Clairol brunette, 71, laments the Jesus-blinded

Hey, Joe Bageant! It's getting so I see a paragraph somewhere or even just a quote, and I think, "That's good old Joe B." I got your style under my skin.

I'm not a screaming liberal, just liberal, I guess, when I bother to think about it. I'm a bit tired of labels, screamed at me by the likes of that power-hungry creep O'Reilly who now hardly even tries to disguise his lust for making policy and choices -- the way he was slamming Dean (not that he doesn't deserve to be slammed), but ... and his moronic call for boycotting the French all by himself (wouldn't that mebbe be a gov policy -- which isn't saying much really either?) or hide his spin (he puts toy top to shame). Not a blond, nor young (ah, "you'll look YOUNGER", the mantra they pummel the women with, fostering artificial insecurity so they buy buy buy).

Anyhoo, that's in answer/reference to your "come sit by me." But please do not call me "comrade." They, too, have committed atrocities in the name of name a political poison. Stalin was a sick monster. But enough of that for the time being -- unless you care to rebut.

I've been sitting here, with a hollow in my gut for a couple months that no food can ever fill, and these days, somehow, I can't eat much anyway. I feel sick at what is happening, and all this time, I kept wondering WHY on earth is half this country so propagandized by all that is fed them, why they voted for him, why they don't see what the hell is going on. And so on. I mean, I knew many are not educated, so they can't really help being bamboozled, and they're Jesus-blinded, and so on. But, your latest article and a couple more (the Borderer Legacy, a Mean and Unholy Ditch) really made me grasp exactly what those mechanisms driving "these people" (sorry) are. Eye-opener, and I feel having been naive (and ignorant, but I'm trying, I'm trying, and I shifted several stands all by my little self. At least, I like to think so. Especially against this consumerism I despise. The pounding 5 times an hour SAME damn ads, which seem to work, right?)

Anyway, I owe you, for giving me stuff by which I can understand more (not that my stomach feels any less gnawing) and I sure would like to sit by you some day, and listen, and talk, but I warn you, I'm a Clairol brunette and 71, and I sometime feel, oh what the hell, I'm not going to be around much longer, and I won't see where this country keeps on heading to (I'm a bit of a pessimist, and isn't a pessimist sometimes nothing but a bloody realist? But not a fortune-teller.)

And sometimes, just between you and me, I feel like hurrying it up. Maybe that's being a coward? I feel such pain for this country and what it could be, and all those people everywhere). And then even so, I feel so damn bad for those I know who will have to continue through this. And I think, maybe I should get up and do something, as you are goading us, and maybe it could be turned around.

And, you told me you were getting out of here. (Do you vaguely remember your writing me, several months ago; you were waiting for a big royalty check and scouting land abroad. You still around? Changed your mind?)

Here, I also "get it" more and more and also don't get it. How some people think and feel. I heard someone say, as I was trying to talk about how soldiers' moral was low, the high number of GI suicides, their psych problems, their anger at the lack of armor, and how they have to scrounge for it, I heard, "Oh, it's not that bad -- and the Marines have great moral; that's 'cause they're doing most of the killing. They feel GREAT!" Yeah -- same mentality as, let's go crucify some camel jockeys at the mall.

And right next to me, I heard (in an email barely disguising a demand to vote for him as the "man who names the name of Jesus) (as in, mebbe, "bomb for Christ?") about how the Democrats are being demonized as making Satan their ally in wrecking the election and hurting America. And I guess the Repuplicans don't hurt America at all, at all -- and I will never convince that particular person of what is really going on, so I know when to quit. Or not even start. Discussion is not an option here either.

I also asked someone sporting a "Support Our Troops" ribbon, "And then what?" Puzzlement. I said, "You say, support our troops, and then, you do what to implement that?" He had no answer, finally muttering something about, "It foments some discussion." Guess that supports our troops a hell of a lot. Talk talk all over without thinking about meanings. Or do I have it all wrong?

I also was surprised to hear you say that US troops are bending over backward not to kill civilians and thus putting themselves at risk in fighting those insurgents. Not the gist of what I've been getting. What is going on here? I NEED people like you to steer me to the truth -- you have such a wealth of knowledge and seeing through the crap ability and discernemnt. And your grasp of history of your area and all those Celts, Calvinists, their influence, etc. awes me.

Well, long enough. Haven't written much of late -- you made me think. Thanks. But thinking and no action ... back to square one, I guess. Wish I didn't feel discouraged and horrified and physically ailing. Neuropathy -- it's a bitch. Saps one's strength. And does what I don't do make me part of this "horrible silence"? One thing - I feel isolated here. As you can guess, Seattle really is too far for me to establish steady circles of similar-minded, and I am not able to move (finances, and all that). Mostly I go the Internet way (as with you).

Speaking of ill -- why is that guy at 67 working at Walmart to pay for health insurance not getting Medicare for all his ailments, his kneecaps? Puzzle again. What am I missing?

Maybe I come across as some kind of old fool -- the worst kind. Maybe not. One can hope.

Anyway - I'd even buy a box of Clairol blond for a one-shot appearance.

Take care.

Vera
Auburn, Wahington