Continued Confessions

about various subjects

I wanted to headline today’s post “Sex, Lies, and Videotape” but then I realized that phrase was used as the title of a movie years ago (which, by the way, has been lauded recently). Anyway, the reason for these words popping into my head is that I saw an old video of a Meet The Press interview with a certain person who would be a dictator. The particular issue at hand was this person’s view on abortion rights, and at that time he very clearly announced that he was definitely pro-choice! I wondered whether the rabidly anti-abortion evangelicals this particular candidate has been courting have seen that video? I suspect that they could explain it away, though, because in the intervening years they will say that their man has had a come-to-Jesus moment. I actually believe that the man in question has absolutely no inner values of any kind other than self-interest, and he will cater to whichever groups promise him the most power. As an ardent feminist and promoter of women’s rights, I would no more trust this man to tell the truth about anything than I would believe that the evangelicals honor women.

So, back to my own life, which is much more pleasant than the chaos created in the governing body. I abide by my quote from Hans Hoffman that “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” My first priority is my own health and welfare, and then my immediate family and loved ones. But we all seem to be chugging along quite well one day at a time, so I will continue to follow the drama on the national stage because I have always been very interested in politics at all levels. And I am trying to educate myself on the history behind much of today’s turmoil by reading other Substackers who have that particular expertise. I have been restacking a lot of them so you’ll know what I have been reading. It’s definitely tempting to turn a blind eye, but I believe an informed electorate is the only solution. I’m glad that we have so many megaphones these days to spread the good word, although the obverse is also true in that disinformation is rampant. The lies can sometimes be unpacked when public figures have made contradictory pronouncements, but it takes dedicated sleuthing to call them out. Investigative reporters should be handsomely rewarded for all their hard work.

And finally, the sex part of the equation. I wish we could all just keep our private lives private. The business of running a country, or even a small business or a college or any organization, should be handled in a business-like manner. Our sex lives fall into the category of recreation, not work. Whatever goes on outside of the workplace should be of no concern to anyone other than the parties involved, which of course should be consenting adults. Did you know that the brilliant Alan Turing (the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence) was hounded and arrested for so-called deviant sexual behavior? England has since become more enlightened on this issue and a law to retroactively pardon men has been named after Turing (see Wikipedia entry). What others choose to do in the sexual arena has no bearing on my particular desires. Live and let live is the best advice for personal serenity. I may not believe anything about the meaning of life that matches your beliefs; however, I defend your right to hold your own beliefs so long as they don’t interfere with mine.