Walking Among The Intellectually Dishonest

This post isn’t starting the way I had thought it would and it has nothing to do with the songs that rolled through prior to my tapping upon the keys or maybe it does.

The End Of The Line– Traveling Wilburys
I Still Haven’t Found What I Am Looking For– U2 w/Bruce Springsteen
Bullets In The Gun– Toby Keith
Avinu -Subliminal
Zeh Aleinu– Subliminal
If Tomorrow Starts Without Me (read by Tom O’Bedlam)

I got distracted by thoughts and memories, found myself reading something I wrote in 2005 when life was so very different in so many ways.

Pulled one line out of it and smiled because as much as somethings have changed others are as they have always been.

I tell my children all the time to live their lives, you only get one time around so pick a pony and enjoy the ride.

Decided to share the praise I received from a fan I am sure I earned during my walk among the intellectually dishonest.

I snorted and chuckled when I read it. He spent time going through old Instagram posts and landed upon the picture I shared of my scar post arm surgery and the brace I had to wear.

This tiny man who can’t tie his velcro shoes or use apostrophes couldn’t take the time to consult one of those Yellow Books for Dummies that would have provided a proper online insult.

But he did let me know I have free rent in his head so I suppose this crippled failed writer is winning.

Don’t tell him that some people love my writing and keep coming back day after day. He’ll be really upset to know that three people can’t get enough.

I think my mom is one of those three, look there is a silly video of your favorite son in his early thirties.

Walking Among The Intellectually Dishonest

If you spend time online engaged in political discussions about why antizionism always intersects with antisemitism the Jew haters will swarm you.

They’ll swear TikTok issued them a degree in whatever aspect you’re discussing and angrily defend the knowledge derived from their echo chamber of ignorance.

If you point out simple facts such as Jordan was created in 1946 or that Arafat rejected multiple land for peace offers they’ll either ignore your comment or tell you that you just don’t understand.

Better yet they’ll take excerpts from famous Jews they insist support whatever crazy allegation they are trying to push.

They lack critical thinking and logic and are often dumbfounded when you show them how they have cherry picked facts to fit a narrative. You’d think they might fact check what they spew or at least understand that if you say Moishe Pippick said XYZ you can find the entire speech/essay online and verify intent of the message.

But the intellectually dishonest belong to a cult of stupidity and ignorance so you don’t get much out of them. It is rare you get someone who can really dig into the meat and provide a well thought out, factually correct response.

It always surprises me we don’t see more of that because it is not that hard to do, there are legitimate claims and criticisms to be made.

Infusion Number Three

Made my way to the oncology center for infusion number three today.

Sat in a chair in between two people who were in the midst of their chemotherapy and thought about how I was there for a refill of iron.

Sat there remembering the times I drove my father to his chemotherapy and remembered many things.

I watched the nurse stick the needle in my arm and wondered if I am going to feel a big change or a minor one. I have two more sessions to go, followed by another test and a follow up visit.

The docs need to figure out where I am bleeding from and why.

But none of that stopped me from hitting the gym after my bag of iron. Got five 45s on the dip machine moving with my right arm and I think I can do six.

Didn’t push that nor did I push hard with my left. I am slowly working it back to shape, giving it time to make sure the tendon is fully healed.

I may not be who I once was but I am on my way to who I intend to become. Might take a minute to get there, but I am on my way and if it means I take a detour or two I am ok with it.

Life is an adventure and you never know what will happen or who will join/leave you.

 

When You Are Old-W. B. Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.