Hallway to Nowhere

Category: poems

  • Why I’m Campaigning (And Voting) For Anthony Flaccavento

    I am a volunteer for Anthony Flaccavento in Abingdon, VA. Sometimes people will ask me why I am working to get him elected. I decided to put my reasons down on paper, so to speak. A written testimonial, if you were.

    First and foremost: Character matters, now more than ever.  Anthony is one of the most decent thoughtful individuals I’ve met. I’ve known him for many years, going back to when I lived here before and he ran the first time. He’s never wavered in his unfailing kindness and regard for those around him. This is reflected in his business and his accomplishments, most notably Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture. (Love your local farmer’s market? Might consider voting for Anthony, as ASD has been instrumental in the development and nurturance of these all across Appalachia.)

    Second. He is a Man With A Plan, what I call a “concrete visionary.” His rural progressive platform and other such ideas are very specific to this region, which is what we need here. He has definite ideas for what could be done across Appalachia, economically and in other areas. I won’t enumerate them here, as he does a much better job than I. I refer you to his excellent website (flacc4congress.com or to explore his rural progressive platform in depth, ruralprogressivepolitcs.files.wordpress.com) or his book (Building A Healthy Economy From The Bottom Up: Harnessing Real-World Experience For Transformative Change), should you wish to delve further.

    Third. Anthony listens and Anthony shows up. If you are a constituent of his and call him with a problem, you WILL be heard and he WILL endeavor to address your concerns. I am certain of this. You won’t get some robo-form letter that says the same thing for  every reason you call the office , regardless of WHY you call. ( Yes, Morgan Griffith, I’m talking about YOU!) And Anthony will show up in Congress to DO HIS JOB AND ALSO VISIT THE 9TH DISTRICT! Imagine seeing your Congressman eating at a local restaurant! Being able to visit with him! Talk to him! Wouldn’t THAT be nice?

    There are many other reasons, too. But these are the big three. I hope to see you at the polls on Nov 6!

  • Here’s Why The Dems Will Lose The Midterms And Possibly 2020

    I just watched the debate between Tim Kaine and Corey Stewart. I found Corey to be Hobbesian in the extreme in his answers, i.e. nasty, brutish, and short, as least as far as the facts were concerned. However, and I say this as someone who is devoting my time to HELP Kaine and Flaccavento  get elected on NOV 6th in Virginia, Corey Stewart owned the debate. He turned it away from a  debate between two people running for office in Virginia and into a referendum on support for Donald Trump. Kaine seemed either unable or unwilling to stop this, and so rather than being able to do a back and forth debate on his positions or policies, was forced into a showdown over his (lack of) support of  Trump. When Kaine attempted in vain to show that he had in fact worked with the administration on a variety of policies, for how could he NOT-that’s his JOB as a U.S. Senator and ranking member of several committees, Stewart steamrolled over his answers and kept up  his drumbeat of Kaine being “a weak ultra-liberal who takes his marching orders from Chuck Shumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Hillary Clinton.” I’m merely surprised that George Soros never got mentioned. Perhaps he’s saving George for later.

    The audience (The Virginia Bar Association) ate Corey’s little heap o’ Trump right up. They even booed Tim Kaine, one of the nicest and most decent guys I’ve ever met. And I fear that this WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.  The rules have changed, you see, and a lot of liberal Democrats haven’t caught up. I’m NOT saying we play by Trump’s rules and engage in this sort of gaslighting, what-aboutism, deflection, and flat-out lying. But I AM desperately saying that we NEED TO LEARN WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!! Study George Lakeoff, for example. (The Blue Book is an excellent introduction.) Listen to his webinars and videos on idea-framing. and other concepts. Amanda Carpenter is another person, not nearly as academic but still very good, who has written on Trump’s technique…she is a REPUBLICAN. (The book is Gaslighting America: Why We Love When Trump Lies To Us.)

    We keep thinking that if we point out the flaws in their arguments, the contradictions in their statements, or their actual lies, that this is going to change hearts and minds. For the few out there that are primarily cerebral, perhaps this is effective. But this is not what the game is about any longer-to our opponents. They have have given up on the whole reason and logic front altogether and moved to occupy tribalism and emotional satisfaction instead. But damn,  they do this SO WELL! (I mean, if a person living here on Disability REALLY contemplated it, he might have to admit that Trump is one of the very elites he claims to despise and has zero in common with ANYONE living in Appalachia.) But it’s not about that. It’s about how rooting for Trump makes them FEEL. Do people REALLY think a border wall is going to happen or will actually work? Well, no, not really. But it definitely FEELS right and good to say (or chant with your buddies), “Build that wall! Build that wall!” And it’s a heck of a lot easier to say (and think about) than “enact sensible immigration policies that will give us a coherent system for dealing with people who are seeking asylum and those who wish to come for other reasons  economic and cultural and climate-related and oh, do something too to help conditions in the countries that they are leaving” .

    Okay, Back from my tangent. The point I’m trying to make is that I fear a LOT of good Democrats are STILL missing the point. I want these people to WAKE UP. Otherwise, I fear I will awaken on Nov. 6th to find my beloved state of Virginia a blue bastion no longer: Tim Kaine loses to Corey Stewart; Anthony Flaccavento loses to Morgan Griffith; and in my nightmares, 2020 rolls around and America gets Donald J. Trump and ilk for another 4 years or worse. PLEASE STOP THIS!!!

  • Three Guys With Guns

    At first read, this story sounds like an NRA ad come true: two good guys with guns save the day when they come to  the aid and kill a bad guy with a gun. But upon further perusal, you quickly realize that by the admittance of all involved (except the bad guy-he’s dead), this was a narrowly-avoided clusterf&ck. Here’s what happened:

    A shooter approached a restaurant in OKC and opened fire upon its front. The first good guy hears the gunfire, arms, and goes to the scene of the shooting. The second good guy happened to be driving past and stopped to see what was transpiring. When he was told of a shooter, HE arms himself and proceeds to the scene. So. You have the shooter. Good guy one. And good guy two. They concurrently decide the original shooter is the bad guy and shout at him to disarm. When he fails to comply, they open fire. The bad guy dies of multiple gunshot wounds. But not before the police arrive, to find THREE guys with guns on the scene. The bad guy is down by now. But the police, exercising due diligence, handcuff all three and take all men into custody to sort out who is who. The good guys are eventually released. The bad guy, as previously reported, dies. No-one else was hurt during the incident.

    But just consider the possibilities! The good guys stated that that THEY have done so, and that it was purely a matter of luck that they didn’t mistake each OTHER for the shooter. So, just think about this. Now you have two people who are shooting at each other by mistake; an active shooter who still might intent on his original plan of action, so he is still shooting. The risk of casualties, intended or accidental, has just risen greatly. Then add to this the arrival of the police, who are of course ALSO guys with guns. How are they supposed to ID the bad guys with guns from the good guys with guns? (Hats? Idk….) In any case, I’m saying that this is getting to be WAY too many guys with guns. (And please please please don’t tell me the answer is to arm everyone. It’s too late at night for me to even begin to address THAT argument.) If the idea is to keep everyone safer, and that WAS the original intent of the whole guns-thing, this does not seem like a sensible way to be managing it. Unless we’ve changed the intent and it’s now just to protect GUNS, not people.

  • Admit To “Christian Protection” Laws

    With the recent two Supreme Court Decisions, I am most disheartened. I DID see a news clip of a rabbi (haven’t been able to find out who he was) saying something to the effect of “If you want to come after someone, come after me, you sons-of-a bitch!” Good for him! But those groups calling so LOUDLY for “religious liberty” protections? Well, OF COURSE they were celebrating the victory they got with the decision concerning what information a “medical provider” is obliged to give a women about her options when going to a crisis pregnancy center. (In case you don’t know, these places are usually run by antiabortion Christian groups. They will provide a minimum of care to the woman until she gives birth , persuade her to give the baby up for adoption or keep it-ONLY OPTIONS, then she is on her own  and SOL.)  But concerning the treatment of immigrants and the travel ban, which largely affects those from Muslim countries? Deafening silence. So. I propose they just come clean. Stop with all the trumpeting about “religious liberties,” when what they mean is protection for CHRISTIAN values, particularly those of an esp. conservative bent. After all, the POTUS has been saying outright things which should have beyond the pale  and apparently gets a mulligan every time from values voters. So hey, let’s just hear y’all start telling the truth!

  • Walmart Fails To Deliver

    Amazon VS Walmart: which evil empire do you choose? In this day and age, it seems an inescapable dilemma. As much as I dislike the though of enriching Jeff Bezos any further, I must admit that after a recent with Wally-world’s remote customer service, Amazon STILL provides much better customer service, plus you will get what you actually ordered.

    Here’s what transpired: Walmart had sent me a digital coupon for 15% off, if I use their delivery service, claiming they missed me. This is mystifying, since to the best I can recall I’ve never ordered online from Walmart. But okay, I’ll use the coupon. So I order some items using their two-day shipping option. One item, Burt’s Bees Body Wash For Men, is shipped separated from the other items, and due to arrive Monday (which is actually later than the 2-day shipping promised). Monday comes, no item. Tuesday comes, And I get an email saying that my item has arrived. I check in all the usual spots it could be left-no box. I even go upstairs to look, b/c occasionally a substitute UPS person will take a box there in the mistaken view that I live there, though my mailbox is CLEARLY marked and beside my door-no box there, either. I even text my landlord to make sure no-one from his house received a parcel, just in case. Nope. So it’s clear that no delivery was made.

    I contact Walmart that evening. The first thing that happens when I do so is a roadblock that asks me if I’ve availed myself of these possible options, i.e., have I done my homework before bothering customer service. I’m thinking to myself, “um, yeah. I have.”  So I contact a virtual agent. Our interaction was pleasant enough and went quickly and easily. He sent me a replacement item at no cost with two day shipping. We’ll see if IT arrives. BUT….

    When this has happened with an Amazon item, I’m usually contacted BEFORE the item arrives so I know whom to contact if the item doesn’t arrive. The ONE time I’ve had a problem with Amazon, it was dealt with speedily and dispatch and no-one asking me had I attempted to do this, that, and the other.  And to make up for the inconvenience, Amazon gave me a 5$ credit to use. That’s the sort of thing that makes me much more inclined to go back to Amazon.

  • “Thoughts And Prayers” Won’t Get The Laundry Done-How To Truly Help Someone Who Is Ill

    “Thoughts And Prayers” Won’t Get The Laundry Done-How To Truly Help Someone Who Is Ill

    As those of you who are friends with me IRL or on social media know, I have been very ill recently. First I caught a nasty strain of the flu (diagnosed at the Urgent Care Center) which later developed into atypical pneumonia, acute bronchitis, PLUS the original flu virus. The ER doc also mumbled something about some possible other unspecified viruses, like these weren’t enough, and sent me home with more meds than I could shake a stick at, strict instructions to REST, REST, REST, drink plenty of fluids, and to follow up with my internist. I’m not venturing out anywhere, since I’d have to don a plague mask, carry a bell, and spread the deadly virus wherever I went, thereby being a real buzzkill at any gathering.

    I posted about being so ill on my social media. AAAAANNNDD got the expected “thought and prayers” responses from most BUT from a few people got responses that made a BIG difference in the last week. THEY said things like: DO YOU NEED ME TO DO LAUNDRY? DO YOU NEED ME TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE? DO YOU NEED ME TO PICK UP MEDS? DO YOU NEED A RIDE TO THE DOCTOR? DO YOU NEED ME TO COOK YOU SOUP? Are you seeing a pattern here?

    Now, don’t get me wrong. “Thoughts and prayers” are appreciated. Some of those posting might have actually prayed….a couple were professionals at that, lol, and who knows? I might even be on a church prayer list somewhere! But the point I’m trying to make here is that if you know someone who is truly ill, and you truly wish to do something for them, offer  more than “thoughts and prayers”. Even if it is something so simple as a post containing the latest research that shows that Sambucol is effective as Tamiflu against the flu. That has some content. Or perhaps a humorous post about the flu. These will suffice, should you not be in a position to make a concrete offer of aid, like doing laundry (if the person has no washer and dryer, for instance) or going to the grocery, or making a meal, or whatever. But just saying “thoughts and prayers,” while it SOUNDS nice on FB, is essentially vacuous and meaningless. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh and ungrateful. But in this day and age, after the beating that words have taken from DJT and company, I want to let people know that words matter and actions speak loudly. Covfefe, indeed.

  • Trump and Tears: My Own Personal “Trump Effect”

    When Trump (#NotMyPresident) was elected, I cried. They were NOT tears of joy, believe you me. Little did I know that those tears were merely a bitter, bitter presage of the many tears to follow. From having a President who never reduced me to crying or incoherency, save for a tear here and there of pride in him as he represented us so well on the world stage or lit the WH in rainbow colors when Marriage Equality finally became law of the land, I now have a POTUS who with depressing regularity brings me to fits of actual crying. (And I STILL can’t listen to Le Tigre’s “I’m With Her” w/o breaking down.) His tweets can make me gnash my teeth, to the point that my dentist is concerned. And don’t even get me started on what my psychiatrist thinks, lol. I pointed out that NO-ONE makes meds strong enough to deal with a Trump presidency. He laughed and suggested perhaps I should start a support group. He was joking. But I’m seriously considering it. People (like me) who are now marginalized by Spanky and his gang can use all the help they can get.

    When I heard Trump’s latest, the “shithole countries” remark, I cried yet again. Let me say that before Trump, that last time I had cried was when my last beloved guinea pig died…over TEN years ago. I don’t cry easily. I deal with things and go on. But this man….Here’s why I cried at the “shithole countries” remark:

    First, from just the continuing SHOCK that a sitting PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA would make such a remark. Two, the contrast was immediate to his predecessor. Obama had great empathy and compassion. I highly doubt Trump  ever even tweeted the word “empathy,” let alone experienced it. And I won’t even go into the matters of style and class. Utterly no comparision possible there. Three, I felt such despair at the complete callousness that this displayed towards those from these countries.

    I really endeavor not to hate anyone. I think it a waste of time and energy. But Trump is making me rethink this policy. I’m begining to hate him personally, viscerally, and with vituperation. I dislike what he’s doing to the country but I dislike what he’s doing to me as a person. I’m now: angry; anxious; fearful; tearful; and depressed. MAGA, indeed! Snort!

  • Report on Doug Jones’ Win In Alabama

    A Democrat won in Alabama. Freakin’ ALABAMA! But before we go getting all warm and fuzzy toward the denizens of that benighted state, let me point out WHO exactly  elected Doug Jones: the African American residents, most specifically THE WOMEN! They turned out to vote for him in greater numbers than even for Barack Obama. Now, younger white voters did vote for Jones,esp. in the urban counties, but most of the older white males in Alabama voted for Moore and the majority of white women, even those who were college grads, STILL voted for Moore!

    It’s time for another Transit Report. My ever-faithful Trump-supporting transit driver had this to say: he won’t last (referring to Jones). He went on to explain himself, asking those of us captive, You DO know who voted for him, right? It was the blacks and the  women! When they settle down, everything will go back to normal.

    Alrighty, then. Let’s examine this. Implicit in this is the unstated belief that the white residents of Alabama, most particularly the MEN, are the true citizens and the ones that really matter. And that what is the natural state of affairs is for African Americans and women to KNOW THEIR PLACE and let the white folks-the white MEN- decide things.

    He is a white older evangelical, btw. So not unlike those who turned in support of Roy Moore in Alabama. Like them, he is willing to embrace anyone who claims to speak for (white) Christian values wrapped in a red, white, and blue flag. No matter their character, actions, or words. If they use the right symbols and code words, basically give the correct “not-so-secret handshake and password,” then they are IN. And this seems to be a club that you join for for life. I don’t think you get thrown out. Maybe if you do something like, Idk, become an EXTREME apostate and reject Jesus in a public manner, convert to another religion or something. But there’s ALWAYS the possibility of forgiveness, b/c these people like nothing better than a repentant sinner. After all, Roy Moore came back to the Alabama Supreme Court after being removed once. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Moore. He turns up like a bad penny.

    But good for the people of Alabama. And regardless of what my transit driver believes, the African Americans ARE residents of Alabama; the younger voters ARE residents of Alabama; and angry women EVERYWHERE who are voting, running for office, and WINNING are legitimate citizens of the United States. No-one is going anywhere.

  • Another Attack By A (Christian) Troll

    Another Attack By A (Christian) Troll

    I have a profile at a dating site. I put it up in hopes that I would meet some interesting new FRIENDS, being as I live in a small town and meeting people here is difficult. In my introduction I was candid about being: ace, agender, aromantic, and atheist. Last night the last adjective proved to be too upsetting for another user, resulting in the following encounter:

    SHE initiates contact with me to say something innocuous, “heya, how are you?” I always take the time to read the profile of anyone who contacts me, and hers emphatically stated that she wished to talk to others about traveling. So I responded with a question, “I’m fine, thank you. I see your profile says that you wish to talk about traveling? So where do you wish to travel, or where have you traveled?” She responds with a long diatribe about Jesus and how she believes in God. Okkkkay, then. My usual response would be to say something snarky, but I had told myself that this week I would endeavor to be kinder and gentler to all I met. This includes Christian people who are hell-bent on saving my soul. So I replied with a polite answer and wished her a Happy Thanksgiving. She contacts me AGAIN this morning to find out why I wasn’t responding to her god-talk and then sends another message that she doesn’t find “men-looking” women attractive.  I’m beginning to lose my patience at this point. But I remember my resolution. Though I know that I am wasting my time, I do  respond, albeit still politely. I say that she has voiced her dislike of my beliefs and my appearance through more than one message now and I am frankly puzzled as to why she keeps contacting me. I am happy for her that she is saved by Jesus hopes that she has a blessed Thanksgiving. Then I blocked her.  I don’t think she realized this, for I continued to get messages from her. They went unread.

    WHY do some Christians feel entitled to engage in this behavior? And this is definitely a CHRISTIAN thing. You don’t see practitioners of ANY other religion doing this sort of thing. It irks me to no end. Not only is it highly annoying; it is presumptuous, contemptuous, and entitled. It CLEARLY says, “I know better than you do what is best for you and I am prepared to trample all over your beliefs and your rights in the name of my god.” This is what gives Christianity a bad name and a black mark in the eyes of so many non-Christians. These type of Christians don’t just do this to atheists; they’ll do this to ANYONE who doesn’t subscribe to their brand of Christianity-even other Christians. But atheists really seem to rile them, I’ll admit. We’re like a direct challenge to them, some sort of theological red flag. My life would probably be a lot easier if I would play nice, as a pastor friend of mine suggested, and start saying that I’m an agnostic. It sounds better, he says, less militant and harsh. Not so confrontative.

    I’m sorry. Let’s talk about confrontation, shall we? A CHRISTIAN shouted at me that I’m damned while I was walking to the farmers market upon merely hearing, “No, I’m an atheist, sir.” A CHRISTIAN told me to “FUCK OFF, you’re obviously not on your way to church!” while on his way to CHURCH, after I helpfully and politely informed him that he had parked his car illegally and that it would be towed. A CHRISTIAN told me that I should be DEPORTED b/c I didn’t believe in a CHRISTIAN god. And, as described above, a CHRISTIAN sought me out on a DATING SITE to revile both my beliefs and my looks. So who is seeking confrontation here? Do I knock on doors and ask, “Pardon me, have you studied the good news about critical reasoning and rationality?” Do I stand at the entrance of the farmers market and read from Darwin? Do I hand out pocket-sized editions of Richard Dawkins “The God Delusion” to be distributed by legions of middle-aged atheists and placed in motel rooms nationwide? Maybe someone needs to start doing this. IF I keep encountering Christian trolls, maybe it might be me.

  • Roy Moore Has A Great Big (Christian) Credibility Problem

    Roy Moore Has A Great Big (Christian) Credibility Problem

    Roy Moore has based his career as a politician on his self-righteous Christianity. He installed a marble statue of the 10 Commandments in his courtroom as Alabama’s Chief Justice and was removed from office when he refused to remove it. He was elected again to head the court and again removed after he directed probate judges to continue to enforce the state’s ban on same-sex marriages. He resigned and is now running for the seat vacated by Jeff Sessions. He is known for his anti-LGBTQ views, anti-Muslim and immigrant sentiments, and past ties to neo-Confederate and white nationalist groups, in addition to his loudly and oft-expressed notions about Christianity.

    He really ought to have heeded the saying about glass houses and stones. His house is shattering all about him. What remains to be seen is whether this will make any difference to his constituency: the largely evangelical Republicans in Alabama. An Alabama state official has already defended Moore from the allegations that have been made in the Washington Post stating that he engaged in what is legally sexual abuse of a minor. Around 86% of Alabama residents identify as Christians, and almost half of those say they are evangelical. According to the Pew Research Center, 70% of white evangelicals now say that a person who commits “an immoral act” can behave ethically in the public sphere (unless, of course, you are Hillary Clinton). I suppose this is part and parcel of the whole “forget everything except your personal relationship with Jesus” thing? I USED to hear  that my Christian friends  expected their politicians to live up to a certain moral standard IN ALL RESPECTS….that their personal lives should reflect their public lives.

    Now? Not so much. I hear increasingly that the ends justify the means, and if that means embracing a foul-mouthed hypocrite like DJT, then so be it. After all, god can use anyone he wants, right? But to those of us who are looking on, this smacks less of faith than of desperation at best and of venality at worst. They are throwing away their standards in pursuit of goals that will most likely never materialize. To use a reference from their own bible, DJT definitely has feet of clay! And as we are now finding out, so does Roy Moore, god’s own self-chosen one in Alabama!