In this fearful society.

We're all under suspicion these days. For being unstable. Or terrorists. Or perverts. We live in a society of fear. It's too bad. Didn't used to be that way. When I go to the airport, I am searched. Even have to take off my shoes for fear that a bomb might be concealed in the soles. My bags are x-rayed. I go through metal detectors. Even grandma walking with a cane is frisked. Can't be too safe. When trick or treaters go door to door on Halloween night, they more often than not are accompanied by parents. Just to play it safe. I'm under suspicion. Even on this blog. Sometimes, for being satirical. For joking. Joshing. Poking fun. Because, hey, maybe I'm serious. And I am. Sometimes. And sometimes not. But hey, we've gotta play it safe. You never know. I might be Jack the Ripper. I've lived my 74 years. Never been in trouble with the law. Maybe one or two misdemeanors. Speeding. Or an illegal left turn. But that's about it. I've served my country. In the army. Albeit, I've never seen battle action. Thank gawd. Really, I've been an upstanding citizen. Sure, I mouth off. Always have. As a newspaper reporter. A writer. I'm opinionated. And that puts me under suspicion. To be feared. To be watched. But it wouldn't matter even if I kept my big mouth shut. I'd be under suspicion for being silent. For looking sneaky. Or maybe looking like an Arab. Or because of slanty eyes. Yes, we can't be too safe. Too cautious. We Americans. Everybody is a suspect. You never know. It's even safe to check under our beds at night. Somebody may be hiding there. Waiting to do us harm. In this fearful society. --Jim Broede

Cheney out hunting quail. Beware.

I'm just as stable as the next guy and gal. But if you wanna see unstable, look at the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. What about Dick Cheney? And Sarah Palin. And Rush Limbaugh. And Glen Beck. Can anyone tell me that they are stable? Anyway, I like venturing out in this crazy world. Even on Halloween night. I've dealt with lunatic Republicans. So I think I can handle just about any kind of spook. I'll scare the hell out of everyone by dressing as Dick Cheney. Out hunting quail. Beware. --Jim Broede

The possibilities of life.

I'm fascinated by distance. And the size of the cosmos. Astronomers have discovered a star that exploded, and it's 13 billion light years away. In other words, it took 13 billion years for the light from that explosion to reach Earth. Traveling at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. That's an amazingly long ride. Think of the vastness of creation. The billions and billions of galaxies. Each with billions and billions of stars. And imagine the number of planets that could be revolving around the stars. Must be billions of Earth-like planets. So many, many possibilities of life. --Jim Broede

Time to overthrow the scoundrels.

Seems to me that we Americans have been groomed to think more about the individual good rather than the common good. That's why we have a capitalist society. Let's make money. Let's allow everyone the opportunity to get monetarily rich. No limits. No rules. Exploit, if you will. Greed is good. An everybody for himself mentality. That's why we're against socialism. Means we have to share. Spread the wealth. Take from one individual and give to another. We Americans don't like that. It's an abhorrent thought. We're told we should dislike government. Because government wants to take our money. Taxes. Albeit, for the common good. For everybody. Even for the poor. Of course, the capitalist bankers want government subsidies when their banks fail. Yes, a public bailout. So they can make big bucks again. And pay each other huge cash bonuses. While the rest of us go unemployed. Or lose our homes to foreclosure. Because the money doesn't trickle down. It stays at the top. So the bankers can prosper. At the expense of the lower and middle classes. Yes, that's the way the capitalist system works. The rich get richer. The poor get poorer. And we apathetic and sorry Americans don't do anything about it. We accept our fate. When really, we should be taking to the streets. To ignite the revolution. To overthrow the greedy capitalist scoundrels. --Jim Broede

A pleasant surprise.

I love these unexpectedly warm days. In late October. In Minnesota. The 60s weren't predicted for today. It was supposed to be a high of only 45. But here we are. A south wind. And balmy shirtsleeve weather. Of course, the other shoe will drop soon. But even then, it won't be bad. I'll take the 30s and the 40s. And much cooler before it's all over. I really like it all. But hey, a pleasant surprise. That's extra special. --Jim Broede

I'm following Jeanne's orders.

I've changed a lot since Jeanne died in January 2007. Initially, I thought I'd just mark time for the rest of my life. Live in solitude. Never fall in love again. In a sense, I felt like my meaningful life was all over. How wrong I was. Maybe it was Jeanne talking to me from the spirit world. And her message was: Live. Live. Live. And love. Love. Love. Savor every day for the rest of your life. Yes, I'm doing everything Jeanne would have wanted me to do. --Jim Broede

Their choice to make. Not ours.

Afghanistan isn't worth a prolonged war. If I was Barack Obama, I'd get out. Now. I really don't see anything to gain by staying there and adding more troops. Afghanistan is a problem for Afghans. Let them resolve their destiny. In their own way. Without our interference. Some of the American hawks think our absence in Afghanistan will open the place for training and operation sites for terrorists. Well, so be it. If we block them in Afghanistan, they'll go elsewhere. Like now. In Pakistan. Much of the planning for the 9/11 attack in New York City was done in Germany. In Hamburg. Chances are we'll be less prone to an attack if we mind our business. And get out of Afghanistan. And Iraq. And the Middle East. Our strategic interest should be right here in the United States. Bolstering our economy and infrastructure and vital services such as health care and public education. Let's set an example for the rest of the world. On how to live and prosper and enjoy relative peace and harmony. Within our own borders. If other nations see our prospering society, maybe they'll want to follow in our footsteps. That's their choice to make. Not ours. --Jim Broede

Learning to laugh a little bit.

I have a friend. Maebee. Her real name is Nina. But she goes by Maebee on the Internet. Because she thinks it's dangerous to use one's real name. Now I'm not sure that Maebee considers me a friend. I suspect she doesn't trust me. She has some absurd ideas about me. And I about her. We really don't know each other. We've never met. But we've exchanged pleasantries. A few unpleasantries, too. I joke around with Maebee a whole lot. Only thing is, she doesn't share my sense of humor. At times, I doubt that she has any sense. That could be taken in a variety of ways. But I mainly mean humor. And she thinks some of my humor is insulting. A little bit like the comedian Don Rickles. I try to lighten things up with Maebee. But it's quite a challenge. Because Maebee often wants to be serious when I want to be funny. I usually win. By just laughing it up. That annoys Maebee to some degree. Albeit, I have to admit she's relatively tolerant of my ways. Yes, she's learning. To laugh a little bit. --Jim Broede

I'm still changing.

I suspect that many of us change from year to year to year. Even significantly. We adapt. We adjust. We change our attitudes. Our opinions. But often we've been pegged. Because people got impressions years ago. And they don't notice the change. Maybe because they aren't observant. Anyway, I could easily have written something 20 years ago. An opinion piece. And I no longer believe it. I might have an entirely different outlook on the subject. In college, for instance, I was a political conservative. Imagine that. I'm an unabashed liberal today. I was kind of shy then, too. Not so much any more. Maybe that's because of the profession I went into. Writing. Mainly for newspapers. I had to interview people. Strangers. And I had to get them to talk. To open up. Sometimes more than they'd like. And I'd find ways. To dig out the story. And I have a natural curiosity. To learn. About this and that. And that often made me change my opinion. My approach. Really, even my concept of life. And what's meaningful. Yes, I've changed. A whole lot. And I'm still changing. --Jim Broede

Fooling ourselves.

Let's face it. Much of the world is nutty. And for we Americans to think that we'll straighten out the world is nutty, too. Imagine that. We think we can protect ourselves from the nuts. By waging war in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Fact of the matter is we have our own nuts. Rush Limbaugh. Glen Beck. The lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. They're running wild. We can't even control the nuts running rampant in our own country. And here we are trying to shape up the rest of the world. We need to get our own nut house in order first. Let's get treatment for the nuts. Yes, with universal health care. With the emphasis on mental health. We need an army all right. An army of psychiatrists. Let's set up free mental health clinics. And recognize the wave of insanity sweeping this country. It's been this way for a long, long time. We bury our heads in the sand. Fooling ourselves. Thinking we are sane. When most of us are nuts. --Jim Broede

Don't we have two evils?

I'm against war. Especially unnecessary wars. And that means most wars. I'd rather see us save lives and divert the immense cost of wars into peaceful endeavors. Imagine what we could have done in America with the money spent so far on the Iraq and Afghanistan debacles. We all could be living on Easy Street. Instead, we keep dumping money and lives down a rat hole, so to speak. We haven't made the world any safer by going to war. And we've depleted our national treasury. We've also made ourselves a morally corrupt society. Of course, we rationalize by saying we are going to war against evil. But if one fights evil with evil, don't we have two evils? --Jim Broede

Savoring precious moments.

It's easier living at 74 than it was at 50. I remember being 50. I worried about things that I shouldn't have fretted about. I often got too far ahead of myself. Rather than living fully one day at a time. Maybe I was worried that I wouldn't live to be 74. That I'd die before my time. When I was younger, I should have spent more time counting my blessings. It was a good time. But I didn't appreciate it enough. I worried too much. Rather than fully savoring what I had. I had Jeanne. A healthy Jeanne. And I appreciated that. But maybe not as much as I should have. Jeanne's gone now. Died almost 3 years ago. But I have another love. And I appreciate that. More than one might imagine. I relish life and love more at 74 than I did at 50. I have a better grasp of what's important and meaningful. Life experience makes a difference. The fact that I've lived well beyond 50. That's amazing. Sure, it'd be nice to be 50 again, and know what I know now. But to turn back the clock would probably mean turning back my whole being. I'd be that same person over again. So I'd rather settle for what I've become today. At 74. Because I'm better at capturing and savoring precious moments. --Jim Broede

Loveable losers.

The World Series is no big deal for me. I won't go out of my way to watch any of the games. Oh, I'll probably tune in. Out of habit. But I don't much care. Because my Chicago Cubs aren't in it. And even if they were, I might go for a walk. Rather than watch. Because I might become too tense. Maybe I'd check the scoreboard occasionally. See, I'd get too wrapped up in the game if I watched. Too emotionally drained. So maybe it's a godsend that the Cubs haven't been in a World Series since 1945. Better for my nerves. For my blood pressure. I suppose if I watch, I'll pull for the Philadelphia Phillies. Because they're a National League team. I like the National League better than the American League. And besides, I've never liked the New York Yankees. Maybe it's jealousy. They're far more successful than the Cubs. But I really can't complain. The Cubs are loveable. Loveable losers. --Jim Broede

Like god himself.

I'm not sure that all fantasy is unreal. Take religion, for instance. Or the belief in god. Or the existence of a spirit world or another dimension. Could be it's all fantasy. Because much of it takes an article of faith. To believe. Yes, one can choose to believe what one wants to believe. Without absolute proof. Through the leap of faith. Where does one draw the line? I choose to give meaning to life. To my life. And to existence. To the physical world. And the imagined world. I interpret reality. Right or wrong. In a sense, I've created my own world. Much like god, I suppose. I've used my consciousness. My awareness. And I'm not sure how much difference there is beyond the real and the imagined. All of it may be imagined. None of it real. With my imagination, I can create virtually anything. All kinds of worlds. Like god himself. --Jim Broede

I'd put the jobless to work.

If I was king of America, I'd see to it that every able-bodied American that wanted to work had a job. That includes the 15 million unemployed now. Maybe that would require a massive federal public works program. Whatever it takes. Maybe I'd create a job corps, too. With federal funds to dispatch corps members into bolstering vital service jobs in the private sector. For instance, sending them into understaffed nursing homes and hospitals to work as nurses' aides and orderlies. To get money for all this, I'd declare that America has become a peace-loving nation. No more wars. And that would save trillions of dollars. More than enough to pay for the jobs program. At the same time, we'd be lifting millions of people out of poverty. --Jim Broede

Maybe by divine design.

Several decades ago, I didn't have this outlet. I had to send my messages out in a bottle. In the sea. And it took a long time for the message to arrive. If at all. Now I have the Internet. A vast new sea. And lo and behold, I have found love. And I've nurtured it. In so many, many ways. I've connected. In person. So very real. We've touched. And it all began two years ago today. When the bottle arrived. When the bottle was found. By chance. By fate. Maybe by divine design. --Jim Broede

Has the world gone crazy?

We are inundated by news. Slanted in so very many directions. Different interpretations. So many that one can be easily confused. In essence, we have all kinds of realities to choose. Liberal slants. Conservative slants. And positions inbetween. If I put on the Fox Network. I'm told that Barack Obama is a fascist. A danger to our country. He must fail for America to have any chance of survival. So that the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party can take power. Some of the Fox pundits have even proposed a military coup d'etat. And they hold T-parties across the nation in an effort to stir rebellion. To a liberal like me, it seems like utter fantasy. A joke. Yet, to a far right conservative, I appear to be the lunatic. A wild-eyed socialist. A communist. The devil incarnate. And I think reality is what I hear reported on cable channel MSNBC by the likes of Keith Obermann and Rachel Maddow. The other side listens to Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck. Little wonder that I sense the world has gone crazy. --Jim Broede

On positive thinking.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley appears to be persona non grata in Chicago. Many fans don't like him. The Cubs suspended Bradley for the last 3 weeks of the baseball season for comments critical of the organization. And it's widely believed the Cubs are trying to trade him. Mainly for his alleged negative attitude. But I think it's more a case that he had a bad season statistically. If he had a stellar season, he'd be welcome, regardless of attitude. Well, I'm for bringing Bradley back for another season. Giving him a chance to get his head screwed on right. Because I think he has immense natural baseball talent. All he has to do is to learn how to control his temper. And not let personal criticism get to him. Yes, just ignore it. Which will be very difficult. After all, he's received racial baitiing from fans. They're idiots. And insensitive. But the world will always be sprinkled with racial bigots. And Bradley shouldn't let that ruin his baseball career. On game day, he should learn to focus on the game, and shut out all the rest. Focus. Focus. Focus. Seems to me that last season virtually the entire Cubs team lost focus. Players' heads weren't into the games. Stupid errors. Physical errors. But mostly mental errors. Bradley was blamed for causing tension in the clubhouse. But he didn't bring the team down my himself. It was a collective effort. A team letdown. The entire team needs psychotherapy. Baseball is very much a mental game. And the Cubs have neglected the mental aspects. Come to think of it, maybe that's the malady that affects us all from time to time. We overlook the importance of positive attitude in dealing with life. --Jim Broede

In love. Of humankind.

I don't mean to bad-mouth capitalism totally. I'll concede there can be good capitalism. More likely, it's gonna be bad capitalism. Exploitative. Especially if it goes unregulated. Yes, government has to step in. To regulate capitalism. Free enterprise capitalists can't be trusted to regulate themselves. Too many of 'em are downright greedy. They want to reap unlimited amounts of capital. Money. Money. Money. They live and die for money. For exorbitant profits. Obscene profits. And if that means screwing the rest of us, they'll do it. Some of 'em without the slightest pang of conscience. The capitalist tends to lose sight of the common good. Rather, their credo is to benefit the individual. Themselves. Rather than society as a whole. Survival of the fittest. And to hell with everybody else. They think it's all right for the rich to keep getting richer and for the poor to keep getting poorer. They see the poor as saps. People who don't know any better. And therefore deserve to be poor. Because, in theory at least, they have the opportunity in a capitalist society to get as rich as the next guy. A capitalist is generally opposed to socialism. Because that hampers a capitalist's quest for unlimited riches. The socialist wants more spreading of the wealth. Taking from the haves and giving some of it to the have-nots. A closing of the gap between the rich and the poor. And the socialist wants to provide everyone with the basic necessities of life. Through public programs. In education. In health services. In police and fire protection. In transit. Yes, for the sake of a cohesive society. For the common good. The very principle that so many of our religious philosophers and leaders espoused. One of 'em even proclaimed that it's virtually impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom. Paradise. Heaven. Nirvana. He can't buy his way in. Instead, it's a spiritual endeavor. One must surrender monetary riches. And find reward in the spirit. In love. Of humankind. --Jim Broede

That especially goes for love.

I like a decent day's work. And that means not doing too little or too much. Yes, there's a danger in doing too much. It's indecent. One should be nice to one's self. Not to become too tired or exhausted. Finding the right balance. If I'm gonna paint the interior of the house, for instance, I should define what I expect to accomplish today. A reasonable amount. And quit when I reach my goal, rather than push on. Leave something for tomorrow and the next day and next week, and even next month, if necessary. I was reared by a mother who liked to do too much. As I got older and became an independent thinker, I understood the folly of her ways. And I invented my ways. Better ways. At least for me. I learned to proceed at my own pace. Even in school. That made learning more enjoyable. Even made work more of a pleasure. I'm in no rush. I take time to savor whatever it is I'm doing and experiencing. And by golly, that especially goes for love. --Jim Broede

Now I know it. Beyond a doubt.

I like the give and take in a good relationship. That's what makes it so good. The give and take. And when it's a love relationship, there's love. To give and take. Nothing better than that. I have several good relationships. But only one truly love relationship. Seems to me there's a oneness to love. I can't carry on multiple love relationships. I find that impossible. In other words, when I was in love with Jeanne. There was only Jeanne. Jeanne's gone. She died. But now there's someone else. Only one other. Yes, I can have only one love at a time. Because I have to give it my all. I suspected since I was a young man that was the way it was supposed to be. But now I know it. Beyond a doubt. --Jim Broede

Is there too much profit?

I just had a root canal and a crown to save a tooth. Cost me a little over $2,000. I have no dental insurance. Except for the cost, the procedure was painless. No complaints over the procedure. I spent 2 hours, at the very most, in the dental chair. So it was relatively quick. Comes down to paying the dentist about $1,000 an hour. I questioned the dentist about that. And he told me he has all kinds of expenses. Maintaining his office and staff. And he's well-trained. Graduated from dental school. So maybe I paid the going-rate. Maybe even a fair rate. And I should be thankful. In many ways, I am. I still have all my teeth at age 74. But I'll continue to question the cost of essential health services in the USA. I suspect there's too much profit. Moreso than in other countries. When my Jeanne broke her wrist in Germany 7 or 8 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised how little it cost for medical care. The hospital and doctor's bills combined for piecing together the fracture with pins was $500. In the U.S. it would have been many times that. Evidenced by the bill of several thousand dollars to have the pins removed here. --Jim Broede

Our tradition. Our American way.

As a society, it seems to me we have accepted longtime practices just because they are longtime practices. Traditions. Without adequately questioning whether they are right or wrong. Like the practice of slavery, for instance. Right here in 'freedom-loving' America for so many years. Or denying women the right to vote until 1918. And today, we accept immoral capitalist ways. Allowing people to exploit each other. To make exorbitant and obscene profits off essential services such as health care. And we allow Wall Street bankers/brokers to continue to walk away with huge cash bonuses, despite the fact that we taxpayers bailed them out and saved their asses from financial ruin. Yes, we allow ourselves to be bilked by greedy capitalists. We allow for an ever-widening gap between our rich and poor. Simply because that's our tradition. Our American way. --Jim Broede

Medicare for everyone.

Medicare for everyone. That's being hyped now. By the liberal caucus. And I think it has a chance of passing. I have Medicare. As my primary insurer. Doesn't pay for everything. But a goodly chunk of it. And I have supplemental private insurance to cover the rest. Of course, I qualified for Medicare when I turned 65. Thank gawd. But I see no reason why people under 65 shouldn't have the option of Medicare. Make it voluntary. But have the public option available. To compete against the private insurers. Seems fair to me. The public plan isn't out to make a 20 percent profit, like the private insurers. If that puts the private insurers at a disadvantage, so be it. Health care is an essential service. Every citizen needs it, and deserves it. Regardless of income. And at affordable rates. Medicare is a popular program. Strongly supported by senior citizens. And even by some Republicans. Wow! Yes, many GOPers know better than to bad mouth this socialist program. Because it's recognized as serving the common good. Much like social security. Another socialist program. --Jim Broede

A peril of life.

I am often misinterpreted. Aren't we all? That's a peril of life. Language isn't quite as precise as we imagine. Words have variable meanings. --Jim Broede

God's humor?

I certainly hope that god has a sense of humor. And that factored into his decision to create us and the world as we know it. --Jim Broede

He was truly living his comedy.

My favorite comedian of all time was Andy Kaufman. Because he was the master of the put-on. He convinced the humorless that he was deadly serious. That made it difficult for some to see his humor. Because he could carry on with his humor round the clock. In daily life. His whole world was the stage. He could go days doing his schtick. Non-stop. He was truly living his comedy. --Jim Broede

Go see Kaufman. Click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uQlB99WCuk

I have the advantage.

I like it that people tell me what they don't like about me. Even if I don't publish it. I still read it. It gives me a great deal of insight. Not only about myself. But about you. In a sense, we are sort of psychoanalyzing each other. I have the advantage. Because I'm more perceptive than most, if not all of you. --Jim Broede

It wasn't all a dream.

I googled my name tonight. And the result was about 8,470 entries for Jim Broede alone. I even found a Citrus Circuit column I had written for the Lakeland (Fl) Ledger in 1962. Complete with a picture of me. When I was 26. I can hardly believe I was that young once upon a time. But there it is. Another sign that it wasn't all a dream. --Jim Broede

So, tonight I have no complaint.

I'm enjoying life. So little wonder that I'm happy. Even when I complain, I'm happy. Because I have the freedom to complain. I guess I'm a free spirit. Essentially, a live-and-let-live guy. I tell how I'd like the world to be. Knowing full well that I can't change the big picture. But knowing that I can adjust and accept life on those terms. I can pick and choose to some extent. Within my own little reality. I'm able to fall in love and to establish a loving relationship with another human being. That's fulfillment within itself. I also know that some day my life will end. I'll be gone from Earth. I've learned to accept that fact. And still be happy. Knowing that I can't have everything I might desire. But for the moment, I have happiness. And the moment seems like forever. So, tonight I have no complaint. --Jim Broede

I'm open to a typing challenge.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party. By golly, I must have typed that phrase 1,000 times. When I was a 12-year-old learning to type. So I could write stories for my neighborhood newspaper. I learned the two-finger method. Which I still use today. And I've been timed at 80 words a minute. Yes, with two fingers. When I was writing for newspapers, the curious would sometimes gather around. And watch me type. In my unorthodox and self-taught way. I'd like to think I'm one of the speediest two-finger typists around. I'm open to a challenge. Come and test me. --Jim Broede

Bumbling clowns.

It's Mother Russia. But Germany is the Fatherland. Interesting how some nations think of themselves in the feminine and others in the masculine. I prefer the feminine. What about America? Well, I suppose Uncle Sam is masculine. But the way the guy dresses, in red, white and blue and a silly hat, he looks like a clown. The same goes for our politicians. Many of 'em act like clowns. Bumbling clowns. --Jim Broede

America the Ugly.

We need fewer games in which there are winners and losers. Instead, we need to invent more games in which everybody feels they've won. For instance, in the matter of health care reform. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans and Democrats devised a plan that both sides could support? In other words, a plan in which there was give and take. Compromise. Instead, we have both camps stubbornly entrenched. Unwilling to budge an inch. Could be we all come out as losers in this pathetic game. Nobody wins. And the biggest losers end up being the American people. Because the political parties find it impossible to work together. Yes, that's the state of affairs. And that seems to satisfy our paltry political leaders. Because they allow for an impasse. Essentially, a do-nothing approach. Just leave things pretty much as they are. A shoddy health care system. With the highest health care costs in the world. Ineffective results, especially when compared to many other industrialized nations. And tens of millions of Americans without any health care insurance. Yes, when it comes to health care, it's not America the Beautiful. Sounds more like America the Ugly. --Jim Broede

If we all spoke the same language.

Oh, I wish I were fluent in a 2nd, 3rd and 4th language. But I suppose that if I can reasonably master only one language, English is a good choice. It gets me by in many, many places in the world. More than would German or French or Italian. But speaking the native language certainly enhances the travel experience. Just think, if we all spoke the same language, we'd probably have a better world. Because it would improve communication immensely. --Jim Broede

I wanna open doors of Dublin.

I'm getting a green door. A rather vivid green. For the main entry way to my house. I'd normally get a drab-colored door. But I got turned on to colorful doors when a friend showed me pictures of the doors of Dublin. The Irish capitol is known for its eye-catching doors. All colors of the rainbow. So I decided to do something different for a change. Now I want to go to Dublin. To open doors. --Jim Broede
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ALandmks/DoorsofDublin.html

Briskly, of course.

Ah, a wonderful day. Because the temperature reached 60 degrees. And sunny. In Minnesota, that's a very good day. Time to walk 6 miles. With a light jacket or sweater. And it seems warm because that's the warmest day we've had in a week or two. Interesting how one adapts. In January, I'll be happy when the temperature reaches 10 degrees above zero. Because I probably recently endured below zero. I take whatever I get. After all, I have no control over the weather. So I might as well make the best of it. Even when it's 30-below, I get satisfaction. I go for a walk. Briskly, of course. --Jim Broede

This blog isn't for everyone.

I love to post afterthoughts. I love to improvise. To do something different. I like to write in short sentences. Even one word sentences. I'm free to write pretty much as I please. Because these are my broodings. My blog. I'm unconventional. I don't follow the usual rules. And I don't compel anyone to come to this blog. Or to come back. For those who don't like my approach, I suggest going away and not coming back. This blog isn't for everyone. --Jim Broede

We hate. Instead of love.

We don't have to become cozy with each other. But we should carry on genuine dialogue. Have genuine give-and-take. A genuine intellectual exchange. Instead, we bark at each other. That's the nature of political discourse in the USA. Bark. Bark. Bark. We act like wild dogs. We form packs. Or gangs. We separate. Rather than come together. Republicans and Democrats don't even socialize with each other any more. We hate. Instead of love. --Jim Broede

People are afraid of each other.

People have to learn to trust each other. And a public forum isn't the place to do it. Instead, it has to be done privately. On a one-on-one basis. And so many, many people tend to be scared of that approach. Because it's too direct. Too intimate. Amazing. That so many people are afraid of each other. --Jim Broede

A way out of the doldrums.

I occasonally go by the name Crazy Jim. Because I think of myself as crazy. In a good way, of course. Not everyone will agree that I'm good crazy. Some think I'm bad crazy. Or crazy crazy. That I should be put away. I think that's funny. Because I'm harmless. I won't hurt myself. Or others. I'm really a free spirit. Among other things. Such as an unabashed liberal. A free-thinker in religious and spiritual terms. A romantic idealist. And a lover. Particularly of life. Anyway, all this is quite a conglomeration of roles. I enjoy 'em all. And hey, I'm happy. And solidly in love. Much of the time I'm in sweet rapture. No, I'm not on drugs. And never have been. I'm just naturally high. Guess it's the effect of love. Which pulses through my veins. My very being. Spirit and soul. And I write. This blog. Called Broodings. Nice broodings. I'm redefining the art/craft of brooding. To make brooding anything but glum. These are happy, happy broodings. That upsets some people. Especially unhappy people. Could be they envy me. And wish I'd shut up. Because the contrast of happiness with their unhappiness makes them feel even more deeply unhappy. But my intentions are good. I want to prove to them that a little bit of craziness can be a tonic. And get them out of their doldrums. --Jim Broede

God's finest creation.

I've said it before. And I'll say it again. God's finest creation was woman. Some uppity snob ladies think I'm kidding. They suggest that I don't take kindly to women. That I'm mean-spirited to women. Of course, that's idiotic. Just an example of the snob ladies jumping to faulty conclusions. A handful of snob ladies I'm acquainted with happen to be extraordinarily stupid. But please understand, with rare exception, I revere women. I even manage to tolerate the snob ladies. At least, they're funny. Good for laughs. As for women, in general, I love 'em. Thank god for women. Several in particular. And at the moment, one above all others. Actually, the most beautiful and intelligent woman in the world. At least from my biased perspective. I like this woman because she's strong and independent. With a mind of her own. I wouldn't ever want to change her. I just want her to continue being herself. God's finest creation. --Jim Broede

I wanna stay in Paradise.

Seems I've always been involved in controversy. One kind or another. Maybe that's the nature of the human condition. Disagreement. I learned as a youngster, to thrive on controversy. Made life interesting. Helped me learn. That to every issue, there are multiple sides. Many ways of doing things. Innumerable concepts of right and wrong. I loved it. Choosing sides. Debating. Trying to put things in perspective. Little wonder that I went into the news profession. Reporting. On issues. And events. Examining all sides. And often making my own decisions. Over right and wrong. Over fair and unfair. Golly, it's always been stimulating. I relished playing the devil's advocate. And I began to think that all issues can be decided and settled through negotiation. By talking things out. Reaching reasonable compromises. Creating win-win situations. Sure beats warfare. But then, some of us are entrenched in long held concepts -- that war and violence and killing are necessary. It's all part of the human condition But I don't buy that. We humans can reinvent ourselves. And become peacemakers, rather than war-makers. Maybe by cultivating love. Yes, sweet love. I deal with the reality of a world gone crazy. But I still find time to love. Daily. If not for 24 hours, a few precious moments. Like right now. And I ask myself, if I can have peace for a few hours, why can't I have it all the time? I go to Paradise for a visit every day. Now, I have to figure out how to stay there. As a permanent resident. --Jim Broede

Love letters.

I love to write love letters. Do it almost every day. Maybe two or three love letters some nights. Just before I go to bed. I even write love letters when I'm living with my love. Yes, I've learned to make the written word part of the love feast. So many ways to express love. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. My kind of woman likes love letters. Yes, the words of love. Some of the world's greatest poems really are love letters. They have a lasting quality. They survive long after the lovers are gone. It's a tribute to their love. Lasting forever. I like to capture the sentiment of the moment. And what better way to do it? Than in a love letter. --Jim Broede

Counting my enemies & friends.

I'd make friends with my enemies if they wanted to be friends. That's a problem, isn't it? Enemies don't want to be friends. Generally, I have nothing against my enemies. But I guess they don't like me. For whatever reason. Often, I'm unaware that certain people are my enemies. Because they don't bother telling me. Or they tell me in an email, for instance, without signing their names. I wish I had no enemies. I don't have a whole lot of friends. But the handful that I do -- well, they're very nice. I prefer quality friends over quantity friends. Even one friend might be enough. But hey, two, three, four, five, six. Then I'm in bonus territory. Meanwhile, I'm wondering if I have more enemies than friends. --Jim Broede

The adventure of living and loving.

I don't want to change the world. Because that's impossible. It would be wasted effort. So I try to make the best of the world as it is. Of course, there are things I don't like about the world. And I'd change. If I could. Such as the nature of politics. And I'd change some social and economic structures. But as long as I can't, I might as well enjoy the adventure of living and loving. --Jim Broede

Anon56 may be from Neptune.

Some of you anonymous people have me fooled. You keep me guessing. About your identity. Which is all right. But you give me clues. And I can play Sherlock Holmes. I used to think that Anon56 was a woman. But when I googled Anon56, I came up with a photo that accompanied one of her posts. And she looked like he instead of she. Maybe even a little like a sick John McCain. A bit aged. And I gather from posts by Anon56 on other web sites, that he/she is rather conservative. And a member of the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party. Because he/she is caught up in the so-called "birther" movement, the kooks that think Barack Obama was born in Kenya instead of Hawaii. And therefore, Obama is an alien and should be disqualified to be president. Makes me think that Anon56 may be from Neptune. I'd like to see his/her birth certificate. --Jim Broede

Even Jesus lost his temper.

I'm capable of playing roles. For instance, I'm basically a pacifist. I'm not looking for a fight. When I was a child and on the playground, I was cooperative. I played nicely. I was sociable. And I helped other kids. If they needed help. Occasionally, there was a playground bully. I'd suggest to him, not to be a bully. To mend his ways. To be nice. But if he tried to bully me -- well, I'd bully him instead. I'd stand up to him. Mainly with my mouth. I was known in the family as 'Big Mouth.' I never did believe in physical violence. Like I say, I was a pacifist, essentially. But if I was physically accosted, I would fight back. And I learned to scare the hell out of bullies. With words. It was my way of being a diplomat. To badger the bully. I still do that to some extent. Take a Rush Limbaugh and a Glen Beck, for instance. They're bullies. Stupid bullies. If I were on their shows, I'd bully 'em right back. I'd become the stronger bully. I'd rip 'em apart. With words. Yes, I find that those on the lunatic fringe of the Republican Party tend to be bullies. Very, very stupid bullies. And I encourage liberals like me to fight back. To bully 'em. Unmercifully. Take no prisoners. One can be a complete pacifist only so long. Not even Jesus was a complete pacifist. He got violent at times. Even to the point of overturning tables. Yes, he lost his temper. --Jim Broede

It's love. And not politics.

The game of politics. It's a dirty, dirty game. I don't like it. Ideally, I'd like to steer clear of politics. But it's there. Part of reality. And one deals with it. Or withdraws. At some point, one must fight back. I don't mean kill each other. I don't mean physical violence. But it's a battle of words. And thoughts. And ideas. And, unfortunately, lies and dirty tricks. It's not designed for the meek. It's all about power. And how to influence decisions. Money plays a big role. Maybe moreso than lofty ideas. I've been around politics for a long time. Covering it. Writing about it. More on the lower levels than the higher levels. I see how politicians get started. And what motivates many of 'em. And I've grown somewhat cynical. About how change comes about. Or doesn't come about. It's not very nice. Especially the lies. The deceit. And what seems to me the ignoring of the common good. And so I like to sound off from time to time. That's what I'm doing. I'm telling you what I don't like. Yes, I don't like politics and the way it's played. But I'm really helpless to do anything about it. Other than complain. Like in this blog. It's a nice release. It's therapeutic. And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll sit down and write a love letter. Because I'm in love. And politics will be emptied from my mind. And I will fall asleep. Knowing what's really important in life. It's love. And not politics. --Jim Broede

Nice balance in my life.

Complaining helps make me happy. I'm exercising my freedom of speech. I can say what's on my mind. Get it off my chest. I can say what I dislike. About almost anything. I often try to do something about it. And when I'm in love, I'm happy, despite the pitfalls of life. Love offsets everything else. Good health also helps. I like to feel good. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. Really, I have a positive attitude toward life. Complaining about what's wrong can be very therapeutic. And sometimes, I decide to turn the other cheek when somebody insults me. But other times, I slap back. Depends on what makes me feel good at the time. Yes, I think I have nice balance in my life. --Jim Broede

Love makes life worthwhile.

I suspect that far too many people are unhappy because they don't live their dreams. For one reason or another. Well, I pursue my dreams. Far too many to really accomplish. But still, I often enough succeed. I dream of falling in love, for instance. Deeply. And I've succeeded twice. I'm into my second love now. And it's wonderful. I thought that when my dear Jeanne died on Jan. 18. 2007, I'd never love again. But life is full of surprises. Dreams do come true. Like I say, not every dream by any means. But enough of 'em to bring joy and contentment to life. To the unhappy people, I suggest never giving up. Pursue those dreams. Hundreds of dreams, if necessary. All it takes is for one or two to come true. Love makes everything worthwhile. --Jim Broede

Makes me a happy camper.

Oh, we Americans. We change so slowly. Too slowly. We get mired into morally wrong policies, morally wrong pursuits. And we just stick with it. Look how long it took us to get rid of slavery. And to give blacks and women equal rights. In some ways, they're still lacking equality. We still have a society with racist strains. And we resist universal health care even when every other industrialized nation in the world has it. And we still have capital punishment. Mainly for blacks and poor people. The rich can hire fancy lawyers and save their fat asses. And find ways to widen the gap between the rich and poor. But there's one thing the power structure can't take away from us. I'm still able to fall in love. That offsets all the pitfalls and makes me a happy camper. --Jim Broede

I want to feel somewhat superior.

One of you anonymous posters asked me, "Why on earth, would anyone CHOOSE to be unhappy, unless they have a mental deficiency?"

Yes, I suppose it's a mental problem. Fact is, some choose unhappiness even if they don't have to. For whatever reason. And some of 'em even begrudge happy people their happiness. They can't stand to see happiness in others. I know some of 'em. They write to me. And they're terribly unhappy. And they tell me I have no right to be happy. And that I could well be faking my happiness. They suggest that I act happy primarily to annoy them. That if I was a decent guy, I'd act unhappy even if I was happy. Of course, that confuses me. I'm dealing with real nut cases. I don't mean to belittle 'em. I just encourage them to go in for treatment. To see a psychiatrist. When I tell them that, they often get more annoyed. Even livid. They accuse me of acting superior. That I'm the one that should be seeing a psychiatrist. So that I learn how to feel inferior. But I don't want to do that. Because I really want to keep feeling good and happy -- and yes, somewhat superior. --Jim Broede

Peace. Contentment. Sublime joy.

I had a wonderful time yesterday. Reminiscing. With two of my old college buddies. Turned back the clock more than 50 years. Seemed like yesterday. A reunion. Jogs the memory. Such a pleasant day, too. Snow. Nature. Bedecked in white. So early in October. We're all in our 70s. In the autumn/winter of our lives. Thoughts of eternal recurrence. Doing it over again. Yes, life has its sorrows. But an abundance of happiness, too. Peace. Contentment. Sublime joy. --Jim Broede

Let's get out.

Seems to me that all our options in Afghanistan are bad, bad, bad. If we keep intervening, we are supporting a corrupt government. If we leave, the theocratic Taliban will undoubtedly take over. If we stay and increase troop levels, the casualties will rise. And we may still lose. There's really nothing to gain. So, I'd just leave. And let Afghanistan take its natural course. Probably to disaster. Maybe Afghans can learn to live happily under the Taliban. That's their decision. Not ours. Some Americans fear that if we leave, Afghanistan will become a haven for terrorists. So what? They already have ample havens. One more won't make a difference. And if we get out of Afghanistan, maybe America will seem less like an imperial power. And we'll be able to reduce the defense/military budget. And put the savings to practical use. On universal health care and other domestic improvements. --Jim Broede

Taking one's good-natured time.

In life, I think endurance is so much more important and significant than speed. My hero is Sisyphus. He knew how to walk down that hill. Slowly. Taking his good-natured time to fetch his rock. --Jim Broede

The other gods are imposters.

My heroes are capable of out-witting a vengeful god. Actually, I don't believe in a vengeful god. Only a god of love. The other gods are imposters. --Jim Broede

Our national sport: Making money.

Baseball is really a summer game. Designed to be played in mild and hot weather. Not in wintry conditions. But the modern baseball moguls sponsor baseball for the purpose of making money. Lots of money. So they extend the baseball season. And play at night. In the coldest of conditions. Which significantly harms the quality of baseball. But it rakes in TV revenue. Money. Money. Money. That's our national sport. The making of money. Not baseball. --Jim Broede

Jesus was a socialist.

I know it sounds un-American. And anti-capitalist. But some how, some way, we Ameriacn capitalists have to put curb on our insatiable desire to make profits. Big profits. Obscene profits. Instead, we have to sacrifice profit for the sake of the common good. We need to design a health care system that provides universal coverage. Without middle men that rake in profits. Without getting anybody rich. Yes, doing something without having to bilk each other. It's really that simple. Eliminate the monetary profit motive. I'm no Christian. But I'd be for a system designed by Jesus. That's right. I think that religious philosopher Jesus would do the right thing. I think we could trust him. Unfortunately, we don't. Because he'd overturn the tables of the money lenders. Of the immoral insurance companies. And the immoral pharmaceutical companies. He'd introduce them to 'Christian' principles. Our capitalist system is about as anti-Christian as it gets. But our so-called self-proclaimed Christians are among the most obscene profiteers. Now that's the height of hypocracy. Jesus wouldn't like it, would he? Anyway, little wonder why I abhor the modern-day version of Christianity. Because it's a sham. In practice. A fake. A gross distortion of Jesus' real message. Yes, Jesus was a socialist. Not a capitalist. --Jim Broede

But still, a blessed day.

Here it is. Oct. 10. And I wake up. To see a light coating of snow on the ground. That's reality in Minnesota. And I'm learning to like it. Because I really have no choice. I've learned acceptance. Something nice about the first snow of the season. The weather gods have been good. After all, it could have been two feet of snow. But then, my attitude would have been: That's good, too. A creation. Something beautiful. Morning. Sunshine. Soon the snow will be gone. Later this month, it'll be 70 degrees. Indian summer. Come January, it'll be 30-below. A biting wind. But still, a blessed day. --Jim Broede

Truly a peacemaker.

I have to laugh at people who think that Barack Obama doesn't deserve the Nobel peace prize. Well, just think about it. There's all kinds of peace. Such as inner peace. Obama has that, doesn't he? A black man who has become president in a highly racist country. He had to endure to reach the top. That's what I call an inner peace. He had to cultivate a sense of love. Incredible as it may seem, he's actually trying to make peace with Republicans. With his so-called enemies. With the lowest of low-lifes. So very often Obama has turned the other cheek. Which sometimes annoys me. But seems to me he's following the example of that guy Jesus. Loving his enemies. Despite their horrible deeds. What better way to make peace? Just the opposite of George Bush. Obama is a meek and mild and tolerant sort of fella. He keeps his cool. Even when he's slandered. He seems to contain his anger. Or maybe, he doesn't even get angry. Because he's truly a peacemaker. --Jim Broede

All I can handle.

We all look at life in different ways. In an attempt to make sense of it, I suppose. At least that's what I'm trying to do. Make sense of it all. So I create. I interpret. And I try to live life the way I want to. In meaningful ways. Which means I have to give meaning to my experiences. To my daily activity. To my contacts with people. The people in my life. They are very interesting. I don't necessarily know them all very well. But I have impressions. And I relate to them in different ways. But almost always, there's someone special in my life. One. A genuine love relationship. In a way, that's all I need. One. Makes it easier to focus. When it comes to love, I don't like to spread myself thin. All I can handle is one. --Jim Broede

There's a difference.

My Minnesota Twins lost a tough game to the New York Yankees tonight. The Twins blew a 3-1 lead in the 9th inning, and finally lost in 11 innings, 4-3. I was rooting for the Twins, of course. But I took the loss matter-of-factly. Without any grieving. Because I'm a casual fan. Rather than a rabid fan. If the Chicago Cubs had lost that game, I'd be grieving for a week or two. Yes, there's a difference between a casual relationship and a love relationship. --Jim Broede

...the biggest challenge of all.

I'm more proud to be a citizen of the world than a citizen of the U.S. Oh, it's nice residing in Minnesota. I like the state. And the people. But I also like the people in the countries I've been to in the past 2 years. Italy. Germany. Austria. France. Switzerland. Luxembourg. Scotland. Canada. And I'm really fond of the United Nations. And the World Court. I wouldn't mind seeing the U.S. surrender some of its sovereignty. In a move toward world government. I like the idea of nations cooperating with each other in an effort to bring about the common good. Maybe some day we could even end wars. And find ways to settle our differences peacefully. Through diplomacy and mutual respect rather than confict and violence. The fact that we Americans elected Barack Obama president is a step in the right direction. He's gained much respect worldwide. Evidenced by Obama being awarded the prestigious Nobel peace prize. Of course, we still must bring peace between our own Republicans and Democrats. And that may be the biggest challenge of all. We may achieve world peace before that happens. Another reason why I sometimes feel more comfortable in Italy or Germany than in the U.S. --Jim Broede

Some things are impossible.

Amazing. And gratifying. That Barack Obama wins the Nobel peace prize. Seems he can't make peace with the Republicans. But on the world stage, he's recognized as an outstanding peacemaker. It may be an indication that nobody can make peace with Republicans. Not even Ghandi. Or Jesus himself. All the more reason for me to be inclined to encourage Obama to tell the Republicans to go to hell. Yes, I've been disappointed in Obama for not being liberal enough. Or ruthless enough. But like Ghandi and Jesus, he frequently insists on turning the other cheek. Maybe for that reason I've also been disappointed at times in Ghandi and Jesus. For being too peaceful. Too forgiving. But by golly, come to think of it, they did a heck of a lot to change the world. For the good. Jesus, in particular, advocated socialist ideas. Working for the common good. Didn't he say that it's virtually impossible for a rich man to make his way to heaven? Unless, of course, he gave up his material riches. And went spiritual. Yes, far easier for a poor man to make it all the way to Paradise. Christians generally don't see it that way. So many of 'em are rabid capitalists. And Republicans. Anything but peacemakers when it comes to issues such as health care reform. They're for the status quo. For allowing capitalists to make obscene profits. Yes, that's their vision of Paradise. To plunder the masses. So they can live in luxury. And they think that's gawd sitting right next to 'em. Looking on approvingly. My gawd! How is it possible to make peace with the GOP? Obama may be able to make peace with himself. And with the world. But not with Republicans. Some things are impossible. --Jim Broede

We get what we deserve.

Democrats are blowing it. They came to power with a super majority. An ideal opportunity to pass their agenda. Including a public option in health care reform. And they are gonna blow it. Because they can't get their act together. And because the Republican minority is more united than the Democratic majority. It's disgusting. Democrats don't really know how to play politics. They are being outmaneuvered by a Republican party that seemed virtually dead less than a year ago. Yes, the problem with Democrats is that they're downright stupid and meek. And the Republicans are stupid, too. But they are ruthless. They don't take prisoners. And I guess that ultimately, the ruthless win the wars. It wouldn't even surprise me if one of these days, Sarah Palin becomes president. By default. Because in America, we tend to elect the most stupid. We Americans ultimately get what we deserve. --Jim Broede

A thank you to my Creator.

Maybe we humans are no more than fancy computers. Created by a high form of life residing in another part of the cosmos. Maybe even in another dimension. And we were created for the purpose of exploring our particular dimension. You know, similar to our robotic probes of Mars. I'm convinced that there must be many, many forms of life much higher than human. Forms that we computers can hardly imagine. After all, as computers, we are no more than artificial intelligence. Similar in many ways to the computer I'm writing on at this moment. So our Creator may just be another far more advanced form of life. Maybe a civilization tantamount to a planet full of gods. Relatively all-knowing gods from our human/computer perspective. We've been created with the power to think. To reason. To imagine ourselves being conscious. Yes, an extraordinarily sophisticated computer. Computers that can actually reproduce themselves. When a male computer connects to a female computer. Anyway, that's what I'm thinking today. And I'd like to transmit that message to my Creator. And thank him for creating me. --Jim Broede

The grandeur of life. Not knowing.

Yes, it's possible for me to be one thing one week, and something else the next. Because in many respects, I'm in a state of flux. I'm changing. I'm evolving. Some of you find that strange. I don't. In other words, if last week I pondered that I've avoided becoming a Minnesota Twins baseball fan for 44 years, it's probably an indication that I'm thinking about it. Finally. Jumping on the bandwagon. So it should come as no surprise that a week later, I'm starting to have a soft spot in my heart for the Twins. Certainly not as avid a spot as I have for the Chicago Cubs. But I've decided I can pull for both teams because they are in different leagues. Perchance they play each other, though, my allegiance would still be with the Cubs. Makes sense, doesn't it? Martin Buber, the religious philosopher, tells me that some of us are philosophical liberals and others philosophical conservatives. He suggests that liberals are in constant motion. Never knowing exactly where they are in their journey through life. They are growing. Expanding. Much like the universe, I suppose. And liberals are comfortable with that. I certainly am. Ask what I am and where I am today, and it may well be at a different location and position from yesterday or tomorrow. Nothing wrong with that. Meanwhile, the conservative tends to want to know exactly where he is. He prefers a static existence. He wants to be the same today and yesterday and tomorrow. In a sense, he abhors change. Change makes him feel uneasy. See, I'm able to live one day at a time. To savor the moment. And each moment is quite different. And I allow myself to be affected by it all. Yes, I allow myself to change. Because change is good. When I was 19, I was a political conservative. I actually voiced support for Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Incredible. Yes, I was incredibly stupid. Now I've wised up. I'm an unabashed liberal. And my gawd, I've even become a Twins fan, of sorts, after almost a half century in the wilderness. Where will I end up next? Heck, I don't know. But that's the grandeur of life. Not knowing. --Jim Broede

As immoral as it gets.

If we don't get universal health care in this session of Congress, I'm gonna write letters. To every member of Congress. Nasty letters. Telling 'em all to go to hell. And that they're all a shame on America. I really want a single-payer system. A public system. Rather than private insurance. But I will accept virtually any kind of system, as long as it provides universal coverage. For every American. Rich and poor alike. And I don't want to hear the usual excuse that we can't afford it. This is a moral issue. Not an economic issue. We seem to be able to afford unnecessary and obscene wars. Which are immoral. And then to be told that we can't afford universal health care. That's as immoral as it gets. --Jim Broede

I'm being me.

Sounds kind of funny, doesn't it? Being a romantic idealist. If you had told me when I was a youngster that I'd grow up to be a romantic idealist, I would have scoffed. Laughed. And not understood what you were talking about. Romance was the farthest thing from my mind. I was more interested in baseball. And getting out of school. A love poem would have turned me off. Now I write love poems. And love letters. And pursue a love relationship. And I'm loving every minute of it. I was born to be in love. Except I didn't know it until I was almost 30. Took a long time. For me to fall in love. Yes, that was why I was put on Earth. To experience love. To feel the pleasure of romance. To get carried away by the tide. To go with the flow. To love, love, love. I've never felt more alive. And wonderful. Than when I am in love. My first 30 years were moreorless spent searching for my mission in life. Then I found it. I was to be a romantic idealist. Yes, that's what I am. I'm being me. --Jim Broede

Give me highly-motivated players.

I've lived in Minnesota for 44 years. So maybe it's time to become a fan of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Maybe for the first time I'm really advidly rooting for them. Because I like the nature of these players. So unlike my Chicago Cubs, my lifetime favorites. The Twins have one of the lowest payrolls in major league baseball. Lots of young players. On the way up. When they start to qualify for high salaries, the Twins often trade 'em. To higher-salaried teams such as the Cubs and the New York Yankees. The gritty, hard-playing Twins went on a 17-4 roll to close the season in the American league Central and won their final game agaisnt Detroit to advance to the play-offs. Against the overwhelming favorite to win the World Series this year. The Yankees. Chances are the Yankees will sweep the Twins. Of course, I'd like to see an improbable upset. But even if the Twins don't win, I like the way they lose. They keep scrapping. They play with gusto. Unlike my Cubs. I'm for the Cubs dumping some of their high-salaried, unmotivated players and going instead with the lesser-light, low-salaried, highly-motivated players. --Jim Broede

What do you think?

My dear friend Rosie sent me this video today. Asked that I put it in my blog. Says it makes her feel good. What do you think? --Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqrogegV1lw

My greatest fear.

I think Barack Obama enjoys being president. He still pinches himself every morning. To make sure it isn't just a mere dream. Yes, he actually got himself elected president. He achieved the impossible. And I'm afraid that now he's gonna just enjoy living in the White House. And being a figurehead. And just let things happen. Rather than force issues. Rather than follow his liberal instincts. He'll settle for a watered-down agenda. He'll give in to his ideological opponents. And become known as the great compromiser. Maybe just the opposite of George Bush, the decider. The bull-headed decider. Unlike Bush, Obama will give in. Give ground. And even allow himself to be pushed around by those on the political right. In other words, he's gonna be a patsy. Much to the chagrin of liberals in his Democrat party. It's possible that being president has gone to Obama's head. Yes, to being a figurehead. In love with the grandeur of the office. Rather than in love with accomplishing a truly liberal agenda. I hope not. But that's my greatest fear. --Jim Broede

I just do it.

Maybe I sound cynical. Especially when it comes to politics. But seems to me that I'm far less cynical that most people about life in general. Because I'm in love. Primarily, with life. I don't want to trade being alive and conscious and in love. For anything. I like waking up every morning and going about living. And loving. Doesn't matter that I don't like what's happening in much of the world. Because in my little niche in the world, the bad is negated by the fact that I'm in love. That gives me solace. Comfort. Yes, living and loving boils down to an attitude. I always find a way to exert my love instinct. I just do it. --Jim Broede

It's good enough for me.

I think we all have many opportunities to love. To be loved. To fall in love. But maybe we don't do it. Because we don't know how. Or we aren't motivated. When I was younger, I had no clear understanding of love. Maybe I still don't. And I just fool myself into thinking I do. But if that's the case, it's good enough for me. Because I'm really enjoying it. The feeling. The aliveness. The wonder. --Jim Broede

You could do a lot better.

I've noticed that the intelligence level of the comments section has increased dramatically in recent days. That's because I'm posting there in rapid-fire order. Setting a good example for the rest of you. Some of you certainly tend to drag down the standards. You could do a lot better. Please. Try harder. --Jim Broede

I am capable of alienating.

Maybe I have a gawd-given ability to alienate people. Certain people. I rub some of 'em the wrong way. Maybe it's my personality. I tend to get a little personal. Even with strangers. I'm trying to draw 'em out. Early in the get-acquainted period. Maybe that makes 'em a little uneasy. Even agitated. That is, if they think I'm probing too much. But I cultivated this knack when I began interviewing people for newspaper stories. Features. And hard political reporting. I like to get to the bottom of the issue. And into what makes people tick. Sometimes, that means what makes 'em get ticked off. What moves 'em. Then they tend to open up. To show me their real selves. Often, people hide behind a facade. I want to see more than a false front. I want to see inside. Deep down. Penetrating. Even on a first interview. I like to get to the heart and gut of the matter. So, little wonder that I am capable of alienating. --Jim Broede

Ways to become very happy.

Have to admit that I feel superior at times. It's a nice feeling. I don't mean superior to other people. But rather that I feel good. I don't get riled. Yes, I'm rather calm, cool and collected. And in love. Maybe that's the key. Being in love. Unhappy people aren't in love. Maybe that makes them less than superior. Unhappy people tend to get mad or angry over what I have to say. Because I try to remind them to find reason to be happy. And that galls some of 'em. If I tell them of my happiness, they get ornery. It's like saying I'm better than 'em. And I'm not. I'm just happier. More fortunate. Blessed. And they want to be blessed, too. They say life is unfair. That here's Jim, and he's happy. And he doesn't deserve to be happy. Or they suggest that I'm merely imagining that I'm happy. Even imagining that I'm in love. When really I'm a sad sack that nobody loves. Actually, it's a rather comedic scenario. Makes me laugh. And that tends to make me even happier. Yes, every day, I discover more ways to even become euphorically happy. --Jim Broede

Count me on the devil's side.

More socialism. Less capitalism. That's the formula that will bring a more equalitarian America. Yes, we need bigger government. To see to it that the nation's wealth is more equally distributed. If we leave the task of bringing fairness to America to the capitalists, it won't happen. There'll be an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. Because the rich have an insatiable desire to get richer. At the expense of the less fortunate. By screwing the lower and middle classes. At least, that's the way I see it. Of course, maybe I have a warped view. But to me, it seems so obvious. The rich are firmly entrenched in the power structure. They control and manipulate the system. They tell us capitalism is good. Very good. Wonderful. And that socialism is bad. Very bad. Gawd awful and un-American. And that the patriotic way is down the path of capitalism. Because gawd is a capitalist. And the devil is a socialist. Well, if that's true, count me on the devil's side. --Jim Broede

Amazing, isn't it?

I've noticed that my last 11 threads have drawn comments. Amazing, isn't it? --Jim Broede

I'm looking for laughing people.

I spend lots of time laughing. About much of what I write. Because I think it's funny. Some of you may not see the humor. That's all right. That, in itself, makes me laugh. Because it's funny when I see some of you taking very seriously something intended to be funny. Or when you jump to weird conclusions over one of my statements. As if it's a personal attack on you. By golly, words can be interpreted in so many ways. Serious ways. Not so serious ways. Often, there can be double meanings. And you've got to guess which one is correct. Really, for the most part, we don't even know each other. So we're guessing. Making assumptions. Some right. Some wrong. I presume that most people reading my broodings just let it go. Don't bother to let my observations affect them one way or another. They might be amused. Or curious. Many of 'em might never come back to my broodings. But those of you that do, why? Especially those of you that submit a comment or two. Recently, one of you suggested that I'm trying to get under people's skin. Well, that's one way of putting it. But there's more to it. Rather, I'm looking for people that know how to laugh. And don't get bothered by what I have to say. --Jim Broede

A big-timer in the big-time.

I often think of myself as a big-time small-timer. In that I create my own little world. In which I make myself seem big. See, I admit to being only a tiny little grain of sand on a vast, rolling beach. But I cavort with other tiny grains in my immediate vicinity. And they become part of my world. My acquaintances. My friends. With them, I have some degree of influence. And I allow them to affect me, too. Usually in nice and pleasant ways. That goes for one in particular. My girlfriend. She has an overwhelming influence on me. For the very good. She helps me to feel big-time in my quaint little world. Actually, makes me feel as if I'm in love. So I conclude that I really am in love. That I am a truly living human being. With a soul and a meaningful connection to all of creation. Even a direct connection to gawd almighty himself. By golly, maybe that makes me a big-timer in the big-time. --Jim Broede

On improving foreign relations.

I kind of miss the 1960s. When our theme was: Love! Not War. Ah, for the good old days. Hippies. Some how, the movement got derailed. The war-mongers got their way. Love became secondary. And the prime goal shifted to making money. Any which way. To get filthy rich. To live the capitalist dream. Well, look where it's taken us. Yes, the absence of love hurts. We're at each other's throats. Right from within. We Americans can't even get along with each other. Much less with the rest of the world. I suspect it's because we've lost the ability to love one another. But I haven't forgotten. I'm in love. With another. That's my life these days. I'm a romantic idealist. I'm in love with an Italian. My way of improving foreign relations. --Jim Broede

Enough already! Let's go in peace.

I'm not sure I know why we are in Afghanistan. Waging some kind of war, I guess. But why? Maybe I'm too stupid to understand. I'm told it has something to do with the terrorist threat. That this region is a haven for terrorists. But I assume that if we stifle would-be terrorists in and around Afghanistan, they'll just go elsewhere. Maybe to Somalia. Or Lord knows where. Then we can start a new war. It's the American tradition. To always be at war. Maybe war is good for the economy. World War II, after all, was a shot in the arm that finally got us out of the Great Depression. We all rallied together. Made sacrifices. Put everybody to work. Making munitions. And scientific discoveries. Like the atomic bomb. Yes, real weapons of mass destruction. We need war to give us a nudge. To get us off our fat asses. Except, it's becoming more difficult to put our hearts into wars nowadays. Support for the war in Afghanistan is on the wane. Yes, some of us, the likes of me, don't understand. I surmise, for instance, that there must be better ways to fight terrorists. Such as sitting down and talking to 'em. To open a dialogue. To see if we can settle our differences. And live peaceably with each other. Granted, that may be difficult. Even Republicans and Democrats can't live peaceably together. We even have lunatics on the fringe of the Republican Party calling for a coup d'etat to oust Obama from the presidency. And by the way, there's strong evidence that the recent election in Afghanistan was rigged. That the government that we're trying to defend there is as corrupt as hell. Little wonder that the Taliban and terrorists are making inroads. Little wonder that I question our presence in Afghanistan. Little wonder that I'm inclined to say: Enough already! Let's go in peace. --Jim Broede

Who'd you rather have in D.C.?

I see that the Republican leadership is taking Barack Obama to task. For flying to Copenhagen for a few hours to try to get the Olympics to come to Chicago. They say Obama should have stayed in Washington to deal with more important issues. You didn’t see the same Republicans complaining when George Bush spent four days watching the Olympics in Beijing. Or when he went home to Texas to clear away brush at his ranch. I suppose intelligent GOPers breathed a sigh of relief when Bush was gone. So he couldn’t bollix things in Washington. Actually, it would have been nice if Bush had spent the duration of his presidency in isolation in a remote part of the world. Maybe on the planet Neptune. Whoops. Maybe not. Cheney would have become full-time president. Albeit, he was pretty much de facto president anyway. Even when Bush was around. –Jim Broede

Fat chance.

One vote makes a difference. That’s hogwash. Bull crap. My vote never made a difference in a national or state election. Wouldn’t have mattered if I hadn’t gone to the polls. And just because I have the right to vote doesn’t mean I live in a democracy. That’s how some people are fooled into thinking they live in a democracy. They can vote. Even though the vote really doesn’t count. Besides, they have so few choices. Often, there’s hardly a difference between candidates. Bad. And worse. And in reality, the ultimate decisions will be made by lobbyists and big corporations. The people with money. They buy the legislative votes. Largely, by financing campaigns. They’re the real decision-makers, not the voters that elect our so-called representatives. We’re fooled into thinking that we have the final say. We’ve been duped. We don’t even bother to think about it. Oh, I suppose if I’m gonna be objective about it, there’s been an occasion or two when my vote made a difference. When I was on a school board. And something passed 3-2. With my vote being pivotal. But in a national, state or county election my vote never made a difference. I could just as well have stayed at home. And even if my preferred candidate won by a single vote, that would have been negated by the lobbyist that got to him/her. And even if I were elected to office, my colleagues would have been bought off. So my vote probably wouldn’t make a difference. Of course, I’m not quite a total cynic. I still vote. What the heck. Maybe some day it’ll make a real difference. Fat chance. –Jim Broede

I'm gonna cultivate more desire.

Desire. It’s a hard ingredient to measure. Even within one’s self. I suspect desire often counts more than talent. As a writer, I’m motivated by desire. I think I have more desire than innate talent. I want to express myself. So, I find ways. Natural ways. I put in the time and effort. Desire. During good weeks, I have an abundance of desire. Of course, it’s difficult maintaining desire at a high pitch all the time. Impossible. One becomes tired. Exhausted. But when I am in love, I have so very much desire. Often, desire to spare, it seems. I’m pumped up. Turned on. I’m able to write love letters every night. Out of desire. But even when I was writing for newspapers, I was most prolific when I was full of desire. To write a good story. About a topic that touched my spirit, my soul. In meaningful ways. When I was deeply in love with life, I wrote my best stories. Out of desire. I might have stayed up all night. To write. I am disappointed in people that lack desire. Maybe it’s a form of laziness. That means I can be disappointed in myself. For not having enough desire at a given moment. Lately, I have been disappointed in the Chicago Cubs. They are playing out the string. Hardly able to wait for the end of their baseball season this Sunday. Their heart isn’t into the game. They have no desire. I see it every day. So many people without an ounce of desire. It’s sad. I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it. Other than to cultivate more desire within me. –Jim Broede

If this is the best, gawd help us.

I'm thinking more and more that the problem with our two-party system in the U.S is that they stifle each other. Neither party really gets anything done. Because they refuse to work together. And they even have rules, particularly in the Senate, that allow the minority to block virtually anything. By filibustering. Just talking legislation to death. Nobody can convince me that we Americans have the best form of government in the world. If this is the best, gawd help us. --Jim Broede

Maybe even 1,000 times better.

I have a strong sense of right and wrong. But that doesn't stop me from doing wrong. Daily. I live with it. When it bothers my conscience no end, then I do something about it. For instance, I know it's wrong to eat meat. Chicken and fish, too. I am not supposed to kill anything for the sake of eating it. So I let others do the killing. The butchers of the world. In fact, my maternal grandfather was a butcher. That's the way he made his living. I couldn't make my living that way. I'd quickly become a vegetarian if I had to kill the animals. Maybe if I were starving, I'd do it. Out of desperation. Just to survive. That's probably how we humans became butchers. Or hunters. Because it seemed like our only option if we wanted to survive. Anyway, I'm addicted to meat, to fowl, to fish. I was raised on it. I like the taste. The nice feeling of satisfying my appetite. Pleasure. I suppose the same reason people drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. For the pleasure. For the satisfaction. Even though they know it could kill 'em some day. Seems to me it's all right if you want to kill yourself. But not to kill others. Not even animals. In a perfect world, there's no killing. No taking of life. Human or animal. Maybe that's why I see life in Paradise or Heaven or Nirvana as spiritual in nature. The spirit has no physical body. One doesn't have to kill for sustenance. One truly lives by the spirit. I'm trying to do that now. But it seems impossible as long as I live in a physical world. However, I'm beginning to understand the spirit. I'm able to grasp the concept. I'm even learning how to love. Spiritually. Oh, the physical aspects of love are wonderful, too. Indeed, very pleasurable. But the spiritual is 10 times better. Maybe even 100 times, or 1,000 times. --Jim Broede

Will it be a million-year wait?

Amazing. They've found the 4.4 million-year-old fossil skeleton of what looks uncannily like a half ape, half human. Means our ancestors were roaming this planet a long, long time ago. We've come a long way since then. Or have we? Recently, I wished I could return to a time 30,000 years ago to see what life was like then. But hey, now I've revised my wish. Take me back 4.4 million years. I'll bet nobody was dreaming of universal health care then. Now, at least in the U.S., we are dreaming of it. Hope we don't have to wait another million years to get it. --Jim Broede

Not god's gift to the world.

We Americans are idiots. Or at the very least, we put up with idiocy. For long, long times. Take slavery, for instance. We tolerated it from the founding of the nation. Until the Civil War. And even then, we didn’t eradicate it in practice. We had the Jim Crow treatment of blacks. Really lasted well into the 20th century. There are still subtle traces of it today. We must have known from Day 1 that slavery was immoral. A heinous crime against humanity. Equal to the Holocaust in the toll of human lives. Totally unsuitable in a self-proclaimed democracy. But yes, we’re idiots. Immoral idiots. We tolerated it. Made it part of our social fabric. Even today, we continue to be idiots. By denying ourselves universal health care. Because it might be too like socialism. Give me a break. We have a far less than adequate health care system because the private insurance companies want to make a killing. Obscene profits. And it doesn’t matter that 44,000 Americans die each year in large part because they don’t have health insurance. So they don’t get medical care. Doesn’t bother our consciences enough to do something significant and morally right about it. The Republicans want to leave the system pretty much just the way it is. Grossly inadequate. Yes, it’s idiocy. We have an idiotic America. We just traipse along. Twiddle our thumbs. Look the other way. And pretend we’re the finest nation on Earth. Believe me, we are not god’s gift to the world. –Jim Broede

'Long live the revolution!'

I always tend to like the up and coming generation. Young people. Often those rabblerousers on college campuses. Seems to me that change is beginning to happen in conservative Iran. Because university students are taking to the streets. Protesting the last election. Because they think it was rigged. I've advocated something similar in the U.S. Mass insurrection. Marches on Washington. To give power to the people. Rather than to corporations. We ordinary Americans are being deprived of universal health care simply because private insurance companies want to keep raking in exorbitant, obscene profits. We need a public option. But won't get it. Because unlike in Iran, we have yet to take to the streets. When we do, the revolution will be on. Let's go, young folks. Let's overthrow the ruling hierarchy. I'll be one old man out on the barricades with you, shouting 'Long live the revolution!' --Jim Broede

My rule: Be reasonably polite.

I think my blog is highly personal. And it's intended to be. Isn't it obvious? I call it broodings. Of course, it's public. On the Internet. A blog anyone can plug into. And I even allow for comment. But not unrestrained. I want it to remain in the realm of reasonably good taste and decency. Yes, it's my blog. I'll allow myself to be criticized. But not insulted. If there's any insulting to be done, I'll do it. Albeit, I'll try to be moderately restrained. As some of you know, not all comments get printed. Especially the ones that are hateful and full of crap and full of factual errors. Remember, it's my blog. Not yours. And to get a critical comment printed, try to be reasonably polite about it. Especially if you insist on remaining anonymous. Use your real name, and I allow a lot more leeway. --Jim Broede

No one to feel the vibrations.

You and I have virtually no impact on the trends and currents in the world. We are mere grains of sand on the beach. Wouldn’t make any difference, really, whether we were there or not. Life will go on the same with or without us. Our influence is on the grains immediately around us. Maybe on 4 or 5, or 20 grains. We have the opportunity to affect them. And they, us. I fell in love with one of those grains. Jeanne. And that affected our two lives. Immensely. Now I’m in love with another grain. She’s from another country. We met by happenstance. And we have great affect, great influence on each other. We make a significant difference in each other’s lives. We live in our own little world. Really, remote in many ways, from the rest of the world. We exist in it. But we don’t wield much impact on the social and political and economic fabrics. What will happen in the regard, will happen. Whether we, as two individuals, exist or not. Doesn’t make any difference if we write to our congressman or prime minister. Or if we vote or don’t vote at the next election. We have to accept the world pretty much as it is. I’m really not complaining about that. I’m just accepting reality as it is. And trying to make the best of it. I find happiness and fulfillment by associating with the relative little handful of grains I come in contact with. And yes, I do vote and write letters and a blog, but knowing full well they are little more than outlets to express myself. To get things off my chest. Maybe I’m speaking to god. I don’t know. I just bellow out in the forest. And if there’s nobody to hear me, maybe it amounts to silence. Like the tree that falls. Noiselessly. Because there’s no one to hear. No one to feel the vibrations. –Jim Broede

Making life a pleasurable journey.

I'm really enjoying life. It's so nice. Just to feel the fresh air. The exhileration of being alive and conscious. Oh, over the years, I've had some sad moments. Like losing a loved one. But the fact that I even had a loved one to lose was significant. Yes, grieving and lamenting is a part of life. A blessing, of sorts. I learned lots of things during troubled times. Such as appreciating life. Of course, I do my share of complaining. Because I want things to be better. For me. For everyone. I like to fight for the common good. Don't always know if I'm right or wrong. But that doesn't stop me from bulling ahead. From taking risks. If I'm wrong, I try to learn from the experience. I'm no shrinking violet. I venture out. Cultivate relationships. Travel. Satisfy my curiosity. Try to keep an open mind. Anyway, I've been making friends. Alienating some people, too. Right here in this blog. But that's all right. Some people were meant to be alienated. Criticized. I recognize that there are ignorant people in this world. Mean people, too. Scoundrels. Cads. Moustached villains. They help to make life interesting. So I salvage something from their deeds. I learn to deal with 'em. Because I insist on enjoying life. Making it a pleasurable journey. --Jim Broede