Calistoga

 

On  February 2nd, Linda and I met with her orthopedic surgeon regarding her hip replacement.  Linda's new hip has healed and she has no restrictions.  Well done Linda and Dr. G.  With that in mind, I planned a trip to Calistoga for our mud bath experience.

Linda was anxious regarding being in the mud.I  was  enthusiastic . Even though everyone she talked to about Calistoga mentioned that it was going to be marvelous,still, Linda remained nervous.  So, on the following Tuesday , we headed for  the Napa  area and arrived around lunchtime.  We stopped at the Calistoga Inn and shared a terrific Reuben sandwich.  Then ,it occurred to me that , in my other life, I had visited that establishment roughly 35 years ago on a motorcycle trip . The old section seemed the same, but  new sections were added.  

After lunch we strolled down Lincoln Avenue window shopping.  Passing a display of clothing garments outside St. Clair Clothing Company, Linda's eye focused on a fashionable coat. They talked.  Within seconds, we were inside the store and Linda was trying on coats of different sizes .  Yes, she purchased a sharp, fashionable coat for the remainder of her stroll.  We then stopped for a mocha so Linda could catch her breath.

We proceeded and stopped at Shawn  Smith's  Art on the Vine Gallery and Studio .  We engaged with Shawn and found out about his  being a farmer, rancher, carpenter, and so forth until he was able to focus on his  love of painting.  His wife , Lisa Marie , is a schoolteacher and they opened up the store on Lincoln over three years ago.  A fashionable set of earrings caught Linda’s eyes and she purchased them .

Then we headed for our treatment.  We parked, registered and checked into our room.  We were told to come back about 2:45 PM, just wearing our bathrobes.  We were given an introduction and details and then proceeded to the coed mudroom area.  Linda was nervous regardless of reassurance and was told that if it wasn't to her liking, she could leave at any time.  The aide gave us instructions and told us that she would be outside the door and we could call her at any time if needed.  Linda and I disrobed and I had some difficulty assisting her into the tub.  She was somewhat resistant and then was able  to let go and then found herself floating in the mud tub. Linda quickly relaxed and said it was wonderful . I then proceeded and found myself in the adjoining  mud tub.  We floated on the top of the mud and had to use our hands to splash mud  over the rest of our  bodies.  Linda quickly became calm and marveled at the experience.  With soothing background music, we just floated in this special and unusual  mud.  

After 20 or 30 minutes or so, the aide entered and we were shown how to get out of the tub .We then took our showers to remove the mud.  Unfortunately, the shower water  never became hot.  So the aide used the mineral water in the hot tub to remove excess mud.  We then immersed ourselves in the mineral water for another 20 minutes or so.  It was a erotic experience for me and Linda was very receptive and loving as well.  Then, we proceeded to the next phase, which was the cooldown with a blanket wrapped around us and 2 cucumber slices on our  eyelids during the cooldown.

After about an hour and ½ , we went back to our room and engaged in more closeness, warmth, tenderness and pleasure.  Much later, we headed out to the Bricco Osteria  and shared a delicious and scrumptious lamb shank over risotto for our dinner meal. After dinner, we then  drove back to our room to resume the evening..

The next morning after showering and so forth we left for Café Sarafornia for breakfast.  I had oatmeal and Linda and scrumptious French toast with lemon and berries.  I helped her clean her plate.  Then we headed home.  On the way, we talked with Bev and Linda's daughter Sidne.  Linda became a cheerleader again and talked about her wonderful experience in Calistoga.  She told them she was initially scared of the mud bath but once in the tub, it was delightful, soothing and relaxing. Before reaching home, we stopped at Barnes & Noble's for a mocha and book purchases and we talked about a revisit .

Grief and Mourning

 

This essay pertains to The New York Times ,December 3, 2023 article titled "It's Okay to Never Get Over  Your Grief" written by a professor of philosophy at the University of Warsaw.  The professor quoted Freud's essay "Mourning and  Melancholia"  and argued for the  continued  maintenance or for maintaining a place for the deceased in our lives and that drawing on these relationships can be a source of strength .

Freud acknowledged there can be  "normal" mournings.  Normal mourning can be described as the ability to love and work.  In other words, morning is normal when it doesn't interfere, obstruct  or incapacitate  healthy functioning.  Melancholia was a term that Freud used. Today , the term is called a Psychotic Depression.

Concisely , Psychotic Depression is a mood disorder in which dejection, self deprecation and self condemnation reach delusional proportions.  It’s when an individual loses effective contact with his human environment as a result of withdrawing. A sense of worthlessness and guilt persists. 

 Precipitating factors in  a Psychotic Depression , is  being vulnerable to psychotic episodes that are related to loss or threatened loss of a major source of gratification and/or  a loss or threatened loss of one's basic security . And a loss of love may result in the form of a death. These  Psychotic depressive reactions typically occur in the form of an attack and the onset may be sudden or gradual. In other words, an individual with a depressive personality type is vulnerable to loss of the significant other. Irrespective of a traditional religious morning practice 

Freud described Psychotic Depression as being very different from a normal morning .  There are many  appropriate  normal morning practices for certain groups  For example, the Golden State Warriors assistant coach  Dejan Milojevic , age 46, recently died  suffering from a heart attack at a private team dinner that occurred despite lifesaving efforts.  He was described by Coach Kerr as being a terrific basketball coach and one of the most positive and beautiful human beings he has ever known.  Someone who brought joy and light to every single day with his passion and energy . and that he would grieve with, and for his wife  Natasa and their children  Nikola and Masa.  The Warrior coach also  received a tribute from NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver.  The NBA postponed NBA games with the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks.  Toronto Raptors head coach paid tribute as did Andre Iguodala . A moment of silence occurred between  the game with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers as players  bowed their heads.  The Toronto  Raptor head coach said the Serbian is a great ambassador to the game as his picture was displayed on  a big screen at the arena. The Warriors are also wearing a memorial tribute on their jersey's during each game for the rest of the season.

The philosopher's suggestion that prolonging  grief is ok is poppycock.  One size ,one religious custom  and ritual is not psychologically healthy for everyone.  For example, an individual that is depressed, and overly dependent on their partner and continues to grieve over an inordinate. duration, is more than likely to  have that loss ,that reliance reinforced  by others . The depressed  and dependent, with their tremendous sense of worthlessness, approval seeking, blaming ,failure  and guilt continues and  persists regardless of what others say.  It's as if there is a construction of a solid barrier or wall that maintains their toxic  negative self-talk  sense of self.  Sympathy ,understanding, and  support are like threats and dissonant  and attack their self system . The threats must be repelled and displaced in order to maintain that  emotional attitude and belief system.  The oppositional ness with a consistent repelling of good deeds and grieving practices of a particular religious societal tradition,become  reinforcing which further solidifies and perpetuates the suffering. They simply can't let go and irrationally hang on, which only works to their disadvantage as they are unable to think about their future  of being alone.  Within this dynamic, the remaining partner often joins their partner in death within the year as the loss of love for the dependent personality is so devastating as they symbolically require that “contact “ to fulfill their unmet dependency needs. So,  extensive grieving only reinforces one's sense of worthlessness ;loss and guilt, irrespective of the input from others. 

Dad passed away 44 years ago and mom 23 years ago.  I have fond memories of dad who reinforced my independence by teaching me to drive his automobile  once I could see over the steering wheel.  One incident occurred when we were returning from cousin Sherman David's and Lorraine's wedding in Chicago.  As I was driving back from Chicago, other drivers passed by and looked over to see if  there was a driver behind the wheel.  Dad  also reinforced my sports activities as he attended practices and games at Denby and the University of Detroit.  My friends called him "Big Ray."  Dad also modeled and reinforced the power of education with his verbal brilliance.  He even met Dr. William Wattenberg, the educational clinical psychology department chairman. At Wayne State University . Mom reinforced independence  ,love , support and assisted me by typing the draft of my dissertation.  She was smart and competitive too.  I would not and could not compete with her over the game of Scrabble.  She destroyed all competition.   She would also  say before my "runs and equestrian events" to not hurt myself.  I'm appreciative of having loving and supportive parents that furthered my  positive sense of self.  I do not continue to grieve their death, but emotionally experience positive ,happy  ongoing memories of our interactions.

Reference

Cameron, Norman.  Personality Development and Psychopathology .  A Dynamic Approach.

Guilt, Lies and Betrayals

 

 This essay pertains to the 2006 movie The Good Shepherd.  Matt Damon (Wilson ) , Angelina Jolie (Wilson's wife) ,Alec Baldwin (FBI )  , others featuring and directed by Robert De Niro (forming OSS and CIA ) tell the story of the  founding of the OSS and the  CIA.  The essay's focus is  on one dominant message expressed in this movie: "don't trust anyone."

Wilson's admiral father was a candidate for Secretary of the Navy.  Young  Edward Wilson attended Yale and became a member of the secret student society Skull and Bones.  The movie began with a contradictory message between a young boy, Wilson and his father.  Wilson's father lectured his son about friendship.  He told his 6 year old   son, never to lie because that destroys friendship between two people.  Edward's also told  that you have to trust and that without trust, you can never be safe.  Edward acknowledged. Later, Edward heard a gunshot  and found his father lying on the floor dead with a suicide note in his hand.  He puts the unread note in his pocket before  mother arrives .  Not only did Wilson's father not say goodbye to his son, he abandoned him  and was no longer there to protect him . The father said one thing about  honesty and friendship and behaviorally did the sadistic and cruel  unthinkable. How did this act affect the young Wilsons sense of trust ?

During a Skull and Bones initiation mud wrestling ceremony, one senior fraternity member, the balcony above, urinated on Wilson.  We find Wilson walking fast away with another fraternity brother telling him, don't take it personally..  Did Wilson express anger  or humiliation appropriately ?  He went along with the humiliation and kept his anger to himself.  In another scene, the recruits were told to tell their most private , guarded  and never told secret to the group. Edward told the group about his father committing suicide and  finding the note.  One brother asked him if he read the note and he said he hadn't.  Edwards was told  to trust the society.  They were all together in secret  and their trust was "loyalty."

In another scene, Edwards meets his Yale advisor in a small seminar group .  An FBI agent , hiding in the dark , told Edward that his advisor was suspected of being a Nazi sympathizer and that he had to "spy" on him.  Edward found documents in his advisor's briefcase and gave his copied notes  to the FBI.  His teacher was fired .  Later on, during the OSS in London, he met with his mentor who would teach him the espionage trade .  The mentor turned out to be his Yale teacher who confronted him with messing up his spying operation at Yale.  Later, Edwards told that his mentor was gay and must be eliminated.  Edward met with his mentor and his mentor understood his fate.  Edward witnessed his mentor being killed.  Notably, there's an absence of any emotion, anger, sadness, grief, embarrassment by Edward.  His emotions were nonexistent and hidden . More messages , in the story, about trust and especially mistrust . His advisor told him to get out of the business and that he's never met anyone that he could trust.

Edward was introduced to a  fraternity brother's sister, Angelina Jolie.  She found him alone at the party and seduced him.  Shortly thereafter, Edward was at the beach with a young female student that he  actually liked.  She told him about her future and told Edward that he's not there emotionally.  He denied the accusation.  A  fraternity brother enters and Edward  accompanies him.  Edwards told that Angelina was pregnant and Edward must do the right thing.  Edward did not return nor say goodbye to  his beach friend. He just left her in the sand .Guilt, lies and betrayal in view .

Edward  was told about the  OSS by the general.  The general  told him that this group had few Catholics, no Jews, and no Blacks.  At the wedding, he’s told that he's been selected and he accepts . His orders were to leave in one week.  Edward left for London.  After the war, Edward was working in Berlin recruiting German scientists away from the Russians.  His female interpreter invited him for dinner.  He agreed and after dinner , said he had to leave.  She asked him if he would like to stay .  He stayed . Next scene we saw her  murdered.  Again, there's an absence of any expressed emotion by Edward.

Edward does express emotion but not when his wife told him about her affair .  They  were having dinner with  another couple .  His wife told the dinner guests , her friends, that William worked for the CIA.  After they left, he  expressed anger and told her she's never to tell anyone  that he worked for the CIA.  He works as  a civil servant for the American Trade Bureau, which is the CIA's cover of this misinformation.  She told him she had no idea of what he does, he's gone night and day, and she and him are miles apart without any sort of relationship.  Their level of trust was ?

Enter Edward Junior who wanted to join the CIA.  Both Edward and his wife are against the idea.  Throughout the movie, there's an investigation of a tape recording taking place in the Congo.  There was a Bay of Pigs leak and the CIA's failed involvement in liberating Cuba  .  They were looking for the leak in the CIA and had this document that they had trouble decoding.  During the movie, Edward was told about the CIA operation in Cuba.  In the next room was Edward  junior.  Edward asked his son if he overheard the conversation, his son  lied and denied that he did.  As it turned out, it was Edward Junior having an affair in the  Congo. Edwards' Russian counterpart, Ulysses, told him that the woman was an agent.  Ulysses played a clear tape recording of the conversation, in which Edward Junior mentioned the intended Bay of Pigs operation .  Ulysses, the Russian, tells Edward that he can protect his son or the agency.  Edward said that the mission failed so there was no need to harm his son.  Ulysses knew of the upcoming wedding and asked Edward if he wanted her in the family.?He also said that he may need a favor at some point .  In another scene, Edward , Edward Junior and mother were at the church waiting for the bride to be.  Meanwhile, she's boarding  a  plane , in her wedding dress, and traveling to her wedding.  In mid-flight, she's thrown out of the plane.  Another scene, Edward tells his son that she's not coming and they hug.  Angelina knows different.  Edward Junior and Angelina expressed emotion. Later, the general told Edward about his inability to trust anyone.

In this  movie, there's an absence of trust.  Instead, there's mistrust,  secrecy ,lies, misinformation, crazy loyalties ,betrayals and an absence of quality interpersonal relationships.  With trust there is a mutuality of  give-and-take with the ability of meeting another person's needs with intimate empathy between two individuals.

The building of  a sense of trust begins very early based on the interpersonal  interactions  providing that the physiological, safety and security ego needs are being met by the caretaker .  Later, the same dynamic occurs , with others, in forming and meeting one's affiliative needs.  With consistency,  a  perceptual predictability becomes formed along with an important  developed expectancy.  If there's a high degree of ego that needs  satisfaction , a mutuality occurs based on the dynamics of both interjection and projection .  An inner feeling of comfort , goodness and well-being forms , an introjection , the foundation for trusting oneself can occur along with projecting that favorability onto others. In other words, when ego needs are being met and gratified, by another,  with consistency , the ability to trust is  formed and  necessary and beneficial for being mentally healthy  and having a sense of well-being.  We have an ego need for companionship and opportunities for facilitating  safety needs  with individuals in which we can confide in and trust . That mutual  empathetic contact with another individual is necessary  and separates us from all other living beings ..

In this movie, Edward was seen as quiet, obedient, evasive, secretive , suspicious and unemotional without a meaningful  trustful interpersonal relationship.  He met up again with that young female he left on the beach  in the audience at a play in Washington.  He meets her , secretly ,on the sly for one encounter. Unknown to him, pictures of them were taken and sent to his wife.  She went ballistic . Later Edward's right-hand man returned the young woman's cross ( Edward had for over 20 years) to her without words or message. How well did Edward  shepherd  his wife, his son and his two affairs ?

Dave,Prometheus and Donald

 Dave, Prometheus and Donald 

This story begins with Dave, one of my  Denby high school friends.  Prior to Dave's  graduation, he went to work at General Motors. He graduated and married  Darlene  after her Dominican graduation. Shortly after, they bought their first home in Warren, Michigan and started their family . Later on they moved to St. Clair Shores where he accumulated cars, trucks and boats.  After retirement, an economically  secure Dave and Darlene moved to Florida.  This essay incorporates the last 67 years with the Prometheus myth.

Over time, the ravages, fears, anxieties and stresses from mother nature, economics and health have increased and , in the process, many white  male  high school educated individuals' security and well-being have been compromised.  We've had devastating fires,  catastrophic hurricanes, destructive snowstorms,  leveling flooding and distressing  heat conditions.  An article in the New York Times titled “Hot Mess”, July 16, 2023 reported the planet was burning and was running out of time. According to the article, death is  now more common  and it is not  limited to humans . When it gets too hot, things especially .  the old, sick and the poor die .  In  2021 , the heat wave suffocated salmon and melted asphalt . In other words, global warming  impacts  all including plants  and therefore our food supply which affects economics . 

Economic conditions have also been thoroughly noted such as income inequality . Statistically , the middle class man has  suffered the most with stagnant wages.  However, on  the other end of the scale , Wilt Chamberlain in 1974  had a salary about 20 times higher than  the median household income.  Recently, Jaelyn Brown  of the Boston Celtics signed a contract that paid him about 800 times  higher than the median US salary.  Also,  during this time  period ,three social trends have occurred. These three trends, according to some, explain the rise of female economics .  First,a role change has occurred with less traditional marriages and child rearing roles for females.  Second, there is less production and more service related opportunities for females.  Third  , females are more college educated and have more skills than  white high school educated males.  In other words, young women are working at   record rates while there are falling employment rates for white middle-age  high school educated men per  The New York Times ,December 24,2023 , What Social Trends Taught Us About the Economy.

Currently statistics on longevity are decreasing , especially  for white high school educated males . They have excessive rates of overweight and obesity , gun  deaths , drug dependency and suicide.  Further, the Covid -19  and related variants has had a preponderance of negativity and pessimism effect   Surveys measuring mood  found doom and gloom highlighting many  Illusions regarding  our healthcare system and our ability to  manage and control both internal and external  events in our life space.  According to one economist, "The pandemic caused the sudden increase in pessimism that hasn't gone away. “ This pandemic has affected  almost everyone.  We are individually worried about infection as well as the realities of death and dying. We are unable to control the cavalier and oppositional attitude of others toward disease . One survey described Americans as not happy and  that figure almost doubled early in the pandemic and has barely changed since .  Poor white male health  has negative consequences for  affiliations , economics , education , politics etc  as  lives have been  turned upside down per The New York Times, December 10,2023 ,It’s No Surprise That America Is Pessimistic..

With this in mind ,enter Greek mythology, as a parable, to describe our understanding  of today’s political  morass for high school educated white males. Prometheus was a demigod - someone who was part human and part God.  He was also a supreme trickster; was oppositional , stole and defied the gods. Further, he was credited with  creating humanity from Clay. According to the myth , he stole fire from Zeus, the King of the Olympian gods. In revenge,  Zeus condemned Prometheus for this transgression by binding him to a rock with an eagle sent to eat his liver daily .Note , there are many versions of this myth, such as  Prometheus striving ,  overreaching  with unintended consequences that results in tragedy.  The  Prometheus myth  illustrates and/or represents the current crisis for our Democratic Republic.

Trump symbolizes the rebellious Prometheus with the powerful  Zeus  or  our  Republic’s Constitution and criminal justice system . Being chained to a rock with an eagle tearing away at the liver, punishment for  attempting to overthrow democracy ; and the 91 indictments are the repeated  attacks on Trump’s  soul .

In the allegory, man's nature can be described as being fearful,  weak, cowardly, irrational, easily manipulated and dependent.  Man’s behavior can  also be seen as  a tendency for seeking both immediate, short-term  pleasure  as well as self-inflicted pain .  Man must be taught to delay and to refuse immediate rewards in order to grow while attaining adulthood.  Unfortunately, man doesn't have this ability to achieve and accomplish self reliance because of his insecurities, dependencies ,irrationality ,moral failings , intellectual shortcomings  along with his contradictory ego needs . Therefore , incompetent and infectional man must be saved from himself .

This dynamic sets the stage for the  great white hope father figure, the Hercules hero , and/or God’s “ shepherd to mankind “ . Only this god-like figure  knows the way for salvation, for happiness and he alone has the power to make that happen.  Further, those that doubt him , his power, his omnipotence are  the evil enemy . They are traitors , heretic’s , and will be left behind to be revengefully punished   Those that follow will become  saved ,become masters, and king of their castle .They will have regained their slippage  from falling to second place ,being replaced  and once again establish  power  and again be first in dominance and  supreme over all others. They want their god of sadomasochism, cruelty , and exploitation to become like Caesar so they can succeed .

Sometime near the end ,the hero  in his rebellion, will assume an aspect of his victims in that he finds himself  alone, humiliated  with eternal  suffering .The Daves of today are in a different place than my friend Dave. My friend had a secure and optimistic  looking future. Too many Daves of today are fearful , resentful, angry , alienated without a moral purpose and a dim future .

Cannabis

  An article titled "Commune Is Roused From Its Utopian Dream" was found in the New York Times, December 10, 2023.  I take exception with the title as a commune is defined as a group of people living together, ensuring possessions and responsibilities; and utopi a which is defined as an imaginary place or state of things in which everything is perfect.  This essay pertains to the article in question.

Christiana is a community located in Copenhagen, Denmark.  This community was founded in 1971 by squatters on an abandoned military base.  Per the article, people could live outside Denmark's market economy, be free to build their houses, where and how they wanted, to sell marijuana as a living, and to live as they pleased as long as they didn't harm their neighbor . It's not surprising that this community with this arrangement  was doomed from the start .

To begin, this community is semi-autonomous, spread across 74 acres in the heart of Copenhagen.  For a commune to work more efficiently , it has complete control over production , social medical,educational  services along with total self-governance.  Being able to sell marijuana, build houses and not harm your neighbor does not define commune and a contradiction..  There's nothing utopia about selling  or using marijuana, etc. Utopia is imaginary and takes place between two ears.

Problems for the community  started relatively soon with the influx of motorcycle gangs selling marijuana and other drugs, this was followed by crime and other problems .  Police, from the outside, were brought in to clean up "Pusher Street" but that hasn't worked either.  In addition, the Danish government is now proposing that these 900 residents could purchase this area and also provide necessary low income housing. With this proposal, these 900 or so residents would  lose the authority to decide who moves in, as well as losing so-called protected land areas.  Residents of course are worried that their experiment is likely to end soon.

For the opportunity for a commune to be successful, it's essential for the community to be democratic and have the ability to decide its welfare by providing educational, mental and physical health resources, equal opportunities for production, protection, economic and social services with total self-rule. Autonomous is defined as the freedom to govern itself or control its own affairs .Just because the state allows cannabis in this area does not define autonomy, it’s just free from breaking a man made law

Marijuana and other drugs are not  associated with utopia.  Drugs like cannabis distorts reality, whether it's pain, illness, anxiety, depression, etc. it's commonly used in an attempt to deal more effectively with ills connected to man's nature and the creation of his society.  It's short-term and not associated with creativity, well-being or long-term pleasure.  If one sells marijuana, one has to either have the  financial capital to grow, to purchase the product along with resources for distribution.  Often antisocial types like  criminals or individuals with deficit character structure become involved for symbiosis  and  profit .  There is no particular state in the US ,with the legalization of marijuana ,that can be called an utopian environment.  Legalizing marijuana may reduce criminal elements at best, but does not significantly contribute to the welfare of that society.  Cannabis can reduce pain but does not eliminate poor choices that often accompany an illness or contributing factors  in the first place .  

Individuals have ego needs.  Some ego needs are necessary and beneficial for affiliation, love and work while other ego needs can interfere with significant unions.  With troubled unions, domination,  exploitation and sadomasochism occurs.  When a community has little input as to its new neighbors , the values, goals, ethics and morality with overcrowding and other problems become apparent.

Marx , Freud , Maslow and others have provided insights into mental health and  disease as with  the necessity for productive work , play , love, and the ability to fully develop psychologically . Cannabis, drugs, withdrawal , paranoia , exploitation   and violence were not part of their equation.  Eliminating certain rules pertaining to  building a home or selling cannabis, does not provide freedom but instead permission to act out ,  not take responsibility nor contribute to the welfare of society.

In our republic , we too have a significant drug abuse and homeless problem. There is no simple answer as many of these troubled individuals have not developed adequate coping skills and are mentally ill.  Instead, their mental and physical  illness ,inadequate  self harm character and exploitation of others represents tremendous challenges to all .

PS

 Maylon, one of my high school friends , in 1959  introduced me to cannabis. Maylon ,years later overdosed.

Capitalism

 Within capitalism, the pursuit and accumulation of money rules.  The following  8 articles found in the December 17, 2023 edition of The New York Times relate to wealth. This essay provides a brief description of each article.

"Makeover" refers to a review of the book titled The Bill Gates Problem  Reckoning with the Myth of the Good Billionaire .  The author suggested that Bill Gates and his foundation are suspect.  He states that Gates was  primarily using his foundation for  more control over the business world . For example, he's now  more in control now over such things as AIDS, HIV , implants  all  related to the drug industry . Also, he's not critically  evaluated because individuals that do evaluate him , have received contributions from his foundation.  The author stated that generosity comes at a cost. On the other hand, is it better for the world, If he gives his money  away rather than  hoard it ? The money belongs to him.

“Financial Times"  relates to a book titled The Money Kings: The Epic Story of the Jewish Immigrants Who Transformed Wall Street and Shaped Modern America.  The author wrote about  banker Jacob Schiff and his influence that spread beyond Wall Street.  He provided the example when Schiff met with Adolph Ochs, the publisher of the New York Times,and Oscar Straus, Pres. Theodore Roosevelt's minister to The Hague about the potential war between Japan and Russia.  Schiff told his friends that he had been approached about arranging a loan to the Japanese government to help fund their war .  Schiff believed that  financing the war might help reduce and actually bring down the Russian Tsar and hopefully eliminate   the pogroms taking place. A pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of massacuring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews.  Fiddler on the Roof comes to mind . Schiff wrote to British banker Nathaniel Rothschild about his reasons and then the money was loaned. Japan won the war. Of course Russia lost because of unnamed Jews. How could there be any other explanation? 

Anti-Semitism propaganda was one of the rationalizations of Jews  conspiring to shape world events and taking over the world . In 1903 ,around the time the  Russian - Japanese war ended, "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" was  first published in Russia and then internationally .  This was a  fraudulent ,plagiarized, contradictory Jew hating book , with lies and the paranoid fear and “belief” that  there was a Jewish conspiracy filled with assassinations,  contradictory testimonies , secret societies etc  to  take over Russia and then the  world.  This book was used for propaganda by Hitler and the Nazis, and taught in their schools.  Its hateful influence was also noted in Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Middle East .

In 1920,the Detroit anti-semite  Henry Ford published in his newspaper the Dearborn Independent and circulated 270,000 paid copies around the country a series of articles titled "The International Jew  The World’s Foremost Problem.” The articles were based on the anti semitic paranoid beliefs found in this  hateful , vague and irrational book .  Did the powerful Jews end the Russian Empire and bring  the Bolsheviks to power in 1917 ? This was an anti semitic conspiracy and fabrication  of the truth. .The powerful Jewish bankers did not support the Bolsheviks. In fact Schiff hated the Russian Zahr Romanoff with his pogrom policy. Note ,a distant cousin Boris  Leon Ganapol born in Kyiv ,Ukraine entertained Nicholas and his family and subsequently gave mom piano lessons in Detroit  as well .  

Ford's newspaper’s articles did not mention patriot  Haym Solomon .  Solomon was a Portuguese Jew and a member of  the New York branch of the Sons of Liberty, the secret society motivated to undermine British interest in the colonies.  He walked the walk and was a principal financier and supported Washington's armies with food, clothing and arms.  Thank you Hyam Solomon . George Washington thanks you, my grandparents, thank you, my parents, thank you and I think you.for your patriotism.

“Rod Stewart, Aiming to Spend More Time in Britain, Lists LA Mansion. “ Rod's  the one that recorded Da Ya Think I'm Sexy, Have I Told You Lately, Maggie May and others.  The home was listed at $80 million.  Stewart paid over 12 million in 1991 just for the lot.  The home has 28,000 sq ft , 3 acres , soccer field , theater, and speakeasy and  is just one of his residences in our country.  He also has a residence in Las Vegas and another home in Palm Beach, Florida.  His Beverly Hills neighborhood has some of the highest priced real estate in Los Angeles and his neighbors include Denzel Washington, Justin Bieber, Barry Bonds,  and Adele, who just paid $58 million for Sylvester Stallone's home.  He's open to selling his home furnished although his art is not for sale.

“ The Soul of a Cotswolds Cottage Sits in Los Angeles- before  developers could tear it down; an actor bought a 755 square-foot house. “ Many of the bungalows in this area have disappeared . Once upon a time,  Los Angeles was  not a tangle of vehicle choked freeways and it supported one of the largest electric railway systems in the world. The  listing occurred in 2016 for a one bedroom house built in 1903.  It’s  among the oldest in the neighborhood and sits on  1/10 th of an acre.  The actor was shocked  he was able to make an offer that the seller  entertained .  The seller was an architect who respected the bungalow's history and was proud of the improvements he had made.  He sold the house to the actor for $ 783,000 less than he would have gotten from other suitors .  The actor hired a designer for her first job and she renovated the home for about $75,000 including  a new energy efficient lighting throughout the home.  The home  has solar panels .  He discovered that the property is zoned for two houses and he dreams of adding another building, but for now, he said the prized dwelling is just right for him as he only spends 65% of the year there .

“Life in a Swampy New York Neighborhood  - Can The Hole , a poor, waterlogged area on the Brooklyn-Queens border be saved ?”  A home in this swamp has snakes, rats , septic tank leaks , groundwater pooling in the living room with mushroom like spores growing on the walls for  a stay-at-home mother.  This area is about 4 miles from Kennedy International Airport ,with small buildings, surrounded by vacant lots and flooded streets, dotted with potholes and abandoned cars.  The swampy area sits at one of the lowest elevations in the city about 4 feet above sea level.  Because of this,  it's not connected to the sewer system and residents have to rely on septic tanks and cesspools in the streets that flood just about every time it rains. Would this woman move ?  She said in a minute

“On the Market, A Greenwich updated 1870 house listed at $2,495,000.”  It's a three bedroom , 3 1/2 bath , 3943 square-foot house with original fireplaces, bookcases , crown moldings, a great room addition and a bonus room on 2.57 acres.  Taxes are $ 18,230  a year.  Pros include updates including a contemporary exterior and renovated bathrooms.  Well maintained.  Original details balance nicely with the modern renovations. Cons - The first floor air conditioning is partially and the basement is unfinished.  There is no garage. 

“ Lower East Side Co-Op listed at $ 639,000. “ This is a one bedroom ,one bath roughly 665 square-foot unit with the windowed bathroom on the top floor of the building, shared laundry and a video intercom.  Maintenance is $ 976 a month.  Amenities include 24-hour security , a gym, two parks,and  the Empire State building is visible from the apartment.  Cons the kitchen has limited counter space.  The concrete flooring may feel cold in the bedroom.

“The locals  Can Only Look at the Peak, and Weep.  “The Windham Mountain Ski Resort’s  just over two hours north of New York City was purchased by the founder of a national restaurant chain and a hotel group scion.  Memberships to access the new amenities would come at  $1 75,000 for those who joined right away and $ 200,000 for those who waited until March 1.  Current members, some of whom paid as little as $25,000 for their spots,  and if they did not opt in; memberships would be terminated on May 1.  These changes are designed to attract wealthier clients from New York City, accelerating the gentrification of the Catskills in recent years.  Numerous Windham residents circulated a petition calling on the town leaders to block the mountain's transformation into a semi private club.  Many residents are not  happy  and say they are offended by what's taking place.  Unfortunately, the town is now presented with a  problem because it relies on so many weekends to fuel its economy.  On the bright side , there are new restaurants, even a sushi restaurant. Great news for some, but not for the majority.

These articles do not suggest our country is a melting pot.  These few articles illustrate the tremendous financial differences that exist.  It's not surprising that there are so many feeling  fearful, resentful,  angry, envious of their neighbors and unable to keep up with the Joneses.  And Washington state ,in 2024 has a $16.28 per hour minimum wage. And this is considered high?  It's easy to not accept responsibility and find as an excuse someone or some group to  blame for one's misfortune.

PS

College football champions Michigan  Wolverines 34 and Washington Huskies 13.

Shakespeare

Anti-Semitism is not a new phenomena and has risen statistically since the October 6  Hamas terrorist attack in Israel.  There have been many injured and/ or Palestinians killed as a result of the  initial attack by Hamas.  The exact number is not clear.  However, the propaganda attack continues .  Many  are outraged by the number of  Palestians harmed yet remain silent regarding the raped Israeli hostages. This disquisition addresses William Shakespeare's characterization of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice .    

Historically, Shakespeare was aware of anti-Semitism existence  in England.  Since Edward 1 in the 13th century,  Jews were expelled in England; Jews in Venice and other areas were forced to wear red hats to be identifiable as Jews in their ghetto and in 1492 , Spain tortured, killed and  expelled  Jews with their inquisition. 100 years ,or so,  later  Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice appeared. 

A brief overview of Shakespeares’ play follows. A young Venetian named Bassanio ( irresponsibly) squandered his estate , needed  3,000 ducats  to pursue  a wealthy and deceitful manipulator named Portia .The Irresponsible and greedy  Bassanio attempted to borrow the 3,000 ducats sum but was turned down by his gay friend Antonio . However,  Antonio promises to cover a  bond  if  Bassanio can find a lender.  Bassanio goes to Shylock and names Antonio as the loans guarantor. 

Shakespeare's Shylock is portrayed as a miserly, irrational ,sadistic, narcissistic , moneylender Jew .  Antonio is an  anti-semite  because he loans money without charging interest. Or, was he just ignorant , a stupid businessman or a saint ? In other words, charging interest on a loan was "a Jewish  money grabbing thing ? "  Shylock agrees to lend the sum without interest, upon one condition.  If Antonio were unable to repay the loan at a specified date, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh.  Shylock is now portrayed as not only unfair, miserly , greedy but now cruel and sadistic.  Was the gay  Antonio also a masochist and stupid to trust that his irresponsible friend was somehow going to change his ways ? What a fictitious fable ? How unbelievable.

Shakespeare’s so-called comedy becomes more bizarre.  Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea, so he cannot repay the bond.  Shylock, becomes cruel , hateful ,resentful and revengeful ( a displacement motive) because his daughter Jessica eloped with a Christian and converted. Why take out anger and revenge on someone else ? Deal with your daughter that betrayed you.   Not only that, Jessica took ( stole) a large amount of her fathers  wealth  as well as a turquoise ring, which Shylock had been given by his late beloved  wife Leah. What a soap opera? What a daughter ? Cut her loose  as she's not trustworthy either . Shylock had no choice but to bring Antonio before the court for revenge? Really, what a pitiful motive.

The miserly  , greedy, vengeful , sadistic.  and  stupid  Shylock refuses 6000 ducats  for repayment ?  Was he miserly and greedy or just wanted revenge “ Again, a displacement.  He  now demands his pound of flesh from Antonio.  What will that accomplish ? 

 In comes “ A doctor of law ,“ really Portia in  a phony disguise, with a forged letter. Another crazy ,scrupulous  figure  in this farce. She wants to nullify ( cheat)  Shylock’s irrational contract. Portia asks Shylock to show mercy advising him that mercy "is twice blest. “ This has nothing to do with mercy  but manipulation instead. “ It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."  Shakespeare becomes more bizarre and irrational when Portia says the contract allows Shylock to move only the flesh, not the blood. What ?   And if Shylock were to shed any drop of Antonio's blood , his lands and goods would be forfeited under Venetian laws.  She tells him that he must cut precisely 1 pound of flesh, no more no less.  She advises him that” if the scale do turn but in the estimation of a hair. Thou diest  and all thy goods are confiscate." And is this really a law or just a rationalization for greed, cruelty and discrimination ? 

Of course Shylock consents to accept the money, but Portia prevents it on the grounds that he has already refused it again in open court. She cites a law under which Shylock is a Jew and therefore an alien having attempted to take the life of the citizen has forfeited his property . Shylock's life  was  now at the mercy of the Duke of Venice.  To further make this ridiculous a long story short, a number of conditions arise and Shylock was to convert to Christianity and bequeath his entire estate to Lorenzo and Jessica.  Shylock is  re- threatened with death, but  accepts all the conditions  without  being outraged but with a whimper  "I am content."   And Shylock is the antagonist in this play ? Shakespeare’s  not just prejudiced but illogical,sadistic , manipulative and hateful as well. 

Shylock is the victim of anti-Semitism.  Shakespeare manipulates under Christian domination and rule, with deceitful  imposters, supposedly some Venetian law, ripping off Shylock , being threatened  with death , being humiliated ,cheated , and  robbed  ! Moral principles are lacking in the  despicable tale . The anti Semitic message is clear. In fact, this play was used by anti-Semites throughout the play's history.  For example, Nazis used Shylock for their propaganda.  The Merchant of Venice was broadcast to justify their cruel  and barbarous  ends over  German airways.  Productions of the play were allowed in Lubec , Berlin and elsewhere within Nazi territory.  Further, the depiction of Jews in literature resembles Shylock in that they characterize the Jew as monied, lecherous,  avaricious outsider tolerated only because of their golden hoard. 

What if Shakespeare, the anti-Semite, lived, wrote , associated, produced  within the mores of the  Broadway  culture during the 20th and 21 st century ?  He'd be  collaborating, associating, interacting and dependent  with the likes of Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Tom Stoppard ,Lee Strassburg Jacob Adler, John Garfield ,Bette Midler, Natalie Wood, Lenny Bernstein , Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers, Mandy Patinkin, Jerome Weidman.  Harold Rome, Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock , Phillip Roth, Dylan, Kaplan , Marily Sokol, Ben Platt, Leonard Nimoy,  Michael Kantor, Harvey Fierstein, Liev Schreiber ,Ethan Slater, Idna Menzel, Tina Landau and  many other Jews on Broadway.  How might these reality experiences affect  or influence his anti-Semitism attitude and character  ? Further, what if he witnessed the events pertaining to Jewish messaging pertaining to Tzedakah,  institutional religious sexual abuse, generous donating by Jews, to  non Jewish causes ?  Perhaps, Shakespeare's character portrayal of Shylock might've included intelligent capitalistic business practices, humanistic ideals, legitimate criminal justice system and community support. In other words, how would and if an attitude change occurred  affected William Shakespeare's writing ?

Factually ,monied is defined as having money, wealthy.  The Jews that came to our shores in the late 1800s the early 1900s and 1940’s were not wealthy but poor.  In Judaism,  Tzedakah refers to a religious obligation to do what is right and just.  In practice, many Jews donate a portion of their income to charitable institutions or to needy people.  That was evident when many Jews arrived on our shores and were given assistance as my grandparents received. 

 Lecherous   is defined as having excessive or offensive sexual desire. Three of the US biggest religious  denominations are in turmoil over sex abuse and LGBT policy.  They include Roman Catholic ,Southern Baptist and  United Methodist churches. 

 Avaricious is defined as having or showing extreme greed for wealth or material gain.  George Soros pledged to donate 500 million to Bard College , Michael Bloomberg donated 150 million for the advancement of studies in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among minorities and advanced education.  David Geffen donated 150 Million to Yale School of Drama..  Half of America's 25 most generous philanthropists are Jews.  Few  give to  Jewish groups.

Anti-Semitism continues to exist.  It's not surprising that certain fearful individuals and groups require a scapegoat, someone to blame for the misfortune that exists for humans.  It's convenient for those seeking power, control , and obedience   to lie, make falsehoods, half-truths, and give simple explanations of evil  to  individuals that are anxious, insecure , needy,  with limited cognitive  and historical abilities . They seek  protection and are given superficial easy explanations to express their hate. These  dangerous simpletons are envious ,threatened by the status of Jews with their excellence, creativity ,scientific achievements , intellectual and creative abilities and moral principles . Hate is  unconsciously  a reaction formation that  points to their inadequacies . Keep blame and hate simple.  Ignore truth , objectivity , reason  and don't provide the facts for the herd  to  blindly follow .

Reference

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice.

The New York Times ,December 3, 2023 . Let Us Tell You A Story