Patriotic – Alternate Futures Institute

Letter to Esteemed Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court; VPOTUS Kamala Harris; and IL Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton

Dear Esteemed Persons,

Here in Illinois, we are currently going by a “no cash bail” system, wherein defendants are not detained in our jails until their case reaches the court. The reasoning behind this is that government ’s holding someone if they cannot post a certain amount of bail is racially discriminatory. This because poorer people—usually “Black” or “Brown”—cannot afford the fee, so are stuck in jail, whereas the richer, often “White,” can pay the bail and go free until their court date. However, this system of no cash bail saves a lot of money, since jailing people is costly. The only problem is that those arrested for crimes, when put back on the street, before their court date, may be tempted to perform more crimes.

And those who are jailed get little, if any, rehabilitation, I understand. Yet they live in proximity to ski lled crime committers in prison, so could learn more methods to use for breaking the law when they get out. It doesn’t help that our system prevents released felons from renting living spaces and taking advantage of other opportunities to better themselves. Crime must seem like the only way to live, even though it fails to bolster the community—in fact, it is an attack on the lawbreaker’s community, and therefore the criminal, themself. Additionally, this behavior contributes to a negative stereotype—an assault on everyone.

A related situation is the plastic gun one. Gun availability has increased, now that people—children, felons, terrorists—can buy gun parts and assemble them themselves. Meanwhile, some firearm owners are using gun impoundment to avoid having the weapons around because gun presence at home is a temptation—to suicide! Canada may be different, but the right to gun ownership for all Americans can backfire, and it has, similar to the no cash bail rule and prison without rehab, in general. Similar, in fact, to the state of humanity.

The appeal of guns is that a weak being can use them to halt a threatening one. Guns terminate—they end—they create finality. And justice cannot be restored after a death has occurred, can it? “Getting justice for my loved one”—what prison sentence or amount of money could heal such a wound? There would be none except to prevent the maiming in the first place. But prevention suggests far-reaching considerations—maybe even a system quite different from the one we employ today. I think American mass shooters might feel they need to live in situations that they don’t sense could ever be created. For example, it’s clear to me that we need hordes of therapists in every school, not just one social worker per institution; but could that be brought about?

The time is now to define lack of violence of every sort, including psychological, and the presence of fairness and justice for all Americans of every age. Why do we value human, and why humane, interaction? Can we replace work that is destructive to our bodies and minds—too much sitting; too much heavy lifting in factories; boring mindwork—by robotics and artificial intelligence, substituting for it employment that enriches lives through character, not wages? Rebuilding surroundings for ourselves will take a lot of work, from research (see Katy Bowman’s nutritiousmovement.com ) to completion. But enjoying the production of more humane environments will be great recreation, as we empower creative expression—in housing, for example. No law allowing gun access will be wanted, as people won’t desire gun presence. Kamala Harris, you have a gun today, but I do not and do not want one tomorrow, either; I am not scared: I have faith in our American abilities and potential species evolution. The four of us should continue elucidating fairness, as you three have done in your work for the nation and state and I have tried to on my website—but together, with the guiding concern of rehabilitation for all! I look forward to staying in touch in the future.

Yours truly,

Peace!

My planet–it apparently is not yours, or else you would be taking better care of it–is groaning in pain. Language is a virus, as Laurie Anderson sang. We are sick. We need to talk together in a tongue(s) of peace. Cooperating releases abundance–your sperm are not going to be active until you beat the guns into glitter!

Remember hearing about the soccer playing soldiers in WWI, of 2015, and others would quit fighting at Christmas? “The Christmas Truce of 1914 was not a unique occasion in military history. It is common in conflicts with close quarters and prolonged periods of fighting for informal truces and generous gestures to take place between enemies. Similar events have occurred in other conflicts throughout history–and they continue to occur.” https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/christmas-at-the-front/history/truce-1914

While Biden plays Tough Guy to Putin’s Mr. Macho, and Zelensky, not to be outdone, acts horrible like Netanyahu, there are yet other conflicts the U. S. is involved in, around the world. Our defense industry is the only thing that’s healthy these days. It has its pudgy fingers in many parts of our society–including child care. But that doesn’t make me love our country ‘s faults.

“This Declaration [of Universal Human Rights] is based upon the spiritual fact that [hu]man must have freedom in which to develop [his/her] full stature and through common effort to raise the level of human dignity,” spoke Eleanor Roosevelt in her United Nations speech in 1948, on page 129 of Great Speeches by American Women, 2008: Mineola, NY, Dover Publications, Edited by James Daley. Freedom, I say, is predicated on peaceful surroundings. All human accomplishment–from individual to planetary–needs time to be built, and its tools come from the labor of love. Eleanor quotes Gladstone Murray: “No man is by nature simply the servant of the state or of another man…the ideal and fact of freedom–and not technology–are the true distinguishing marks of our civilization,” (p. 129).

Roosevelt says, in topic relevant to today, on the Soviet proposed and rejected amendments by the UN, “We in the United States admire those who fight for their convictions, and the Soviet delegation has fought for their convictions. But in the older democracies we have learned that sometimes we bow to the will of the majority. In doing that, we do not give up our convictions. We continue sometimes to persuade, and eventually we may be successful. But we know that we have to work together and we have to progress. So, we believe that when we have made a good fight, and the majority is against us, it is perhaps better tactics to try to cooperate,” p. 127.

Nothing Human Is Alien II

NOTHING HUMAN IS ALIEN ll

by C. Jenny Walbridge

Inspired by Christopher Reeve’s speech at the Democratic Convention on August 26, 1996.

The early years:

I’d known bright joy at ovation

In a classroom situation.

I’d told others how to feel,

But could I see myself?

I had tasted their ablutions;

They were simple, clear solutions.

But my problems went beyond them,

And I had to get more help.

Later:

It was time for the Convention and

I heard Christopher Reeve;

He held me in detention, standing,

Heart upon my sleeve.

He said family values meant

In a country time is spent

On each other, sister, brother—

All cared for by one another.

The man had found some loopholes

In the American Dream:

He pointed out discrepancies:

Things are not what they seem

For those with shattered lives.

And he said, We can overcome!

But ’til good heart arrives, it’s clear

The luckless are struck dumb.

Democracy’s in jeopardy—

The rich can lobby more!

Who pulls the strings? Aren’t we ashamed

If we abuse the poor?

Tonight, in writing letters,

Some quite brilliant words I found.

They help cut through the old fetters

With which my eyes were bound.

“Nothing human is alien,”

Is the phrase I mention here.

I wrote it down so many times—

It seemed to stop my fear.

I’d suffered from psychosis then.

(It’s now under control:

The drugs I take can for me make

A more collected soul.)

When Reeve spoke and he mused so well

On our good land today,

“We must help those with mental problems

Too!” I thought he’d say.

I would not put it past him, though,

To quote, on second thought,

That if we can make a difference for

An ailing mind, we ought!

For all the knocks life hands to us,

It gives us talents, too,

And virtues such as empathy

It’s good not to eschew.

The struggle to be sound of self

Is not an easy one. But

Of mind and body, health makes

Productive lives, and fun.

My own journey has taken me

Aways from whence I came:

By learning more about myself,

I’ve come to be the same,

But stronger, smarter, more aware

Of the fact that we are all

So very vulnerable to

A heart-ache or a fall

From the grace of full acceptance in

A culture that is mean,

A system that would hate its own

When they’re no longer lean

Or sprout a female chest or a

Cleft palate or are Black.

Discrimination hurts, my friend—

We’ve got to fight it back!

Nothing human is alien,

I’ve come to know it’s true.

For mentally ill I have been;

An artist too. And you?

A family is what we are,

The rich parts and the poor,

And each of us inside our heads

Must build bridges for more

Understanding—it’s what we need,

Of ourselves, and of y’all!

My therapy’s been long enough

That I can make this call:

What grander art than that which

Rests between a set of ears?

But must psychology’s concern

Be solely that of fears?

Let us create a culture where

Art therapy’s the norm:

Where each one gets a chance to make

Some line, some movement, form,

And all feel inspiration

To express their artist’s soul.

A healthy planet’s what we’d get

If we’d assume this role!

I hold just that the world’s solutions

Lie within our grasp,

Whether they be saving souls

Or fighting plagues of asp.

Liberation of our souls is

Needed. Hey! I have seen

Within myself, recovery,

And hope. Know what I dream?

A future where we utilize

All of our greatest gifts,

Where we’re engaged to teach, inspire;

In which my spirit lifts

The all of you, who come to know

Yourselves as I’ll know me.

We’ll dance ahead, committed

To each other feeling free.

Life

by C. Jenny Walbridge, June 27, 2022-October 5, 2023

If I get angry at you, I can cause a bullet to wound or kill your body. But why don’t we work out our emotional problems using words? Children and adults possess the right to life in other countries—even if they anger another. Why isn’t that a given for Americans? The right to life is in our Bill of Rights! The Second Amendment gives us the right to own guns; maybe what’s missing in our Bill of Rights is a prohibition of using them!

The term “pro-life” has a visceral appeal, especially to people who are scared to look at themselves and their own relationship to living. If life means something scary to you, controlling it and asserting that you “value” it makes you not only right—and morally so–and to feel better. It gives you something to cling to, and becomes a way of mastering the issue that threatens you. The cost of this is other peoples’ lives and interiors and their resentment in the future. But when one is terrified to look inside oneself—to learn about who one is, and maybe to learn that one needs to do some work to get psychologically healthier—it is VERY appealing to “own” other people in this way, to force them to do something so you can feel in control of your own self, pushing the issue away from you and into others’ bodies.

I am “pro-choice.” But I am also supportive of life: I care about the environment we share with the animals and plants; I support groups that work for a greener future, and in my relationships I try for positivity. This last aspect of my being is more than some people can lay claim to, because it entails introspection and self-awareness, tools I have learned from my parents and my therapists, social workers whose very existence probably threatens many of us. Let me tell you, they have worked for me! Although I was extremely screwed up in 1980 when I entered high school, due to parenting and worldly mistakes, I started seeing therapists and kept that up my whole adult life. Finally, I found one therapist who could help me do the profound work on myself that I needed to do, and have seen her for the last 30 years. It took a long time of simply talking with her, but we have been successful.

However, the education I had to have to learn how to fit in with Americans was mindboggling. I must say, the study of anthropology—of different peoples from around the planet—was extremely helpful; I thank Loyola University Chicago, as well as my therapist, for that, but a couple of years at Reed College and the School of the Art Institute were life-giving as well.

Wouldn’t it be nice if all human life was wanted life? Yes, it would. It would also be nice for our children to get a decent world to play in—not to work on. That sounds good for us, adults, too, doesn’t it? I loved Amy Shumer’s standup routine about sexual matters. How about some more of this, America? We love being the entertainers of the world—let’s act like it and work out these issues on stage!

The other thing is that there are MANY PEOPLE here now, and we live together on a limited area home that can be screwed up permanently. Talk about gifts for the kids! How about a place to run around and breathe clean air? How about a clean river to swim in?

We need a NEW DIRECTION. I see it! Let me help let us live peacefully. My faith in myself as a woman tells me that we can do it! We need to fly like butterflies from our cocoons, with every wing flap bringing the people of the world to a brighter day.

For starters, miscarriage is natural. Some foods and spices cause the period to start back up. We should utilize these natural, noninvasive methods for birth control. I myself got progesterone shots, which were great because not only did my body not conceive, but they completely halted my period! That was a freedom worthy of the name! And I come from Libertyville, Illinois, so I know of what I speak.

Anyway, I love life. What I don’t mean is “every sperm is sacred,” as Monty Python joked: of course each one is important, as every fetus who comes to term and get born is a baby, important to love and care for; they and each child and adult are part of the cycle of life and deserve protection and help (yet these are denied by those who oppose abortion). Those with eggs must be held as even more sacred than men because there are such a limited number for each woman. I’m not disputing that life is sacred, but if it is, we are behaving hypocritically–even sinfully–when we pollute God’s Earth.

I support women’s choices about our own needs, while recognizing that our future species has needs that we can meet or ignore—our offspring will be living HERE, and our choices will affect them! We need to get ourselves in excellent psychological shape so we can anticipate those needs—to SEE our kids and—wait—look out and around, to see how ELSE we can contribute, rather than just through family. Call me a Jehovah’s Witness, but I see that God is on our planet now, trying to live WITH Her recalcitrant offspring. There is no Heaven after Earth. Eden is here! This road may be new, but it is a path with heart!

All Help the U. S. A!

(Inspired by Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the U. S. A.”)

I love this land I stand on

Maybe more than some could grasp.

I’m in red, white, blue tie-dye,

And a peace sign is my clasp.

From Denver to Seattle,

Going south to Georgia too,

Where Old Glory’s overhead,

The great bald eagles flew,

To Lady Liberty who towers,

Welcoming with hand of light

(Though our country in its guises was

Not always in the right)—

I am proud to be an American,

Where my family came to live.

Like others from those distant lands

Who now are here to give,

I want to stand up

Next to you,

So we can both salute

Our brave past; now, our future

Needs our people not to shoot!

From Chicago down to Texas

Innocents murdered in cold

Bloody NRA gets richer

That Amendment Two—so old!

From the swamps of Leeziana

To the sands of Arizone

The people upset, crying,

Health care stealing all they own.

Yet I’m proud to be an American,

Sharing all the problems here.

Trying to get help we need,

Not have sad eyes that tear.

And I want to sit down next to you,

Take your hand and say,

That we must play “together”

‘Cause we love the USA!

From first responders’ hurt lungs

To broken bones of the police,

Soldiers’ missing limbs,

PTSD—on the increase,

From teachers to bus drivers,

Truck unloaders, work all day,

Security guards, phoners

Working hard all night, I say,

That I love my fellow Americans

Who made the U. S. Number One!

They contributed their best

As our great citizens’ve done.

And I’ll gladly stand up next to them,

To save their bodies’ health

‘Cause they have strong American hearts—

Here’s where we know true wealth!

I’m glad to be an American,

But do we keep it for ourself?

Most of us came from afar;

Do we put others on a shelf?

Why don’t we stand up, write

A new agenda for our land

I think it’s time our country

Will become a smart new brand!

Yeah, I’m proud to be an American,

My humble nest is here.

I sometimes order pizza,

On the weekends, drink some beer.

I’d like to stand up next to you

In all our grief and pain—

How can we use our freedom

To bring peace? wonders this brain.

USA Dot Two

Is a newer version of

America, for winners,

Built by those of us who love

Our country and are ready

To try something that’s more green,

Flex our muscles, stretch our bones,

Take a leap over the mean!

I disliked actor Ronald Reagan

All the things that he would quote

And the trickle-down idea’s

Not exactly all she wrote.

Yet, I’m proud to be an American,

With friendly border lands.

No need for trade in weapons—

We want better games for our hands.

And I have to stand up

Next to those

Who’ll choose our leader new

By votes we’ll use our freedom,

Finding one who has a clue.

Stars on every U. S. flag,

Thirteen moon-months stripe

If any space is “tainted,”

Use that banner, “clean,” to wipe!

That’s the way we’ve ruled the Planet.

There could be a change:

Global collaborations with all over—

Is that strange?

I’m proud to be from the U. S.,

Tall mountains majesty,

And know that I don’t need a gun,

There’s peace, no tragedy.

From the lakes of ancient Persia

To the hills of Vietnam

Let us not fail to celebrate,

Not drop another bomb.

War finally done, some great ones died.

None need face fear now, right?!

The U. N. must do its work,

All nations giving light!

All share a home, it’s Planet Earth,

From sea to shining sea.

Why don’t we now collaborate

On laughs for you and me?

And I’d like to high-five you and hug

My neighbor from afar,

Let’s cooperate. We can still

Save our Earth, the Sun’s all star!

There ain’t no doubt we love our lands—

Let’s all help Earth, today:

The children from all over

And the ones with hair that’s grey—

It’s fine for the U. S. to lead

As long as we recall

That China’s differences are nice:

They’ve still got their Great Wall.

I can reach from where I’m at

To generate some health

For the whole planet’s welfare

Not just missiles labelled “Stealth.”

Let’s see if we can guide our hearts

Around the Earthly curve

With trips up into Space we’ll soon

Be viewing blue with verve!

How ‘bout some runs for poorer folks

From nations like our own—

With egos big but tools small—

Still dialing on the phone…

Well, wait a minute, here,

Maybe there’s a place for us::

On the world stage in peace—

Could we avoid a fuss?

I want you to stand up,

Next to me,

Look at ourselves and see

If we can extend a hand

Of justice, to be free!

250th Birthday!

National Endowment for the Humanities: USA’s 250-year Anniversary

Questions at edsitement.neh.gov Answers by C. Jenny Walbridge

“Q: What does it mean for a union to be made ‘more perfect’?”

A: It means it gets more progressive: more able to adapt, change and grow in the future. It ensures that there is a future. Like a couple having children, improving a union lets its members be heard, developing themselves and their legacy: it is the work of life itself.

“Q: What roles do the humanities play in fostering ‘a more perfect union’?”

A: The creative process of the humanities uses play; it enriches and explains—illustrates—ourselves to ourselves, so we can figure out where we are and where to go. Including anthropology, we can use the humanities to study and see each other so we can reach out and touch and hold hands with each other—for comfort and company, as we try to go forward and ascend!

“Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of citizens and government in a democratic society?”

A: Society means we live near each other/together. Therefore, we intersect and interact, which means we need each other’s help. We have sense and can perceive others’ talents in taking care of us: we need to empower them to meet our needs. Together we can get work done and enjoy ourselves and each other, too!

As citizens, we should learn about our own talents so we can help our neighbors (the rest of humans and our home—Earth’s environment). Citizens must share their joys and sorrows in order for the representatives to cooperate, acting to move things along, getting needs met while enjoying life.

Democratic government needs to modify itself or be changed from time to time to keep up with differences in needs and conditions, in order to serve the voters and the environment, including children. It needs to learn who it is serving. The future should be listened for, and heard! Education of all community members is thus vital—the old of the potentials of the youth and the young of their elders and their elders’ natures and accomplishments.

Also, celebration should be a major aspect of the democratic society. If not fun, why done?

Hiram Walbridge of New York

Link to General Hiram Walbridge’s speech in New York

https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbaapc.32700/?sp=2 This link will take you to General Hiram Walbridge’s 1865 speech which is in the African American Pamphlet Collection of the Library of Congress. If you go page by page (there are 22 pages), you can use 2 fingers to enlarge the image so you can read it.

Hiram expresses that the North had a competitive interest in declaring slavery illegal because if they didn’t, other countries, which had already done so, holding slavery as abhorrent, would make commercial deals with the South—if the South outlawed slavery first (see pp. 12-14). Also, he makes some other important points relevant to the current situation in this country. It’s worth reading!

I don’t know whether we Walbridges are relatives of his, though I suggest we claim Hiram as one of our own!

Response to Democratic National Committee

I’ll Help the World Today!

by C. Jenny Walbridge

Inspired by Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the U. S. A.”

I love this land I stand on

Maybe more than some could grasp.

I’m in red, white, blue tie-dye,

And a peace sign is my clasp.

From Denver to Seattle,

Going south to Georgia too,

Where Old Glory’s overhead,

The great bald eagles flew,

To Lady Liberty who towers,

Welcoming with hand of light.

(Though our country in its guises was

Not always in the right!)

I’m proud to be an American,

Where my family came to live.

Like others from those distant lands

Who now are here to give,

I want to stand up

Next to you,

So we can both salute

Our brave past; now, our future

Needs our people not to shoot!

From Chicago down to Texas

Innocents murdered in cold

Bloody NRA gets richer

That Amendment Two—so old!

From the swamps of Leeziana

To the sands of Arizone

The people upset, crying,

Health care stealing all they own.

Yet I’m proud to be an American,

Sharing all the problems here.

Trying to get help we need,

Not have sad eyes that tear.

And I want to sit down next to you,

Take your hand and say,

That we must play “together “

‘Cause we love the USA!

From first responders’ hurt lungs

To broken bones of the police,

Soldiers’ missing limbs,

PTSD—on the increase,

From teachers to bus drivers,

Truck unloaders, work all day,

Security guards, phone callers

Working hard all night, I say,

That I love my fellow Americans

Who made the U. S. Number One!

They contributed their best

As our great citizens’ve done.

And I’ll gladly stand up next to them,

To save their bodies’ health–

They have strong American hearts—

Here we will know true wealth!

I’m glad to be an American,

But do we keep it for ourself?

Most of us came from afar;

Do we put others on a shelf?

Why don’t we stand up, write

A new agenda for our land?

I think it’s time our country

Should become a smart new brand!

Yeah, I’m proud to be an American,

My humble nest is here.

I sometimes order pizza,

On the weekends, drink some beer.

I would like to stand up next to you

In all our grief and pain—

How can we use our freedom

To bring peace? wonders this brain.

USA Dot Two

Is a newer version of

America, for winners,

Built by those of us who love

Our country and are ready

To try something that’s more green,

Flex our muscles, stretch our bones,

Take a leap over the mean.

Though I disliked Ronald Reagan

All the things that he would quote

And the trickle-down idea’s

Not exactly all she wrote,

Yet, I’m proud to be an American,

With friendly border lands.

No need for trade in weapons—

We want new games for our hands!

And I have to stand up

Next to those

Who’ll choose our leader new

By votes we’ll use our freedom,

Finding one who has a clue.

Stars on every U. S. flag,

Thirteen moon-months stripe

If any space is “tainted,”

Use that banner, “clean,” to wipe!

That’s the way we’ve ruled the Planet.

There could be a change:

Global aspirations from all over—

Is that strange?

I’m proud to be from the U. S.,

Tall mountains majesty,

And know that I don’t need a gun,

There’s peace, no tragedy.

From the lakes of ancient Persia

To the hills of Vietnam

Let us not fail to celebrate,

Not drop another bomb!

War finally done, some great ones died.

None need face fear now, right?!

The U. N. must do its work,

All nations giving light.

We share a home, it’s Planet Earth,

From sea to shining sea.

Why don’t we now collaborate

On laughs for you and me?

I’d like to high-five you and hug

My neighbor from afar

Let’s cooperate together

To save Earth, the Sun’s all star!

An updated oldie by me:

NOTHING HUMAN IS ALIEN II

(This poem was inspired by Christopher Reeve’s speech at the Democratic Convention on August 26, 1996.)

The early years:

I’d known bright joy at ovation

In a classroom situation.

I’d told others how to feel,

But could I see myself?

I had tasted their ablutions;

They were simple, clear solutions.

But my problems went beyond them,

And I had to get more help.

Later:

It was time for the Convention and

I heard Christopher Reeve;

He held me in detention, standing,

Heart upon my sleeve.

He said family values meant

In a country time is spent

On each other, sister, brother—

All cared for by one another.

The man had found some loopholes

In the American Dream:

He pointed out discrepancies:

Things are not what they seem

For those with shattered lives.

And he said, We can overcome!

But ’til good heart arrives, it’s clear

The luckless are struck dumb.

Democracy’s in jeopardy—

The rich can lobby more!

Who pulls the strings? Aren’t we ashamed

If we abuse the poor?

Tonight, when writing letters,

Some quite brilliant words I found.

They help cut through the old fetters

With which my eyes were bound.

“Nothing human is alien,” goes the

Phrase I mention here.

I wrote it down so many times—

It served to stop my fear.

I’d suffered from psychosis then.

(It’s now under control:

The drugs I take can for me make

A more collected soul.)

When Reeve spoke and he mused so well

On our good land today,

“We must help those with mental problems,

Too!” I thought he’d say.

I would not put it past him, though,

To quote, on second thought,

That if we can make a difference for

An ailing mind, we ought!

For all the knocks life hands to us,

It gives us talents, too,

And virtues such as empathy

It’s good not to eschew.

The struggle to be sound of self

Is not an easy one. But

Of mind and body, health makes

Productive lives, and fun.

My own journey has taken me

A ways from whence I came:

By learning more about myself

I’ve come to be the same,

But stronger, smarter, more aware

Of the fact that we are all

So very vulnerable to

A heart-ache or a fall

From the grace of full acceptance in

A culture that is mean,

A system that would hate its own

When they’re no longer lean

Or sprout a female chest or a

Cleft palate or are Black.

Discrimination hurts, my friend,

We’ve got to fight it back!

Nothing human is alien,

I’ve come to know it’s true.

For mentally ill I have been;

An artist, too. And you?

A family is what we are,

The rich parts and the poor,

And each of us inside our heads

Must build bridges for more

Understanding–what we need,

Of ourselves, and of y’all!

My therapy’s been good enough

That I can make this call:

What grander art than that which

Rests between a set of ears?

But must psychology’s concern

Be solely that of fears?

Let us create a culture where

Art therapy’s the norm:

Where each one gets a chance to make

Some line, some movement, form,

And all feel inspiration

To express their artist’s soul.

A healthy planet’s what we’d get

If we’d assume this role!

I hold just that the world’s solutions

Lie within our grasp,

Whether they be saving souls

Or fighting plagues of asp.

Liberation of our souls is

Desired. Hey! I have seen

Within myself, recovery,

And hope. Know what I dream?

A future where we utilize

All of our greatest gifts,

When we’re employed to teach, inspire,

In which my spirit lifts

The all of you, who come to know

Yourselves as I’ll know me.

We’ll dance ahead, committed

To each other feeling free.

Shame: Protect Ourself!

“Socialist,” “public,” and other “nasty” expressions in American

We got a coupla problems here in this State.

Of course we should feed the poor—‘cause that’s great

Christian conduct. But we’re opportunistic.

The word “socialist” bad?—no, we’re just sadistic!

What we don’t get is, capitalistic

Wrongdoing is masochistic.

I’m sick of being right if I see all our sin.

Joe and Kamala, please, come on in!

Half of us Americans, making a living

Paycheck to paycheck—no way we’re giving.

Meanwhile the tax base is shrinking, it’s tiny—

People too ignorant to be too whiny,

Just suffering. Maybe they sort of feel

They can survive, just give ‘em a deal—

Making drugs, selling pills, they’re ahead of the law—

They don’t have much choice, there’s no good jobs at all!

They say, up by our bootstraps is how we must grow.

Alone, ’cept for family—that advantage is no

Privilege—it’s just luck, if you got it you’re good.

If not, you can die, you’d do well if you could!

Any idea of a safety net

For food, for school, for retirement

Is called “socialist” and rejected as wrong.

Yet this situation in Europe goes on—

People pay taxes, get a lot for their team—

Security, learning, inspiration to dream,

While we all—middle class, rich, the whole bunch—

Are psychotic at best, eating the poor for lunch!

So why has “public” become a bad word?

Are libraries, parks, and sidewalks for the birds?

Why great architecture, if not for my

Body, enjoyment, and my colored eye?

Being unique, feeling free in a strip mall?

Where independent ventures can’t trip, ‘cause they’ll fall?

I feel restricted. Oh, expletive!

I need some wild places. I breathe when I live!

Why’re the police breaking our necks?

For an extra bill, we turn into wrecks!

Tell me of bald eagle—now, who he pecks?

2. The United States of America isn’t looking at what other nations are doing!

Oh no, we cannot look to other nations

For how they work things, because inundations

Of good feelings, humanity don’t work here.

Or could it have something to do with fear?

Trump tells me things will be greater—they are

Already! He says so! Like Reagan, so far.

And I like being white, it’s easy to relax,

He says we are good, he likes to cut tax,

I don’t think I want to do things any better;

Too lazy to write the paper a letter.

So, changes? What if my dear neighbor sees

That I’m not so good—let me hide myself, please!

I feel that I’m finer, this thought is profound:

My ears are both closed and I can’t hear the sound

Of my pennies going to abuse the stuck poor,

The luckless—those folks who can’t find the door.

No, they must be weak and deserving of bad

Like aliens, Martians, I’m not like them a tad—

I’m superior to the ones down the hall

(Though if I can stand up, without friends, I’ll fall!).

So stop me from reaching you, save me! My fate’s

To continue the hushup, forget it, the gates

Are closed and this way it will stay, for us all:

I’m scared American—so very small.

3. How might we nurture our people?

My backyard is also yours.

It’s the ocean, sea that pours

Around our nation, closing us in.

The world is round; we share the din.

Who are the folks we’d like to meet,

Or should want to, to keep the beat?

Why hesitate? Can they teach us?

Help us, in hiding—can they reach us?

We’re members here of a society

And we have a card, we belong, we’re free.

It’s tough to rock around and be kind;

But when you do that, you help your own mind!

What are the tools of our trade—

Of stopping evil being made

By fear, distraction, and confusion,

Hurt we live with in profusion?

And how to define sanity? you may query.

I say to question of the ones who are weary,

Who see there is malaise, who feel our State

Is floundering, stuck in the mud of too late,

Of not there on time to see workers empowered

And having a chance to themselves build a tower,

For making a living’s not necessarily

Putting in millions—this I can see.

Let me tell you, my dad, and my mother, too,

Stand straight for this country—even when it’s a zoo.

We love America, have been rich and poor.

I suggest that our wise planners build in a door

For those of us with a spiritual bent,

Who believe in freedom, whose hearts are spent

In caring for others, in remaining human

Despite plots so bland they could never be true, and

The many voices stilled by lack of curiosity,

Folks dead inside who don’t do generosity.

I speak for the common man, also the wealthy,

The ones with perspective, who want to be healthy,

The folks who are sexy, have a love of humor—

My friends, who all agree that that Lump is a tumor,

We virtuous ones, who are also quite humble,

Who’ve been able to maintain that trait in this jungle,

Us mentally illin,’ who don’t know we are weaker,

And others, supportive of Mrs. Speaker.

Anthropology student, woman, artist, here,

Writer, too, I am these days. I fear

That we’re in a society that’s rather mean—

Unloving to children, and rude to the teen—

Bitchy to workers, parents are slavin’—

More than one job, to the Mayor wavin.’

“Keep me busy,” says my suffering friend, Ray.

“I need friendship and I want it today.”

England’s Minister of Loneliness might

Go beyond. Should it be Ray’s right

To have counsel, even some human contact?

‘Cause we live in a group, that’s just true—it’s a fact.

Certain things needed could be available—

Not a bad idea—I think that wall’s scalable!

Justice will triumph—I’ve seen it in me.

I changed and got better, in my mind, you see:

Let matchmakers, therapists try to solve fears;

I’ve been in treatment for quite a few years!

On a worldly scale, there’s the United Nations,

With their Bill of Rights and compassion creation.

And persons who we might pair off with, to live—

I finally found one; we have fun with a sieve—

We stay home and cook, in the kitchen we bake

Potatoes and such, then we walk by the Lake.

You listeners, I hope you take my example:

Give kisses, go ahead, enjoy a free sample!

4. Well, solutions are out there, people!

You hurt my feelings, US of A.

Saying I’m not alright if I’m gay,

Or feminine or black or broke,

When, my friend, you gonna get woke?

For all our faults, this nation of ours

May not always be here, there may be no cars

In the future. It’d behoove us to open our eyes;

Some day, there might be a fabulous prize

For living together with folks from around

The planet, for singing, for making some sound

With diverse peoples, who might know solutions

For our faults, our so American pollutions.

You hurt my feelings, US of A.

Building on top of docking my pay,

Enlisting arrest when we decide to speak—

How long, my friend, you gonna stay weak?

The good news is that our minorities

Who live in this nation, don’t deserve the tease

They get—often these folks, and you and me,

Are cool—like, some say “Yo soy” or “I be.”

They give us perspective, they show us who’s who

They’re like detectives in their know and their new

And we’re like them, we need them, it’s great that we’re in

A place that welcomes all. One nation we’ve been!

You hurt my feelings, US of A.

Saying I’m not alright if I’m gay,

Or feminine or black or broke,

When, my friend, you gonna get woke?

5. We could make life a lot easier for a lot of people!

In some other countries the folks are allowed

To do small capitalism, and proud

Of their fruit stand they are. And why don’t we

Give some small housing? Austin, Portland—see?!?

One might just heal when they come to possess

Their own door knob, and even to feel blessed

To live in a space where they can just cry

Or take a nap, in privacy. Sound good? Let’s try!

‘Cause people are touching, and people need warming.

They want to run inside when the bugs are swarming.

We all have toes which belong to our feet—

Directing us whither we tread, who we greet.

Do we feel we don’t need manners with our neighbors?

Friends, enemies—for all folks—we must labor

For shared results, progress, two folks on the see-saw—

Neglecting each other, can’t get high, it’s a law

Of nature. (Good deeds make us happy together!

Gifts, sharing, good-natured acting—whatever.)

Enjoy being ourself as we impact another,

And they’re holding us, like a sister or brother.

Family and friends—we do need ‘em.

See all the nations who know they must feed ‘em?

Not leave fellows to rot while leaders drink up,

But help people be strong, all join with a cup!

6. Prevention

Is prevention a concept no one understands?

Do I have to wear a sign that says, “I’m a man?”

Spending of taxes, tens of thousands per year

To keep one guy jailed ain’t the worst, I fear.

“We’ll put them away for a year and a day.”

Lotta good that does now—they killed my man, ow! Hey!

I would much prefer if the killers got assistance

Before they grabbed guns, expressed their angst at a distance.

Prevention is justice, not “right punishment”!

We don’t need more cameras, we need to circumvent

The violence running the streets of our towns

The poverty of half our folks—why keep ‘em down?

7. Guns can’t help me feel more secure.

Of course guns don’t kill folks, people do—

Yet gun-slinging brings responsibility too

Bad people are not right enough for guns

But are qualified shooters? No. It’s not done:

We humans cannot muster the responsibility

To always use guns wisely. The ability

Gets fuzzy when emotions are awakened—

The technology itself engenders care not to be taken!

There’s a lot of youngsters out for some life.

Having weapons around, they see, causes strife.

They are interested in the future—is that lame?

Who are the folks that should be feeling shame?

When “with child” happens in a tube

When no use can be found for lube

Then tell me I’m no animal

Who needs warmth, whose rhythms pull

Me through my life, in winter rain,

Me feeling joy, me feeling pain,

‘Cause I am one with human needs

I cry to you in voice that pleads

That here I sniff and air goes in

And there are you, and here we been

We’re touching now in simple skin

I say your name—you let me in.

8. Maximim wage

What would equalize our poor and our wealthy

Is a maximum wage, it would make us more healthy!

No more starving ‘Mericans, it would include

Other income, too, so as not to be rude.

There are rich folks here, but, too, many poor,

And the middle class is now shrinking some more.

I’m sorry, I forgot why homelessness is sane—

Look around, poor people can’t be to blame,

With such bad supporting, from first grade to twelfth,

In prison we’ve cut training, dumb for ourself.

How ‘bout a retirement wage for the old?

Many folks labored hard, but there’s no

Help for the needy, who’d work if they could—

Walking the edge, a better life should

They take part in, instead of ending up ill,

Costing the State much more than it will

Pay for some kindness—it’s virtue’s now nil!

Exactly what do the rich do with their money?

If their neighbors were fine, it could be really funny—

They could get creative, but the way it it shakes up,

It’s not just the blind man who begs with a cup!

Less people in desperate conditions—why not?

A larger tax base would sure help us a lot!

I say “us” ‘cause we’re Illin,’ and should make some noise

To make sure that a little kid has food and toys,

Is learning to read while his sister is studying,

Grandfather’s tutoring, not sort of muddying

His brain—he’s been active, works even today.

Far away from the doctor’s where this family stays.

Mom is contributing to her society.

Dad has enough meal to feel relaxed, quietly

Shares his new ideas in an email or two

Pet dove says, from his kitchen perch, “coo.”

Peace is what? Another bad word in this day?

Really? I don’t quite see it that way.

Although it would be maybe scary to know

The thoughts of these poor folks, I think we should go

Towards permanent healing, not fast-food life—

The good things are there, ‘cause our people are rife

With talent! It would be wise for some folks

To write some comedy, not hide from some jokes

And the humming, the songs of their brothers and sisters,

Intimacy with the moms and their misters

Who vote. It’s not just for the fans of the famous,

It’s for the fans of freedom to play, and not shame us!

Growing Up

Growing Up: Maturation for a Nation and a Planet

by C. Jenny Walbridge

In my post-menopausal years, I am understanding what I see to be the psychological stages of humans. We need to move into a more mature phase to globalize better—to meet our future head-on. The popular American ideas that a) people must all be entrepreneurs b) all people must move to a city to live c) any people should not be paid a decent wage or d) people should not receive healthcare are immature and nonsensical. Plus, people should stop being fearful of others or other groups getting more, benefiting—why not instead be happy about it? And what happened to the values of honor and shame in the U. S? Meanwhile, Chinese and Japanese have that capability of working together as one—“wa.” Maybe we could use that here. Also, folks should quit being fearful of change, myself included. My website subtitle, foolsfortheydonottakethelongview…, is evidence of my silly self, who realizes that it makes me, in the long run, a fool too because I’m insulting people! Sorry, other fools!

There are some interesting issues with which the U. S. needs to deal now: can public officials lie? is one. Then there is, what is our attitude towards international engagement?—is it supposed to help our country or theirs, or what? For example, why not intercede with Afghanistan to enlarge their market for pine nuts, a nutritional powerhouse they can grow more of there, instead of poppies for drugmaking? Or, take a look at Guatemala: its biggest asset in my opinion being the textiles its women were producing until gangs took over running things—but the world needs its high-quality, colorful handmade clothes! Likewise, the woolen products of Ecuadorian and Peruvian people, and the cotton ones of the Mexicans, are world treasures that I want to be around!

Now, defense money should be put to better use, while the USA maintains our ideals and acts, humbly but enthusiastically, like a decent neighbor with a good conscience and optimism for all other countries, which are drawn together, as never before—by climate change. There is work/play we have to do to progress (see Matriotic/Patriotic sections–“The Ages of Humanity and Our Future”). I have here some guidelines, projects I’ve thought up over the years to get us in the right frame of mind for the future, my own “united therapeutics:”

For USA:

Environmental concerns:

If I were President, air pollution would be my first concern—how can air and water pollution exist in our advanced nation? And yet they do, at this time—scandalous!
Creative ways to mitigate the harmful effects of people on nature, our home. For example, plant trees and bushes that absorb pollutants!
More non-car travel spaces to shift away from carbon-based travel options
Etc.

Educational concerns:

Education for police (required) and neighbors on being a good neighbor, including de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques, broadcast on internet and free TV, for everyone to see and take part in.
Ministers of Movement to increase joy for workers by analyzing movements required for jobs and educating/ cooperating to make them healthier, to see on internet & free TV
Seyed’s idea: government gives cars to all high school graduates so they can get jobs, or $10,000 vouchers. The cars are American, built here and are specially designed by U. S.makers to be highly gas efficient; i. e. updated Mustangs or Jeeps; they will compete with Japanese cars.
Childcare by parents and/or workers subsidized by workplace, leave for new babies as generous as Iran’s (one year, with ability to get job back after leave)
Education free for all
Rehauling of prison system to decrease prisoner population, provide real rehabilitation

Health concerns:

No wars—they are too expensive, especially when veterans get the care they need, which they should
Cheap produce (fresh fruits and veggies) for the poor, to fight malnutrition and create security from within, along with more nutrition research by the National Institutes of Health, including on natural medicines like herbs, and vitamin and minerals
More focus on regenerative farming to preserve soil vitamin and mineral content, with an eye to future citizens of the world
Repurposing underutilized housing stock for homes for people, building little homes
My 66 Following Directions paintings of my psychological problems and those common to humanity for viewing, and my journey in talk therapy shared through writing & speaking, to inspire others to engage in talk therapy; also, to push for art therapy as a bigger part of communications and education

General concerns and procedures:

Voting using ranking system so that folks’ votes count, even if their first choice doesn’t win
Medicine Wheel Collection of American traveling songs for Native American reparation
World (photographic, changing) flag created, my flag poems (see Patriotic, Verse sections of my website) shared, world flag on Moon in 2024, see below
More towns named Libertyville
Microloans and support for small capitalism (entrepreneurial efforts), like in Iran where one can make a living selling snacks by the road

For Earth: The USA will work with you if you will play, too!:

Proposal for Teamwork: Team Worldwide (see Welcome! section of site)
In addition to STEAM jobs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), CLIMB employment values: Comedy, Love, Imagination, Movement, Balance
Salary of the same amount for all world citizens
Sea Emocean World Ocean Year, including Library of HumanKind (see Sea Emocean section of website)
Benign birth control for women and men (see “Conception” in Feminist section of my website)
Photographic globes distributed all over world
Use of foot and hand symbolism in art- and music-making international efforts to celebrate the Earth and humans, evolving us into the next psychological stage of humanity
Mate-finding prioritized—mass training of matchmakers, all citizens getting access to the inspirational
Therapeutic aid prioritized: physical, talk, dance and art therapists; all kinds of healers; social workers—all trained & working en masse, reporting to governments on the problems on the society and planetary level that need to be solved for happiness of citizens
An American Recovery Team—using an Ecological Muse—for an International Synthesis (ARTEMIS), American-led compilation of healing experience, including prevention
Value the work of the United Nations (but end veto power), protect endangered cultures
Engage youth and adults in learning about Earth’s peoples; value the learning of languages
World language (starting with the funniest expressions of each culture)

The first woman will land on the moon in 2024, if the Artemis mission goes as planned—hopefully bearing an Earth flag with her, and reading aloud my “Poem to New Glory”! A world flag, produced by the U. S. acting in concert with the U. N., to be maintained on Earth and the Moon, would offer the U. S. a chance to formally lead the world in acting less rudely on the planetary stage, and more justly, getting back to our roots and our decent values. We could focus on the pursuit of collective happiness, not just individual growth, acting sustainably for the good of all!

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united planet of Earth—the lands and the seas, zany and fun, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all!