terms of health benefits than in the U.S. And one reason for that -- doctors work for relatively low salaries. Often, because of the prestige that comes with being a doctor. Amazing, isn't it? To work for prestige and honor rather than for the money. --Jim Broede

I thought he was a miracleworker.

Barack Obama will take his case for health care reform to a joint session of Congress. And directly to the people. In an address next Wednesday. I see Obama as a man of words. Capable of swaying a vast audience. Well, this is the real test. It's make-or-break time. I think Obama has the makings of a great orator. Persuasive. Capable of pulling off miracles. With words. We'll see. Could be that Obama is a flash in the pan, so to speak. And won't be able to pull it off. That would be sad. That is, from my selfish perspective. Because I want universal health care. A public option. I'm a liberal. And that's, in large part, why I voted for Obama. Because I thought he was a miracle-worker. --Jim Broede

More like Bruce.

I don't know if I'm supposed to grieve the death of my brother. Bruce died the other day. On his birthday. An accidental death. But Bruce had been in ill health for years. A number of maladies. Bruce never really took care of himself. He was a drinker. And he was way overweight much of his life. And he had an unhappy, unsuccessful marriage. And never got married again. Bruce was a philosopher. At least, he majored in philosophy at the University of Wisconsin. Maybe Bruce didn't know what he was. Or maybe it was that I didn't know Bruce. We hadn't seen each other for decades. Albeit, we occasionally talked to each other on the phone, or exchanged infrequent emails. He was in California. I'm in Minnesota. I was going to call him on his birthday. The day he died. Didn't quite make it in time. Bruce was 354 days younger than me. Yes, a relative closeness in age. But we always moreorless went our separate ways. He had his set of friends. I had mine. I think our personalities were quite different. We spent our youth in pretty much the same environment. But I think we let it affect us in different ways. Seems to me that Bruce was more like our father. I'm more like my mother. Anyway, I have a sister, too. About 4 years younger than me. Babs is more like father. More like Bruce. -Jim Broede

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

I prefer my definition.

I wish Barack Obama were more liberal. Or progressive. Or more a socialist. Whatever the word. These words have so many, many meanings. If you're a conservative, these words are tantamount to radical. But then I consider conservative sort of radical. Just depends on where one is coming from. We mix up terms. We give 'em such wide-ranging definitions. Almost as if we are speaking different languages. Maybe that's why so many issues go unresolved. We don't know how to communicate. We don't speak each other's language. Often, we're labeled. In negative ways. Such as 'liberal,' for instance. I'm proud to be a liberal. But by someone else's definition, that means I'm a wild-eyed radical. A communist. A heathen. An ignoramus. On the other hand, I see myself as an intelligent free-thinker and a generally nice guy who works for the common good. I prefer my definition. --Jim Broede

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

I have to convince myself.

Oh, I cope with life all right. Not perfectly. I go awry from time to time. Into psychologically questionable practices. But I eventually get my way out. It's just a temporary way of coping. And I'm not sure there's a normal way and an abnormal way. Just ways. Some rather positive. Others, maybe negative. Depending on one's point of view. I tend to not want to lose it. To go berserk. To go into a quandary. To become disconsolate. I have my little moments of sadness. Lamentations. But I tell myself, get over it. No reason to feel sorry for one's self. Because I really haven't had it that bad. So far. I grieve. But in my own way. I think of reasons not to grieve. Or to grieve, and then get over it. No sense in grieving for a prolonged period. That makes one chronically unhappy. This attitude of mine perturbs some people. They think I get over it too easily. But that's not the case. Instead, I prefer to compact bad times, sad times. Makes sense, doesn't it? Often, I work it out. Inside me. And in writing. I see it. I put it into words. Words that I understand. Ain't necessary for others to understand. I have to convince myself. Not others. --Jim Broede

As does falling in love.

I think I have plenty of empathy for others. But I learned very early in life to sheath myself in protective armor, of sorts. To not get too distraught over events in life over which I have no control. Maybe that's my way of taking control of my life. My sister and my brother never learned that skill. That's why they always had difficulty coping. Maybe this makes me seem cold and heartless and cruel. But that's not the way I see it. I think I am warm and understanding and kind. But in order to be all these things, I have to protect myself. I can't allow myself to lose control. And I do that with my attitude. To look at the bright side. The positive side. Of virtually all bad situations. A death, for instance. The loss of a loved one. Yes, shit happens. But I'm not gonna let it foul me. I'll take a shower or bathe in the lake or go beneath a waterfall in Paradise and wash the shit away. Often, I do it with my writing. Writing gives me an opportunity to make sense of life. To not get discouraged. As does falling in love. --Jim Broede

Might as well enjoy it.

What would I change in my life? I'm not sure if I'd change anything. I like the idea of just letting life happen. One day at a time. Gives me a sense of adventure. Not knowing what's gonna come. Maybe it's that I'm learning to live one day at a time. And to appreciate life. No matter what. Because much of life one cannot change. Like my younger brother Bruce. He died yesterday. Coincidentally, on his birthday. He fell in the bathroom. Hit his head. And that was adios. Bruce had been in ill health for years. One thing after another. But he survived it all. Only to die accidentally. Ironic, isn't it? But that's life. My Jeanne died. In January 2007. Of Alzheimer's. We had been married 38 years. But hey, I'm alive and well (as far as I know) and in love. Might as well enjoy it. --Jim Broede