Pearls Before Swine

 I can't remember if I've added these comics to my blog before.  I found them years and years ago (when I still subscribed to a print newspaper).  They gave me quite a chuckle.  

The entry in Wikipedia about the comic strip and the author Stephen Pastis has lots of insight about the characters.  

For me, I just know that it makes me laugh.

Living Together in a Crowded, Diverse World

 

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo tomlamela/iStock

Ian McCluskey/OPB

If there's an article in The Seattle Times about anything related to life in Seattle, invariably the comments will include people talking about how horrible the city of Seattle is and predicting that more people will move to the suburbs and further out to get away from the crime and crowds and taxes, etc.  

This attitude makes no sense to me.  If everyone who wants to live 'away from the crowds' - even if its just a suburb with a yard for outdoor space - eventually there will be no space left.  Maybe not in your lifetime or your children's lifetime, but it will happen in someone's lifetime.  

Then What?  

Eventually, people have to learn how to get along in crowded, densely populated cities.  We can't keep running away from it.  Better to figure it out now rather than waiting until the populations of Earth have decimated the planet's resources and natural beauty.  

We can either stop repopulating the world, or we can learn how to live peaceful, humane, fair and equitable lives in the city.

This is the article in The Seattle Times that made me think of it.  Note, its not the article as much as the comments - and even the comments aren't as bad as I've seen.  I think many of the comments I'm referring to aren't honest.  But, they do reflect an idea that there is too much...'chaos' in the cities.  From what I can tell, it feels like the 'chaos' to them involves diversity of thought and action, which requires laws and regulations.  They don't like being told what to do.  If everyone was 'the same' nobody would have to be told what to do because everyone would act 'normal'.  That, I think, their feelings.

In any event, I think people should stop 'running away' from the discomfort of trying to get along with a wide range of people.  It will elevate our humanity and save the planet as well.

How bad can one President of the United States be???

Donald Trump will make sure we find out.

It’s not even Donald Trump...it’s the people who support him?

How low can he go before his supporters - in and out of government - say ‘no more’?

Sadly, his supporters won’t say ‘no more’ because this is the government and the country they want.

Donald Trump is being manipulated to bring about a Holy War.

That sounds far-fetched. But I think it could be true. I’ve heard his Attorney General William Barr and his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Vice President Mike Pence are believers in a Dominion theology. Honestly I don’t know too much about it, but it’s religious and is about the book of Revelations. 

Donald Trump doesn’t care a whit about it. He just wants to be in power and will do whatever it takes to stroke his own ego. He’s not even smart enough to know he’s being manipulated.

Okay - that sounds like a horrible movie, and I wouldn’t bet my life that it’s true. 

Besides there are plenty of legitimate down to Earth reasons he’s the worst President in the history of the United States.

Check out this website for all the day to day details.  It's depressing, but thank goodness someone's been keeping track!!!  The website is What the Fuck Just Happened Today?

Man in the Mirror

 1988 Grammy Performance by Michael Jackson.

I was transfixed.  I recorded it on VHS tape and watched it over and over and over and over and over again.  For me, it was about the inspiring lyrics imploring me to make a change - to start with me.  And it was about Michael Jackson.  He was such a presence - strange and intriguing. Its sad to watch the performance today. I don't choose to watch or read anything about the child abuse allegations.  I accept he was both abuser and abused.  

I'm starting with the man in the mirror

I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you want to make the world a better place

(If you want to make the world a better place)

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

(Take a look at yourself, and then make a…

Change

I wish he could have found a way to make a change.

Beyond everything, though, is the song.  Music and Lyrics by Glenn Ballard and Siedah Garrett.  It's everything I need in an inspirational song: straight forward message, gives me the power to take action and make change, and a rousing chorus - especially with a gospel choir for backup.

Here is Siedah Garrett singing the song.