2020 is coming to an end, and what a relief it is for a year that hit the Planet like the worst cyclone ever as it ravaged all that was in its way! Of course, the fact that it is ending does not mean that the cyclone has abated for we will all be dealing – and for years to come, if not decades – with the after-effects of a lethal Pandemic, and more to come; of Economic Stress and Disasters; of Climate Change that will affect every aspect of life on earth; of Inept and Corrupt Political and Religious Leaders wrapped up in their self-serving bubbles; of the Rats who followed the Pied Piper as he led them off the cliff; of Inequality and Injustice galore; Political Hierarchies that continue to lie, to cheat, to manipulate, to skim every penny they can from the people, while padding their own wallets – the disgusting US Mile High Stimulus Packages being an excellent example of this; a Billionaire Class worldwide that continues to live in gated communities caring nothing for the people who have enabled their riches and filled their coffers and on and on! Yes, 2020 might be coming to an end, but not so the Planet’s Catastrophes.
These past two weeks, and as is my tradition every end of year, I go through everything in my home: all my paperwork, my files, my pictures, my drawers, my closets, pantry, refrigerator, on top of the shelf and under the sofas and chairs. I trash, I shred, I dust, I clean until I am satisfied that all is in spic and span and organized order. Only after doing all that do I feel that I’m ready to face whatever the New Year of 2021 will bring to myself and to the world. It is a very satisfying feeling, although this year, more than any other, I wish that I can clean up, organize and disinfect the world too!
However:
Thumbs Up: For the American Democratic System of Government (although since 9/11, especially, it has often seemed more like a fading illusion) that has proven it works albeit with its humongous flaws, imperfections, shortcomings, hypocrisy and cacophony of irrelevant political and religious leaders spewing nonsense. Nevertheless, it is a system worth preserving, chiseling, upholding and celebrating!
Thumbs Down: For the liars, haters, bigots, racists and uninformed millions, and for the evil political and religious sycophants and spineless supporters of Strongmen whomever and wherever they happen to be on our Planet.
Thumbs Up: For the honest and honorable Journalists and Activists (many of whom have been killed), Writers, and Whistle-blowers who continue to work, investigate, probe and ring the alarm bells about the malfeasance going on in our systems across the world. They are Heroes!
Thumbs Down: For all Journalists and Writers who use their pens and their voices to be the echo chamber of the ruling and corporate class perpetuating the lies and promoting the hypocrisy as they opine, emote and spew so much nonsense. They have no Conscience!
Thumbs Up: For all who believe that unless we seriously tackle the issues of Climate we are dooming ourselves and this Planet.
Thumbs Down: For all ignorant, negligent and uninformed Climate Deniers, and for Corporations – especially the food industry – who are not switching to recyclable packaging, renewables and organic products, but would rather sicken the people as they reap in more profits. They are the worst immoral polluters!
Thumbs Up: For all Organizations standing up for the Colonized wherever they may be on our planet and for all the millions of minorities and occupied humans demanding Equality and Justice all across this world. They are Heroes!
Thumbs Down: For all International Organizations and Bodies who continue to support the ongoing Colonialism, and who are consolidating their Powers and Economic Survival at the expense of other humans. They are Shameless!
Thumbs Up: For All Decent and Honorable human beings, and American Congress/Senate/Government men and women who’s only agenda is to serve the People and the Country. We need so many more like them them all around the world!
Thumbs Down: For all the Dinosaurs, On the Left and on the Right in our government and all other governments across the world clinging to power by their corrupt and rotten teeth. A pox on all of them for the suffering they are causing to their people!
Regarding the new Biden-Harris Administration about which I have reserved judgement so far, because, in all fairness, we have to give them a chance. We have to allow them to wrap their minds and efforts around the enormous problems that they have to deal with. And, enormous might be an understatement! Moreover, although “normal” is a very low bar that many of us are yearning for, it is far better than the chaos we have been in. The Incoming Administration has to deal with the myriad problems facing these United States, as well as the worldwide catastrophes. I am hoping that they will rise above the usual passé cold-war mentality with its belligerent and antagonistic swaggering approach to the world and choose instead to foster cooperation, coexistence, coordination and peaceful resolutions. I hope that Biden would call for a Summit Meeting of world powers in order to design better standards and regulations, including rules regarding cybercrimes, hacking (despite the latest viciously dangerous hack on our government no matter who was behind it) and espionage, which we, and many other countries have regularly indulged in. Yes, we have! There is no Sainte Nitouche in these malicious and dangerous games! They just have to stop! So let us cut out the hypocrisy, fake denials and double standards and find a solution!
Equality and Justice begin here at home with our own citizens before we lecture and threaten those other nations who do not apply that same Equality and Justice to their people. Moreover, Equality and Justice must apply to All People across this world if they are ever to mean anything other than being empty and hollow words. Nor can we continue to point the finger at others while we do exactly – exactly! – that for which we blame them. Why do we point our fingers at other nations for the way they treat their minorities when we haven’t done so much better with our Native American, Black and Brown people? Why do we decry extra judicial murders by other nations when we have committed and/or abetted such crimes ourselves? Why do we continue to talk Peace when we are waging Wars? Why do we persevere in treating this world as our private domain and its people as our vassals when we condemn other nations for desiring the same hegemony? Is there a Gold Standard here, or does it go by the whim of whomever is conveniently deciding? Are we dealing with Facts, or Propaganda? Reality, or Illusions? We have to sort out all these issues honestly if we are ever to have a more peaceful world. This Lethal Virus has exposed so much scum that was hidden behind the Glitz and Glamour – Hypocrisy, Double Standards and Arrogance being a few of them! People have had enough! Let’s change that decadent formula! It is doable! It can be done if there are open minds and good intentions. Let’s do it then!
Welcome 2021! Happy New Year World!
My Seventy Year Old Eyes 
BRAVO!!! Excellent end-of-year recap, warnings and a call to arms.
Happy 2021
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