no cure for that

An Irish, Zen, peace practitioner sends some quotes by Samuel Beckett (playwright, born Dublin, Ireland on April 13, 1906).

1. "The end is in the beginning and yet you go on." 

2. "There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet."(Waiting for Godot, 1953.) 

3. "No, I regret nothing, all I regret is having been born, dying is such a long tiresome business.... 

4. “We are all born mad. Some remain so.”(Waiting for Godot, 1953.) 

5. “I can't go on. I'll go on.”(Waiting for Godot, 1953.) 

6. “All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” (Worstward Ho, 1983.) 

7. “You're on Earth, there's no cure for that!” 

8. “Birth was the death of him.”

Seems right to consider the words of a Theatre of the Absurd playwright as chemical weapons, missiles, bombs and bombast fly through air in Syria, Middle East, Europe, and the United States this weekend.

Since making peace with the Absurd over a half century ago in my life, I have found the deafness of many of our leaders and the ludicrousness of more than a few to be common fare and a wee bit beyond sad.

This is what we have. These actors on proscenium may strut and squawk in our name but they remain crazed alone in anechoic chambers trying to mimic a mad mongoose attacking a venomous snake at the edge of a canyon cliff.

(Sounds of rocks careening down stone walls into deep and dark bottomless cavern of mental dullness.)

bombs

"Pope Francis has called for an end to bloodshed in Syria, for increased “humanitarian assistance” and “a political solution to the crisis.” President Trump is proud of his skills as a “deal maker,” skills that are sorely needed to end this conflict. The president and the pope should use this moment to press for a ceasefire. Even imperfect ceasefires save lives. More bombs will help no one." 

(--from, More U.S. bombs in Syria will help no one, Maryann Cusimano Love, April 09,2018, in America, The Jesuit Review)

washington fact

When rain falls

stepping outside

wet head

and some look into the darkness, stunned

Some weep.

Syria, Total Death Count Due To Conflict: 500,000+ 

(Estimates include civilians, fighters on all sides, and others who have lost their lives as a result of fleeing the conflict) 

Syria In 2017 

The Syrian Network For Human Rights (SNHR) reports the death tolls for 2017 in Syria. A total of 10,204 civilians have been killed including 2,298 children and 1,536 women.  

2018 Civilian Death Count: 3,404 

(--from website "I Am Syria")

Some fume. 

And some look into the darkness, stunned.

vespers

Dog with stick in mouth

Walking road at snow bowl

Late Tuesday afternoon sun

if you hold out your hand with sunflower seeds in it, does that make you nuts

 It becomes less interesting that the current president appears to have an enormous deficit of ability to be Chief Executive, Commander in Chief, and Model of Moral Integrity to his country and the world.

What is interesting is that the people of the United States seem to want him to be their ideal of America

Perhaps we're not very fair, just, moral, kind, faithful, humble, considerate of others, level-headed, or believable.

So, this morning, I read the New York Times.

First Krugman:

From the beginning, Republicans hated Obamacare not because they expected it to fail, but because they feared that it would succeed, and thereby demonstrate that government actually can do things to make people’s lives better. And their nightmare is gradually coming true: Although it took a long time, the Affordable Care Act is finally becoming popular, and the public’s concern that the G.O.P. will kill it is becoming an important political liability. 

What this says to me is that if Republicans manage to hold on to Congress, they will make another all-out push to destroy the act — because they’ll know that it’s probably their last chance. Indeed, if they don’t kill Obamacare soon, the next step will probably be an enhanced program that lets Americans of all ages buy into Medicare. 

So voters are right to believe that health care is very much an issue in the midterm elections. It may not be the most important thing at stake — there’s a good case to be made that the survival of American democracy is on the line. But it’s a very big deal. 

(--from, Obamacare’s Very Stable Genius, by Paul Krugman, 9apr18, NYT

Then Brooks:

WACO, Tex. — Over the past year, those of us in the anti-Trump camp have churned out billions of words critiquing the president. The point of this work is to expose the harm President Trump is doing, weaken his support and prevent him from doing worse. And by that standard, the anti-Trump movement is a failure. 

We have persuaded no one. Trump’s approval rating is around 40 percent, which is basically unchanged from where it’s been all along. 

We have not hindered him. Trump has more power than he did a year ago, not less. With more mainstream figures like H. R. McMaster, Rex Tillerson and Gary Cohn gone, the administration is growing more nationalist, not less. 

We have not dislodged him. For all the hype, the Mueller investigation looks less and less likely to fundamentally alter the course of the administration. 

We have not contained him. Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party is complete. Eighty-nine percent of Republicans now have a positive impression of the man. According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 59 percent of Republicans consider themselves more a supporter of Trump than of the Republican Party.   

(--from, The Failures of Anti-Trumpism, by David Brooks, 9apr18, NYT)

 The Christian and Orthodox churches proclaim Christ is Risen!

Those of Jewish faith have celebrated Passover.

In Maine, temperatures are below freezing in the 20s overnight. There are remnants of accumulated snow in lee of buildings and trees. Ticks are confused about their onslaught.

Smoke rises from stovepipe chimney.

Let's trust all will be ok.

If we trust, at least, there, we will find it.

evening prayer

eating an orange after supper

one section then another

light steps out of darkened room

no sound

anechoic mind

source silence

comes nothing