To save my soul.

I claim to not hate anyone. And to actually love my enemies. That would put me above the fray. And make me a remarkable man. But it’s possible that my barrier against hate is being torn down. I’m starting to feel pangs of hate.  Toward Donald Trump. I despise the guy. More than I’ve ever despised anyone. Could that put me on the verge of full-blown hate? I’m afraid so. But I’m fighting. To forestall a declaration of hate. In order to save my soul. --Jim Broede

Our innermost broodings.

I have dared say in other places. The same blarney that I post in my blog. But that can be dangerous. Because I believe much of my own blarney. And that tends to get me into trouble. People take offense.  And some surmise that I’m crazy. Of course, I can take that. I have a thick skin. And I freely admit. That perhaps I am wacko.  And proudly so. Because that allows me to speak my mind and gut. To tell my own version of truth. After all, this is my forum. I don’t need to cow-tow to editors. To anyone. We all need an outlet like this. To unleash our innermost broodings.  --Jim Broede

My attempt to laugh.

Some people are stupid. No getting around it. That includes my sister. And some of my best friends. But still, I try to love them. Embrace them. Forgive them. For being stupid. I say this. Here in my blog. Because I dare write.  What I feel and believe. I am associated with some pretty stupid people. So stupid that they voted for Donald Trump. And still support him. Months after he became president.  I find that not only stupid. But dangerous.  I’d like to persuade them. That Trump poses a peril. To our nation. And to sane and safe life. As we know it. Could be that Trump is insane. Even some day becoming as wacky as Hitler. Maybe I’m all wrong about this. Maybe I’m the stupid and dangerous one.  For saying what I’m saying. Maybe I should keep all this stuff to myself. That would be the safe approach. So that nobody knows how I feel. But I say it. Because I am scared. Being surrounded by so very many stupid people. Of course, some of you may think I’m kidding. That this will soon become part of my stand-up comic act. In my attempt to laugh.  Rather than to cry and go insane. --Jim Broede

Now a convert.

I got religion. In an unexpected place. On Wednesday night. With my Italian true love, Cristina. She’s to be with me for the rest of the idyllic phase of my summer. A good thing. Because Cristina has me doing stuff I normally don’t do. When living alone. Anyway, I went. Very willingly. With Cristina. To a concert. By talented musicians organized by and featuring guitarist Roger Waters, founder of the iconic British music group Pink Floyd. Which I had heard of. But never really listened to. Believe me. I am now a convert . To the Pink Floyd style of music. Mesmerized. Captivated. Sitting there. Next to Cristina. Mere specks in a sellout crowd of 15,000. I felt elevated. Above the throng. Which was going wild in exaltation. Meanwhile, I remained subdued. Stunned into silence. In appreciation of a truly religious experience.  I must show proper respect and reverence. I’ll be thinking about this. For a long, long time.  More to come. --Jim Broede

To risk.

True understanding must come with more than words. With something beyond the beyond. Mere words are insufficient. Far too limiting.  I don't know how to make myself clear with others  I am always searching for new ways. To express myself.  That's why I muse. To experiment.  And to risk being misunderstood.  --Jim

In search of knowledge.

It’s greed, greed and more greed. That’s the problem.  With capitalism. Too much wealth in the hands of a relatively few shrewd and greedy manipulators of the system. The desire for some to become obscenely rich. It’s insatiable. Often, but not always, at the expense of the common good. And who’s to say what economic system serves society’s best interests? I’m inclined to favor socialism. But that, too, can be manipulated by the greedy. Maybe we are all greedy. To some extent. In different ways. The solution may be to change human nature. An impossible task. So we live with what we’ve got. Donald Trump. For now. Is that any better than Hitler or Stalin? Anyway, I plead ignorance.  And readily admit to having no viable solutions to political, social (moral) and economic problems.  Other than to grumble. And to get on with life. In my cozy cocoon.  Venturing out. Occasionally. In search of knowledge. Most times, I find my happiness. From within my refuge. My inner sanctum.  --Jim Broede

Our cruelest pursuit.

Politics can be very, very cruel and selfish. But sometimes I wonder if the cruelest and most selfish pursuit of mankind is capitalism.  Allowing the rich to be the world's dominant force. Even more dominant than religion. Or is it that capitalism is our true religion? Blocking us, as a society, from entry to spiritual paradise.   Forever. Causes us to live in Hell. Without knowing it. Deceives us. Into thinking that money is the ultimate form of happiness. Our credo. The rich shall inherent the Earth. And maybe the entire physical world.  --Jim Broede