Reading Therapy

Reading is one of my Prime Therapies, as I will avidly devour a book, a pamphlet, a comic, a magazine, or anything that I can read. This Relationship between me and any printed material has been going on since I was a child. It has Never changed, unlike other proclivities that I have Updated, Changed, or completely Chucked over time for being totally useless as I Evolved with Age, Time and Experience. Recently though, I have been reading 86 (Eighty Six) by Asato Asato with illustrations by Shirabii, the genre being described as a: Teen and Young Adult Light Novel. Being that I am neither a Teen, nor a Young Adult one might unsurprisingly ask: Why, with the most fantastic array of books out there, would this old woman be interested in that one?

Good question! Well, for one thing I am fascinated with Japanese Anime Art and Videos that my grandson introduced me to, a style that 86 follows. Moreover, in checking out the jacket of the book I read that it dealt with Empires, Wars, Drones, Oppression, Racism, Authoritarianism etc., subjects that are right up my alley and that are very apropos for these very scary and extremely dangerous times we are living in! It was a fascinating read, and I will probably line it up on my bookshelf along with Brave New World, Animal Farm, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale. It will fit there very comfortably!

Most Books, whether they are Novels such as the ones mentioned above, or Historical Analysis and Observations, or Documentaries that Bear Witness are meant to tell us something, to alert us, to impel and inspire us to make a connection between their subject matter and current events. However, there is a dearth of Human Memory and Inference these days and a Corrupt, Willfully Blind, and/or Ignorant Bought-and-Paid For Media that provides No Context to their Sanitized, Cherry-picked News! In fact, it seems that the Media are fully aware that Sheeple have hardly any Memories, Historical Knowledge, or Analytical Abilities and rather than provide those, their dismal greed promotes them to hype up divisiveness and sensationalism. In other words, they can get away with gaslighting the general population and encouraging the Extremists amongst those as they have been doing, especially during the past several years. Shameless! 86 depicts how Authoritarian Regimes can do that, and we only have to look around our Globe at Democracies, as well as Dictatorships, to see how successfully that is being applied. Nevertheless, and despite such Deceptive Measures in this day and age it is very Difficult, if not Impossible, to keep the lid on Anything. Sooner, or later the Truth wends its way out of the Darkness as Investigative Journalists, Honest Writers and Moral Whistleblowers amongst other Ethical Humans convey that Truth through different channels at their disposal, but that, unfortunately, remain perused by the very few. Sometimes, as in the case of the January 6th. Committee, and all the Witnesses they had gathered, that Truth is displayed Publicly and for all to See and Hear. That is a Good Thing, a Very Good Thing!

One important finding that was revealed by the Trump Administration and the January 6th. Hearings is how little many Americans understand what Democracy and Freedom truly are and what Political Maturity and Acumen are all about. Until that changes, and until Humans Evolve enough to change that miserable condition, we, Ordinary People, will continue to be regarded as Collectively Insignificant by all the “Powerful,” the Monied, the Corporations, Media Outlets and Personalities who are Manipulating us to their heart’s content! Meanwhile, and just by watching some of the Speeches going on at the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) Conference in Texas recently, one can easily Infer that Entitled Elites, such as the Political Leaders of the Republican/Conservative Party are talking of False, Drummed Up Ideals and Unattainable Goals that the Average Republican/Conservative/Rightwing Sheeple are led to believe is their Only Salvation, and the Only Way through which they Will be Prosperous, Safe and Happy. Sheer Hypocritical Baloney, of course any way you slice it and dice it, but nevertheless, extremely dangerous, irresponsible and blatant gaslighting and manipulation. It has become all the more dangerous after the FBI raided Trump’s residence and hauled off what sounds like enough material to indict him, and while his ardent followers are ready to load and cock their guns and go to War in his defense! Terrifying! It makes me think back on the Great Author Chalmers Johnson who wrote an incredible analysis of America in his book, which I have referred to previously on this site: The Sorrows of Empire, where in one passage he suggests that anyone who can buy a condo in Canada might be better off moving there than remaining in a United States that is, basically, destroying itself! Miserable and Utterly Sad! Will there be enough American Humans to Vote Out those promoting Deceit and Violence, as well as all those who are rallying their Zealots to War? Will there be enough True Patriots to stand up and say that they will not be Sheeple and Adamantly Refuse to go along with Violence so as to Alter that Menacing Trajectory? I truly and fearfully wonder, because this is a time like No Other when we all need to forget all our Gripes, Criticism and Bitching and stand up for the country! There are more than enough fires all around the world, enough unrest, enough wars, enough crime, enough violence and enough threatening diseases and pandemics that we need to put out fires not fan their savage flames! Not now! Not at this perilous juncture! Not if we have an ounce of sanity!

Now I need another good book, and a glass of wine to drown my own Sorrows, as well as The Sorrows of Empire!!