A Heavy Heart

It's the holiday season, and I'm trying to get into the spirit by listening to Christmas songs.

But it isn't working. My eyes are filled with tears and my heart is heavy as I read about yet another dumped dog. This one is a black Labrador retriever, seven to eight years old, and nearly blind from cataracts. She is safe in an animal shelter for now. No one has come for her. Will she die, alone and afraid in a strange place she can't see, nameless and abandoned?

My heart is heavy a lot these days. Our country is being torn apart by the sociopath in the White House. We are inching toward an unwinnable nuclear war with the equally mad ruler of North Korea. The so-called leader of the free world has just ignited more hatred in the Middle East by his ill-thought decision to recognize Jerusalem -- a city revered by all three major monotheistic religions -- as the capital of Israel. The man-child in the White House and a Congress are filled with people who care only about making themselves and their rich pals even richer. It matters not if their actions hurt the majority of Americans, or whether they damage or destroy our leadership position in the world..

Our environment and our wildlife, even animals in Africa, are under attack from this mob of greedy, heartless, soulless people. Hibernating bears are shot as they sleep in their dens. Wolves are killed by poachers and get away with it by claiming 'self defense.' Dogs and cats continue to be brutalized, with the criminals getting off with a slap on the wrist, if they are caught. Gun violence continues unabated, while the Congress sits on its hands and collects its payments from the NRA. Pedophiles and sexual predators get elected to office, but only if they are Republicans. Democrats accused of sexual assault get hounded out of office, while the Republican party lines up to endorse and throw money at its perverts running for office.

Congress is now turning its sights on reducing Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and possibly veterans' benefits next year, all to pay for its recent tax cuts to corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. And as California burns, the recently passed tax bill will eliminate the deduction for personal losses due to wildfire, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

We have lost our humanity. We have no compassion or concern for others. Yes, I know there are good people who work to help those in need, who rescue animals and try to protect our public lands. But we are far outnumbered, and outspent, by the forces of evil. How can those who seek reasonable, rational measures to at least attempt to reduce gun violence possibly hope to win against the millions of dollars in bribes given to members of Congress? How can those of us who want to protect our public lands from mining and drilling hope to compete against the billions of dollars of the oil and gas industries? Simple: we can't. 

The beautiful hills of southern California are a raging inferno, with more than 750 homes destroyed, more than two dozen horses killed and 200,000 people forced to evacuate. Meanwhile, the Republicans are behind a bill that would remove the income tax deduction for losses arising from natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes.

It's hard to be happy and joyful with all the negativity, nastiness and evil all around us. So celebrate if you can. For me, there will be no Christmas decorations in the house, no holiday baking. There will no family celebration this year.There will be nothing but some Christmas music (I have more than 40 Christmas CDs). 

People got us into this mess, and people working together can get us out of it. Let us hope that next year will find our country in a better position.