For now, each of my posts will be two-parters, divided between “Watching the World” (politics/history-in Words) and “Living the World” (travel, family/friends-mostly in Pictures). Sometimes the juxtaposition will be jarring. This post for instance: ‘Who’s a Nazi’, followed by a road trip to Colorado! My only explanation for incorporating the darkest of topics and one of my favorite pastimes into the same blog post is that is exactly how life splits now. While my daily news intake is overwhelmed with civilizationally-challenging actions of the most perilous ilk, at the moment, granddaughter Patricia and I are in a beautiful mountain valley, in a cozy cabin, writing and doing puzzles. Surely, one of the conundrums in any politically-fraught time is how to balance ever present visions of catastrophe with the existential pleasures and problems of each and every ‘today.’ Or can I just say ‘the whole damn world seems to be one humongous Jekyll and Hyde production?

Watching the World

This week, on the catastrophic side of things, I pondered the world of being “white.” Noah Berlatsky writes on Aaron Rupar’s Public Notice “Trump is withdrawing whiteness from white immigrants:He believes America is only for citizens who are white and whites who are citizens” (he’s making an Afrikaner exception, but that’s another story). Perhaps you, like me, were feeling rage over what is happening or could happen any moment, to ICE/Trump administration victims, including family and/or friends of most of us—but, being a little old white person, feeling guiltily safe yourself. Well forget that, no one is safe who loathes this administration. Whiteness may bestow temporary safety on me, but something ‘other’ will likely label me dangerous (age, beliefs…). So eventually it’s only the guys…at the top…with the money…and the guns who are safe.

It’s hard to know what to call Trump, don’t you think? I’ve landed on “otherist.” That way the labels racist, sexist, fascist, xenophobic, anti-intellectual, and more, are all covered. Or, just perhaps, calling a Nazi a Nazi might be easier. No, I’ll stick to otherist for now. Hardly anyone seems to be calling this administration or president ‘Nazi,’ but nearly everyone seems to agree on fascist. Not sure why if we’re following traditional descriptions. Is that N-word too harsh? Too politically dangerous? Too soon?

Fascism is based on the superiority of the state, with a centralized strong leader, and aims at unifying the nation under a totalitarian regime. Nazism is built upon the principles of fascism but adds a strong racial flavor, emphasizing Aryan supremacy and anti-Semitic ideologies. (Wikipedia)

In addition to the genocide of Europe’s Jews, the Nazis also persecuted, brutalized, or murdered additional groups of people. In some cases, they did so with the help of their allies and collaborators. Ref. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

• Black people in Germany;
• civilians (non-Jewish) accused of disobedience, resistance, or partisan activity; 
• gay men, bisexual men, and other men accused of homosexuality in Germany; 
• Jehovah’s Witnesses; 
• people with disabilities; 
• Poles; 
• political opponents and dissenters in Germany; 
• Roma and other people derogatorily labeled as “Gypsies”; 
• social outsiders in Germany derogatorily labeled as “asocials” or “professional criminals”; and 
• Soviet Prisoners of War. 

*Granted, a contemporary list of ‘undesirables would be somewhat different, but you get the idea!

Living the World

What is it about cabins on a lake or a seashore or in the mountains? I’m retired, living in a pleasant, plant-filled house in a quiet community on the edge of a medium-size city—not exactly in the midst of urban noise and chaos. But here, in the San Juan Mountains near Durango, Colorado, with Patricia at the table doing a 1000-piece crossword puzzle, and me, soft jazz playing, crouched over a rustic chair doubling as writing table, it feels miles and miles from everyday life.

And have I mentioned before the delights of grandchildren? I have four, unique and interesting human beings all, with whom I am close and love dearly. Best of all, they have fine parents who raised them with close attention and practical living skills so I can claim to be a good cultural and/or political influence without assuming responsibility for any faults they may ever exhibit.

The idea behind this weekend jaunt was simply to get out on the road for a couple of days and enjoy each other’s company. Patricia and I travel well together, each with our own “projects.” Hers’ usually involve crafts, mine reading and/or writing; we’re pretty focused but there’s always room for some chat and snacks.

What makes this perfect from my point of view is that Patricia is interested in food, as in planning, shopping, preparing, and eating. Me, really only the latter, and not always even that—however this weekend I am hungry. Road tripping with Patricia is as close as I’ll ever get to a personal chef…although Scott does function in that role to a good degree when he’s visiting. So far this weekend, we’ve had burgers, beans, and macaroni salad last night and biscuits and gravy this morning. I’m told tonight is a charcuterie board. I am the cleaner-upper so not totally useless.

It does feel odd to me, this double life! Fear of catastrophe looming over a pleasantly relaxed retirement. Feeling an unthinking citizen when enjoying my existence; a failed existentialist if angry or fearful all the time.