I think we’ll leave our protagonist right there, with all the possible scenarios that would fit the paragraph still in the nascent stage of which I am so fond….  Sorry, I know it annoys some ffolkes when I do that, but, some days, it’s all I can do to come up with a way to grab your attention for what follows. The subject matter around here, versatile as it is, can be somewhat dry; political science and/or religious monologues don’t draw attention quite so quickly as say, sex…. which I have so far been able to avoid using as a hook for this blog. I’m not sure why I made the decision, as it was made unconsciously, but I haven’t ever really tried my hand at writing about sex, other than as a peripheral factor in other discussions…

Actually, I find, as I get older, I am becoming, not so much more puritanical, though that is certainly part of the outcome, but shall we say, less urgently concerned with prurient matters than previously in my life. Oh, that isn’t to say that I’m not interested in sex any more; far from it. My participation in any such behavior is only limited by a distinct lack of willing partners, not by inclination.

This state of affairs (or, rather, lack of affairs….), while, I’m sure, temporary, is nonetheless somewhat disheartening, as you may imagine…. I’ve never been very good at celibacy, even though, having been married for a long time, I’m well acquainted with dealing with that unhappy state….. SIGH…. Not that I’m particularly invested with any real belief in astrology, but, I’ve always fit the description of a Scorpio to a T, in that regard, so my appetite for sex has always been strong….

If one REALLY believed the astrologers, then I would be considered to be a very sexually oriented person, as I am what is called a triple Scorpio, with my Sun, Moon, and Rising Signs all in Scorpio at the precise moment I was born, along with, I believe, three, or perhaps, four of the other planets…. I forget exactly…. A friend who was “into” astrology once cast my horoscope, but, I didn’t pay much attention beyond what I’ve relayed to you here….

Ah well, it’s all moot right now anyway; I don’t have an available partner, and if, or when one appears, there remains the obstacle of my pain, and the medication I take for it, which tends to both decrease the urge, and make difficult the process, because of the narcotic nature of the medication. I can perform just fine, but it requires a lot of focus, concentration, and effort, not easy at my age, but, well worth it…. I just don’t get the opportunity often right now. (A euphemism for “not at all, at all….. SIGH…..) There is one good thing to say about age and our attitudes about sex in general…. it isn’t any longer connected to the sense of urgency as when I was younger, so it is less painful when it isn’t happening regularly…. Thanks be for small favors, eh?….

Okay, I’ve now rambled and babbled about enough to call it an intro… it’s certainly long enough, though I’m not sure what any of it has to do with literature, or any of the stuff I usually write about. Ah, well, such is life here at ECR…. I never know exactly where I’m headed, so I am not burdened with too much angst ahead of time, worrying about how it will come out. Since I’ve now probably lost you completely, we’d best get on with the rest of today’s effort….. Shall we Pearl?…..
__________________________________

“We lie about the truth, that’s what ruins us here. And do you know why we lie about the truth? Not because we like to, but because we are scared to death of it. If we looked the truth in the eye nine out of ten of us would run to the graveyard and demand to be buried at once.” — Babbaluche the cobbler

Can you feel it? There it is, lurking just beyond the limit of perception… it’s a group of pulsating platitudes…. A bundle of asinine assumptions…. A plethora of petulant postulates…. A mixed bag of pointed metaphors and moral indictments…. Yes, it’s once more time for our morning politirant, that wonderful time when we bring to bear all of our sarcasm, sardonicism, cynicism, and tendency toward blather, aiming it exuberantly at that perfect group of targets, the Beloved Ruling Class, a term I borrowed, but only because it is so perfectly accurate, with just the right amount of sneering disdain….

Today’s pearl is one that barely needs explanation, or discussion, but, what kind of blog would this be if I let one like this go by without at least taking a shot or two at my favorite bunch of idiots? Not a very honest one, that’s for sure…. If the nose grows, you must let it show, and, due to the habitual bozoid behavior of the political beasts in this country, that nose is on the news every night…. attached to one political pundit’s face or another…

Honestly, I don’t make them say any of the stuff they do, nor do I need to make any of it up; I don’t have to do anything, and they provide me with ridiculous statements and outrageous lies for discussion with every other breath…. I only wish I got paid for every time they tell me/us a lie; I’d be able to afford to buy my own political office within a week or so…… Of course, if I wanted to be in a political office, I’d have to live up to the promise I made myself many years ago, and immediately commit suicide… It would be the only way to save my honor…..

Though I understand the process involved, I’ve never been able to fully understand the “why” questions that arise out of the natural progression of the political circus…. Questions like, why do we still elect people who lie to us? Why do we overlook the lies they tell us? Why are people so idiotic as to do this over and over and over again, for the past two hundred plus years in this country, and all over the world for centuries before that.

As far as I can see from history, especially considering the lies that are inherently part of the religious writings, lying for profit has been the chief sport of society since approximately 5000 BC…. If you don’t believe me, read it yourself…. it’s all there in writing, for all to see, provided they have the wit, and the inclination to accept, or even recognize, truth when they read it…..

“If you wants to get elected president, you’ve got to think up some memorable homily so’s school kids can be pestered into memorizin’ it, even if they don’t know what it means.” — Walt Kelly, The Pogo Party

It’s been said, by people wiser than me, that comedy, and humor, as expressed in comics, by comedians on stage and TV (in this century), and in the literature of the time, are all excellent indicators of the attitudes that are common to society, and show the true feelings of the people who are considered “the common man”. This cartoon strip, Pogo, by Walt Kelly was published in newspapers for 26 years, until his death in 1973; his wife continued publishing, using other artists, until at least 1983. In my opinion, after his death, it never reached the degree of genius Walt himself showed, though it faithfully carried on his tradition of gentle, yet telling, criticism of society, and of government in particular.

Note, if you will, in the above caption, the implied distrust of political candidates in general, which implies a lot about officials already elected, and “serving” in office. Mr. Kelly, and his work, were probably considered “suspiciously anti-American” by Joe McCarthy and his Band of Bigots, who were so prominent in the early 50’s. Since he continued to publish long after that group came into disrepute, I imagine his popularity, and genius, were sufficient protection to deflect any trouble from that quarter. Since I’m lazy, and this is already getting pretty wordy, I won’t go googling to find out exactly what occurred, but, I’d lay good money on my version being relatively accurate….

The strip did post one particular episode after Walt Kelly’s death, for Earth Day in 1983, that has become a classic iconic poster for that movement’s organization, and the last line, uttered by Pogo himself, still appears at times to support their cause at events…. on posters, of course…. Here is the strip made into a poster…. from Wikipedia….    I guess that answers my questions from above, doesn’t it? We now know why we let them lie…. because we are all as guilty of acting out of ignorance and self-interest as are our leaders….. If we are to be honest, at least with ourselves, we must accept responsibility for allowing the mess to build up in the first place…. The next question seems to suggest itself, I think….