Assailed by family on all sides, he stood his ground pretty well…until the stupidity of psychiatry’s answer to the problem after several “suicide chump”* incidents pushed things to the brink. And psychiatry’s answer? To put a band-aide on a festering wound rather than expose the puss and necrosis. Pyschiatry made him buckle, and, finally, made him doubt himself so that he began living the lie everyone wanted him to buy.

I find psychiatrists and counselors who suggest that compromising self simply to mollify a situation without actually addressing the real problem to be abusive and corrupt. They create more problems by their insistence that everyone adjust to the sick. They prescribe modifying the healthy because they can’t modify the sick. In fact, they’re schooled to do just that. Reasoning? The deranged are incapable of successful treatment without their consent and cooperation which they will not give, therefore take the balanced individual and adjust their behavior to compensate, even if that action completely destroys their internal integrity. In short, do anything to avoid sending the deranged into an existential crisis; instead, coerce the healthy into complying with the demands of the lunatic.

It’s criminal, in my opinion.

The results?

The psychotic’s behavior is rewarded because “they get their way”, which was their intent all along, which further reinforces that behavior. Meanwhile, everyone else becomes the continuing victim of the psychotic’s selfish goals and needs.

Sad.

——–

* A “suicide chump” is someone who pretends to want to commit suicide and acts so just enough to scare others into believing they will, even though they have no real intention of committing that self-destructive act. Everyone then pays attention to them and works with them to succor their “needs”–demands and desires. In short, they manipulate to try to get attention and to get their way by using threats of self-destruction.

The answer to a suicide chump is to call their bluff, catch them in the act, and dump them and the evidence of their suicide attempt into the state hospital for the mentally ill. Of course, the suicide chump never really means to harm themselves, though sometimes they slip up because they miscalculate. What they want, though, isn’t death (in fact, not death, at all); they just want others to bend to their will.

———–

Suicide Chump, Frank Zappa

You say there ain’t no use in livin’
It’s all a waste of time
‘N you wanna throw your life away, well
People that’s just fine
Go ahead on ‘n get it over with then
Find you a bridge ‘n take a jump
Just make sure you do it right the first time
‘Cause nothin’s worse than a Suicide Chump

You say there ain’t no light a-shinin’
Through the bushes up ahead
‘N we’re all gonna be so sorry
When we find out you are dead
Go head on and get it over with then
Find you a bridge ‘n take a jump
Just make sure you do it right the first time
‘Cause nothin’s worse than a Suicide Chump

Now maybe you’re scared of jumpin’
‘N poison makes you sick
‘N you want a little attention
‘N you need it pretty quick…

We have, in our lifeway, a commitment to openness and honesty. Underhanded, less-than-forthright actions and intent by others often comes to our attention, not by word-of-mouth, but by acuity. When that behavior is implicated, we’ll broach it, suggesting to the suspected the possibility in a way designed to expose the culpability, and we do it openly, in a forthright manner.

Bingo.

In a pertinent and particular circumstance, the guilty, having received the direct question of intent, immediately chided another party, accusing that party of speaking “private things” to another…which, supposedly, in turn, came to our ears. Of course, it wasn’t true. The person accused of loose lips with whom the guilty was collaborating hadn’t spoken to another and nothing had, in fact, reached anyone’s ears. The suspect’s accusation, on the other hand, did stir waters, the hurt feelings of the innocents driving them to verify their honor and their innocence to one and all.

The fact of the accusation proved the guilt and less-than-honorable actions and intents of the suspect by his own mouth leveling accusations on the innocent parties. Guilt will do that, you know. It makes the culpable blame innocent others as they desperately try to cover their self-exposed tracks. (Mold and mildew hate sunshine and fresh air and desperately flee from it.)

Beware you who hold guilt within your mind and heart. Truth comes forth regardless, and accusing others of exposing your culpability often leads to you unveiling yourself to one and all.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi

It seems that to gain prestige in the world of American haute cuisine, we now have battles of the chefs?

Bad enough that we have The Cage and MMA–bludgeoning battles between meatheads out to prove they’ve got balls–events which promote even more violence than old-fashioned, equally ludicrous “pro wrestling” and that blood sport of pugilism known as “boxing.”

Now, though, it seems, that to promote anything and everything to the mindless masses, it comes down to knives, fists, and guns in order to lure the American viewer? Really. Blood sport in the kitchen? Knives at sunset?

Just look at those “mean machine” scowls. *shaking my head*

If this is “entertainment” to some, those “some” need lobotomizing.

Are Americans SO very addicted to competition and violence that we resemble the Romans with their amphitheaters where conscripted gladiators battled each other, captive humans, and starved animals to the death for the “entertainment” of the citizens?

In a word, YES. That’s what a majority of Americans seem to thrive on.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

Christmas is celebrated by non-Christians, as well–Yuletide and the Solstice…or just an excuse to celebrate, remember friends and family, and to enjoy a feeling of goodwill and peace.

But, guess what? In Christams 2009, what are we doing? Well, in the U.S., we’re still fighting–Republicans versus Democrats, liberals versus neoconservatives, and all of them pissed off at moderates and independents who don’t hold their “party” lines. And, around the world, we’re in wars, wars, and wars. We’re standing by while people, animals, and Earth itself continues to suffer harm by mankind’s UNKIND hands–cruelty, hardship, misery, decimation….

I’m sick of humans. Yes, really. As a species, despite supposedly being “civilized” and blessed with (repeat, SUPPOSEDLY) superior intelligence, it is WE–humans–who blight the planet with our greed, our fear, and our oh-so-primitive “us versus them” tribalism. We are the most violent, most vile, of creatures, yet, simultaneously, we exhibit the ability to rise above that and be the kindest, most caring. Unfortunately, in this our 21st century of counting our existence in the West, we seem to be a civilization devolving back into a hate/war society of intolerance…and have been since the turn of the Millennium. (Thanks, G.W.B./Cheney, fuckers both.)

Hope? Hope is a Christmas theme. I’m losing it. I can’t see us ever getting clear of our fear, greed, and unhealthy lusts. Still, Christmas IS the one time of year in the West when, for just a moment, for just a day, SOMETIMES, anyway, the world knows PEACE. This is especially evident at the stroke of midnight between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, worldwide.

So tonight I will celebrate that one precious moment of PEACE that happens only now, thanks to a man born long ago in a land far, far away.

Thank you, Jesus. That’s one small piece of good that came about because of a religion founded in your name, though most everything else that’s come about because of Christianity (along with most everything that’s come about because of Judism and Islam, all brother/sister religions that lead back to the seed of Abraham) only perpetuates more evil upon the planet.

Be still, Humans. It’s Christmas Eve. A breath of stillness, a moment of peace….

Let’s face it: Republicans only vested interest is in holding power so they can better line their pockets by right of dictatorship.

Neither party is what it claims.

Republicans put on a good show about standing up for fiscal responsibility, yet took our country from a Clinton era budget surplus to a crushing budget deficit..which they then blame on…the Democrats (who sat around, hands in pockets, going along to get along, so, yes, they are ALSO responsible, right along with the then Republican majority.  Republicans also claim (vociferously) to be “for” rugged individualism and personal freedom, but they’re the first ones to abnegate the writ of habeas corpus, forbid personal choice, and violate the Bill of Rights, even to permitting illegal spying on U.S. citizens without a warrant.

Democrats, of course, claim they hold high the ideals of equality and opportunity for all and social responsibility, yet they’re the ones who promote quota systems like “Affirmative Action” that purposely enforce discrimination along with welfare systems that financially encourage young girls to produce out-of-wedlock children, hardly something that promotes social responsibility.

Republicans are FOR freedom, but against the right of a woman to CHOOSE?  How’s that?

Democrats are FOR social responsibility, but against punishing the criminal for his/her acts against another?

Republicans are FOR individualism, but demand that everyone be heterosexual and Christian?  Or what?

Democrats will roll over…like they did for G. W. Bush, just to avoid conflict?  What would they have done if G. W. had been Hitler…or, just as bad, Chaney?  I’ll tell  you: They’d have gone along to get along.  ”Yes’m Bossman. Yes’m.”

I could go on, but won’t.

What it comes down to is that Republicans are vicious, acting like vindictive women when they don’t get their way (Laura, I hope you’re reading this.), and Democrats, other than Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, act like cowering, spineless sneaks who lack any convictions whatsoever excepting those which avoid facing conflict.

What is completely scary about Republicans is their insistence that I must hold the values they demand, and act in accordance with their dictates. That’s freedom? Ah, no.

What’s scary about Democrats is that they, as a body, are scared to stand up for what they believe to be right and just…if they ever figure out what they actually might want to grow balls to stand up for, AND they will sell the American people down the road if it means they can avoid conflict.

Both parties are ONLY out to line their pockets and gain as much power as they possibly can. To do that, they have to keep the American people in an emotional uproar about as many contentious socio-political issues as possible, then dun us all, all the time, to donate them more and more and more money, honey.

Sorry, guys and gals.  I’ve turned a deaf ear.  Go grab your own ankles.

It took her about two minutes of rubbing herself on the soft cotton material of my shirt sleeve, then another three or so of “tidying” before she considered herself “presentable” to the world again.  Watching, I was captivated by the meticulous attention she paid to every part of herself — her antenna, her thorax, her legs, her head, her wings.  She was not hasty; she attended every detail in a thorough, methodical, and almost leisurely, never panicked fashion.  Her lack of fear, her sense of “safe”, brought me a great measure of joy — that the small creatures around me know that I will never intentionally swat, hit, squash, or harm them.  It brings me a greater measure of joy to watch these wonderful living things go about their daily business in peace and harmony with every other creature who shares their life journey.

Be kind. The life you save could very well brighten your own well-being.