Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten out of bed today. Maybe, just maybe, if I had stayed in bed, it could all be a terrible dream. A vision of an alternate reality somewhat darker than our own. Alas, this is no dream and I am in no alternate reality. Today I am simultaneously heartbroken and outraged. Sickened.

I’ve never been one for feelings of patriotism. As I’ve gotten older (and wiser?) my disdain for my country of residence has only grown. Today is one of those when days I very much disavow it.

I don’t know what else to say.

Religious Adherence

I’ve always found fascinating, and puzzling, the religious right’s approach to policy and politics.

My first real dose of it was during the Marriage Equality fight in Hawaii.

“I don’t have a problem with gay people, but…” I’ve always taken the position that I don’t really care if you have a problem with gay people, or not. And honestly, I don’t care if you’re anti-abortion, or not.

Your beliefs shouldn’t be forced on someone else. You don’t like same-sex marriage? Fine, fucking keep it to yourself. You’re not forced to attend one or officiate one.

The same is true for abortion. You’re “pro-life” (though not really)? Fine, you don’t have to have one. But why in the fuck should you be allowed to inflict you’re small-minded religion-soaked beliefs on everyone else?

I don’t know how I would feel, act, or respond if someone I loved was raped and got pregnant. Or was otherwise told their pregnancy was potentially life-threatening. Luckily, as a man, it’s a choice I’ll never be forced to make. My role, should the terrible circumstance ever arise, will be to do whatever I can to be as supportive of the woman’s choice. Whatever it turns out to be.

For me, it’s not even a question. I don’t really understand why it’s such a fiercely contested issue. Except that there are way too many self-centered, self-righteous ass-hats in the world.

Our Country is Fucked

So. Very. Fucked.

The work I do is in the hope of making some small positive impact. Try to move the needle forward. Or at least try to stop it from moving backward. Days like today, though, make me wonder if any of it is worth it.

Our country is getting dumber. Getting meaner. And getting scarier. Too many people easily deny facts and evidence. Basic propositions like say, “the earth is a globe” are now under assault by skeptics. Morons, more accurately. If such a fundamental truth can be easily and vociferously rejected, how can there be any hope for humanity?

Warnings about the very real and very dangerous threat of climate change have been made by the whole scientific community for years. Decades. Yet today our elected leaders still argue about whether it’s a legitimate concern or not.

On gun control, we have the 2nd Amendment which starts with “a well-regulated militia,” yet our Supreme Court and way too many politicians continue to side with gun crazies (yes, that’s what I’m calling them) at the expense of countless children’s lives.

Fixing Our Government Systems

We absolutely need to expand the Supreme Court to correct the horrifying imbalance created by Trump and McConnell. I fear the number of things that need to be fixed first is so long and varied. I’m not sure we’ll get there in my lifetime. Without major Democratic gains in Congress, this effort is a non-starter.

I’ve long said that without some intellectual reawakening (which seems increasingly unlikely), nothing short of revolution will solve the litany of dysfunction in our government.

Today I am simultaneously heartbroken and outraged. Sickened.

While I’m not particularly one for marches and rallies myself. I absolutely stand in solidarity with all the women in America who are now under threat. I stand with their families and loved ones. And I stand with everyone who will participate in the myriad events taking place today and in the days and weeks to come.