Psychological Inheritance

We all inherit physical traits, talents, disease susceptibility and other genetic factors from our parents.  But we also receive psychological inheritance.

Beliefs and prejudices, instilled during our dependent years, must be dealt with.  As we mature, they demand compliance or rejection, often placing us at odds with our parents and siblings.  In some cases, they have been associated with abusive behavior, augmenting their power and diminishing our ability to dislodge them; counseling may be necessary.  If the beliefs are especially rigid or extreme, they tend to ignite a reactionary response, breaking ties with those who instilled them.

Eventually, this psychological baggage and how we approach it determines our personal philosophy and greatly influences how we raise our own children. 

Take your Average American

As this country struggles through the reign of King Trump, there is a great deal of discussion regarding who might return America to her previous glory, imperfect though it was.  I would suggest the average American will do.

Qualifications would include kindness, empathy, average intelligence, a sense of fairness and a willingness to consider varied points of view in a respectful manner.  A middle-aged individual (for the purposes of experience) would be best, as long as they have no history of political activity.  One would hope that such an individual would appoint Cabinet Members who are highly qualified in their area of service and would insure that both the Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve are completely independent of the Executive Branch.

Perhaps this solution seems a bit too simplistic for many but we do not need another political-minded leader who seeks to control corporations, universities and law firms and whose focus is on their personal power and enrichment.  I would volunteer but I'm too old.  

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Channeling a popular 1971 song by Five Man Electrical Band, King Donald has decreed that signs be placed outside the Smithsonian Museum to warn patrons that information found within is inaccurate.  Of course, he is protecting us from data that may reflect poorly on his kingdom.

Among these falsehoods are that science is the best path toward truth and that racism has always been part of American culture.  These signs will hopefully make us stop and think before we immerse ourselves in the liberal milieu of that National Institution.

There is only one problem with our Dear Leader's signs.  We cannot believe a word that he says or writes. 

The Patience of Patients

Long a physician and now a patient, I have witnessed the American healthcare system from both sides of the proverbial fence.  And having spent a good deal of time in waiting rooms, I have noticed an association between one's patience and the apparent chronicity of their illness.

As one might expect, those with acute problems tend to be in more distress and are clearly more demanding at times; no doubt, personalities play a significant role as well.  On the other hand, those who have become accustomed to the waiting room experience are far more patient and, to be honest, kind.  Having learned that healthcare, by its nature, is not always predictable and efficient, they learn to take the setbacks in stride.  Of course, they often arrive prepared for significant delays, possessing novels, headphones and other forms of diversion.

Indeed, it is easy to pick out the veterans of our health care system and one comes to appreciate the calming effect that they have on others.  I will strive to join their ranks. 

Trump's Environmental Ignorance

As almost 900 wildfires rage across the vast northern forests of Canada, Pacific storm systems direct some of the smoke into the Upper Midwest and Northeastern U.S.  Of course, this angers Our Dear Leader and it is one of the reasons that he threatens to impose a 50% tariff on our neighbor.  In his opinion, the Canadian government should be doing more to control the wildfires.

Our warming climate is primarily responsible for this widespread disaster, reducing snowfall and rain across the Great Northwoods.  Unfortunately, Trump and his Cabinet do not accept the "hoax" of climate change, choosing to cut emissions regulations, withdraw funds from green energy projects and encourage the rebirth of coal-fueled power plants.

Of all his disastrous policies imposed upon our country, Trump's disdain for environmentalism may have the greatest long-term effect.  Hopefully, the private sector will resist this folly and ignore his repeal of established environmental laws.  After all, they know by now that a Blue Wave is coming in November. 

Marking Time

As we humans grow old, we think back over the years and remember a number of events that marked the stages of our life.  First among these are the births and deaths that greatly influenced both the course of our life and our approach to it.

Indeed, life brings many joys and sorrows but its primary imperative, as throughout the natural world, is that we do our best to stay alive and thereby contribute to the welfare of our family, friends and species as a whole.  Unfortunately, that goal often goes unmet as, usually through no fault of their own, beloved individuals die along the way.

We miss their company and inspiration but, in the end, their deaths mark the progression of our own life.  Knowing that our time will soon end, we take comfort in the fact that our demise will become a reference for those we leave behind. 

Medication Commercials

As a physician, I am often dismayed and sometimes amused by medication commercials.  Usually delivered by attractive, healthy-looking individuals, at times in the company of cartoon characters, the information is, in my opinion, better delivered in one's doctor's office.

Always combined with a relatively quiet but obsessively long list of possible side effects (usually including death), details about the product are superficial in nature, despite the fact that they are powerful chemical agents.  More amusing is the advice to "let your doctor know" if you have cancer, ALS, HIV, heart problems or some other chronic, serious condition; one wonders why your doctor would not be aware of your medical history.

Brief medical commercials making the public aware of new therapies are appropriate, including the advice to discuss their possible use with their physician.  Beyond that public service, the escalating presence of drug use encouragement on TV is worrisome. 

Primetime Lies

In case you missed it (I purposely did), Our Dear Leader delivered a speech from the White House last evening, outlining previously debunked election interference claims from 2020.  Having lost that election, which occurred during the reign of his own Administration, Trump's supreme narcissism demands that he forever challenge the validity of those results.

Attended by his adoring Cabinet Members, King Trump spent 25 minutes spewing lies and conspiracy theories about foreign interference in that past election and imagined voting insecurity facing the upcoming midterms.  Little was said about current, pressing problems throughout our country, including economic stress, the war with Iran, the brutality of Ice and the widespread corruption throughout his Administration.

Fortunately, many networks did not carry the speech, declining to give Trump air time to lie to American citizens.  Our country cannot reclaim its past reputation as a bastion of Democracy until this compulsive liar is removed from office.  Vote Democratic in November!

Preventing Animal Abuse

At least three animal rescue organizations are currently running ads on American TV; indeed, the ads are repeatedly broadcast throughout the day (seemingly every hour at times).  In almost all cases, emphasis is placed on donating money to feed the abused animals.

While these ads surely trigger sympathy for the suffering victims, little mention is made of the humans responsible for the abuse.  Raising funds to prosecute those individuals and organizations would seem to be a more effective approach.

Preventing animal abuse should be the primary goal of these campaigns.  Rescuing animals that are suffering and dying may then become unnecessary. 

The Nature of Opinions

We humans all have opinions on a wide range of subjects, beliefs and "facts."  While these opinions may be interesting or entertaining, most are of dubious value.

Educated opinions, on the other hand, based on one's scientific knowledge of the subject, come closer to the truth.  Yet, current scientific data may prove to be inaccurate as more is learned over the years.  Indeed, truth is the goal of the scientific method but, in most cases, it remains an elusive target.

Too often, the opinions of "experts" are accepted as fact.  When certain individuals, such as Our Dear Leader, convince devoted followers that their opinion "is the truth," cults arise.  Unbridled opinions are a danger to society.

Compassionate Capitalism

As more "Social Democrats" win positions in the November election, "traditional Democrats" understandably worry that their Party may lose the support of Independents and Conservative-leaning Democrats.  No doubt, this political movement reflects inadequate attention to social support programs over the years.

A shift toward "Compassionate Capitalism" seems to be the best approach to defeating Trump and his Republican enablers.  Corporations should be openly encouraged to shift their donations from Trump's vanity projects to the support of social programs that his Administration has eliminated.  They might also be encouraged to fund free child care for their employees and to work closely with the Federal and local governments to ensure that their basic medical and housing needs are met.

Socialism is not the answer to creating a fair and productive society.  The cooperation of corporations, local businesses, philanthropists and governments can provided the necessary support without derailing our capitalist system.  Of course, the corruption throughout our Federal Government must also be abolished.    

Freedom under Assault

On this 250th Birthday of the United States, our cherished freedom is under assault by an incompetent and corrupt Administration, serving only the wishes of our Narcissist-in-Chief.  Untethered by a fear-struck Republican Congress, Trump and his cronies are dismantling our Department of Justice, our Military and our relationship with Allies across the globe.

American citizens are struggling while the President and his family are raking in an obscene amount of money.  Our health care system has been degraded, science has been ridiculed and the conservation of our natural resources has been abandoned.

Worst of all, our personal rights have come under assault by racist, wealth-driven, religious zealots who want to mold our country into a white, conservative, Christian kingdom.  Happy Fourth of July! 

Collective Guilt

It is always helpful when our personal failures mirror social trends.  Collective guilt and pain are easier to deal with.

Recently, there has been a great deal of media attention paid to "eggshell marriages" and a significant increase in the divorce rate of couples in their fifties or beyond.  This, of course, relates to the period after child rearing has ended, leaving the couple on their own once again.

While I would never criticize the decision of a couple to divorce, I do feel that relationship problems later in life often stem from spending too much time together.  In many ways, this habit reinforces our differences and may deprive one another of activities that they personally enjoy, including engagement with friends who share those interests.  Then again, being part of a social trend may have its own psychological benefits.

Immigration & Racism

The Supreme Court's decision yesterday, to uphold Birthright Citizenship, has upset Donald Trump and his minions.  Though he married two foreigners, our King wants to purify America; in other words, he wants to curtail the percentage of non-white citizens in this country.  To be clear, Trump welcomes the immigration of Caucasian Europeans and South Africans while actively deporting black and brown immigrants.

On the other hand, even if he shut down immigration altogether, this country would (and will) become "less white" over the coming decades.  Many of our most successful and innovative citizens are immigrants or children of immigrants, a fact that Trump and his legions prefer to ignore.

Once again, government-sponsored racism has reared its ugly head.  Fortunately, its sponsors lost this round.  

Social Depression in America

Regardless of our personal medical and economic health, most Americans are likely dealing with a persistent sense of depression as we endure the far-reaching effects of a corrupt and incompetent Administration in Washington.  Battered daily by unsettling news and the comments of an aging narcissist, we long for a change in leadership and despise those who are unwilling to oppose his dangerous, costly and un-American policies.

Whether we are most disturbed by the Administration's criminal deportation program, their willingness to cut ties with our Allies, their disdain for science and conservation, their overt racism or their lack of support for low-income populations in this country and across the globe, we long for a return to the America we once knew.

While donations to organizations that oppose the actions of the Trump Administration offer some degree of comfort, our depression will not lift until Trump and his enablers are removed from office.  Hopefully, the November elections will initiate that healing process and set the stage for Impeachment.  

Baggies along the Trail

Most dog walkers have fallen in line with social expectations, bagging up their pet's excrement in our neighborhoods, parks and nature preserves.  But for some, that environmentalism is limited to the act of bagging itself; the inconvenience of toting the package back home, or to their vehicle, is beyond their willingness to cooperate.

As a result, we now encounter the plastic baggies and their contents along our sidewalks and trails, doubling the pollution.  One wonders who they assume will collect their gifts to the community; park rangers? roving garbage collectors? fastidious neighbors?

Unfortunately, this behavior characterizes the half-hearted environmentalism that we observe throughout human society.  The level of cooperation and commitment is determined by how much inconvenience one can endure.  Hence our increasingly polluted planet. 

Aurora's Global Fest

Since I was out of town, I missed the 13th Annual Aurora Global Fest, in Aurora, Colorado, last weekend.  Highlighting the cultural traditions of sixty-eight countries, booths and displays introduced visitors to the food, music, dance, clothing and artwork of each society.

Such a celebration of diversity is especially welcome in present-day America, where the Trump Administration tolerates only white, American-born citizens.  One wonders if plain-clothed Ice Agents were patrolling the festival, tasting the cuisine while looking for undocumented immigrants to deport.

I applaud those who plan, fund and organize such international festivals.  They demonstrate both the variability of human culture and the uniformity of our species. 

A Memorable Year

Not much of an NBA fan, I paid only fleeting attention to the recent Championship Tournament.  On the other hand, the frequent mention of the year 1973, when the New York Knicks last won the NBA Championship, never failed to get my attention.

In 1973, I was 23 years old and attending medical school.  A good friend died that year and three others got married, the first in my circle of friends to take the plunge.  As for myself, one relationship was imploding while another was just beginning, a classic formula for emotional turmoil.  Indeed, I must admit that 1973 was the most memorable year in my life.

I suspect most humans have experienced similar years and would guess that they also occurred during those formative years of freedom, between high school graduation and marriage.  After all, intense and lasting memories are seared by strong emotions and that period is replete with episodes of joy and pain. 

To Be Remembered

Once we are old enough (and mature enough) to understand the finality of death, we begin to consider the concept of remembrance.  Early on, we know that our family and close friends will remember us and, over time, come to understand that we are remembered by others for our unique skills, our personal traits and our impact on society as a whole.

As adults, factors such as celebrity and creativity may significantly increase one's exposure in human society, thereby augmenting the remembrance that they receive.  Of course, this may be a positive or negative remembrance.

Living on in the memories of others is the secular person's afterlife and knowing that their influence has been both personal and societal offers reassurance as death looms.  Unfortunately, those who conclude that their life has been meaningless and/or unappreciated too often resort to violent acts as they bow out, ensuring that they will be remembered in the annals of history.

Addendum: This post has been altered from the original.

Trump's Gulags

Of all the outrageous actions and decisions of the Trump Administration, the creation of inhumane, ICE detention centers is surely the most horrific.  Holding immigrants with no history of criminal behavior, they are reported to be overcrowded and filthy; the water is said to be undrinkable, food is rancid and medical care is all but nonexistent.

Furthermore, political representatives are denied access to document the poor conditions and deaths within the centers are not fully investigated.  Meanwhile, new centers are under construction across the country, especially in "Red States" where protests are less likely to occur.

How such horrible treatment can occur in this "democratic" country without condemnation and intervention from both political Parties is beyond belief.  The only possible explanation is the conviction that those held within these gulags are sub-human; after all, they are not white.