Tag Archives: crocodile tears

What is Town Hall Blather?

©2018 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee   [caption id="attachment_40" align="alignnone" width="640"] Town Hall Blather[/caption]    

Happy 2018!  Happy New Year

  Well,  before we get to discuss the contagion of Town Hall Blather, we must offer   Happy New Year and all that jazz. Belated, all of it;  parties, fireworks, champagne, fizz.  The little winter sabbatical was enjoyable.  The best of 2018 to all,  joyous celebrations, best wishes to all.  It happens every year.  To you and yours, from us and ours, the very best, happiness, health,  good fortune, peace and safety...  There! It seems that, too, is over for another year.    

What is Town Hall Blather?

Just as the calendar flips predictably, so magically appear town hall meetings. Federal and provincial.  New  town hall blather for the new year.  Supposedly.  Right on time, like clockwork, especially if elections are imminent. Political bombshells inspire,  otherwise mute politicians become chatty and wise. The marbles in the photo apparently have more common sense. Oh, yes, ideally, 'discussions' right upfront, one on one.  Politicians  explain their feelings.  God help us, political crocodile tears. The fake kind like Justin the Actor insists upon offering. Oh, my... The closest we'll ever get to personal meetings with those in power. So-called 'consultations' with the electorate. Warm and fuzzy.  Do those meetings infer 2018 and the future will be better, different, reasonable, logical,   inspiring, common-sense wonderful or offer the tiniest bit of hopeful respite? No. We don't think so. In fact, we can almost bet on it.  We're skeptical. Just listen to the actual content of any town hall blather. Compare questions and answers.  Red herring answers. Think. Let us ask again, 'what is town hall blather'?

 

'Town Hall Blather' is an Indicator of Political Trouble

Political 'persons'  inevitably recognize when the gig is up. When trouble is on the horizon. Their polls and popularity down, sagging, dripping with backlash, and fury dredging up the mud of public opinion. Those endangered inevitably call for "town hall meetings' to remind us how hard they have been working for the benefit of all.  Why sure. A 'comforter' for unhappy electorate. The usual. Canned questions allowed, scripted, previously approved, answered only with personalized lip service. Hello? Your question was—Oh, I see, number 17  has "an approved question for the approved script for this approved momentous town hall occasion, and..er...yes, we do have an approved scripted answer for that."    The list. The unsaid. The approved answer is always on the list.  Imagine that. The follow-up script for cagey lies  fabricated for the election  must be on this approved  list, um, let's see... somewhere.   Not there?  .....next........ That's not all.    

Got a Bracelet? Well that's a New One...

That's the latest insult from the Ontario Liberals and the despised, ever-incompetent Kathleen Wynne.   Want to attend her 'town hall meeting' and listen to her political blather? Got a bracelet?  A white bracelet or a green one?   Like being admitted to hospital.  Or a psych ward. Vetted.  Screened.  Approved clapping seals, smiling like fools.  Official fools lined up behind the 'candidate' handing out taxpayer dollars  a.k.a.   gratuitous spending,  bribing the masses, stumping for the provincial  election that's four months away. Feigned interest in 'the north'.  Insincerity. She's going to lose. The real agenda, the real problems, inevitably remain  ignored. Hopefully. An audible sigh of relief from the 'candidate and the clapping seals. "...uh...um... Shall we take some ga-ga selfies instead? "  Did she learn that from Justin in Ottawa?  We think so.   Why don't we save a great stack of taxpayer dollars and just mail out ga-ga selfies from Ottawa and Queen's Park instead?  **Clop-clop-clop --the sound of arrogant leaders being gob-smacked.**   We're Canadian. We've got it figured out. Town hall meetings are town hall blather with script. Lies. Unbelievably expensive photo ops. Nothing more.  Never were.  

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  Is that Incoming I hear?
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The World Weeps Silently

© 2013 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee  

 Portrait of nelson Mandela (2008)Memorial

 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

1918-2013

  It seems there must be very little  that has not already been said about Nelson R. Mandela, clearly one of the most charismatic leaders the world has ever seen. News that a beloved giant, a revered leader of men,  women and children alike,  a respected president, friend of mankind and mentor — shocked the world even though it was expected,  leaving the world diminished.  What  remains to be said?  Words are not enough. The beloved and storied ex-President of South Africa  passed away in his home  at the age of 95, leaving an astounding  legacy and creating an outpouring of love, respect and compassion for humanity seldom  attributed to any single man. Was he bigger than life itself? Nelson Mandela was loved by millions,  but as with all successful human beings, let's not pretend otherwise; undoubtedly he had outspoken rivals and others disillusioned by his ideology,  beliefs, personal life,  his presidency of South Africa, and disrespect for his color alone.

The World Weeps Silently

The world weeps silently, tears flow universally,  in some ways a contradiction, as South Africans curiously, simultaneously, and joyously celebrate both the funeral and life of one amazing man in Johannesburg.  Leaders of  countries from around the globe have gathered to bid farewell,  sharing stories, condolences, speeches welling with  gratitude, heartfelt offerings and world-wide sympathy for, and with  people that both weep and dance.

Politicians Continue to be Politicians

Optimistic, and painful memorials seep reflectively, predictably from ineffective politicians—speaking with rhetorical grandeur of the occasion as mere mortals are wont to do, abjectly aware they are incapable of capturing  the smallest aliquot of admiration and respect commanded  by Mr. Nelson Mandela. It seems that Presidents, Prime Ministers and leaders all, also praise Mandela's steadfast, respected  leadership- but can only imagine and yearn for the impossible, an unspoken dream to garner just a wisp of the magnetic,almost magic and  pervasive power wielded by Mandela for decades. Politicians will be politicians as they bask in euphoric freedom that  statesman Nelson R.  Mandela held out to them—and seemingly continues to offer — a mythic power and influence beyond the grave. Attributing the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa to this powerful, driven man is the contemporary message, including a surge in belief in  hope for the poor and downtrodden. Peaceful  coexistence, forgiveness of past wrongs, the elimination of the eternal struggles of  color, and improvement in economic standing of all citizens were not only objectives, but keystones of his policy.   Understanding, acceptance, justice,  equality,  opportunity, and cooperation were  practiced  by Mandela in life, yet remain complicated, unresolved and  ever-moving  issues. Goals of racial  equality were special dreams,  idolized and projected —perhaps the  essence of Nelson Mandela himself. In analysis we must wonder if the world weeps silently, subconsciously knowing the truth—for racism,  tin shantytowns still exist, poverty still exists, the rich get richer, and ghosts of inequality and racism return to persist and aggravate, in spite of the man-wonder Madiba. No matter, we say,   the celebrated illusion of happiness will live on as is the way of optimistic humanity—but is it only temporary?  Is it a fleeting, celebrated distraction, hypocrisy,  everyman's illusion until a new people's Messiah inspires the next quantum leap in the eternal transplanting of dreams? We must ask, 'do crocodile tears ever dry?  Is  the illusion of success of the great vision now to be shattered by the stark reality of the  death of Nelson Mandela? In a quiet moment of reflection,  visions for the future may be seen as impossible, but as history is quick to reveal,  the will to make Madiba's dreams materialize remains with those still alive; those who honour and grieve and work selflessly,  gleaning lessons from the past and present —and  waste no time, acting with resolve. Rest in Peace, Nelson R. Mandela.   Is that Incoming I hear?   Photo Credit : S.Africa The Good News / www.sagoodnews.co.za [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons +
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