October 31st–November 6, 2022
This Halloween had to be the most frightening I\’ve ever experienced (and I\’ve had a few doozies that included strange dogs and headstones) — not only because 154 people were trampled to death in S. Korea — but because US seems firmly divided on which party should be running the country; and, consequently, each party makes the other out to be a monster.
As briefly noted in my Twitter feed (See: thenewdrsinn) — when I mention to Redlanders that I am a Californian — they look at me incredulously and ask why the Hell I\’m still living in Cali (since the right wing media makes it seem like the homeless and Antifa are not only shitting in the streets outside every outdoor seating restaurant — but that they lay siege to shop owners on a daily basis). I seem to remembersimilar festivities occurring on the Devils\’ Nights of my youth…
So, the monstrous form I take for 365 days of Halloween (in the eyes of Redlanders) is that of a Socialist Leper spreading the contagions of socialism and communism wherever I go.
And I can see how Uncle Joe presents as a zombie to the Right because he definitely looks like a zombie to me! I turn off his wooden voice whenever I hear it — because whenever it is matched to those beady eyes and that hollow vacant stare, I fear what this complete package might do my tenuous hold on reality.
Of course the Donald can easily be mistaken for a banana slug by the Left.
We are being ruled by strange, twisted creatures.
And now for an addendum:
Redlanders actually DO give me a chance to defend being a Californian — and after I do — my mask is off and these folks (guys mostly) realize that I\’m not a leper and won\’t be spreading the highly infectious disease of communism. (Redlanders are not yet ready to be \’woke\’ to the fact that we are already a very, very socialist country.) Surprisingly after I speak my piece (peace?) Redlanders seem eager to share their experiences of their time in California. Lo and behold — aside from the L.A. traffic that EVERYONE complains about — these Redlanders enjoyed their time in California and recall it as a beautiful place where they had great experiences.
So, perhaps those Redlander masks: of inflation; rising crime (which should work out well for all gun owners); border security and the lowest oil reserves since 1984 (when their messiah Ronald Reagan was president?!) come off when they reminisce about their time in California. Lest they forget — California, Texas and New York still float this country.
Elsewhere I have pondered why Halloween is the favorite American holiday. I might have suggested that it was escapism: to become something one couldn\’t (or shouldn\’t) be.
But this Halloween seemed to be a referendum of which-of-two clowns you will be following and the mask you should wear as you follow them.
How do we take off the masks with which we view and judge one another so that we don\’t appear like monsters to the other?
A strange Halloween indeed…