THOUGHTS, MUSES AND RANTS OF JAH

  Did you ever wonder what the face of hate in America looks like? Just might be your neighbor. Mugshots have been released of those who are supposedly members of Patriot Front and were pulled out of the back of a U-Haul truck one block from the Pride in the Park events.  All were arrested for Criminal Conspiracy and have since bailed out of jail.  None of them are local to North Idaho except one being from Spokane, Washington. Where are they from? •• Dylan Carter Corio lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming •• Kieran Padraig Morris lives in Haslet, Texas. •• Thomas Ryan Rousseau lives in Grape Vine, Texas. •• Derek Joseph Smith lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. •• Dakota Ray Tabler lives in West Valley, Utah. •• Steven Derrick Tucker lives in Lexington, Alabama. •• Robert Benhamijn Whitted lives in Conroe, Texas. •• Josiah Daniel Buster live in Watauga, Texas •• Brandon Mitchel Haney lives in Kaysville, Utah. •• James Michael Johnson lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. •• James Ju...

Is hate, fueled by fear, real or imagined? Homophobia Islamophobia Antisemitism Racism Metathesiophobia Xenophobia Misogyny  That reads like a list of traits of today’s Republican. Nothing positive, everything negative. Fear of this, fear of that. Blame them. Now children are afraid to attend school out fear of being killed and/or the trauma of seeing their friends murdered.  Our country has always been progressive, like humans for the most part always were, making progress. Technological progress. Educational progress. “Evidence from individual scholars, academic institutions, and international organizations shows dramatic improvements in human well-being throughout much of the world. In recent decades, these improvements have been especially striking in developing countries.” Today, Republicans seem to be against progress. At the same time, they seem to be for nothing other than personal greed and power. It is a conundrum I confess to not understanding. It is as if they have...

  Here’s a thought for today: How about finding a news source that is interested in “…reporting the truth to get money out of politics and calling out mainstream media “ by empowering “people to demand positive change for all, not just the wealthy few. • Accountable government working for the people • Equal opportunity and access to education • Equal and affordable access to healthcare • Equal justice • Healthier planet and people . Personal freedom of choice • Policy and people over profit” Are these things we can all agree on? Learn about the candidates before Election Day and vote for the ones who support these issues. Don’t let them fool you by telling you these are red or blue issues, that these are left or right issues. Instead, tell the politicians that these are human issues, the rights of a free people, and it is past time that you were treated as a human and not like sheep. However, we have a big problem. We are not one of the most literate countries in the world. About h...

  In 1959, Bertrand Russell, the Nobel Prize-winning philosopher, mathematician and peace activist was just short of his 87th     birthday, when he gave wide-ranging interviews to the BBC and the CBC. In one interview by John Freeman that was being filmed, Freeman, had one last question:     “Suppose, Lord Russell, this film were to be looked at by our descendants, like a Dead Sea scroll in a thousand years time, what would you think it's worth telling that generation about the life you've lived and the lessons you've learned from it?” Russell:    “I should like to say two things, one intellectual and one moral: The intellectual thing, I should want to say to them, is this: When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only: "What are the facts, and what is the truth that the facts bear out?" Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or by what you think could have beneficial social effects, if ...

      I am a survivor I am a husband. I am a father. I am a grandfather. I am a brother. I am a brother-in-law I am an uncle. I am a great uncle. I am a nephew. I am a cousin. I am a friend. I am Mi’kmaq. I am Canadian. I am American. I am French. I am not Christian. I was raised Jewish. I am not religious. I am spiritual. If you hurt, I hurt. I was stolen at birth. I am transcultural I am First Nation/French Canadian. I am me, no better nor worse than you.  I try to do good in this world not out of a fear of hell or promise of heaven, but because it feels better not to be an arsehole. There was a time when the KKK wore hoods to hide their identity out of embarrassment. Today, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, stand up on a soap box for all to see. Do you really think our Constitutional and human rights are not at risk of extinction? If so, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. If you are not Evangelical or far right, today’s Republican Party does not represent you a...

  “Ok so y’all remember the other day when I was at work and no one was there?     Well it turned out that for an hour, because I didn’t want to text anyone at 5 in the morning, I was pretty much in the dark as to why not a soul was there but me.   I had kinda figured out that since there was no internet service they might have postponed the start time and no one thought to let me know but I’m just guessing.   I went through all kind of scenarios in my head.    Like there was a big party and everyone was hung over. I kinda figured out that probably was not probable.   So I figured I’d wait till 6 and if no one showed up I’d text someone.    So I went outside and got my phone I leave in the car and noticed that not even outside were there any people or cars.    But it is just a bit after 5am on a Saturday so that’s not surprising.   I go back in and I’m still running scenarios in my head.    Li...

  We were warned but did not listen. Are we listening now? Does this sound like anyone you can think of? “When a man unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents... despotic in his ordinary demeanor - known to have scoffed in private at the principles ofliberty - when such a man is seen to mount the hobby horse of popularity - to join in the cry of danger to liberty - to take every opportunity of embarrassing the General Government & bringing it under suspicion - to flatter and fall in with all the nonsense of the zealots of the day - it may justly be suspected that his object is to throw things into confusion that he may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.” Sound familiar yet? No, those are not my words. They are from 1792, written by Alexander Hamilton. Yes, that Hamilton. It is amazing and sad that so many throughout history have warned us what kind of government would take over if the people lost the inte...